Things That you Should Definitely Bring to the Beach

There are things that you will al ways remember when you’re packing for the beach: a bathing suit, a towel, sunglasses, sandals and a full bottle of sunscreen. These are essential for you to enjoy your time soaking up the sun and splashing in the water. But, there are a few items that you should tack onto your packing list that will make your day at the beach that much better.

Phone Accessories:

The beach will have lots of sand and water, two things that your smartphone doesn’t like. Sand can scratch up your touchscreen and the rest of your phone if it has no protection. Don’t underestimate grains of sand.

To protect the exterior, get your phone a high-quality screen protector and vinyl skin. It will give your device full coverage and keep any permanent cosmetic damage at bay. There are plenty of skin patterns and colors to choose from — you should stop by dbrand and see for yourself before planning your trip.

Sand can also sneak into charging ports or headphone jacks and cause damage. If your phone isn’t dust-tight or it doesn’t have a strong IP rating, you should consider getting stylish dust plugs to stick into the openings and block out the grains of sand.

Even if your smartphone is water-resistant, it shouldn’t be submerged under water on purpose. Salt or sand in the water can also damage the device. The best way to protect your phone at the beach is to put it in a sealable plastic bag whenever you want to bring it around or in the water. It’s cheap, easy and effective.

Sunburn Recovery Kit:

You should put together a small kit for sunburn treatment for those unlucky times when sunscreen didn’t seem to make a difference.

The kit should include a moisturizer with Aloe Vera. Burns dehydrate your skin, so you will want to hydrate the affected area and speed up the healing process. Aloe Vera is known for reducing inflammation and guarding against infection.

Other items that should be in your sunburn recovery kit:

• Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation
• Cold compresses to cool the burn
• Bottle of water to rehydrate

Hair Products:

Wind, water and heaps of sand can turn your hair into a knotted mess. To tackle your tangled tresses before you hit the shower at home, bring a spray-in hair product like the Christophe Robin hydrating leave-in detangling mist or the Not Your Mother’s Knotty To Nice Conditioning Detangler infused with keratin protein. Pack one of these detanglers and a trusty comb, and you will leave the beach with manageable hair.

You could always invest in a swimming cap. You won’t have to worry about combs, conditioners or sprays — just pop it on and go for a dip. Be sure to pick a Lycra swimming cap for a comfortable fit that that won’t pull at your hair, unlike the pro-sport options made of tight latex or rubber.

Portable Vacuum:

No matter how much you try, you’re not going to be able to shake off all of the sand from your clothes, your sandals and your bags by the time you have to head home. You’re going to bring a bunch of sand into your car.

A good solution for this annoying problem is a handheld vacuum. It makes for an easy clean-up after you drop your friends off and go home. Consumer Reports named the Black and Decker DustBuster CHV1410L one of the best handheld vacuums that you could possibly need. It can reach into small crevices and corners, so your car’s floor can quickly go from sandy to spotless.

Garbage Bags:

If you spend any time in the water, you’re going to have to deal with a damp bathing suit and towel by the end of the trip. You don’t want to put that in a normal backpack or purse, where it can ruin all of the rest of your things. And you definitely don’t want to put it uncovered in the car, where it can soak into the fabric and leave a lingering smell.

A cheap solution is to bring garbage bags or smaller plastic bags with you so that you can transport your soaking wet clothes and towels back home without any trouble.

These are not typically the items you’d think about packing when you’re planning an afternoon on the shore, but you’ll be thankful that you decided to finally bring them along. Now, your phone can survive the trip unscathed, your skin can recover from too much time in the sun, your hair can be free of tangles and your car won’t be a disaster after the ride home.