Beachside beauty

Beachside beauty

18 Jan 2010 11:45 AM | Posted by Editor

Go on, apply layer-upon-layer of heavy foundation, lashings of black kohl eyeliner and as much mascara as you can handle. Now imagine it sliding down your face (and onto your new white bikini) the minute you hit the water. Then picture your best ever pimple and blackhead breakout caused by pores blocked by a make-up-sweat combo. And no, I’m not exaggerating – that’s pretty much what’s guaranteed to happen if you don’t keep it simple when surfside, ladies!

Here’s what I’d recommend for a day at the beach:

Skin: The application of an SPF goes without saying, so why make it hard for yourself by putting on a full face of make-up only to ruin it when you re-apply your sunscreen? My advice would be to kill two birds with one stone and invest in a lightweight foundation with a built in SPF, or a tinted faceblock. I like Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive FaceBlock SPF 25.

Eyes: A slick of waterproof mascara is really all you need. Anything else is just at risk of running rivers down your face. But if you seriously can’t handle the thought of going au natural on the eyes, I’m willing to bend the rules for a splash of neutral shimmer shadow and/or some subtle definition with a long-wear eyeliner like COVERGIRL Outlast Smoothwear Eyeliner.

Lips: We’re often so caught up with our bodies on the beach that we forget all about our poor lips. Keep them protected from the sun and looking utterly luscious with Laura Mercier Lip Balm SPF 15 – your next kiss will thank you for it!

Hair: Nobody likes having to fuss with their hair, especially when you’re supposed to be having a relaxing day out. So give it a spritz of KMS California Hairplay Sea Salt Spray and leave it be. If you can’t keep your hands to yourself tie it up in a cute bun or ponytail – that’ll teach you!

Deb x

What are your beachside/poolside essentials?

Member Comments (33)

Posted by: Snazzie (Member since 2008, Australia)

I'm just not an outdoorsy sort of girl and never go to the beach so I really don't need any :-)

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:07pm)

Posted by: jatz (Member since 2008, Australia)

I hate going anywhere without some make-up on, even if its just Mascara. When I do get to the beach, it's just waterproof Mascara and lip balm and a good dose of suncream with a high SPF and definitely my faceblock is applied all the time. Plus a big 2 litre bottle of water. Loving the KMs Sea Salt Spray...always forget to look after the hair when beachside. Great tips there Deb thank you.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:08pm)

Posted by: Bide (Australia)

I tend to wear Invisible Zinc on my face and a good sunblock for the rest of my body, and some tinted lipbalm to the bitchy. Maybe some waterproof mascara but it's always a battle taking it off!

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:17pm)

Posted by: Stay C (Australia)

If I'm going to the beach the last thing I want to think about is makeup so I'd slick my hair back and maybe use my SPF tinted moisturiser and some yummy tinted lip balm and that would be it.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:18pm)

Posted by: melmeko (Member since 2007, Australia)

Invisible Zinc all the way for me, it will last the distance without clogging the pores :)

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:20pm)

Posted by: Sparklesparkle (Australia)

Sometimes, when i remember, I do a conditioning treatment the night before I go to the beach, and again after I come back from the beach. Otherwise my hair looks so dry. And I think ages ago in a magazine I saw this product that is like sunscreen for the hair, but I've forgotten what brand it is..

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:33pm)

Posted by: GoddessMagick (Member since 2007, Australia)

Deb, this article pretty well sums up my beachside look, sunscreen, waterproof mascara, light neutral eyeshadow with natural liner (sometimes), lipbalm with spf (eg blistex etc) and some leave in hair treatment for my hair to help it from becoming too tangled & dry to manage (i have long hair!) Less is more when you want to look good beachside especially if your hitting the water! Thanks for the article :) I always bring a water bottle and some fruit eg apple, grapes etc which helps me feel refreshed too.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 12:44pm)

Posted by: bluerose (Member since 2007, Australia)

I don't worry about makeup when I am going anywhere near a pool or beach, I'm not there to look pretty I'm there to get in the water and have fun! But I do always use sunscreen, and try to remember to put a treatment in my hair if I'm going to the beach (not swimming in a pool, I don't want a hair-treatment-induced-oil-slick surrounding me in the confines of a pool!).

