What To Pack For A Weekend At The Beach
You may not be able to tell from my pale complexion (I slather on the SPF), but I’m a Florida girl who constantly craves the sunshine. My day-to-day schedule requires a lot of time indoors in front of a computer screen, so if I get the chance to spend time outdoors, I take it! Whether it’s a quick stroll around the block or ten days in Hawaii (can’t wait to share my travel pics with you soon), I’m a happy girl if I get to spend any amount of time in beautiful sunny weather.
Ever since we got back from Hawaii, I have been dying to plan another trip, so I’m throwing together a quick weekend trip to the beach to relax and recharge with my family. After traveling for nearly the entire month of June, I’m thrilled to pack my suitcases again for our latest trip. If you’re headed on a sunny vacation this summer, keep reading to see exactly what you need to pack for a low-key weekend at the beach. Plus, I’m sharing where to find the best travel-sized hair products for your trip!
How To Pack For A Weekend At The Beach
Details: Round Bamboo Bag* | Hello Sunshine Hat | Mud Pie Palm Tree Dress / Cover-Up* | | | Mud Pie Pom Pom Cover-Up*
Details: Pom Pom Straw Bag | CIBU Shine Spray | CIBU Dry Shampoo | CIBU Hairspray | CIBU Curl Cream | * | *
Let me start by saying I am a recovering over-packer. In the past, I have been guilty of stuffing so much in my suitcase that I literally have to enlist a second person to help me zip up the suitcase, but I’m slowly learning how to only pack the essentials. When you’re only going to be traveling for a weekend, there’s no reason to jam pack your suitcase. In fact, there may not even be a need to bring a suitcase. Whatever you think you need to bring, eliminate 50% of the stuff, and you’ll be closer to the amount of things you actually need.
I’ve learned that I have to set firm limits with myself to prevent myself from overpacking. First of all, I always choose a travel bag(s) that’s slightly smaller than what I think I’ll need for all of the items I’m bringing. Once I choose a bag, I must find a way to fit everything in that bag OR in that bag and in my purse. It seems silly, but even such a small limit can help you re-think each item and prioritize the most important items.
Trust me, you are going to be a lot more annoyed on a weekend beach trip if you’re lugging around 3 giant bags than if you forget to pack a third pair of shoes. You will not miss the extra shoes. I promise! And here’s the thing. If you’re creative, you can pack a LOT of things in a very small bag. Some of my favorite techniques include using packing cubes, rolling clothes and/or folding with the Konmari technique, and having travel-sized versions of my favorite beauty products and tools.
In the spirit of packing smarter, I’m making it my personal mission to pack everything I need for our beach vacation in an oversized beach bag. Here’s a breakdown of what I’m bringing:
Clothing: 1 bathing suit, 1 cover-up, 1 pair of pajamas, and 2 dresses packed in a packing cube.
Accessories: 1 oversized beach bag used in place of a suitcase, 1 mid-size purse, 1 pair of patent leather sandals, 1 pair of earrings, 1 necklace, and 2 bracelets. The jewelry will be packed in Ziploc bags, and the sandals will be packed in the packing cube with my clothing.
Makeup: CC cream with SPF 50, powder foundation with SPF 50, bronzer, blush, liquid eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and lip gloss.
Skincare: Makeup removal wipes, travel-sized cleanser, travel-sized moisturizer, and a full-size tube of sunscreen.
Hair Care: Travel-sized blow dryer, curling iron, The Wet Brush, hair elastics, and travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, shine spray, and hair spray.
Toiletries: Travel-sized deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss picks.
Let me know if you guys would like to see examples of easy ways to create capsule wardrobes for vacations. I’m only traveling for two days, so I need a very minimal amount of clothing; however, we had to be very creative with wardrobe choices on our recent 19-day trip to Hawaii and Alaska. If you guys are interested, I’m happy to show you how we packed!
The Best Travel-Sized Hair Products
As I mentioned above, having travel-sized versions of my favorite beauty products and tools helps me save TONS of space in my suitcase. In fact, the only full-sized items I bring with me on trips are a curling iron and sunscreen. Everything else is compact and petite! In the past, I’ve struggled to find travel-sized beauty products that I actually like. No longer!
