Five beach must-haves for summer in Vancouver

Rock the beach this summer with these Vancouver-centric local style and beauty finds

Summer is fast approaching us! Before you head out to start shopping for your suits, sunscreen and other necessities for fun in the sun, check out these sweet local finds to help fill your beach bag—and do good for Mother Nature.

First, the suit… 

 

1. Cuchè – bikinis

www.cuchebikinis.ca

For me, having the perfect bathing suit is vital for the summer. It has to not only look good and feel good, but you want it to make a statement, too. Why not make a local statement by nabbing a suit from Cuchè, a Vancouver-based bikini line? Manufactured in Vancouver, there are about eight designs of various colours and patterns to choose from—a selection of the suits (The Charlie and The Charlotte pictured below) is even made of high-quality, retro 1980’s fabrics!
 

The Charlie Bikini	The Charlotte Bikini

Cuchè makes limited runs of their suits, so if you’re one who strives for getting the rarest bikini on the beach, this line is definitely for you.

 

Where to find Cuchè

Ayden Gallery – 88 West Pender St (2nd Fl), Vancouver

Dream – 311 Cordova St, Vancouver

Oliver & Lilly’s – 1520 West 13th Ave, Vancouver

 

Next, the après-beach coverup… >>>

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Get beach-ready with these local style and beauty finds, cont’d
 

 

2. Lav & Kush – après-beach wear

www.lavandkush.com

Aside from the stylish bathing suit, you’ll need something equally alluring to wear après-beach!

I recommend the “Chantal” dress by Vancouver’s own Lav & Kush. This silk/cotton voile maxi dress is perfect to slip on after the beach and head to a party or romantic dinner.

Manufactured in Vancouver using eco-friendly and sustainable materials (the silk fabric in the Chantal dress uses low reactive dyes), Lav & Kush also supports many non-profits (PETA, World Vision and Imagine1Day) by donating a percentage of their revenue.

 

Where to find Lav & Kush

Tenth and Proper – 4483 West 10th Ave, Vancouver

Fine Finds – 1014 Mainland St, Vancouver

Life of Riley – 3695 Main St, Vancouver

Body Politic – 208 East 12th Ave, Vancouver

Flok – 2870 West Broadway, Vancouver

Granville Island Organix – 1812 Boat Lift Lane, Vancouver

So Blu – 1519 Bellevue Ave, West Vancouver

 

Now to glow while protecting sun-sensitive skin… >>>

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Get beach-ready with these local style and beauty finds, cont’d

 

3. Affera Cosmetics: mineral sunblock

www.afferacosmetics.com

Keep the harmful UV rays off your face while still maintaining a beautiful glow with Affera Cosmetics’ 100% Mineral Sun Block. With biodegradable packaging, no fillers or preservatives, it works wonders for your skin and the earth.

Lisa Mascareno, founder and creator of Affera, makes the products herself at her home in Burnaby. The sunblock comes in the same tints as her foundation line, so you can wear it as regular makeup to outdoor weddings, beach parties or boat cruises. Made with titanium dioxide (natural sunblock + spf) and iron oxides (for colour), the powder form is water resistant, doesn’t clog pores and is great if you’re on the go and want to avoid the whole “greasy face” look.

 

Where to find Affera Cosmetics

Planet Claire – 212 Abbott St, Vancouver

Health on the Drive – 1458 Commercial Dr, Vancouver
 

And now to dry off with the perfect towel… >>>

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Get beach-ready with these local style and beauty finds, cont’d

 

4. Shoo-Foo: Bamboo towels

shoo-foo.com

It’s time to hand down your cartoon beach towel to your younger sister or niece and opt for a more sustainable option.

Founded by Dany Filion, Vancouver-based Shoo-Foo carries beach towels made of 100% certified organic bamboo that are not only soft, but highly absorbent—400% more absorbent than cotton, in fact.

 

Where to find Shoo-Foo

Beansprouts – 4305 Main St, Vancouver

Every Little Bit – 255 Newport Dr, Port Moody

She to Chic Beauty Lounge – 2315 West 41st Ave, Vancouver

Agnes Jean Boutique – 38016 Cleveland Ave, Squamish
 

And, finally, a beach bag to hold it all… >>>

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Get beach-ready with these local style and beauty finds, cont’d

 

5. Me & You: Reusable beach bag

www.meandyou.ca

And of course you need a beach bag to hold all these beach finds! Although they come in a variety of colours and designs, this Me & You reusable shopping bag is my favourite. Manufactured in Vancouver (under socially responsible and ethical conditions) using heavy-duty fabrics, this reusable bag will last you longer than most and also come with organizational pockets (not found in a lot of reusable bags)! Perfect to drop your suits into after a day of splashing around, or to hold all your beach snacks.

 

Where to find the Me & You reusable bag

Body Politic – 208 E 12 Ave, Vancouver

Whole Foods – Various locations in and around Vancouver

 

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Marjolyn “MJ” Ustaris is best known for mjfromaroundtheway.com, her personal blog dedicated to art, fashion and local events. She has been labelled “MJ of all Trades,” being the creative mind behind many local art and fashion events, bringing visions to life with wardrobe styling and a unique written voice. Twitter