Heading out into the scorching summer heat? There are some essentials that, if you have tucked into your purse, will make life in the humid, sweaty heat more bearable. Instead of weighing down your favourite accessory with things you won’t need, we’re here to help you figure out what you do. These 8 top summer essentials will transform your outings into the sun…

8 Best Summer Wardrobe Essentials

1. Sunscreen

Regardless of what you want to carry when you head out that door, something you can’t miss, especially in summer, is sunscreen. One of the top summer essentials, although it may not feel like you’re doing much, slathering on even a light layer of sunscreen will protect you from the harmful rays of the sun. The sun emits UVA and UVB rays that can cause many problems to your skin, the smaller ones being dark spots, wrinkles, and unwanted tan lines and the bigger, more dangerous ones, including sunburn and cancer. The easiest way to protect yourself and create a barrier between your delicate skin and these harsh rays is by applying sunscreen every few hours throughout the day.

2. Sunglasses

This essential goes hand-in-hand with sunscreen when talking about sun protection. Just as sunscreen protects your skin, sunglasses protect your eyes by shielding them from the sun. The eyes are delicate, and the skin around them is more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Wearing sunglasses will not only prevent your skin from prematurely ageing, but they will also block out most of the UVA and UVB rays. Make sure to choose sunglasses that come with 100% UV protection. From a styling angle, sunglasses can give your outfit that extra oomph and level up even the most basic look!

3. Lip Balm

The summer heat is guilty of dehydrating us, and one of the disadvantages of this is the skin becoming dry and cracking. To prevent the weather from leaching moisture from your lips, it’s a good idea to always keep a lip balm on you. This summer purse essential will nourish and moisturise your lips, ensuring soft, supple lips during the day while also protecting them from UV rays.

4. Facial Mist

When thinking of what to carry in your purse, don’t forget to add a bottle of facial mist. The sweat, grime, dirt and other pollutants you’re exposed to when outdoors can lead to your face looking tired, dull and dry. Facial mists work by reversing this look by refreshing and reviving your skin. A few sprays of a facial mist will boost hydration levels, deeply moisturise and soothe your skin to give you a soft, natural glow.

5. Deodorant

Sweat and summer are synonymous, and while we can’t do much about sweating in the heat, we can kill bad odours, keep fresh and smell good. Keeping a small can of deodorant in your summer bag will help you do that easily. Deodorants also kill the odour-making bacteria that can cause skin irritation if left unchecked.

6. Hand Sanitizer

Yes, COVID-19 lockdowns are more or less behind us now, but there is still a good use for hand sanitisers. Whether you’re putting together your travel summer essentials or just packing your purse for the day, throwing in a bottle of hand sanitiser will help you in more ways than one. You can keep your hands clean wherever you are with a few drops of this gel. When there’s no restroom in sight, and you need to clean your hands, you’ll thank us!

7. Hair Accessories

Even if you usually leave your hair open and love flaunting your tresses when outside, it’s a good idea to keep a few hair ties and clips in your bag before leaving the house. Excess sweat can make your hair look dull and greasy, and sometimes you just want to tie it up to be more comfortable. A simple hair tie will be a lifesaver in such situations! And this doesn’t mean that you can’t still look good. There are tons of ways to tie up your hair stylishly.

8. Facial Wipes

The last of these summer bag hacks to follow is keeping facial wipes. Sweat, dust, dirt, oil and other external factors are all reasons why your skin could look dull and lifeless. They also cause clogged pores, leading to acne, inflammation and blemishes. Facial wipes can help remove these pollutants, allowing your skin to breathe naturally. Pro tip: avoid wipes that contain alcohol (it dries up the skin further) and choose hydrating formulas.