For many, summertime means long days spent at the beach with family and friends. When there is a beach day, a beach bag is bound to be brought along for the ride. There can be a lot of preparation that goes into a trip to the beach, making it easy to forget items you regret forgetting later on. Here is a list of proven essentials for your next beach day.

1. Sunscreen

This is probably the most obvious, but it's still possible to forget it when you're rushing out of the house.

2. A towel

Whether you're using it to dry off, as a pillow or as a place to sit, towels are a beach staple.

3. A hat

Hats keep your scalp sunburn-free, and they'll also keep the sun out of your eyes.

4. Sunglasses

They provide equal parts protection from the sun and blockage of haters.

5. A lip balm with SPF in it

Your lips can become dry, cracked and yes, even sunburned out on the beach. Look for a lip balm with SPF in it to protect your lips from the sun.

6. A light sweater or sweatshirt

This one may seem strange, but if it's 80 degrees at home, it may be ten degrees cooler and windy at the beach, making you wish that you had brought some kind of sweater with you.

7. Water

Pack a water bottle or two to prevent getting dehydrated while you're out in the hot sun.

8. A snack

Is it just me, or does the beach make you really hungry? Packing lunch or a snack (or both) will keep you feeling satisfied and will help you avoid the overpriced food at the concession stand.

9. A brush

Beach hair can get really knotty. Bringing a brush will help you keep the knots in check.

10. Headphones

If you love listening to music, you know it's one of the worst feelings when you realize you forgot to bring your headphones.

11. A book

Although not necessarily an essential, a book is often something that you forget to pack when you're thinking about the towel, sunscreen and food you need to bring as well.

12. Money

It's always good to have some cash on you, so this is not only an essential for your beach bag, but an essential for any bag.