What’s In My Florida Beach Bag? 🏖️☀️
I’ve been a Beauty Editor for almost 30 years, so of course I take sun care seriously - but you know, I also live in Florida and I LOVE being outside in the sunshine. And I don’t care what anyone says, sunshine is good for the soul.
I love the beach. I love the pool. They all give me LIFE. Not to mention so much JOY 😁 😎 ☀️ And I believe that as long as you’re sensible (ie. no frying in the midday sun, wear a hat, keep in the shade, hydrate, wear spf etc etc), a day on the beach can make life so much brighter.
What are my favourite tried-and-tested sun care brands?
So this means, especially as I live 5-minute walk from St. Pete Beach, I’m never too far away from a bottle of sun cream. They are dotted everywhere - around my house, in my car, in all of my bags. And even though it’s hard for me to stay loyal to one brand there are a few tried-and-true brands that I always go back to:
✔️ ☀️ Clarins - it’s a classic. A brand that I’ve been using since I was a teenager. If I had to pick one favourite product, it would be the Clarins Glowing Sun Body Oil High Protection SPF 30 .
✔️ ☀️ Neutrogena - I’ve been using the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Spray SPF 70 which I believe is only available in the US 🇺🇸 for years now. It’s so lightweight and not one bit greasy. Although this particular product isn’t available in the UK yet, it might be soon as my beauty industry insiders tell me that Neutrogena have relaunched their sun care this year online and in Boots 🇬🇧.
✔️ ☀️ Vacation® - I’ve been raving about this brand since they first launched. Again, this is only available in the US 🇺🇸 but I’m sure they’ll be sold in the UK soon. Why do I love them? For so many reasons! The ‘holiday in a bottle’ smell of all the products. The retro packaging. The unusual SKUs - mousse sun cream anyone? The corny but cool marketing. I could go on and on…My favourite product is the Classic SPF 50 Spray.
That being said, when I looked in my beach bag recently - the one that I keep by the pool door for those dash-out-of-the-door emergencies - none of these favs appeared, and what I’m actually carrying around right now is a mix of new discoveries, kid-friendly sprays, lip balms and other random beach essentials.
Here’s what’s inside…
The Products That Are Actually In My Beach Bag Right Now
By the way, my beach bag is from Kurt Geiger 🌈 How gorgeous is it? My son’s friends bought it for me for my birthday a couple of years ago 💕 I couldn’t find any in stock right now, but they do have other options that are just as bright and fun.
What’s In My Beach Bag: The Quick List
Best SPF Lip Balm: Target Up & Up SPF 50 Lip Balm
Best Tinted Lip Balm: Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me
Best for Kids: Banana Boat Kids Sport Spray Can SPF 50+
Best Local Florida SPF: Florida Squeezed SPF 50 Lotion
Best High-SPF Spray: Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray SPF 70
Best Post-Pool Hair Conditioner: Nature Well Sunday’s Leave-In Conditioner Mist
Best Beach Hair Accessory: Emi Jay Hair Clips
Best Cooling Gadget: Handheld Mini Personal Fan
I have to take a lip balm to the beach
Target Up & Up SPF 50 Lip Balm
Beauty editor duty calls and so I never forget lip protection when I go to the beach! This Target one is my current go-to for keeping my lips protected. It’s cheap and hydrating.
That being said…I also found this in my bag:
Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me
My best friend Leah actually got me hooked on this one! It smells amazing and gives lips the prettiest sheer wash of color. But this doesn’t have SPF, so it’s good for trips to the bar once you’re done with the beach.
Best sunscreen for my kids: Banana Boat Kids Sport Spray Can SPF 50+
Sprays in a continuous can are so much easier to apply when you’re trying to chase kids and get them covered quickly. Just make sure you rub it in so you don’t miss any spots! And yes, I still have to do this to my kids even though they’re old enough to know better!
2 local Florida SPFs:
☀️ Florida Squeezed SPF 50 Lotion
Oh, I love this brand. My son is a pool attendant at our local beach hotel - The Don CeSar - and he brought it home after a guest left him a bottle to try. It smells like fresh orange juice and is packed with soothing aloe vera and jojoba. Mine currently has a bit of local beach sand mixed into it, so when I apply it, I get a little unexpected face scrub action too!
☀️ Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray SPF 70
Like my favourite Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Spray SPF 70 , this settles into skin so nicely - no gross sticky residue, just solid, high-performance protection.
The best post-pool hair conditioner: Nature Well Sunday’s Leave-In Conditioner Mist
I don’t believe this offers UV hair protection, but it’s my husband’s favourite and it smooths down frizzy, post-pool hair so nicely.
The best hair accessory: Emi Jay Hair Clips
I keep this clipped right onto the strap of my bag! Emi Jay are hands-down the best clips because they actually grip your hair properly and so help it stay put.
A fan that keeps me cool: Handheld Mini Personal Fan
Essential for sitting poolside in the Florida heat when you need an immediate breeze!
Have you tried any of these? What’s the one product you never leave out of your beach bag? Drop a comment below and let me know 😎