Summer Beauty/Packing/Organization Tips!

I’m going to be completely honest; I haven’t been to the beach in about six years. This could be due to the fact that I have an intense fear of deep water (probably because I can barely swim) or due to the fact that everyone in my family has been busy with school or work, and vacation was just not top priority. But after much contemplation, intense planning, and a high school graduation, my family decided that we were going to reserve one week this summer to spend time at a private beach in South Carolina.

At first I protested. This was going to be my last summer in Nashville before college, and I wanted to spend as much time with my friends as possible. Plus the idea of having sand in places sand shouldn’t be was just not ideal. But it didn’t take long for me to get sold on the idea of clear blue water, glittering white sand, damp air, and low country boils. In the end, I said goodbye to my dear city of Nashville and said hello to the sweltering city of Charleston, South Carolina.

However, one can not just simply go to the beach without being prepared first. So, this specific trip, I took it upon myself to be more organized and prepared for the beach. This meant actually organizing my suitcase instead of just stuffing it with clothes. This meant making sure that I was bringing the best products for the beach and getting clothes the week before, not the day before. Some of the tips and products that I have used on this trip have really helped me not stress out and have allowed me to enjoy spending time with my family. So, I have decided to share some of my packing/organization tips and products with you guys.

(you’re welcome).

B E A U T Y E S S E N T I A L S

For the face:

A hydrating facial mist is an essential for traveling and going to the beach. It not only cools your face down, but it moisturizes it in the process. I used the Burt’s Bees hydrating facial mist on this visit, and it has yet to fail me. This specific hydrating facial mist has aloe in it, which not only cools the skin down, but moisturizes and soothes it as well. All you have to do is keep the bottle tucked away in your bag, and pull it out when necessary.

Solves what problem: Dry and dull skin

Cost: $12.99

Where I can buy it: Target, Ulta

The next two things that I used on my face came hand and hand with one another. Whether it was taking off makeup, or just getting rid of dirt and sweat from my face, I used the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water and Foaming Gel Cleanser. When I was on the road for around five hours, my face started to feel (and look) disgusting due to the sweat. So, at a rest stop, I just took a cotton pad and swiped my face with the cleansing water, before gently washing my face with the cleanser. Later on the trip, when I was getting ready to go to sleep after a day of being at the beach and taking photos (check my insta!) I quickly used both products, and was happily surprised with how fresh my face felt.

Solves what problem: Cleansing face of dirt/ impurities

Cost:

Micellar Cleansing Water (Oily skin, even sensitive) $8.99

Micellar Foaming Gel Cleanser (All skin types) $6.61

Where I can buy it: Amazon, Ulta, Target, Sephora

Okay, crusty lips are not acceptable. Like ever. Ever. Especially not at the beach. When traveling and going to the beach, your lips can be the first things that suffer. Go ahead and buy yourself some lip balm to avoid this problem! I personally purchased the Burt’s bees strawberry Moisturizing Lip Balm, but any of their lip balms can do the trick.

Solves what problem: Crusty lips

Cost: $3.99

Where I can buy it: Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid

If you are like me, traveling or change in air can cause small breakouts on the face. My already acne prone skin hates traveling, but I finally found something that seems to stop my breakouts, or at least keep them at bay. The Derma- E Acne Blemish Control Treatment Serum was a true lifesaver. After washing my face in the morning and at night, I make sure to spend about a minute and a half rubbing this serum into my skin. It takes about two uses to already see the difference!

Solves what problem: Hyperpigmentation and breakouts

Cost: $16.99

Where I can buy it: Ulta, Target, Amazon

For the hair:

For my curly headed sistas, hydration is key. Activities such as tanning on the beach, playing in the water, or taking a dip in the pool can all dry your hair out (And dry hair is no bueno). As someone who enjoys all of these said activities, it was super important that I brought a good hair masque and conditioner. The hair masque that did the trick for me was the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque with African Rock Fig and Baobab Oil. Before you get stuck on the long title, this hair masque kept my hair from ever drying out. Once I came back from the beach, I would hop into the shower and put the hair masque on for about five to ten minutes before rinsing it out. After that, I would comb through my hair with my fingers and massage the Herbal Essences Deep Moisture Hello Hydration Conditioner into my hair. Then I would leave the conditioner in, and continue on with my day. Simple, but super effective.

Solves what problem: Dry hair

Cost:

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque: $8.54

Herbal Essences Deep Moisture Hello Hydration Conditioner: $6.00

Where I can buy it: Amazon, Ulta, Target, Walmart

Other Beauty/Body essentials for the beach:

Aloe Vera

Lotion

Sunscreen (Seriously guys. Bring your sunscreen)

Perfume

Razor

Shaving cream/gel

Shampoo

Body wash

Packing for the beach is probably my least favorite thing. Not only am I unorganized, but I always wind up packing more than I wear. If you have the same problem, here are some tips and tricks that I used for packing success this trip.

So, I am currently at the beach for one week. For the girls out there like me who like to have multiple outfits for one day, this post is for you. I wanted to make sure that I had an outfit for EVERY event; from swimming to lounging around to a night out in Charleston. Here are the first steps that I took to ensure that I had enough clothes, but didn’t take up too much room.

1. Make a List. This sounds so old school, but trust me, this works. I sat down with our schedule of events for the trip, and planned accordingly. I thought about the clothes that I liked to wear and the clothes that I knew that I was going to need at the beach. By making a list, I got a clear idea of which clothes I had in my closet, as well as which clothes I would need to buy at the store. This saved me time with packing, and money!

If you were wondering, here was my list:

Two pairs of nike shorts

Two casual dresses

One pair of jean shorts

Three nice shirts

Three tshirts

Two sweatshirts

One baseball cap

One overall dress

One bathing suit

Two pairs of jeans

Two jean skirts

One pair of platform heels

One pair of sneakers

Flip flops

Sunglasses

Two tube tops

One pair of leggings

Sports bras/ bras/ undergarments

Two cute evening dresses

Side note: This is for someone who likes to change (a lot!) you don’t have to bring all of this stuff!

2. Take a picture of all of the clothes you are bringing! This helped me so much. By taking a picture of my clothing, I knew what was in my suitcase and could plan ahead of time of what I was going to wear. This later helped with organization, because I could double check that I got everything when we left the beach.

3. Roll your clothing. This not only allows you to have more space in your suitcase, but you can fit more clothes in with this method. I rolled everything except for my jeans (which were pretty bulky because they were boyfriend jeans). This allowed me to fit all of my clothes into one suitcase and still have room for my beauty products/ shoes/ etc.

4. Bring a bag with you in the car. I personally brought a bag with me in the car because I know that I will get bored. In my bag I had my favorite magazines, my computer, my phone charger, my summer reading, toothpaste and a toothbrush, my earphones, my facial spray, lip balm, water and a snack. This was helpful when we pulled over for a stop and I wanted to wash my face or freshen up because I wouldn’t have to unload my suitcase to get to my important toiletries.

5. Actually unpack when you get to your location. I knew I was going to be in the house for a week, so I went ahead and unpacked all of my stuff. I took ten minutes and I put my clothes in the drawers and hung up my dresses/jackets. This helped so much because I wasn’t constantly digging in my suitcase for my outfit, and it made me feel more comfortable during the week.

I hope these tips worked. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any questions, advice, etc. Also, if you haven’t gotten the chance, be sure to check out my youtube and vlog. (The link is in the top right corner of the home page) I love you all so much and thanks for reading.

With love,

Nia