With Memorial Day weekend behind us, summer has unofficially kicked off. Before you set your out of office message and head out for some fun in the sun, executive editor Adrianna Brach recommends stocking up on a few seasonal products.
To share the best summer finds, Brach stopped by TODAY with her beauty favorites and sunny day essentials. From a spray-on lotion to UV detection stickers, these Amazon bestsellers have all earned their place in her summer arsenal. And the best part? Each pick is under $40.
To shop summer’s must-have products, just keep scrolling.
Amazon summer finds under $40
Brach says this little towel is a shower routine upgrade that scrubs off dead skin better than a loofah or brush. It’s made with a special textured mesh that buffs skin smooth without feeling harsh. Pair it with a hydrating body wash for your softest skin yet.
“Unlike a loofah, it’s long enough to scrub your entire back, which feels amazing in the summer when you’re sweaty, wearing sunscreen and layering on self-tanner,” Brach vouches.
This ultra-fine moisturizing spray contains ceramides, which Brach explains support your skin barrier and lock in moisture. It hydrates without feeling greasy or sticky in the heat.
“I love it for summer and travel because skin gets so dry from the sun, chlorine, salt water, airplane air,” Brach laments. “You can spray it on your face or body, even over makeup, and I keep the mini in my purse at all times… it gives skin a glassy and refreshed look instantly.”
Sunscreen is a must, but do you ever actually know when it’s time to reapply? These genius little stickers change color to show whether your sunscreen is still protecting you or it’s time to reapply. Just pop one on before you apply sunscreen and the UV detection technology changes from clear to purple when your SPF is no longer effective.
“Wish I had these when I was growing up as a Florida beach kid... Such a smart sun safety find and a must have for those beach and pool days,” Brach says. “One of those game-changer products that actually works and isn’t gimmicky.”
Brach says this little travel jewelry case was invented by a mom after she lost her wedding ring at the gym. It’s small but surprisingly roomy — you can fit rings, earrings and delicate necklaces inside and keep them protected on the go. It has a secure screw-top design so things won’t accidentally spill out in your beach bag or suitcase, and it’s waterproof. Plus, it has a clip so you can attach it practically anywhere, from your gym bag to keychains and water bottles.
“As someone whose entire household relies on reusable water bottles, tumblers and sippy cups, I love this cleaning duo,” Brach raves. “This brush set comes with every size imaginable including tiny brushes for straws and lids plus detail brushes that get into those gross little crevices.”
“Think about coffee stains, smoothie build up, electrolytes, weird smells... Thats where these cleaning tablets come in,” Brach continues. “Just drop one into a dirty bottle with hot water, let it fizz for 15-30 mins and then rinse out. Works best on stainless steel, glass and plastic — I even tried it on my old school stainless steel tea kettle.”
This extra large beach blanket is designed to be sand-proof and water-resistant, making for a smart summer purchase if you spend time outdoors. It’s so big, it can fit the whole family, but somehow it folds back down into this tiny pouch that barely takes up space in your bag. In Brach’s opinion, the best part is cleanup, because you simply shake it off and the sand falls right off (instead of bringing half the beach home with you).
“I use it all summer long… the park with the kids, concerts, beach trips and more,” Brach says.
Speaking of the beach, you ought to pack the perfect beach read: “Have a Great Summer” by Shop TODAY’s own partnerships deputy managing editor, Francesca Cocchi. Our romance-obsessed editors vouch that this romantic comedy has it all: nostalgic summer vibes set on the Jersey Shore, a dual-timeline that toggles between high school and present day and, of course, a can’t-put-it-down love story.
More summer finds under $40
Not sure how to store your most-worn sunglasses this season? Brach thinks this case is genius for keeping up to five frames organized, whether you’re home or traveling.
Mosquito magnets, listen up: It may be bug bite season, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer an itchy fate. These bracelets help keep bites at bay with a blend of citronella and lemongrass oils that repel pests with naturally-derived ingredients. With more than 34,000 ratings on Amazon, our editors aren’t the only ones who report that they really help.
Irritation and ingrown hairs are a common side effect of shaving, which we’re doing more of now that summer is here. Thankfully, these exfoliating pads can help keep areas like the underarm, bikini line and chin free of razor burn and pesky bumps
Our editors put a bunch of popular sandals to the test for this year’s Travel Awards, and this pair earned the title of “best flip-flops.” The affordable slip-ons comes in dozens of colors and features a lightweight memory foam insole that’s sleek and makes them easy to throw in your beach bag.
There may not be anything more relaxing than stretching out and floating on the water. No pool? No problem — this lounger not only floats, but can be filled on land to act as a personal pool you can kick back and soak up the sun in.
Don’t buy a pool float, camping gear or air mattress this season without also adding a top-rated portable air pump to your cart. This small-but-mighty gadget will save you plenty of time, not to mention lung power, when dealing with inflatables of all varieties.
Air out the house in the morning and enjoy the cool breeze on summer nights with this self-sealing magnetic screen door. The easy-to-install attachment turns any standard door frame into a screen door, and it can even help you cut down on your AC bill.
This kitchen device churns out soft serve, ice cream, frozen yogurt and more sweet treats right at home. Plus, it disassembles easily for mess-free cleanup.
In case you missed it, “jorts” are back. This pair from Levi’s is the perfect mid-thigh length and is currently on sale on Amazon, giving you a chance to score summer’s must-have bottoms for under $40.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Adrianna Brach.
- Adrianna Brach is the executive editor at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