You guys know that I’m a huge fan of CIBU hair products. If you’re not familiar with their line, you can check out my review of almost all of their products here. I’ve been using their salon-quality hair products for years, and I’m thrilled that they recently launched a line of travel-friendly minis of all of my favorite products! Hotels are notorious for having subpar blow dryers and toiletries, so I always try to avoid using their products – even on a short trip. These minis are available at Hair Cuttery, and I’m so happy to have them in my travel line-up now. Here are the travel-sized beauty essentials from CIBU that I’d recommend for your travels:
CIBU Color Shampoo and Conditioner: I tried out this hair duo last February, and I’ve been a fan ever since (see my review here). CIBU Color Shampoo is sulfate-free and has a green tea-infused formula that keeps color-treated hair vibrant and soft. The CIBU Color Conditioner is paraben-free, and its moisturizing formula strengthens your hair while it conditions to lock in color. It’s a solid shampoo and conditioner combo, and I think it would work for almost all hair types. For the record, I don’t color my hair, and I still really like this line! | Shop the shampoo here and the conditioner here or pick it up at your local Hair Cuttery.
CIBU 3 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo + Body Wash: When we travel, my husband just uses whatever toiletries I pack. This 3-in-1 products is perfect for him! The minty formula washes and conditions his hair without weighing it down too much, and the scent works really well as a refreshing body wash too. I’m very, very picky about my hair products and would never skip using conditioner, but I’ve used this product as a shampoo and conditioner and then followed up with a conditioner and loved the results. Whether you’re a hair care minimalist or have a guy joining your trip, this product is worth checking out! | Shop this product here or pick it up at your local Hair Cuttery.
One of my all-time favorite products from Hair Cuttery is the CIBU Ka Pow Dry Shampoo. It is AWESOME. Unlike so many dry shampoos I’ve used, this one has an ultra-fine mist and doesn’t leave a heavy residue on my scalp. I use it to add volume and remove oil from second-day hair, and it’s also fabulous as a texturizing spray. This dry shampoo is a MUST-HAVE for any beach trip, but who wants to stuff a giant bottle of dry shampoo in their bag? I’m honestly a little too excited that they make mini versions of this dry shampoo now! Now that I have one for travel, I’m definitely going to pick up a few more to keep in my purse for on-the-go touch-ups! For more info, see my full review and tutorial for this dry shampoo. | Shop this product here or pick it up at your local Hair Cuttery.
Another summer hair essential that I use every single day is the CIBU Shine Squad Argan Oil Treatment from Hair Cuttery (see my reviews here and here + available in travel-sized version here), but lately, I’ve been using and loving the CIBU Shine Squad Argan Oil Mist. It’s a moisturizing argan oil spray that lightly mists just the right amount of oil on your hair to make it shiny and soft without weighing it down too much. Like all oils, you’ll want to concentrate this spray on your ends to maintain your hair’s volume. I love this lighter-version of argan oil for the summer, and it’s especially great for those of us with fine hair! | Shop this product here or pick it up at your local Hair Cuttery.
One thing I always forget about the beach is just how windy it can be! I have fine hair that’s prone to flyaways and tangles, so hair spray is a must-have product for me when I’ll be in windy weather. I have loved the Cibu Finista Hair Spray since last February (see my review here), and I’m so pumped to have a mini version now! This lightweight hair spray will give your hair the perfect amount of light control, but I love that it doesn’t leave your haiy. r feeling crunchy or sticky. | Shop this product here or pick up a bottle at your local Hair Cuttery.
There’s one more product I’d like to mention that’s PERFECT for summer beach days: CIBU Curl Magnet Curl Amplify Curl Cream. The best way I can describe this product is its like if you combined smoothing cream with a bit of hair gel. It’s a creamy product like a smoothing cream, but it definitely has quite a bit of hold and tackiness like a hair gel would. I like to apply a small dollop of this product on the ends of my wet hair to bring out my natural waves, and I think it’s going to be amazing at the beach to amplify the effects of salt water to create perfect beach waves. I also think this product would work wonders for my friends with naturally curly hair! It’s not available in a travel-sized version yet, but I’ll be putting in my hair before we head to the beach. | Shop this product here or check it out at your local Hair Cuttery.
