So July is well underway and so is holiday season which only means one thing; BEACH TIME!
I, for one, loooooove the beach. I love getting a tan and relaxing in the sun with an ice cold cocktail and forgetting about the world for a bit. For most, it’s also time to show off your amazing beachwear and coverups that you’ve been saving for such an occasion (please tell me I’m not the only one who has a garden bikini and beach bikinis?). So this post is going to be all about what you’ll find in my beach bag, that I absolutely will not consider going out with, if I’m off to the beach for a day of sun and fun.
First and foremost; suncream. I will admit, I’m not one to wear suncream on my body, but I do wear it on certain areas that are more prone to burning or damage. I have a lot of tattoos on my body, and since they’re black, they retain heat which can end up being quite painful, plus, the sun actually bleaches tattoos and makes them fade faster. My face is also a problem area. I have quite sensitive skin so if I don’t wear protection, I burn rather badly which results in unsightly peeling. My favourite suncream this summer season is Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration in Factor 50 – I don’t mess about!
Next, we have sunglasses. I end up taking two pairs out with me. I have a prescription pair as I am a glasses wearer, but I also have a more glam pair that I much prefer to wear. When I’m lying down and sunbathing, I wear sunglasses – I know what you’re thinking, panda eyes!, but I don’t worry about those, primarily because of the high factor on my face, and secondly because they’re easily fixable with makeup should they appear. So, when I’m on the beach in my best bikini, I also wear my best sunglasses. I managed to snatch up a gorgeous pink and gold pair in a 60’s style from a local market and they’ll definitely be in my beach bag.
For a bit of entertainment, I always take out my kindle and a set of headphones. I love reading, but I have trouble getting into a comfortable position on a sun lounger to read, I find the only way I’m truly comfortable is to lie on my front which means no tanning time for the tummy. My easy fix for that is to buy audiobooks. They’re a fantastic alternative and taking a kindle or any other tablet is much lighter than hauling around a book or three. Often, I find hours passing without my notice when I’m listening to my audiobooks. They’re soothing and you can still listen to all your favourite titles.
Finally, though it may seem obvious, flip flops. Personally, as much as I love a day at the beach, I don’t like taking the beach home with me in my shoes. Wearing flip flops is so much easier because you can kick them off and slip them on quickly, they protect your feet from the hot sand when walking around and you can shake the sand off them completely at the end of the day before you leave.
So here’s a quick recap for you:
So next time the weather is positively beachy, get your best swimwear out and pack your essentials and get down there. You can find a great selection of swimwear over at Adore Me who also have a range of plus size options if you haven’t already got your beach gear yet!
Sparkle On! – Ellie .xx
A Little Bit of Sparkle 