26 Things You Need For Your Next Beach Vacation

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7 days ago

A pack of UV detection stickers, because it's, like, criminally easy to forget to reapply SPF when you're having fun or relaxing on the beach. These magical purple stickers absorb sunscreen the way your skin does: They start purple and fade to clear when SPF is applied. Notice it's turned purple again? That means it's time to reapply!
A portable, pop-up tent with UV protection to keep the beach safer and more comfortable for even the tiniest beachgoers. And you can say hello to fewer meltdowns with the optional built-in splash pool — just because the baby needs a break from the sun doesn't mean the baby wants a break from playing in the water!
A compact, quick-drying, and sand-resistant microfiber towel so you can sneak *one* last dip into your schedule before you've gotta hit the road — it'll be dry enough. But if you're at *all* worried about dampness, it even comes with a mesh pouch that you can fold the entire towel into...and it will magically disappear. You'll be like Bikini-Houdini on this beach.
A powder-filled pouch that easily wipes sand away for a super-easy beach day clean-up. Just pat the bag to activate the talc-free, reef-safe powder, gently brush the sand off your skin, and boom — you've cut down the amount of sand you track into your car (or worse, a rental) substantially. You're welcome.
The newest edition of the Kindle Paperwhite — it's waterproof, glare-free, and has 16GB of space. That's totally enough storage to put all 50 of the books you can't choose between for your next beach read. No more settling for one or two physical books that'll probably just get damaged in your bag.
A Sun Bum's SPF 30 sunscreen mist to protect your scalp against a vicious sunburn because yes, this is a real and super painful problem, and no, wearing a hat is not always THE VIBE!! The best part? It's not super oily — just make sure you're spraying this mist from four to six inches away from your head for even coverage and to avoid over-application (aka what could give you greasy roots).
A waterproof Ring Thing with a very tight screw-on lid and a keychain clip to keep all of your jewelry securely sealed away because — as the Kardashians taught us in 2011 — nothing will ruin an otherwise perfect vacay faster than a lost diamond.
Some great clips, and I'm not talking about haircuts! This set of towel clips won't leave you crying in the salon chair; just relaxing the day away in your beach chair — even when a strong breeze tries to prevent that from happening. Not today, wind. Not today.
A set of standard playing cards that are completely waterproof and super wind-resistant due to their weight. Why should your game of Texas Hold 'Em have to wait until you get home?
Sol De Janeiro's Brazilian Bum Bum Cream to rehydrate and reinvigorate the dry, dull skin that can strike after beach day (especially when you also disobey your derm and viciously scrub off any sand stragglers in the shower, oops). Plus, its scent is so luxuriously tropical that you'll feel like you never left the beach!
A soothing Burt's Bees after-sun lotion because while we all do our best to prevent sunburns, there's always that teeeeennnnyyy tiiiiiinnnyy patch that the sunblock missed, and somehow it packs the pain of ten full back burns into two square inches. Reviewers are absolutely raving about how relieving (and non-sticky!!) the aloe and coconut oil combo in this lotion is.
A MagSafe umbrella-shaped shade that'll protect your phone from quickly overheating and allow you to check your Instagram feed in peace without sitting there with a beach towel over your head just to block out the sunlight.
A pair of oval acetate sunglasses (with UV400 protection) that are an affordable alternative to the viral Miu Miu sunnies without compromising on style or ~lavish~ vibes. It's a total deal, too — you can get two pairs of glasses for less than four percent of the price of the designer version. Never let your budget stand in the way of you being a baddie.
A drink cover that doubles a scrunchie to keep sand, bugs and even your own hair from making its way into your drink. Just pull the cover out of the hidden pocket on the scrunchie, pop it on your drink, and enjoy!
A pack of mesh bags for beach combing that are so spacious and durable that one reviewer's children collected and carried literal clumps of asphalt in one with no problem. Rest assured, these will handle your kid's gargantuan seashell collection. Or, no judgment, your own. There's no age limit on having a sense of whimsy!
Or some adorable crab-shaped mesh bags and sand-sifting shovels if you're opting to kick the whimsy up a notch. Fun 👏 is 👏 not 👏 just 👏 for 👏 kids! 👏
A dainty, sand dollar-inspired seed bead necklace crafted with a flexible, waterproof stainless-steel wire, so you can leave it on for your entire vacation without stressing about taking it off before swimming in the ocean or showering in the hotel.
A waterproof phone pouch featuring an airtight seal that'll let you transform any smartphone into a functioning underwater camera while also protecting it from any damage the elements might throw your way. It also has a lanyard attachment for easy transport and extra security...because it's kind of hard to lose something that's hanging around your neck!
A lightweight, portable chair that makes for the perfect, space-saving beach seat. It folds up flat, and it even has a carrying strap so you can throw it on your shoulder and get to moving if your bestie found a better beach spot two seconds after you sat down.
A crochet swimsuit cover-up with a breezy, loose texture to keep you cool enough in the sun, and warm enough on a nighttime beach stroll. It has a separate top and a bottom so you can completely customize the fit and coverage, and even wear each piece on its own.
Or a flowy cover-up that is literally so airy that you'll probably forget you even have it on. It's got an elastic waistband (no digging here, thanks!), and drape-y fabric that photographs SO well. Instagram better start getting ready now, because there's about to be an influx of effortlessly cool vacay pics.
And a resort-style shirt with a stylish, boxy fit that can work as an actual shirt or a less shapely, more casual swimsuit coverup. It's seersucker, which is a puckered fabric (sounds gross but isn't) that doesn't ever rest fully on the skin. This allows for SO MUCH air circulation — bye, visibly sweaty pits!! Literally nobody invited you to come on this vacation!!!
A portable JBL Bluetooth speaker you can fit in the palm of your hand, so it can definitely fit in your suitcase without adding extra bulk. And because of its waterproof design, you can just toss it in your beach bag without worrying if anything is damp!
A Pantene hair-reviving moisture mask that'll give your strands some much needed TLC after exposing it to the ultra-drying combo of sun and salt all day. This mask has these really unique melting pearls that, when warmed up in your palm, release a huge dose of hair ✨ magic ✨ (aka vitamins and bond-building lipids).
A cup holder you can stick right into the ground to keep your sweating drink from becoming a sand magnet. If you're tired of co-opting your kid's boogie board to set your drink on, you need this.
And a portable safe that'll clip right onto your beach chair or umbrella to keep your phone, wallet, and any other water-averse valuables hidden away. Y'know, I bet my dad wishes he'd packed one of these when his car keys fell out of his pocket...and straight into the Atlantic Ocean. Whoops.