All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
But heres the deal: Finding the best swim gear can be tough.
that have been keeping my summer afloatand my bikini and wits intact.
Arashguard is usually a spandex or nylon top that protects you from abrasion and sunburn.
Their mix of modern, whimsical and floral prints are cute and functional!
This suit makes me feel like a total pro!
It has a fun print that comes in a variety of purple, red, green and blue shades.
The support and flexibility are also a plus, and I love the thin back straps.
(I know, EXACTLY what you want to hear while shopping for a bikini.)
I got massively pounded by waves inAthleta’s Cozumel Twist Back bikini top, $40.99.
(This one’s selling like hot cakes, but check outAthleta’s other bikini top options here.)
I not only stayed looking totally cute, but everything stayed in place!
For those of us larger chested girls, racer backs work really well.
Also look for suits, bikinis, and tankinis that come with contour cups.
Your Shades, But For UnderwaterGoggles have come a long way.
Some are almost as sleek as regular sunglasses.
These luckily just keep salt and chlorine out of your eyes.
My big picks are theElementandSirengoggles fromblueseventy, $15-21.
The mirrored lens on the Element goggles helps reduce and block UV rays.
It’s great for bright, sunny weather and glare.
The lens is also anti-fog treated, so no annoying steamy-eye issues.
When Youre Really Getting Down to Business: WetsuitsThese are definitely a necessity for cooler water East Coast swimming.
Wetsuits also help keep you afloat so they are incredible for beginners in the open water.
Check with your local swim shop to see if they handle rentals.
It’s a way to save on some of the best choices out there.
I felt right at home in the water in ablueseventy Reaction Full Suit, $420, pictured above.
(Most stores pick blueseventy suits for rentals.)
It’s also kind of cute, and lets face it: Some wetsuits just aren’t.
(Some swim companies don’t even make wetsuits for women.
TheEquip fullsleeve from Orca, $329, also provides an amazing fit.
Squeezing into a wetsuit can be tricky!
And to Cap It All Off…Swim caps from Speedo and blueseventy are among my new go-to items.
And hey, why not a bright-colored so you cant be missed in the open water?
Image Credit:Seea; blueseventy
