Beach Travel Essentials

No travels, no matter how short in duration or close in location, are complete for me without a few essentials. Apart from the necessities (toothbrush, comb, perfume) there are a few variable essentials that are mandatory depending on the destination. For Paris, it’s an extra leather jacket; LA, blackout sunnies; and the beach? Here’s my list of absolute musts for a holiday spent swimming in the sun.

Moroccanoil Body Butter
This stuff is crazy thick and ultra moisturizing, which is essential when your skin is sucked dry from sun exposure and swimming in the sea. Argan oil and shea, cocoa and mango butters nourish and hydrate, while avocado, olive, squalane and pomegranate oils instantly sink in to leave you petal soft and delicately scented with Moroccanoil’s gorgeous signature scent.

Bare Love Hair
This hair and scalp treatment is my newfound beach hair BFF. It feels luxurious, smells divine, and smoothes like you wouldn’t believe. Despite usually having to endure Caribbean-crazy-hair syndrome (the frizz! The dullness! The dryness! The horror!) one pump of this all-natural, fast-absorbing, oil-based treatment seriously quenched my strands and left them tamed and looking all beachy-sexy.

NARS Body Glow
Nothing makes skin positively gleam more than NARS’ Body Glow. Bronzy, shimmery and sumptuous, this Tahitian-Monoï oil-spiked formula drenches skin in moisture and leaves you super-beautyfied and flawless-looking; the delicate, tropical scent only adds to the enjoyment.

Ciaté Mini Paint Pot Nail Polish and Effects
I never leave home without a mini-manicure set, and although I totally respect and appreciate shellac, I love the ability to change my polish colours like I do my bikinis. Also, while on holiday, I love that hour after sunset when it’s perfect to sip a glass of wine and relax before the night starts – I use this time to paint my nails and chat or just chill. Because I love to bring a variety of colours, minis are a must. Ciaté’s versions come in colours and finishes so perfect you didn’t even know you needed them until you saw them, and then you’ll immediately decide that you definitely need them. All. Which means you also need…

Josie Maran Bare Naked Nail Wipes
Josie Maran gets it. The point of a portable piece is that its compact, right? The superstar model, actress and entrepreneur clearly created her amazing cosmetics collection from experience because her Bare Naked Nail Wipes come in a tub smaller than the palm of your hand. Though small, they are mighty and one wipe removes polish from all ten fingers (or toes). Even better? They’re acetone free, cheerfully grapefruit-scented, and like all Josie Maran cosmetics, are infused with organic Argan oil, which moisturizes and soothes. Even better than that? A portion of every sale is donated to the Polar Bear SOS initiative, a project of the National Resources Defense Council.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
My skin can get a little sensitive after swimming and sunning all day. This is especially true after about the second time I reapply SPF to my face as for some reason unknown to man, I am unable to stay sand-free for more than eight minutes on the beach and exfoliating while reapplying becomes a by-product of that fact. Because of this, I switch to a gentler face wash when showering off at the end of the day to avoid further irritation. Formulated with soothing rosewater, cooling cucumber and skin-toning soy, Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser is supremely soothing and really pleasant to use.

Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20
Dry, chapped lips are not just for winter: too much sun without any SPF can burn delicate lips and they are more prone to moisture-loss as well. Cheap and cheerful Maybelline Baby Lips offer a solid SPF 20 and pack a walloping punch of hydration. Bonus: the bright, juicy, shiny shades look really pretty on the beach!