I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the weather so far this summer – it’s been warm for pretty much all of June, which never happens in PA. We’ve been able to do tons of fun summery things already, and it’s only been “officially” summer for a week, so I’m excited to see  With summer now in full swing, I wanted to put together a quick list of all the things I consider to be my “summer essentials”. From swimsuits to beauty products to water bottles, these are all the things I made sure to have for summer! I’ve linked a few products in each category in a variety of price ranges, so you can pick something that works for you.

10 Summer Essentials for 2016

one: a “wedding guest” dress

Scott and I have reached the point in our lives where we’re going to have multiple weddings to attend every summer for the next 10 years or so (or at least that’s what it feels like!). I always like to have at least two “wedding guest” dresses in my closet – one for more casual/outdoor weddings, and one for more formal weddings.

two: a one-piece swimsuit

I love a good two-piece as much as the next gal, but if you’re going to be spending the day at a water park or doing water sports, I like to have a solid one-piece that I don’t have to worry about keeping in place all day. For one-piece swimsuits, I like comfort and support, but I make sure to have some fun details!

three: a keep-cool water bottle

If you haven’t tried a double-walled stainless steel water bottle yet, you definitely should! I have the thermos one linked below and it’s amazing – it’ll keep cold water cold all day, even if it’s left outside in the sun. It’s perfect for taking along on hot days, because we all know the importance of staying hydrated! (Also, how cute is the pattern on the Swell water bottle?!)

four: a strappy sports bra

I’ve been pretty obsessed with these lately. I love the look of bralettes, but they can be unsupportive and uncomfortable. I love that these strappy sports bras do double duty – they look great with open-back or low-back shirts but can also be worn during your next workout! I have one of these and it’s so comfortable.

five: a moisturizing body oil

This is another one of those things that I didn’t know I needed until I bought it. I have the first one in the widget below and it’s amazing. I use it right after showering, and it makes my skin smoother and softer than lotion I’ve tried! I also love body oils because they sink into the skin super quickly and don’t make my skin feel greasy at all.

six: a beach-to-dinner cover up

A cover-up that can easily be worn out is perfect for those days when you want to go out somewhere after visiting the beach or the pool. I have this puebla dress and I love it (the colors are so beautiful)! It can be worn as-is or belted for a little more shape, and with some nice sandals or wedges, it looks totally dinner-appropriate! I’ve linked a few other dresses that would work great from beach to dinner. (I’m totally loving that off-the-shoulder white one!)

seven: a casual dress

Dresses really are a lazy girl’s best friend, especially in the summer. They’re my go-to when I don’t feel like getting dressed because they’re so easy to wear. I have the tank swing dress linked below and it’s perfect for casual wear (see how I styled it here). The widget says this dress is sold out but it’s actually not, AND it’s on sale for only $8(!!) today!! Go get one! I’m also loving the off-the-shoulder and midi length trends this summer, so I’ve linked options for those as well!

eight: a glowy highlight

I love a good, strong highlight, especially during the summer! I also think highlights look especially nice on vacation – with a nice tan and little to no makeup, a highlight really stands out and looks so summery. I have the first two linked below and would definitely recommend them. The first is a liquid and gives a little more of a subtle, dewy look, and the second one is a beautiful (and cheap!) baked highlight that also works really well to highlight the inner corners of the eye and the browbone. (I use it basically every day.)

nine: a lightweight long-sleeve shirt

I like having a lightweight long sleeve shirt around to cover up my shoulders and back if I’m sunburnt, and also to wear during cooler summer nights. I have the pink one linked below and it’s so cute – it’s casual and comfy enough to wear on the weekend, but nice enough to wear to work as well!

ten: a gradual self-tanner

For a pale girl like me, this definitely falls under summer essentials! I have the Jergen’s one, and it’s perfect for using right before a vacation. I like it because I can apply it every other day to maintain some color, and I like that the results aren’t drastic! I also like gradual tanners because they’re a lot harder to make splotchy or streaky, and they double as a moisturizer.

I’ve linked this post up here and here.