Luckily for us, South Africa is surrounded by the fresh Atlantic and balmy Indian oceans. This means that many of us are fortunate enough to live close to the sea and many more come from other areas to enjoy a coastal holiday. Because is there anything as relaxing and restorative as listening to the waves crash and basking in the sun?
Want to make sure you’ve got everything you need for a cute and comfortable day by the sea? Here are six beach-bag essentials to bring with you.
1. Face sunscreen
You should be applying sunscreen every day – yes, even in winter! – to prevent UV damage to your skin. And, if you are spending time outside, you need to reapply it every couple of hours. There are two different types of formulas, namely chemical and mineral, which can be used to provide protection.
2. Body sunscreen
Just like your face, the skin on the rest of your body is also susceptible to UV damage and needs to be protected, too. Wearing long but loose clothing is a good way to cover up but you should still apply – and reapply – sunscreen to any exposed areas. A spray formula makes reapplication significantly easier.
3. Tinted SPF
You don’t need to wear a full-coverage foundation when you are chilling on the beach! Instead, if you want a bit of coverage, use a tinted SPF or BB or CC cream that contains SPF. This way, you can easily touch up your look throughout the day while also topping up your sun protection. Genius!
4. Waterproof mascara
If you are going to be going for a dip in the water, you don’t want to emerge with panda eyes! Avoid this by wearing mascara with a waterproof formula to keep your eyes popping all day. Keep one in your beach bag – along with a small mirror – for any touch-ups.
5. SPF lip balm
The skin on your lips is much thinner than it is on the rest of your face. This means it is even more prone to sunburn and long-term UV damage. Prevent this and keep your lips soft, smooth and moisturised by keeping a lip balm that contains SPF in your beach bag.
6. Aftersun gel
We live under the hot African sun and sometimes things don’t go as planned and we end up with sunburn. Ouch! But you can get some instant relief and also speed up the healing process by keeping some indigenous aloe vera or aftersun gel in your beach bag in case of red-hot emergencies.
Need to get your beach bag ready for summer? Get your essentials online or at your nearest Edgars store.
