The 12 Beauty Products You Need on Beach and Pool Days
From fancy, safe-for-sea-creatures sunscreens to an updated version of Sun-In, here are the 12 beach beauty products you want in your tote bag this summer.
First and foremost, you need a capital-S Stellar sunscreen. Even if you're pale as Tilda Swinton in anything besides Trainwreck, even if your skin hasn't seen sun in months, you're in good hands with Supergoop. This particular formulation is ultra-lightweight, water-resistant and almost too fun to put on (hello, it's whipped). What's more, it's packed with moisturizing shea butter and antioxidant-rich blue sea kale to give your skin a nice, healthy glow. Also, unlike many sunscreens on the market today, it doesn't contain chemicals that kill coral reefs or accelerate the growth of skin tumors — always a plus.
Unlike other parts of your body, your lips don't have any sebaceous glands, so it's extra hard for them to retain moisture. That's why they shrivel up like raisins when exposed to salt or chlorine. The solution? Chug water and wear an SPF-fortified (and Environmental Working Group-approved) lip balm.
On days when we're swimming or basking in the sun for extended periods of time, we like to follow up our chapstick with a little Aquaphor. It's a very rich (but light) moisturizer that can be used on any part of your face and body, and it helps so much with soothing dryness and irritation. (Fun fact: It's also a great makeup remover.)
OK, last sunscreen suggestion, we swear. (In our defense, this one's face-specific.) At $39, it's a tad bit pricey, but definitely worth the investment: It doubles as a primer, it's got squalane (a hydration star), thermus thermphilus ferment (a hardcore antioxidant), zinc oxide (which protects the skin from UV rays and has healing properties) and mineral-based light reflectors (which smooth the appearance of wrinkles and other skin imperfections and make you look fresh and glow-y). Oh, and its EWG-approved, so again, no carcinogens or marine-life-harming chemicals.
In any discussion about post-sun skin care, this product comes up again and again. On any old day it's great for nourishing, hydrating and healing skin, but on those when you tragically (inevitably) forget to reapply sunscreen to one sorry patch of skin, it's a godsend. Smother the sizzling area in Skin Food and in 12 hours' time it'll look (and feel) much better.
