The essential beach kit

When spending a day at the beach, there are certain things you must have within reach. You don’t want to head for the sand only to find yourself missing some major beach equipment. There’s nothing worse than plopping onto the fine white-sand beach with your appropriately trashy Judith Krantz novel and bottle of filtered water and then realizing that you forgot a tub of sunblock. Of course, it can only get worse if you choose to tough it out and tan without the help of some protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. You could end up bright red, peeling and in too much pain to enjoy the rest of the trip or you could pay for it later and end up looking like a leathery old bag of flesh. The best choice? Whip out that pen and paper and start listing, kid.

Here are the things you need for a pain-free and fully-equipped day at the beach:

1. The right swimsuit. Obviously, depending on your shape, you should pick one that best flatters your figure. This summer, bring some color back into your life. Go for bright shades like yellow, turquoise or green. The selection at SM Teens Department ranges from tummy-baring maillots to skimpy bikinis in colorful, contemporary designs.

2. An after-dip cover-up. The wind can often be chilly after you’ve soaked up the sun and taken a much-needed dip in the cool water, so make sure that you have a cover-up on hand, along with a towel. A cute cover-up like a sarong or beach dress can help complete your look.

3. A beach bag. You want something big enough to carry everything, so a nice summer tote is always a good idea. Go for something slightly waterproof so that if you bring an iPod or a book, it won’t get soaked and your products won’t get covered in sand.

4. The essential products. Now there are several essentials to keep your skin safe from burning, make you look good and help you stay refreshed in the heat. Here are a few I highly recommend:

•Sunblock: No matter how much we all want a tan, going without sunblock leaves you exposed to harmful UV rays which can lead to skin cancer. Go for something with at least an SPF 15. If you’re highly sensitive, then go for SPF 50, like Hawaiian Tropic’s Baby Faces sunblock.

•Tan amplifier: For those of you dying for the perfect tan, don’t let sunblock put you in a state of despair. I discovered Hawaiian Tropic’s tan amplifier and it does wonders even in tandem with your sunblock. It gives you a rich tropical tan and the shimmery version gives your skin a healthy glow in the sunlight.

•OFF!: Some of the most unsightly imperfections are the icky red marks left by mosquito bites. Prevent those nasty insects from getting to you with OFF! or any other insect spray. I highly recommend OFF! Soft and Scented because it smells lovely and is light on the skin.

•A pack of tissue: You never know when you’re going to need it. I think, in that respect, ‘nuff said.

•Body spray: We all perspire under the heat of the sun but that shouldn’t stop you from smelling fresh. I always bring a little bottle of baby cologne or scented body spray so I can avoid smelling like a sweaty soccer player after a match. Parfum de Coeur’s Apple Fantasy is sweet and tart at the same time.

•Evian Brumisateur: Like it says on the bottle, it tones, moisturizes and refreshes. A quick spray all over your face keeps your skin fresh and keeps it from getting fried.

•Foot lotion: Dry skin can be incredibly unappealing, so start the day with a good moisturizer, like Bare Foot’s peppermint and plum softening foot lotion, so you can walk around barefoot and shameless.