Last summer, my friends and I did a little discount travel to the wonderful beaches of Guatemala. The resort we stayed at was fabulous, in a laid back, National Geographic kind of way. The only bad thing was that I left most of my beach paraphernalia back home so I had to go on a scavenger hunt in every convenience store I could find, which wasn't a whole lot considering where we were. From then on, whenever I went out of town to some far off paradise in the sun, I vowed never to leave home without my tropical safari survival kit more commonly known as the beach essentials.



First on the list is no other than your pair of *versatile swim wear*. Go crazy, bring two to three pairs if you want. They don't take up too much space and they can easily be mixed and matched with any other item of clothing. Bring a wrap, too, while you're at it. That will give you a certain fashion flair even right before hitting the water. Sure, you can buy one at a local store once you get to your destination. Worse case scenario: you borrow from a friend. But you know it'll look better if you bring your own. I forgot to bring my swimsuit to a pool party once and I had to swim in my underwear -- how embarrassing.

When you know you're skin will be exposed under the intense heat of the sun, you don't have to think twice about sun protection. The No-Ad Sun Tanning Lotion with SPF 4 is non-greasy and waterproof. It has cocoa butter, aloe vera, and vitamin E to keep your skin hydrated and supple even while being baked under the sun. The Aveeno Sunblock has SPF 30 that can be used on your face and body. It doesn't have a weird scent and it doesn't feel greasy after your apply it. Its gentle composition is perfect for all skin types so you know you won't mind sharing it with your friends or a new beach acquaintance. For a more intense SPF, equip yourself with the Banana Boat Max Sunblock Lot SPF 50. If you love the sun but not necessarily the tan, this product is just right for you. Its broad spectrum UVA/UVB keeps your skin moisturized and protects you from the harmful rays of the sun. Slap some of these products on -- one at a time, of course -- and enjoy the sun without the painful aftermath of sun burn.

For any woman who's headed out the door, makeup is a must. Some would prefer to go around town with absolutely no makeup on but I think that's just unfortunate. We all have potentially beautiful canvasses to work with so indulge in a little aesthetic pleasure, why don't you. If you don't feel comfortable wearing too much, tints are going to work for you. You can't really wear a lot of makeup anyway if you know you'll be in the water most of the time. So stick to the basics, like what my Aunt Carmen always says. I listen to her because, honest to God, she even looks younger than I do. The Palladio Eye Shadow Nude Sparkle is a tinted highlighter that contains ginseng, gingko biloba, green tea, aloe vera, and chamolile -- not too shabby for skin care savvy women. The Borghese Milano Multi Bronzer Spectra combines the blush and the bronzer in one mirror compact with tricolor tint glaze that blends evenly on your skin. The Qtica Instant Lip Repair Balm with built-in sun block protection has beeswax and honey that can give you sophisticated beach lips while relieving the cracked and irritated parts. Believe me, there is no excuse to look ordinary at the beach. You don't have to be Bobbi Brown to put on the right stuff on your face.

Once you check into your *resort hotel*, you don't expect to take your luggage with you to the pool side, do you? You'll need a bag, preferably waterproof, that will hold all of these precious beach gems. Check all of these items online and experience discount shopping for your beach necessities like never before. Go to www.discountbeautycenter.com for all your sand, city, and country beauty needs.