What’s in my Beach Beauty Bag? Top Product Picks For Your Next Vacation

I gotta admit, it was kind of a bummer to come back to a windy and chilly-for-no-reason Chicago, following a spectacular getaway with minimal WiFi access, spent basking on the beach and soaking up the sun. If you follow me on Instagram, you already know – I thoroughly enjoyed my visit back to Miami to the Florida Keys!

For this vacation, I had to pack for 10 days in extreme heat. TEN DAYS. What did I  bring with me and what did I use every day? Let me tell you, it’s not easy. My bellas in the Caribbean and in Florida and throughout the south – this post is for you. Because some of us dip in and dip right back out of that relentless heat while many of us LIVE in it, year-round. And Summer is coming for all of us. AND I know you want to be matte and not melting, sun protected but not chalky-looking. Here are the sun protection superstars, the most magical makeup made for the elements, and hair products meant to carry you through the most parched days, whether you live in a place with two seasons or with four. These are the all-stars that rose to the occasion when I needed to stay cute, despite sweltering elements. These are my top beauty product picks for your next beach trip!

La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Anti-Aging Primer with Sunscreen – This clear gel primer slicks on so smooth and has a lasting, luxe look and feel. It makes my makeup last, it protects my skin from the sun, and it has a “blurring effect on skin” that diminishes the appearance of my pores. The texture of it means it lasts in the sun and the broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection is SO essential. Expensive but totally worth it.

Avon Skin So Soft – beaches and outdoor spaces mean sun and sand, but they can also mean gnats and no-see-ems and all of those little bugs that sting. That can totally ruin your outdoor experience. I’ve come to love Avon’s Skin So Soft products because of their high effectiveness in moments like those. The Skin So Soft Bug Guard Collection is what you need to get through those outdoorsy evenings, deet-free and still, somehow, bite-free.

Purely Paradise Natural Bath Products Facial and Body Butter – If you’re like me, by the time you make it down to Key West your shoulders will be red and stinging with a beginner’s sunburn. You know how that one arm that’s outside the car window will get ALL the sun? Do yourself a favor and stop by Purely Paradise Natural Bath Products on Duval Street. Independent, family owned, all natural bath and body products. Their facial and body butter is intended to soothe away sunburn with a blend of butters, including cocoa, mango, cupuaçu and shea. My husband LOVES this stuff for his shaved head!

Makeup 

For truly tropical weather, I find it best to go light on the makeup. I find powder and heavy foundation just looks cakey and hot and uncomfortable – also you’re most likely to stain someone’s clothing if you hug them and that’s never fun. To me, vacation makeup = light coverage. Think tinted moisturizer. Or adding a product like Cover FX’s new Custom Color Drops to your sunscreen could be a great idea.

I brought a full makeup case with me down to the Keys, but I realized I kept reaching for the same products over and over again because they were super easy and guaranteed not to run. Let me tell you about those really quickly:

Urban Decay All Nighter Eyeliner  I love the glide and true staying power of this UD self-sharpening pencil. Great for lower lashline and winged upper lashline moments that last. But let’s be honest – you’re most likely rocking sunglasses all day during a beach vacation!

Jordana Fabubrow Eyebrow Pencil – if you’re looking for a super cheap, super easy to travel with brow solution, look no further. In fact, don’t sleep on Jordana as a whole, their products are quality! This brow pencil comes with a mini brush on the cap, and the pencil is creamy but not TOO creamy, because nobody wants smudgy eyebrows. Just naturally filled in perfection.