What’s in my beach bag

Fashion

Apr 24

North Shore (or Euro) Summer is calling and if you have any plans to travel, here is what I would take with me.

Summer’s almost here, ladies! And my beach bag is already packed. If you’re new to this corner of the internet, you might be surprised—but if you’re a long-time reader, you’ll know that I’m an expert at packing and planning. What goes into my luggage is half the joy of traveling. To me, it’s all about picking the best outfits, keeping close your true essentials, and curating a carryall that’s as ready for the tarmac as it is for the rooftop terrace.

Yes—I’m big on trip styling, but I’m never one to overdo the load. (Ever had to make a last-minute run to the luggage store because all your new purchases didn’t fit—even though you came in underweight?) With some expensive lessons—think €400 in overweight luggage fees—I’ve learned to keep my essentials close… and my backup essentials closer. I believe in having everything you need to feel good, move easily, and keep things elevated… especially when your summer itinerary is taking you to Madeira, Mallorca, or Monaco!

Beach days deserve to feel effortless but still elegant—like everything was thought of, without trying too hard. Whether it’s a sarong I’ve waited months to wear or the sunscreen I always come back to, every item in my travel set has a unique purpose. So, ladies… here’s what’s actually in my bag this season.

Pick your tote, any tote.

Depending on your budget, always invest in a sassy beach tote. Currently, I’m rocking The Marc Jacobs Striped Jacquard Beach Tote Bag (which, as it turns out, is no longer available?) I found one remaining link on Neiman Marcus, but in a perfect world, it’d still be available and I would be strutting in the Loewe Paula's Ibiza Anagram basket bag (in Chocolate/Ochre).

There’s something so satisfying about an oversized beach tote—it satiates the part of my brain that equates organization with beauty, and these two bags—although fundamentally different—represent the very same thing. On one hand, I genuinely prefer the Marc Jacobs bag for the thought that went into it (and perhaps the fact that it’s no longer available?) The bright yellow interior with those South of France-inspired stripes. Even the sheer size of it fulfills every mental need. While, of course, Loewe is just iconic. The ajouré version doesn’t feel overdone, yet the logo speaks volumes in its own regard. The color palette goes with practically everything in my wardrobe, and the iraca palm weaving brings an element of natural luxury that I couldn’t wait to fill with my favorite bikinis and cover-ups.

Sunglasses, duh.

Pick your favorite ones. We all have one—or three—that fit our faces perfectly and reflect the world in colors that make everything feel more vivid and… vivacious! For the last three years, I’ve rocked the same Mallorcan street-shop sunnies. If I remember correctly, they were something like fifteen euros. But the shape, the olive green tint, and the golden brackets are everything I would seek from a designer… and more.

I do also have a pair of H&M rectangular glasses in black that my sister gave me, which offer the same timeless (but totally trending) look for everywhere between the beach: airports, taxis, hotel lobbies, and the boutique boardwalk. I’ve had my share of Chanel glasses and Celine sunnies, but that’s why I emphasize how important it is to find the pair you cherish… and just wear those! I know there will come a time when I choose a house-name once again, but for now I’m opting for dependables over designer.

Strutting in your Sarong

Let’s talk about the Marina Piccola Sarong from Monday Swimwear (in ‘Lattice Geo’). I had my eye on this pattern—and this sarong—since the day it launched. Natasha (Tash) Oakley and Devin Brugman absolutely slayed with the Geo patterns, and I’d even advocate that you buy any of the matching bikinis along with it. After all, a bikini a day is what put them on the map—and this one’s coming with me, wherever the sun calls next.

Sarongs, to me, are the perfect cover-up. They’re light, easy to put on (or take off), and never take up too much space. In my opinion, a two-piece set or a cover-up dress can feel a little bulky for your beach bag, so opting for a sarong is the perfect silky accessory. If, at the very least, it brightens your beach bag, you can count it as an essential. And when I’m ready for something new, the Chartreuse Crinkle Linen and Ice Stripe Crinkle Linen are next on my radar. Although, I’d probably pair them with the Soraya Hennessy Round Crochet Shoulder Bag I found on Anthropologie.

