1. A generous helping of sunscreen (SPF 30+)

California is the sunshine state, so sunscreen is mandatory. For the uninitiated, you need a minimum of SPF 30 to receive adequate protection from the sun. I like to use Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 in the morning because ya girl looooves double-tasking skincare products and it's one less thing to worry about.

When I'm out of the house, I use Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55. It's one of the few that don't make me break out.

2. A trusty fanny pack

Call me a soccer mom as much as you like, fanny packs are MVP. As a female with no substantial pockets on her clothing due to widespread sexism in the fashion industry, I need to put my essentials SOMEWHERE. I also don't fancy chronic shoulder and/or back pain from wearing cumbersome purses all day.

I can run miles in my fanny pack, I can keep the seatbelt off my aching stomach when I'm menstruating, and I never have to worry about pickpocketing or losing my stuff on roller coaster rides.

3. A water bottle

There's nothing quite like not fainting from dehydration in 90 degree weather. Of course, this necessitates touting the proper hydration with you at all times! As I'm sure you've all heard, reusable water bottles are eco-friendly, relatively easy to refill, and save you money in the long run.

I got a massive 30 oz Contigo water bottle from Ross to encourage myself to drink more and so I wouldn't have to search for water fountains as much. Also, I totally broke the lid a week after I got the bottle so I called Contigo's warranty service (they offer lifetime warranty on their bottles) and they sent me a new one for free which is why it's a different color from the bottle. I think it makes look unique though. Win-win!

4. A menstrual survival kit

Remember how I mentioned I bring this along in case an earthquake strikes and I don't want to be incapacitated? All of my essentials live in my fanny pack where I can easily access them just in case I or someone else needs them. For those of you who don't menstruate, people totally pack bond over menstruation.

If anyone in the high school locker room ever shouted for a pad or tampon, they'd have 3 people offering one within seconds. The PE teacher's office also had the fancy U by Kotex pads and tampons sitting in a basket at all times. It was a huge step-up from middle school let me tell you.

5. Sunglasses

I struggle with summer Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) -- think of it as seasonal depression, and yes it doesn't just happen in Winter -- so sunglasses are very soothing to me. Something about the harsh sunlight and unforgiving heat really gets me down and makes me feel like I'm dissociating.

Sunglasses make the world look darker so I can trick myself into thinking it's not full-out summer. That and I don't like the feeling of my eyes burning when the sun is beating down on me. I swear it shines brighter now than it did 10 years ago and I'm sure climate change is what's making it happen.

6. EOS Lip Balm

I'll be entirely honest, I discovered this brand when I saw all the other girls at my high school using it. I'm not usually one to jump on bandwagons, but I figured I'd try it and see if I was allergic to it or not. (I'm allergic to some ingredient in chapsticks that makes my throat itch, but I'll never know what it is because chapsticks only have 30+ chemicals.)

Long story short, I fell in love with it. Pomegranate Raspberry is my favorite flavor. Now you know what to buy me for my birthday. ;)

7. A spritz of hair oil

My hair, bless its soul, is so thick it's impossible to style without enough chemicals to fill a pharmacy. It also turns into a frizz bomb over the summer and has the texture of the broom you always see Cinderella using. I'm not even joking about that, the tips of my hair feel like bristles.

This hair oil, in spray form, changed all of that? I don't look like Priyanka Chopra and Lilly Singh advertising for Pantene, but my hair looks better than it ever has in my entire life. There's no more static when I comb my hair and it doesn't pouf out to twice its size when I go outside.

And I didn't even have to use chemicals to beat my hair into submission because this hair oil is FULL of natural ingredients. I will warn you that this brand is a little hard to get your hands on because it somehow always seems to be out of stock at Target, but it's totally worth it I promise you. I apply it every other day after I shower because my hair gets really frizzy and I'm never looking back.

8. A cell phone

No this isn't because I have nomofobia or text in the car. Seriously. I signed a contract to never text and drive in high school and have kept it ever since. That is NOT the way I want to go down.

I bring my phone with me because, as a virtue of living in the 21st century, there will almost always be someone trying to call or email me. Sometimes I need to do some research on the go or maybe I want to play a game to entertain myself WHEN I'M NOT DRIVING.

Having those options in a 4-inch package, iPhone SE for the win, is terribly useful.

9. Headphones

Every college student knows that headphones are one of the most important school supplies. For those many occasions you need to tune out the world while writing that essay or studying those notes or typing that blog post or what have you. I use the EarPods that came with my iPhone because I'm a basic girl like that. ;)

10. A wallet

I bring it with me whenever I leave the house no matter where I'm going because the one time I don't bring it, I will 100% wish I took it with me. This is a scientific fact, OK?