Get Confident Again On the Beach with These Summer Must-Haves
You know what really kills a good time on the beach with your family? Worrying about how you look.
But as moms, we’re GREAT at being our own toughest critics and sabotaging a beautiful moment by worrying about what our butt looks like in a swimsuit.
In pursuit of making memories (and feeling fine doing it), here are some summer must-haves that will make any mom feel like a sun-kissed babe on the sand.
Sultry Sunnies from TopFoxx
TopFoxx makes some seriously adorable sunglasses, and these rose gold reflective sunglasses are one of their cutest pairs. Perfectly glam and girly, they’ll dress up even the messiest mom bun on beach day.
Shapewear Swimsuits from Miracle Suit
Having babies has a funny way of adding lumps in weird places, but Miracle Suit has you covered. These swimsuits are built like shapewear and designed to shape your silhouette, and are available in extended sizes, too!
Sexy In Every Size Swimwear from Adore Me
Another extended size swimwear brand, we love Adore Me for its unique styles and insanely flattering options. Get something trendy and sexy for the beach, and get it in YOUR size — Adore Me covers moms up to size 4X.
Wearable and Washable Beach Cover Up from Lands End
Most beach cover-ups are either impractically skimpy or hand wash only — and ain’t nobody got time for that. This one from Lands End is adorable, offers moderate coverage, and (drumroll please) is machine washable.
Cute Swim Shorts by Athleta
If you’re feeling self-conscious in a swimsuit, these shorts from Athleta are insanely comfortable and look amazing with a swimsuit. They’ll dry quickly, too, so wear them without worrying about your upholstery!
Oh-So-Boho Sun Hats from Goorin
Goorin makes some seriously adorable sun hats, and these floppy sun hats are no exception. Keep your face protected from the sun’s harsh rays, and do it looking freaking adorable. Goorin hats are sized, so make sure to measure your head before you order.
Shimmer Sunscreen from Bare Republic
Sunscreen doesn’t have to be all white and streaky. This blend from Bare Republic has sustainable mica dust in it for a subtle shimmer instead of a streaky “I’m gonna burn” calling card.
We Tried It
When Bare Republic sent me a few of their shimmer sunscreens to try on, I was OVER THE MOON excited. My European ancestry lends me to freckling and burning extremely well. When I remember sunscreen, I’m the girl with the white streaks. Not exactly sexy.
Despite being a mineral sunscreen, this stuff absorbs extremely well. Bare Republic makes a lotion formula (SPF 30) and a sunscreen stick formula (SPF 50), neither of which left big goofy-looking white streaks on my face or shoulders.
The shimmer is available in a TON of different hues. I loved the rose shimmer sunscreen, which had the slightest pink color to the shimmer. Despite this being a reef-safe natural mineral sunscreen with biodegradable glitter (mica), the sparkle was INTENSE. It rinsed right off in the shower though, so I was glittery on demand, instead of stuck with it for weeks.
A++ for Bare Republic’s shimmer mineral sunscreen line — this is officially a must-have in my summer beach bag.
Vavoom Beach Wave Spray from Beauty by Earth
When you’re taking the kids to the beach, spending forever styling your hair just to have it torn up by the wind and water may not make a ton of sense. This beachy waves salt spray from Beauty by Earth is a great way to get the look before you get there (because forget a blowout on beach day).
We Tried It
I’d never used a beach wave spray before, just enjoyed the mysterious effect the salty ocean wind had on my hair when I’d venture out to the Pacific coast with my family on what counts for a warm sunny day in the PNW.
I have naturally curly hair anyway, but hair that loves to fall flat into shapeless semi-wavy strands after the first-day post-wash. I was really, really excited to see what kind of texture this stuff could add so I could skill the inevitable rush to the straightener when my curls lost their spunk.
First of all, I fully expected this stuff to dry out my hair but was pleasantly surprised to see that it added texture without making me crunchy. It smelled amazing, too. Post-air-dry on hair washing day, I flipped my head upside down, gave it a healthy spritzing with Beauty By Earth’s Vavoom Beach Wave Spray, and pineappled my hair.
A few hours later, I let my curls down for the day, and they actually had volume. My hair smelled amazing, had texture, and it lasted all day.
This beach wave spray is my new best friend, but be warned — using it for two days in a row will create some rapid-fire buildup. Use it sparingly for the best results.
Slip-On Beach Sandals by Volcom
If there’s one thing a mom on the beach doesn’t need, it’s to unbuckle ankle straps on her shoes with a baby on her hip. These beach sandals by Volcom are crazy cute and still practical for walking in sand.
