With summer fast upon us, you might have your annual vacation booked and ready. Beach resorts, backpacking, and city sight-seeing are all uniquely rewarding and emotionally nourishing. Getting prepared to go, however, can be stressful. Double checking you have your passport and phone charger, making sure there’s a full tube of sunscreen, it can be overwhelming. Ensuring your bag is properly packed can eliminate a bulk of the stress.

Toiletries are in everyone’s bag! Consider picking up a toiletry bag to keep all your mini bottles organized and in one place. This will make for a more seamless packing and unpacking process. There are elaborate toiletry bags, that unfold into wall-hanging organizers and there are simple pouches with pockets. They come cheap on Amazon or at luxury pricing from any of your favorite designers.

Comfortable shoes! If you plan on exploring the wilderness, invest in sturdy hiking boots. Wear them around while running errands for a few days before your trip to break them in and so you know these are definitely the right shoes for your feet. For a beach get away, new flip flops or sandals to match your outfits. If you want a little extra support in your flip flops, look for those with cork-bottoms or those made out of yoga mat foam. Aching feet should not be a concern on vacation.

Consider investing in a reusable water bottle. Not only is this useful for travel, it’s also good for everyday. Traveling during the summer means you will likely be out in the sun and moving around. You don’t want to accidentally dehydrate, especially not in a foreign country where you may not speak the language or have insurance. Popular travel destinations anticipate this lack of preparedness and will price gouge bottles of water. Having a lightweight water bottle on hand will save you money and keep you hydrated.

Unless you plan on visiting a country or state during their dark months, a chic, sturdy pair of sunglasses is an absolute must. Wanting to keep harsh glare out of your eyes is a given, especially while on vacation, where you might be exploring or sprawling out in the sun. Regardless of your vacation type, travel involves a lot of moving around. You are going to want a pair of sunglasses that will not snap at the slightest bit of pressure. Go to a store and feel the pairs you want before buying them.

A film camera! Recently rising in popularity again, film cameras are cheap and easy to pack in both your luggage and your regular bag. Having one on hand is a great way to capture memories with high quality. These cameras cast the photos in a cozy film, giving an almost vintage look. A physical copy of pictures you’ve taken is a great keepsake to reflect back on later.

Pack wisely to best enjoy your time away! You want to look back on your vacation fondly, so take what you need and capture those memories!

Everything seems to shine during the summertime. Trees in bloom, the gleam of the sun on the water, and the dew-kissed look of healthy skin glowing from a sustainable summertime skincare routine.

Just as we look forward to shedding layers of clothing as the temperature rises, lightening up makeup and skin care seems a bonus of summer. That does not mean, however, skimping on sun protection or moisture. Let’s look at the must have items for protecting your skin and looking your best during the summer months.

Always begin your day with a good cleanser. If your skin is holding on to dirt and oils under the outer layer, the rest of your routine simply cannot do its best. Micellar water is a current favorite among cosmetologists and dermatologists alike for removing remnants of the day from your face. As with all parts of your routine, choose a cleanser designed for your skin type and maturity. With the veil rising on the taboo of talking about menopause, companies large and small are creating products for women with mature skin, understanding that their needs are important, and they often have greater resources to spend on themselves in this phase of life.

After cleansing, apply toner to close the pores and prep for serum and moisturizer. For the summer months, Vitamin C serum is a great option as is one of the latest hot products, Pataua oil. Loaded with Vitamins E and A, as well as oleic acid and amino acids, it provides skin-firming benefits with a light feel on the skin.

No matter the season, moisturizer is a must. Choose a hydration-boosting product that will keep your skin feeling dewy and refreshed without feeling oily from heat and humidity. Give a hyaluronic acid enriched formula a try for a product that draws from the water from humid air to bring extra moisture to your skin. Some women opt for a summer moisturizer that adds light tint to skip foundation. Whichever you choose, be sure to select an option with SPF to protect against the sun’s harsh rays. This is a must for every age and skin type.

Eye and neck/décolleté creams are critical this time of year. The delicate eye areas need a little added attention to ensure summer squinting doesn’t take a toll. A good pair of UVA/UVB blocking sunglasses, while not truly part of your skincare, will go a long way. And adding neck cream to your routine at a young age will help avoid that being the area that gives away your age as you mature.

Keep your skin care in an easily accessible space so that you can readily get to each product, lessening the chances of skipping a step. Like anything else that is good for you, your skincare routine should become habit. Think of it as one small, yet important, component in your overall wellness.

This time of year, opt for lightweight but moisture-rich products to give your skin the natural, healthy glow that is the trademark of summer. When your skin feels good, you look good …and you’ll know it from the inside out. Let yourself shine with healthy summertime skin.