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 1:06pm)

Posted by: Beauty Obsession (Member since 2007, Australia)

I keep my beach bag light and carry a massive beach towel, sunscreen. lipgloss, rosewater mist and some shampoo, conditioner and a change of clothes.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 1:07pm)

Posted by: Belleful (Australia)

Definitely lip balm with spf - experienced sore, burnt lips too often to go without it during summer. And sunscreen of course.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 1:32pm)

Posted by: Bide (Australia)

I just re-read my comment and I have no idea why I wrote "to the bitchy!" I meant to the beach! I was having a conversation as I was typing, not a good thing haha.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 1:47pm)

Posted by: Empire (Australia)

haha bide!
My IZ is a beach-side staple, heaps of waterproof sunscreen on the rest of my body, and an spf lip balm, at the moment it's Sunsense 30+ lip balm. That's it, everything else just comes off ends up looking worse than nothing at all!

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 2:24pm)

Posted by: dancr (Member since 2008, Australia)

I take my SPF30+ sunscreen, bottle of water and a good book or magazine with me.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 2:55pm)

Posted by: Whiteswan99 (Australia)

Throw on some sunscreen, a big bottle of water, sunnies, and a big hat, and I'm good to go.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 3:54pm)

Posted by: beautyqueen95♥ (Australia)

water proof mascara and spf 30+. also lip balm

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 4:04pm)

Posted by: Blissful Beauty (Member since 2007, Australia)

Well, apart from a towel, water bottle, hat and sunnies usually all in a tote, it's water resistant, SPF30+ sunscreen, tinted moisturiser with SPF and lip balm again with SPF! Plus hairbands and maybe a cap for my hair! : )

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 4:32pm)

Posted by: Pinkapple (Australia)

As a red head - layers and layers of sunscreen! And a watch so I know when to re-apply!

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 6:15pm)

Posted by: Bobbin01 (Member since 2008, Australia)

Sunscreen. sunscreen, sunscreen! Oh and sun protecting lipbalm. Seawater will make hair look good anyways and a big smile

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 8:20pm)

Posted by: DanniiBeauty (Australia)

Definitely lip balm, sunscreen, water and concealer!

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 8:26pm)

Posted by: softness (Member since 2007, Australia)

Almost any SPF 30+ sunscreen (but I generally use the large bottle of Nivea sunblock) and I'm loving Covergirl Eyelights Mascara in the Ruby colour (as it never runs or smudges at all, even though it's not classified waterproof!) and I also love the Clinique eyeliner in Starry Plum - it is waterproof and it lasts all day no matter what on my eyes! It's gorgeous combined with the Covergirl Mascara because they are both purply colours that enhance my green eyes. Yeah, I know, most the time I'm wearing my sunnies down the beach and you can't even see my eyes but I'm a glamour-freak and I can't help myself especially because it looks not over-done, but highlights my eyes just a little - and I don't do it all the time - promise! : ) I know I'm cheeky!

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 9:33pm)

Posted by: Annyex. (Australia)

All this summer I have to admit, that I've only went to the beach twice lol
I'm not much of a beachy or summer girl. I don't like the sun either at the beach becoz I'm so scared of getting burnt.
If I do, I wear sunscreen then dust with powder (my skin looks awful with sunscreen alone), curl my lashes, put some shimmer on my lids and wear tinted lip balm.

Posted on: January 18, 2010 (Jan 18, 2010 10:06pm)

Posted by: Dancenow13 (Australia)

My beach side essentials would definitely have to be my Le Tan fake tan to get my legs bronze, my eyelash curler, my Palmers Cocoa Butter lip balm SPF 15 and of course, good old sunscreen to protect myself against sunburn!

Posted on: January 19, 2010 (Jan 19, 2010 5:06pm)

Posted by: hot chillies (Member since 2008, Australia)

I don't really like the beach too much, however i always take zinc, sunscreen, hat, and i don't wear make-up to the beach.

Posted on: January 19, 2010 (Jan 19, 2010 6:39pm)

Posted by: PerfectProductPrincess87 (Member since 2008, Australia)

Towel, mp3 player, compact power, lipgloss, mobile phone, sunnies, water and a magazine!

Posted on: January 19, 2010 (Jan 19, 2010 8:13pm)

Posted by: Shopaholicshell (Australia)

If I cant have a shower straight away after being at the beach I bring my makeuo wipes (I buy cheapies - price line brand) and use this to clean away any sand any oil from my skin on my face and body

Posted on: January 19, 2010 (Jan 19, 2010 9:06pm)