Whether it’s a winter sun vacation or a tropical summery holiday, if you’re going to be swimming and exposed to the sun, there are a few essentials that you should never forget to pack. Be aware that the sun is very aggressive and harmful, and remember that the sun may feel less powerful on the beach when you’re wet and there is a breeze. But the sun is very strong and your skin will be suffering! Vitamin D is necessary, but that doesn’t mean you should over expose.
You may think that the worst thing that could happen is sunburn, but if you over expose you’ll be lucky if all you get is sunburn! You’re right if you think that the main risk will be skin redness, but do not forget about the annoying freckles that appear after too much sun, premature skin ageing (think dryness and ugly wrinkles), eye injuries, serious skin damage and, yes, the “C” word: skin cancer.
UV radiation is the number one cause of skin cancer. According to Cancer UK Research, skin cancer could be from long term exposure – for example years of casual sun exposure - or could also be from short but intense periods of sun exposure. The UV sun rays can irreversibly damage the DNA in the skin cells, and what’s very scary is that this damage can easily happen years before the cancer develops.
No one is trying to scare you, and nobody expects you not to go to the beach and have fun, but there are so many things you can do in order to stay healthy and protected.
Here is a list of important items that will keep you protected on your next beach holiday, and also a few tips that should definitely follow in order to reduce the harmful effects of the sun and to enjoy the beach.
Sunscreen: We should all use SPF50 sun cream and ideally we should use a brand that is kind to the environment and that doesn’t damage the eco-system. There are many brands that have ditched the nasty chemicals that harm coral and other ocean life. Make sure your sunscreen doesn’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate.
Sunglasses: Do we need to tell you how harmful the sun rays are for your eyes? They can seriously damage the tissue in your eyes, affect your eyesight, burn your eyes cornea, and you could develop serious problems such a cataracts, blurred vision and other nasty issues. So wear sunglasses that block a minimum of 99% of UVA and UVB rays. When you buy your next sunglasses, not only make sure that they look great, but also that they offer 99% if not 100% protection against UV rays. Wear your sunglasses whenever it’s sunny, whether you’re on the beach or going to work in your suit. Look after your eyes!
Hat: Wearing a hat will protect your eyes and face, and a cool hat will make you look amazing!
Parasol / Umbrella: When you’re resting on the beach, after doing some swimming or watersports, make sure that you don’t stay in the sun for more than 5 minutes. Please be aware that the UV rays are strongest between 11AM and 4PM, so it’s imperative that you limit your sun exposure during these hours: stay under your parasol or seek some shade!
UPF50 swimwear: Many swimwear fabrics have the fabulous benefit of being UPF50. This means that the fabric will block 98% of ultraviolet radiation. So, with some brands manufacturing SPF50 swimwear, why would you buy any other swimwear?
Rashvest: A rashguard, and even better if it’s an SPF50 rashvest, makes things so much easier when you really want to shield yourself from the sun, but you still want to enjoy the beach, swim, have fun practicing watersports, and walk along the seafront. A long sleeved rashvest will protect your shoulders, back, chest and arms. You won’t need as much sunscreen, and if you’re in and out of the water, you don’t need to worry whether your sun cream has washed away.
Girls have the option of a long sleeved swimsuit. They are very feminine and great for surfing! A long sleeve swimsuit will protect you from your neck to your hips, so it’s a no brainer!
Water: While we should always be well hydrated, needless to say it becomes even more important when we are in the sun. When it’s hot and we’re sweating and burning calories from swimming and surfing, drink a lot of water. Yes, we may easily be tempted by fizzy drinks, beer or cocktails, but the best thing you could drink in the sun is water. Nothing will quench your thirst like H2O!
The following are not essential, but we strongly recommend them:
Book: You can’t beat a good read when you’re chilling under a parasol. It’s probably one of my favourite things when I’m on holiday!
Snorkeling equipment: If you are lucky enough to be in a beach with interesting marine life, you only need a mask and a tube to enjoy it. Flippers are great too, they will help you move around quicker and more easily, but there are only so many things you can put in your beach bag!
Flip-flops: Great to walk on the sand, you can rinse after your beach visit. If you’re going to a rocky beach, flip-flops are the worst idea though!
Towel: The bigger, the better!
Sarong: I love a sarong. Sometimes I don’t even bother with a towel. I use my sarong to lie down on the sand. It’s great to cover up your legs too.
Beach bag: Make sure it’s light, but big enough for all your beach essentials!
Music: I always have my headphones and some lovely play lists in my phone that I put together especially for my holiday. Chill out music or hard rock, whatever you like. Just make sure that you’re not annoying people around you with your tunes. I’m sure that your music taste is impeccable, but your fellow beach goers may want some peace and quiet, so please be nice and wear your headphones!
Fruit: Somehow I don’t really get that hungry when I’m on the beach, but no matter how hungry I feel, I’m always in the mood for some fruit. It’s so refreshing, it fills you up, hydrates you and it’s full of vitamins and anti-oxidants. A great and healthy choice!
Also think of bringing a bag to put all your rubbish in and take it away with you. It really infuriates me to see rubbish on the beach at sunset, when most people have enjoyed they day and leave. Even better than a bag to collect your rubbish, here is a great idea: if we all spent the last 10 minutes of our beach day walking along the shore picking up some litter, and making sure that the beach looks better that when we arrived, not only we’re helping the environment, but believe me, you are helping yourself too. You will sleep so well knowing that you’ve done something amazing for the environment!
The more sustainable your choices are, the better for our beautiful planet! Enjoy the beach, enjoy the sun, and stay safe.