It's summertime, and that means it's time to plan a trip to the beach (if you haven't already)! One of the most important things to pack for your getaway is a cute beach bag, and Charm's put together a list of essential supplies to take to the sand.

1. BABY POWDER. Here's a neat tip: Sprinkle baby powder over the sand that's sticking to your body and swipe your hand over it. The powder is great to use to get the coarse sand off of you AND it helps mask the seaweed smell that may be lingering from the water.

2. SUNGLASSES. Be a sexy sun goddess in some oversized shades. Protect your eyes in style with shades that are white, the spring and summer "it" color.

3. WIDE-BRIMMED HAT. Stay away from straw and look for full coverage hats that will protect your face and scalp from a sunburn. Hats also keep your hair tame and provide some shade if you're spending your beach time reading a good book.

4. SUNSCREEN. To keep your bag as light as possible, look for products that can do double-duty. Look for water-resistant or waterproof sunscreens so you can swim and sweat without worrying about a wicked burn. Remember to reapply every few hours even if you don't get wet.

5. TOWEL. A must for every sun worshipper, a cute beach towel is great to use for laying out on the sand or wrapping around you as a coverup. Mark your territory with an oversized towel and invite your girlfriends to sit and chat awhile.

6. BOOK. For some quiet time, settle into sunbathing mode with a good, light read. A short story book is great; unlike novels, you don't have to read 500 pages to know the ending. Read as much as you want, when you want. "The Beach Book" is a fun short-story book, with beach-themed stories — and the pages are waterproof.

7. WATERPROOF MAKEUP. If you feel naked without your makeup, as many women do, slip a small pouch of cosmetics into your beach bag. Avoid a meltdown (literally) by keeping some things in mind: