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As we head into Easter break and then summer vacation – we know beach season is upon us. And that means we are much more susceptible to sunburns, a small fact that Caleb and I forgot when we went to the beach a couple weeks ago. It was breezy and sunny, and we didn’t realize just how strong the sun was. I didn’t do a great job of applying sunscreen on Caleb’s back, thinking he would wear a rash guard, but he never put it on and he got a major sunburn on his lower back. I also forgot to apply sunscreen on the tops of my feet, and I’ve currently got two circles of peeling skin on the tops of my feet.

Point being, sun protection is important! Here are some of our favorites.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is top of the list. I’m finally at a point where sunscreen is part of my routine every single day. (What’s the point of getting my Botox done if I’m just going to keep letting my face age with the effects of the sun?) I’ve struggled with finding a sunscreen for my face because I do not like the smell of sunscreen on my face, and smelling it all day is a hard no for me. For this reason, I’m a big fan of Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. It goes on like a primer. During the summer, I use their Glow Screen, which has a slight tint and shimmer to it. It’s perfect for a day at the beach.

We also really like Sun Bum Sunscreen for beach days (this SPF 30 version and this SPF 50 Mineral version are my go-tos). I know it works because on the beach day I mentioned above, Caleb’s neck and shoulders, where I applied this, didn’t burn. You could clearly see where I had applied sunscreen and where I, well, missed a spot.

Four touch ups on my face during the day, there are two products I really like. If I’m shiny, I like Colore’s Mineral Powder with SPF. You can just put it right over your makeup, and voila! It’s a touch up and SPF in one. Another option if you don’t want to add more makeup on top is Supergoop’s (Re)Setting Refreshing Mist. Spray this on one your makeup (or bare face) when you’re on the go, and it has the added bonus of feeling refreshing on your face.

I buy this set for travel and to keep in my bag.

Rash Guards

Sunscreen is very important. But if you’ve ever been to the beach with kids you know how hard reapplication is when it comes to sunscreen. Because I like to choose my battles, I will almost always have the kids wear rash guards. So many kids clothing shops sell these as sets, but for the ones that don’t, I can always find solid colored ones online. Here’s a great solid white option for boys, and here’s one for girls. For myself and Eddie, we really like the ones from Columbia. I have a white one that I keep in my beach bag anytime we go to the beach. Whenever I feel like the sun is a little too strong for me, I throw it on and don’t have to worry. This summer, I might just get myself a hoodie version.

Hats

The other item I always have with me is a great hat. Baseball caps are easy and cover your face, but for the hard overhead sun, I prefer something with a bigger brim. Some of my favorites are this one from Amazon, which comes in a bunch of different colors, packs really well, and holds up at the beach, even if it gets wet. For a really large brim, I love this one and their bucket hat is really adorable, too. For boys, these classic straw hats are great. I currently have these in my cart for Chloe, but this might be a cute option to match with mom. Last summer she loved this hat.

What else would you add?

xoxo