If there is one thing I cannot live without, it’s living near the ocean. It’s the one place that truly centers me, and the one place that can make my workout even more amazing. No matter how bad a day I have had, I can always solve it with a quick surf sesh or a nice long beach run. Hell, I’ve even driven out there to just sit sometimes.
This week, I decided that it was high time that I showed y’all the amazingness of the beaches here within city limits, and let you take a peek into my unapologetic love of being a surf bum. Complete with a waterproof beauty product review as well, of course. Because Running Pretty, yo.
Without further ado, I give you Ocean Beach, paired with all my favorite gear, captured by Rachel again at Rachel Radcliffe Photography!
I currently ride a 7’6″ by Miramar Surfboards, and am searching for my second board right now, between 6’0″ and 6’5″, and will share my finds and fave surf shops once I do.
I finally upgraded to an SUV again, and had a bittersweet breakup with my convertible. The main reason was transport for my surf boards, and my ski equipment in Tahoe. Life was a dream bringing my gear out for this shoot.
There is truly nothing more beautiful than the beach at dawn. The misty touch of the fog on your face and the slow stream of sunlight seeping though are truly captivating. There is nothing more peaceful and blissful than the smell of salt coupled with the sound of waves.
At Ocean Beach, the sun rarely shines, but honestly I believe that’s what makes it so beautiful. Conversely, the few times you do get sun makes it even more magical in the morning. The wind is always present, making the need for layers and post-surf sets of layers to make your visit bearable. I used to surf in bikinis under my wetsuit, but have recently began testing out various compression shorts as an alternative, to help me combat the aggressive waves here. While I love sand, sand burns are the worst, so I decided to figure out a solution to make a rash guard solution for my booty.
I decided to put Hylete’s Compete compression shorts to the test (initially featured previously here), and they were the perfect solution! Lululemon’s Boogie shorts are too thick for this purpose, and end up rolling under your wet suit, making it an even bigger breeding ground for rashes. You want something extremely lightweight and form fitting for comfort, as well as drying fast post-surf.
I adore Roxy by Quiksilver for my wet suits, they are functional and always cute! I am rocking a 4/3 in this shoot, and it does just fine with the temps at Ocean Beach.
I’m also currently loving the new “Bombshell” series by Rip Curl (can we say ummmm ADORBS?!), and can’t wait for mine to come in! However, I won’t be testing it out until I can catch some waves in some non-freezing water. Hellooo Australian vacay: I need one STAT.
As a self proclaimed Lulu addict, y’all are all too familiar with my love/hate relationship with their cute but not always functional pieces. So, putting surfing and Lululemon in the same sentence was a bit laughable for me at first.
You wouldn’t think it, but Lululemon actually has some functional surf pieces. I was their most vocal balk when they released their first round of “surf” gear, but was pleasantly surprised by a couple of the pieces. The “One Love Rash Guard” (sold out) is a pretty decent piece of gear in my opinion. My lovely gal pal Erin did a fabulous showcase on it here. Equipped with an adorable zipper leash and key pocket, this thing thought of everything. I hate squeezing into tight rash guards, so having the option of not squeezing my wet and sandy dome through a tiny ass head opening post surf is a dream.
I even tested out the survivability of one of my favorite Lulu bras, the Energy Bra, instead of a bikini top, and it rocked.
I had an absolute blast with this shoot. I’ll let the fun part speak for itself in these breathtaking photos! Rachel nailed it.
Beauty Products Used
Lips: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain
Foundation: Diorshow Airflash Spray Foundation
Liner: c/o Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
Eye Primer: MAC Paints in Untitled
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow
Mascara: Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara
See below for post surf performance:
Post Surf Layers
I found this bitchin’ sweater hoodie at Forever 21 of all places. I love it, and you can still get your hands on it this season.
My Hylete shorts were already dry and ready for the car ride home. Easy peasy.
Stay tuned, I will be partnering with Hylete for a sizable discount off your first purchase though my blog’s link, so check back soon so you can give this amazing apparel a try!
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