Top 5: Beach Essentials

It's Summer time here in little old New Zealand, and chances are you've got yourself sorted with all your beach must-haves... or have you? I'm here to share my Top 5 Beach Essentials that you may not have even thought of yet!

Lifeproof Case for iPhone

Sand gets everywhere. It's just bound to happen, and I've accepted that and moved on. But I literally can't afford to get my iPhone wrecked by sand, so I invested in a Lifeproof case. It was around $80 NZD but I've seriously got my money's worth out of it. Not only does it stop sand from getting in, but it's also drop-proof and waterproof - perfect for the beach!

Large Beach Towel

Ok, so a towel is a bit of a no-brainer. But what I'm talking about here is a towel so big that it can double as a blanket! These are actually not as easy to find as I thought they would be, but I tracked down this one at Cotton On. I got it for $25 with any purchase, but they retail for $39.99 on their own. Love it.

BB Cream

BB Creams can be pretty hit or miss, so doing your research can definitely help narrow down one that's suitable for you. My favourite at the moment is the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Oily/Combination skin. It provides great coverage, lasts all day and most importantly for this time of year - it has an SPF!

Deodorant

Whether it be a spray or roll on, deodorant at the beach is a must. After swimming and laying in the sun all day, you can be pretty sure that the deodorant you freshly applied in the morning has long since worn off. It's always a good idea to keep some in your beach bag, just so you can enjoy the rest of your day while smelling good.

Poncho Cover-up

I love this Seafolly one from North Beach, I actually have one like this in a mint colour

When you've had a bit too much sun, the best thing you can do is cover up, and something Camille and I swear by are these "poncho-ish" ones. They're loose, comfy and best of all they can protect you from those harsh UV rays. They are perfect for throwing on after you go for a swim, and are so nice and cool that you can pretty much live in them.

So those are my beach essentials. Wishing everyone a safe summer, remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap!

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Top 5: Current Faves

I realise I haven’t done one of these kinda posts in a long time, so I thought I would share my Top 5 current faves with you.  In no particular order:

Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector for Oily/Combination Skin

BB Creams are very hit or miss with me, some are great... others are terrible. But since I’d heard nothing but good things about this, it was time to bite the bullet and get it.
The coverage is that of a sheer foundation (as opposed to a tinted moisturiser!), the formula isn’t oily or shiny and it seems to stay put really well all day. I also love the fact that it has an SPF - this will be perfect for Summer.
The only thing I don’t like about it, is that it emphasises any dry patches I might have on my face, so I usually use a moisturiser underneath it.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in “Crème Brulee”

Honestly, I love these lipsticks. They are so moisturising and are really nicely pigmented. This one in particular is actually a perfect nude for me, and lately I’ve been wearing it almost everyday!
I have two other colours, but am definitely on the lookout for some more.

Lush Dream Cream

I wrote a review here stating how much I absolutely love this body lotion. It has become a regular in my daily routine, and my skin is loving me for it.

MAC Blushcreme in “Ladyblush”

I actually can’t believe that I forgot about this for so long, it is so beautiful! It's actually the perfect natural blush colour. The best thing about this. is the fact that it just glides on and blends out effortlessly, giving you that "naturally-flushed" look. To set it, you can either apply some of your setting powder, or a powder blush overtop. I kid you not, this will actually last all day.
I’ve also actually used it as a lip colour too, and it works great - especially if you throw some gloss on overtop.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot – “Vintage Selection”

I have always been a fan of the Paint Pots and this is no exception. It’s described as a subtly, warm-toned, lightened brown with a slightly frosted, champagne sheen. I would definitely agree with that description. It is the perfect all over lid colour, and because they actually dry down and set, they don’t crease! Perfect for those days when you can’t be bothered applying heaps of eye makeup.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo