BEACH DAY ESSENTIALS

I haven’t really felt like going to the beach around here yet. But my sense is that will soon change. The boys are less than two weeks away from the end of the school year, and baseball just ended for the season, so I’m no longer landlocked in the concrete jungle on weekends. The weather in the Hamptons looks somewhat promising for next weekend, so I’m trying to take inventory on all of my beach day essentials.

I’m going to keep it real here and admit that swimsuit shopping has been a struggle this year. I keep wondering if there is some crash course in fitness, kind of the like the way I used to cram for exams in college. If you have any tips, please feel free to message me. ;-) Unfortunately, Photoshop only works on the screen and not in real life, so what’s the point?

I don’t really like to take a ton of things to the beach. Somehow my children keep acquiring new toys, as if carting an additional two human beings wasn’t enough added weight. So whenever they are in tow (basically always), I have to keep my own baggage to the essentials. In case you’re in the same boat, I thought I’d share a few of them. So here goes…

Let’s begin with the things I can wear, which means I don’t have to carry them. A male friend of mine used to joke and say, “Cosmo tells me to wear black because it’s slimming.” Well, he and Cosmo were right. So if you’re not thrilled with your figure at the moment, a solid black suit can be a safe bet. The scalloped edge swimsuit I’m wearing is a bargain, but very few sizes remain. But always check back as restocks do happen. It’s a knock-off of this designer swimsuit, which I’ve tried and might be worth the splurge if I was in better shape right now. The designer suit definitely stays on my toosh a lot better and is not as cheeky as the lower-priced version. Here is a similar version that might be a nice happy medium between the two.

You might think you need something called a “swim coverup” to go over your suit. Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t. I’m all about versatility and making things work at least double duty, so I absolutely love using my Grayson Hero Button-Up as a coverup. The length is amazing, and the tissue cotton keeps me covered without making me sweat. Use code JENNIFERMEJIA at checkout for $25 off your order.

A hat is a necessity to protect our faces from sun damage. I’ve had the one I’m wearing for a few years now. A larger option is here. A packable option is here.

Sunglasses are a must to avoid squinting and encouraging more crow’s feet. I love this Hollywood glam pair that comes in both the black I’m wearing and in a tortoise frame.

As for jewelry, I like to keep it simple. I’m wearing my necklaces from Haverhill Collection that I rarely take off. I don't have to because they are real 14K gold and gemstones. These necklaces have special meaning to me. I’m wearing a 15” 5-Birthstone Necklace and a 17” 1-Letter 2-Birthstone Necklace. Use code BEAUTYLOVEANDGRUB at checkout for 15% off your order.

To carry all of my stuff (and probably a lot for my kids), I love this stylish straw tote. If you’re like me and need more than a personal tote, you may want to check out this Cabana Tote. It’s a sustainable bag made of 23 recycled plastic water bottles, and its silicone coating keeps it and its content dry. Plus it contains all of the usual pockets and organization you’d expect from a beach tote or overnighter. To hold sunscreen, lip gloss, money, and keys in a secure place, I love this clear pouch in a perfect shade for the beach. It’s also great for travel because it’s TSA-approved to carry your liquids.

As for what goes inside the bag, the possibilities are endless. At a minimum, sunscreen is a must. I’ve done a lot of research, and I’ve narrowed the face options down to three to keep in my bag. SuperGood’s Unseen Sunscreen is probably the hottest one right now, and that’s because it’s oil-free, hydrating, and dries matte, and clear. This one from Dr. Dennis Gross is wonderful for sensitive skin and leaves a dewy finish. And finally, Versed Guards Up has a slight peach tint and blends into all skin tones to even out discolorations. That’s important when most of us aren't wearing foundation to the beach but still want to look fresh. For the body (and face), try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch, as it rubs in clear and isn’t greasy or sticky.

For beach accessories, I’m recommending a few options when it comes to chairs, umbrellas, and cooler bags. You basically need to decide if you’re more of a form (style) over function person or value function above all else. It’s not that the stylish items don't also function well, but rather that others may function slightly better in some ways. Hopefully that makes sense. I’ve discovered a new (to me) company called Business & Pleasure Co. I’m loving a few things from their line like this striped beach umbrella. It has a UV- and water-resistant canopy, is trimmed with a fun cotton fringe, and comes with a matching canvas carrier bag to make traveling to the beach easier. If your priority is form, try this umbrella with a sand anchor and tilt mechanism. It gets amazing reviews from Amazon and comes with a 60-day guarantee. You’ll probably have at least one windy day in a two-month period to put it to the test.

To comfortably lounge on the beach, you’ll need a chair. This block print beauty will go nicely with the striped beach umbrella from Business & Pleasure Co. It has a large zippered back pocket to store important items, padded backpack straps to carry it to and from the beach, is made of mold-, UV-, and water-resistant umbrella canvas, and reclines to three positions. Another option is this chair that has five reclining positions, an insulated cup holder, a bottle opener (my nephew always needs one), a mesh pouch for storing keys, a towel bar, and of course backpack straps (I won’t buy a chair without these).

You’ll need to dry off when you get out of the water, or perhaps you prefer to lie on the sand. This extra large towel measuring 35” x 75” is thick, super absorbent, and has 630 grams per square meter (GSM, which is a measurement like thread count in sheets…the higher the better).

And finally, once you get everything to the beach, you’ll want to relax (if you don’t have young kids) and enjoy a beverage. Business & Pleasure Co. makes this darling cooler tote bag that holds 16 cans plus ice. When not in use for the beach, you could easily use it as a chic weekender bag. You might also know the name Yeti, but for a real cooler in the same class, I prefer RTIC. This 40-can cooler is a perfect color for the beach and is a fraction of the price of Yeti. Use that savings to actually fill the cooler. On that note, I’m loving the canned wine trend. One on my list to try this summer is Underwood Pinot Gris. While summer is almost synonymous with rosé, my favorite wine to sip on a hot summer day is a dry, crisp white.

Warm weather is here. I hope to stay. May your days at the beach be relaxing and chic. I’d be thrilled to know this guide helped.

xo,
Jennifer

P.S. Special thanks to my dear and talented friend, Traci Giles, for these fun photos.