Despite Florida having what feels like summertime essentially year round, I’ve picked up some items this year that I’ve made sure to include when packing for beach trips, days out on the lake, and/or family vacations. 

1. Sunscreen color science; this one I’ve used every single day for at least the past 2 years. It’s an everyday staple in my skincare routine & actually doubles as a light coverage for days I don’t put a full face of makeup on. IMHO, it applies *very* similarly to this cult favorite Ilia Tinted Serum

2. Lack of Color, Palma Wide Boater Hat–  You could say that I’m serious about sun protection, but especially now that I remove skin cancers from my patients on an almost daily basis. I’ve always been a lover of wide brimmed hats and when Lack of Color came out with their straw collection – I didn’t hesitate splurging on this beauty! If you’re on the fence, I think their hats have great quality, but definitely recommend measuring the crown of your head prior – turns out mine is L-XL, Hahaha not my favorite fun fact, but guess I have a huge head)

3. Ilia Limitless Mascara– In the past I’ve stuck to this mascara as my all-time favorite, but after trying the Ilia Limitless I’ve started to recommend it for every day wear! It applies more naturally, not your best option if you’re looking for a dramatic look. But I LOVE the application spoolie, it’s easy to remove at the end of the day, AND IT DOESN’T TRANSFER…ladies, you understand the struggle – needless to say: it’s a win, win. If you’re in the market for more of a dramatic look, this is the one I swear by)

4. Sunless Tanner– I’ll admit, this is likely the overall winning champ of my summer round up, the actual MVP because we all know I’m pale af especially from the amount I’ve been working this past year in the hospital. When it comes to self-tanners, I’d have my fair share of trials…

These are my picks that I know I can rely on for best results. (*Don’t forget to exfoliate before applying for the best results. To exfoliate, I usually use a wet washcloth in the shower over the areas I plan to tan & shave if needed!) 

Tanners: 

Loving Tan 2 HHR Express

Bondi Sands Aero Express Tan

Fake Bake

PS: Don’t waste your money on any expensive application mitts, thank me later & buy this one on Amazon for $5 

5. Lux unfiltered cream: So I put this cream listed independently because I wouldn’t consider it a tanner like those I listed above. No 32 isn’t as intense as the other tanners and when I reach for it, it’s mostly right after the shower in place of using lotion —  a staple to my summer must-have’s to maintain glowy skin. This cream is both hydrating and subtle in the way it builds a tan –my favorite thing about it is that it doesn’t get all over our white bedding afterward (obv make sure it first fully dries before getting into bed). 

Oh, and no need to use a mitt as long as you rinse your palms after applying! 

6. Owala Water bottle: Hands down, I’m terrible staying hydrated. Mostly during the week I chug water, coffee, and Coke between our cases in the OR. I originally bought this bottle for Jared, but have had to buy another since, because I kept using his so often! My favorite feature is the protected mouthpiece and they usually have healthcare employee / student discounts, too!

7 . DryBar Dry Shampoo– I get through most weeks thanks to dry shampoo-  and because my hair texture is fine and naturally wavy-straight, I tend to need to apply dry shampoo more than your average. I found this dry shampoo to not only be WELL WORTH the money, but it’s an actual game changer with restyling as well.

8. Sandals / Slides: A cute & comfortable pair of sandals that can take you from your day look to a casual night out, very easily is one of the best parts about summer. This year, while platform styles have been all the rage, I’ve also sound these sandals to be the pairs I grab for most often.

I’ve linked my top 3 pairs I’ve worn this summer, all fit true to size!

My two favorites are linked here: 

ALL SAINTS Slides

A&F Sandals

9. Sunnies– I’ve had these sunglasses for over a year now, but still love the style! I usually buy straight from the RayBan site so I can customize them as I like – personally, I have my pair polarized with the green lens and gold accents! But I’ve also attached a dupe I found with a fantastic price point (without the polarized lens) + high reviews!

Linked here

Link for dupe

10. White Linen Pants– Linen has been ALL the rage this spring and summer & I can see why! It’s breathable, comfy, and dries quickly in case you find yourself sweating at your next outside event. These linen high waisted pants have been a go-to for just about every water related event we’ve had this year!

Linen Pants

This sums up just about all of the items I’ve found to be my most frequently used & love this summer! I also have a similar post ‘What I packed for Summer Vaca’ with links included on my LTK here.