A straw hat or Prose Club bestseller cap.

Without a beat, I’m going to use this as an opportunity to share our Bestseller Cap—because I know you’re either wearing a luxurious straw visor, a crochet sun hat, or a perfectly broken-in heritage cap, and depending on the time and place, I choose any of the above. For more of a beach club vibe, opt for a high-quality visor or wide-brimmed hat. And for those rooftop pool days in Tulum or Turks & Caicos, I highly recommend the Prose Bestseller Cap. It’s giving Four Seasons Yacht Collection—without the 5-star exclusivity.

Don’t just join the private yacht club. Join the PROSE club.

Spare undies and an extra bikini

This is a Signature Sarah Special. A pair of spare undies (maybe two—always gotta have a backup for your backup). And an extra bikini or swimsuit in case the vibe changes. Let’s say you start the day in a knitted set and a monokini, but then you find a gorgeous cover-up dress from your local beach boutique—now you just neeeed a bikini to fit the vibe. Oh! And no one likes leaving the beach with a damp derrière, so keep those spare panties crunched up in your beach bag somewhere. For the sake of it, throw a pair of Skims in there, 'cause there’s no backup panties quite as luxurious as Skims.

Lather up, buttercup: Sunscreen & Tanning oils

Coppertone, Pure & Simple, Banana Boat Simply Protect, or—for those who don’t burn (God bless you)—Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen or Tanning Oil.

Let’s take a moment to honor Coppertone as the sunscreen of everyone’s childhood. With the little girl’s tooshie and the pup tugging at her bottoms, she’s an O.G. sunscreen mogul—one that’s been tried and tested for longer than I’ve lived. I won’t pretend I use some luxury skincare brand when, truthfully, I’ll only reach for one of the three: Coppertone, Banana Boat, or Hawaiian Tropic.

Nowadays, most traditional sunscreen brands are Hawaii-compliant/reef-protective. And as much as I dread how unaesthetically-pleasing they often are—or how void of modern marketing the brands seem to be—I also believe they’re beyond trendy photo ops because… well, they work. And they’ve worked for generations.

For those whose skin radiates like olives in oil, Hawaiian Tropic is another tried-and-true suncare brand. I’ll opt for the tanning oil when the sun is on my end of the hemisphere. That is to say, you won’t find me using that stuff at the equator (as a European girly living in North America). But I’ll definitely use it during a Hamptons summer or an afternoon in Algarve. And when sensitive skin calls for it, I’m a definite fan of their Sheer Touch or Minerals line.

Find them all at your local department store or online.

Vacation® SPF 45 Super Stick Face Sunscreen

For something a little more elevated in the SPF department… I found these on Anthropologie and thought I’d take a chance on their ‘WaterGlide™ technology.’ Turns out, this face sunscreen has a cooling effect and kind of feels like a soft gua-sha for your face… but make it SPF? Sure, you could choke on the aerosols or take your chances with the white residue, but I found this stick to be totally perfect for reapplying on the beach and right before putting on my evening makeup.

My favorite part is that it’s vegan—a natural product that won’t clog my pores and isn’t the kind of sunscreen that destroys our oceans (another Hawaii-compliant product—woo-hoo for saving the oceans). All in all, it’s both luxurious and natural… and totally going in my beach bag.

SU Aftersun

You tried your best, but you still got that redness. Not the cute, mistake-for-blush kind—more like the burn you know is going to peel tomorrow. I’d heard so much about SU and couldn’t believe how quickly it soothed my skin when I put it to the test. Now, it’s just part of my beach essentials. It’s always somewhere in my beach bag… turning bright burns into darker tans.

