By Eleonora Cerasoli
Summer has finally arrived and with it the excitement for new holiday plans. The global situation is not the sunniest but we’re staying optimistic and making plans to enjoy the warm weather and sandy beaches.
We want to make your holidays as smooth as possible by reducing the stress that comes from packing. Whether it is for a day trip to the beach or a longer summer holiday this guide will provide a curated selection of sustainable options for the essentials you can’t forget to pack in your suitcase.
Our holiday beauty favourites
Protect your skin with natural sunscreens
Sunscreen is definitely the number one staple in the skincare routine and certainly unforgettable in your holiday beauty case. Protecting your skin from the damaging UV rays should be a priority all year long but especially at the beach when the exposure is far greater.
With so many sunscreens on the market, it’s hard sometimes to choose which one is ideal for your skin type. Mineral sunscreen is a safe option for all skin types, especially for sensitive and acne-prone skin. And let’s not forget about oceans and marine life, picking the right sunscreen is a commitment to our planet as well.
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Refresh your skin with hydrating sprays
Spending the day in the sun can be quite challenging, we suggest fighting the heat by using a refreshing, soothing and hydrating spray.
The After Sun from Herbivore is a vegan and cruelty-free mist, crafted from a blend of cooling oils that provides instant relief to the skin. Enriched with Aloe Vera, known for its calming properties, it refreshes, nourishes and calms any irritation on your skin after overexposure to the sun.
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Sustainable hair care at the beach
While beach hair is always a good summer look, with natural waves and shinier colours, it’s sometimes hard to manage because of its inevitable damage and dryness.
After exposing your hair to the sun and the salt from seawater, it’s important you take care of your hair with hydrating masks and protecting mists.
Nourishing hair masks
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Hydrating and protecting hair mists
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A travel-friendly bar selection
When we step out of our home routine, we tend to forget the positive changes implemented in our life and pause our path towards sustainability because travelling makes it harder. Avoiding unnecessary plastic and reducing waste is simpler and more affordable than we think. Bar products are a great solution to easily pack your beauty routine: it saves space, money and waste!
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Tip: Remember to exfoliate before a trip to the beach. It’s the best way to prep your skin for the beach: the exfoliation will reveal the fresh skin and will grant you a more even and lasting tan.
Tip: After a day at the beach is important to hydrate your face and body to prevent dryness and peeling.
Travel kits
When travelling we often fall into the temptation of buying less consciously because practicality often prevails over quality. We avoid packing beauty products in our suitcase to then buy new ones at our destination.
The Aesop departure travel kit includes hand wash, hand balm, facial masque, a facial hydrosol, lip cream, mouthwash and toothpaste. The Biossance kit contains all the skincare essentials you’ll need while the Aveda hair kit is what you need for repairing and strengthening your hair after a day in the sun!
Sustainable swimwear & beachwear
Swimwear
Shopping for sustainable swimwear is becoming progressively easier with more brands focusing on using recycled materials to create swimsuits. A special highlight goes to Girlfriend Collective, an eco-friendly brand using 100% recycled and recyclable packaging. Their factory is SA8000 certified (a social accountability standard and certified developed by Social Accountability International), it guarantees fair wages, safe and healthy conditions Their swimwear is made from recycled fishing nets and post-industrial waste recovered from the ocean.
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Pareos & long dress
Are you looking for beachwear inspiration? Here is our selection of thrown-over ideas to complete your outfit for the beach. A highlight goes to Net-à-Porter’s initiative to curate the platform “Net Sustain” offering a wide choice of fashion and beauty products that have been consciously crafted like the Caravana pareo, handmade by Mexican artisans in a bid to uphold age-old traditions. The sustainable edit takes into account human, animal and environmental welfare.
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Accessories for the beach
Beach shoes
Sometimes it’s hard to pick the right shoes for your summer holidays when you have limited space in your suitcase and you don’t want to sacrifice your needs. We selected for you some perfect sandals, comfortable and practical for the beach yet versatile if you want to have a drink in the evening without bringing a change of shoes with you.
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Beach bags
Pack everything you need for a day at the beach in a stylish and comfortable bag.
Tip: Keep your more valuable items in a smaller bag that you can throw in your tote. You will find them faster and they will be more protected from water and sand!
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Sunglasses & Hats
Sunscreen is not the only essential to protect you against the sun. You cannot leave for a summer holiday without a hat and a pair of sunglasses (or two!). They’re a great investment for summer and will complete your look when you go out for brunch or a picnic in the park.
Sunglasses
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Hats
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Beach towels
One of the essentials you don’t want to forget when planning a trip to the beach is your beach towel. We selected different options: a mat, a throw and a classic towel to cover different needs. These are perfect to reuse in your house, when you’re throwing a summer party in your garden or if you’re going camping or just sunbathing in the park.
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Reusable water bottle
Using reusable water bottles is among the many small actions we can do to reduce our consumption and waste of plastic. This is an all-year-round essential, perfect to bring to the beach as well as to work, university or anywhere else. It keeps your water fresh for longer, saves you some money, reminds you to stay hydrated and make our planet a little greener!
I hope you enjoyed our selection of essentials for a trip to the beach and that you’ll find it useful when packing for your next holiday! Let us know in the comments below what are the summer essentials you cannot leave without!
And if your struggling to pick a book to read while lying on a sandy beach, or to keep you company on your flight, train or car drive, check our book club for recommendations.
Have a great summer!
Eleonora Cerasoli
Eleonora is an Italian art historian and enthusiast based in London. Inspired years ago to make a change and live a more sustainable life, she now wants to empower readers through her writing. "One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."
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