Another beach trip must-have that I don’t need to bring with me is a long-lasting manicure. In my opinion, traveling with nail polish is almost always a bad idea. I’ve had more than my fair share of polishes break in suitcases and ruin some of my favorite clothes. That’s why I always get a long-lasting manicure before a trip, so that I don’t have to worry about chipped nails during my vacation. My all-time favorite nail polish is the OPI Infinite Shine system. If you ever look at the outfit details in my posts, I am wearing an OPI Infinite Shine polish at least 95% of the time! A new favorite for summer is the shade Adam Said It’s New Year’s, Eve!
I’ll always be a fan of classic red nails, but I’m especially fond of a bold red in the summer heat. If you’re headed on a trip OR just need a great nail polish system, I would highly, highly suggest trying out the OPI Infinite Shine Trio packs available at Hair Cuttery. You get a primer base coat, long-wear nail polish, and a glossy top coat in one set, and it’s everything you need for a great manicure at home. I’ve been using this system for years, so I’m thrilled to have found a new classic shade in the line I can wear for years to come. Adam Said It’s New Year’s Eve is a fantastic red for summer – the perfect balance between a warm and cool red. | Shop these kits at your local Hair Cuttery (find a store here).
Details: Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 | Sheer Lipstick in Rose | Lip Gloss in Dahlia
The one beauty product that I pack in my beach bag that isn’t travel-sized is sunscreen. As a fair-skinned gal in one of my sunniest states in country, I slather on sunscreen like nobody’s business, so I definitely don’t want to run out on my trip. If you’re headed on a beach vacation, be sure to stock up on sunscreen before you get there to avoid paying an arm and a leg at local surf shops!
If you’re looking for salon-quality hair products to travel with, I highly suggest heading to your local Hair Cuttery (find a location here) or shopping their selection of CIBU products online. I’ve tried so many products from the CIBU line, and I have honestly not been disappointed in a single one! If you need to refresh your style before your trip, Hair Cuttery is great for a quick trim or style before your trip. I’ve gotten my hair refreshed there dozens of times with great results at an affordable price!See more of my favorite hair products + my experiences at Hair Cuttery in these posts:
Hair Styling Tutorials:
– 4 Easy Heatless Hairstyles
– Easy Side Braid Tutorial + Review of Puff.Me Volume Powder
Hair Product Favorites:
– Self-Care Tips for New Moms + Review of Cibu Shine Drops and It’s a 10 Hair Mask
– How to Use Every Type of Hair Product + Reviews of Almost Every CIBU product
– How to Use Dry Shampoo + Review of CIBU Dry Shampoo and Texturizing Spray
– Spring Outfit Idea + Review of Redken’s All Soft Line
My Experiences at Hair Cuttery
– Classy Holiday Outfit Idea + Style at Hair Cuttery
Summer Outfit Idea + Haircut at Hair Cuttery + Review of Redken’s Extreme and Frizz Defense Lines
– Holiday Party Outfit Idea + Special Event Hair Style at Hair Cuttery
– Classic Shirt Dress+ Haircut at Hair Cuttery
– Summer Outfit Idea + Haircut at Hair Cuttery
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Now that you’ve seen a glimpse into what I pack for beach vacations and learned about all of my favorite travel-sized beauty essentials, I’d love to know which products you’re loving this summer! What are your ride or die hair products that you absolutely can’t travel without? I’m always on the hunt for great new products, so I’d love to learn your favorites!
Thanks again to Hair Cuttery for sponsoring today’s post. As always, all opinions are my honest thoughts. Items marked with an asterisk* were sent by PR for consideration. All other items were purchased with my own money. Affiliate links are used in this post, which means I make a commission if a purchase is made after clicking through the link. I value your trust and only recommend products and services that I truly love.