Face Mask Sheets

To be honest, I don’t actually carry this to the beach—and I’m sure any aloe and cucumber face mask would do the trick—but this face mask is always waiting for me on the vanity of my hotel room. At night, when the tanning is done and the rosy cheeks have turned into a piping red nose and a peeling forehead (the not-so-glamorous side of beach life), I’ll throw one on for the soothing and regenerative effects.

You could definitely find something at whatever local department store is nearest to you—in case of a beauty emergency. But if you can think ahead, just go for the Mediheal Aloe Soothing Proatin Mask (an Amazon must-have for last-minute travel essentials). K-beauty products are not only up and coming, they’ve actually mastered the art of skincare. These are made with cellulose (the jelly kind) and hydrate any sunburn. Yes, they look mildly unhinged, but that’s part of the charm. Make it a moment. At first, it'll give “rich woman in crisis,” but then… the glow it leaves? Full Amalfi yacht wife on sabbatical. (Actually, me.)

PRO TIP: Put it in your hotel bar fridge for 30 minutes before applying. It’ll cool your face and soothe the burns like magic.

PHLUR Vanilla Skin Hair & Body Fragrance Mist

Make this your signature body spray for that post-swim scent or long walks down the boardwalk. What I love about it is that it’s both a hair mist and a body spray. The scent is Vanilla, Sandalwood, Pink Pepper, and Jasmine—but honestly, it’s addictive. Like your favorite body oil emerging from the salty water. It’s a lightweight bottle you can toss into the base of your bag. And it’s as head-turning in photos as it is when people walk by you.

Something for that salty hair!

The last absolute essential? Some kind of hair conditioner. A few months ago, I bought my cousin the OUAI Wave Spray from Amazon for her trip to Florida. She said she loved it, so I highly recommend it for styling frizzy hair. My sister also lent me her COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray on our cruise to Bermuda last year. She always knows the best hair and beauty products—and this one was a total game-changer.

I also have a go-to curl crème, chasing that Kim K wet-hair look. But honestly, I don’t have a higher recommendation for salty, frizzy hair than bringing a travel-sized bottle of your favorite conditioner (leave-in or otherwise.) Just toss it in your beach bag and apply it when you get out of the water. The tangles post-swim are real—and add some frizz to that, and you might miss the mark on sexy, sun-kissed hair... and head straight into a moment even a floppy hat can’t fix.

So whatever you choose—whether you’re trying new products or sticking with your go-to—just bring something to soften and rehydrate your hair whether you’re at the saltwater pool or by the saltwater sea.

On the last note,

You’ll probably find a few more things hanging loose in my bag—little things that are must-haves for a beach day. For one, I have a Nivea lip balm in every single one of my purses. Don’t ask me why—it just works. Two things go without saying: my phone and my wallet. Oh, and deodorant. Always bring deodorant. Reapplying sunscreen is essential, but reapplying deodorant in the sun? Necessary. Or, should I say Nécessaire. No amount of tan-dip-turns (you know, tan, dip, turn, tan, dip, turn…) can mask beach B.O. So do yourself the favor—add it to the bag.

I’ll also throw in some baby wipes for hands, disinfecting, bathroom trips, freshening up on the go, and—as every woman knows—wiping off mascara that inevitably melted in the water (why do we do this?) And of course, I’ve got a hair clip in there… either on the strap or somewhere in the abyss that is a woman’s purse. It’s nothing special, but probably a neutral color. ($3 on Amazon or $33 on Revolve.)

And while we’re at it—just keep a mini cosmetic bag for your essentials. Put it all in one place to keep it organized. Because whether it’s a no-name canvas carryall, a (hypothetically) limited-edition Marc Jacobs Beach Tote, or the revered Loewe Paula’s basket bag… organization, to me, does equal beauty.

So, ladies—that’s what’s in my bag: beach edition.
Here’s to a fantastic summer and even better beach days. May your beach bag be as full of beauty as your beach days are full of beautiful memories.