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Once upon a time all we needed was a swimsuit, a bath towel and sunshine. Not anymore! The list of what to bring to the beach or pool has swelled as 50-plusers tote everything from pop-up

tents to portable handheld fans and hefty reclining lounge chairs with pockets for reading specs and wine glasses. That doesn't even include the other essentials for keeping us protected and

pampered under the sun. Here's what you really need to make your day.

Do yourself a favor and stop using your old work totes and plastic shopping bags. Instead, splurge on a water and sandproof bag in lightweight mesh or canvas with interior compartments for

your valuables. Mesh styles with exterior multipockets like the F-Color Oversized Mesh Beach Bag in White ($19, amazon.com) are super-light and keep everything visible and within reach. A

zip-top canvas style — such as the Bag & Carry Large Canvas Striped Beach Bag in Striped Blue ($26, amazon.com) or Shylero Beach Bag & Pool Bag XL - Zippered in Navy Blue Cuttlefish ($45,

amazon.com) — protects your privacy and looks “cleaner” since your stuff is inside. Go with what matters most to you but know any mesh or canvas bag makes a reusable, washable grocery

shopping bag the rest of the year. You can't lose.

Collection Headwrap Color Print in Blue Water (top middle); Gimme Beauty Fine Hair Multi-Color Neutral Bands (right) Ulta Beauty (2); Walgreens; Target Hair groomers

A day at the beach or pool means your usually perfect hair will meet some combination of sweat, frizz, chlorine and salt water. Hiding under a beach hat goes only so far. A few small

grooming and styling items can help you de-stress your tresses and make a splash. Bring a small detangling brush like the Tangle Teezer The Original Detangling Hair Brush ($12,

walgreens.com) for after your swim; a wide, soft hair band like the Scunci Collection Headwrap Color Print in Blue Water ($9, target.com) to function as a sweatband/hair accessory; and a

couple of quick-dry scrunchies — such as the Kitsch Leopard Microfiber Towel Scrunchies ($14, ulta.com) or a pack of covered elastics designed for thin, fragile, damaged hair like the Gimme

Beauty Fine Hair Multi-Color Neutral Bands ($10, ulta.com) — for ponytails. Done!

Tortoise; Prive Revaux The Supermodel Polarized Sunglasses in Black and Gold/Gradient Gray; Tiana SunReaders in Tortoise with Brown Gradient Lenses Amazon; Walmart; Foster Grant The right

sunglasses

Your everyday sunglasses may be fine for other seasons, but how about in the intense glare of summer? Are they big enough to really protect? Are the lenses scratch resistant? Think how often

we toss sunglasses into a bag without a case! Start with a pair labeled 100 percent UVA/UVB or 400 UV (same thing) and look for polarized lenses — like the Prive Revaux The Supermodel

Polarized Sunglasses in Black and Gold/Gradient Gray ($22, walmart.com) or Sojos Classic Square Polarized Sunglasses UV400, style SJ2050 in Black Tortoise ($12, amazon.com) — to more

effectively reduce the glare from light bouncing off water, sand or even your light-color patio or deck. Generously sized frames in a cat-eye, square or aviator style also help since they

cover your eyes and the surrounding skin. Switch your “readers” to sun styles like the Tiana SunReaders in Tortoise with Brown Gradient Lenses ($26, fostergrant.com) before catching up on

the latest beach best seller.

(Left to right) Coleman Lightweight Utopia Breeze Beach Chair; Wildhorn Outfitters Seaview Beach Blanket in Dark Blue; Your Choice Microfiber Beach Towel in B Blue Stripes Walmart; Amazon

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