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- A well-stocked beach bag can make your vacation more enjoyable.sac de plage image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
One of the best ways to relax is a vacation on the beach. Lounge on the sand, take an occasional dip in the waves, and rejuvenate both your mind and body on the shore. Make your beach vacation even more stress-free by packing everything you need. In the case of a beach trip, it's always best to be prepared as it can be inconvenient -- and pricey -- to buy forgotten items at touristy beachfront shops or in expensive resort boutiques. Grab a large canvas tote with sturdy shoulder straps and hit the beach. - Even if you leave everything else at home, it's imperative that you pack sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15 every day. Apply 1 ounce, or 2 tablespoons, of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or perspiring. The Environmental Working Group recommends using lotion sunscreens that do contain zinc or titanium minerals but that do not contain oxybenzone or vitamin A.
- The best sunscreen consists of a hat and a shirt, according to the Environmental Working Group. Pack a hat in your beach bag and give the sensitive skin on your face some extra sun protection. According to the "New England Journal of Medicine" Journal Watch, hats with at least a 3-inch brim offer effective protection to the forehead, nose, and ears. Hats can leave your chin and neck unprotected, though, so apply extra sunscreen to exposed areas.
- Pack your sunglasses, as your eyes need extra sun protection. Sunglasses filters the light and decreases the impact of damaging ultraviolet, or UV, rays. Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause macular degeneration, cataracts or skin cancer , warns Prevent Blindness America, which recommends sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.
- Stick a water bottle in your beach bag. When your body is exposed to hot weather, like that often found at the beach, you need to drink water to rehydrate. According to MayoClinic.com, the average adult needs to drink about eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day to stay hydrated. If you're spending time in the hot sun or being physically active, you may need to drink more.
- Bring a cover-up to the beach. You never know when you may want to take a break in a beachside café or browse through a boardwalk boutique, which may frown upon customers in swimsuits. Thin, cotton sarongs are easy to pack, dry quickly in the sun, can be worn in many different configurations depending on how much or little coverage you need, and don't take up a lot of space in your beach bag. Men should pack a clean T-shirt to slip on when needed.
- Pack the essentials for a worry-free beach day.vacaciones image by Cristina Bedia from Fotolia.com
Don't forget to stow a pair of flip flops or other lightweight, waterproof shoes in your beach bag. Beach sand can get very hot, making walking uncomfortable, and you don't want to step on any sharp shells, rocks or other objects that could injure your feet. - Many coastal regions are prone to wind and rain, so pack a windbreaker. Look for a jacket made of thin, lightweight, moisture-resistant material. If you get stuck in a squall, an extra layer of clothes can make a big difference in your comfort level.
Sunscreen
Hat
Sunglasses
Water
Cover-Up
Flip Flops
Windbreaker
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