I've been skiing for 16 years - here are 8 essentials I never forget to bring

The sun becomes more intense at higher altitudes and with a lot of bright white, reflective snow, there's an increased risk for sun burns and weird tan lines from your goggles — even if it's a cloudy day.

Sunscreen is arguably more important when you're up in the mountains. Facial sunscreen is ideal, and I highly recommend my favorite EltaMD UV Clear, but anything is certainly better than nothing.

Read my full EltaMD UV Clear sunscreen review here.

I learned how to ski in the dead of winter when the snow was fresh and powdery, but the weather was freezing, so my parents got me a neck warmer from Turtle Fur, the OG inventors of the fleece neck warmer.

I loved the ultra-soft and ultra-warm fleece so much that I've bought a handful of them over the years as I outgrew my starter gear.

A good number of ski resorts I've gone to stock tissues and napkins, but they're usually the standard 1-ply type and scruffy — not the best ones to use for runny noses post-trail.

I bring these tissue packs with me wherever I go in general, but always make sure to stash one in a pocket when I head up the mountain. These tissues are stronger and softer than most of the ones that resorts provide.

Between the wind, sun, and dry air at higher altitudes, your lips are going through a lot up there.

I highly suggest making sure that your lip balm has SPF protection. I prefer Sun Bum's lip balm because it has SPF 15, doesn't freeze at the top of the mountain, comes in a variety of flavors, and is inexpensive. It's also readily available online or in drugstores too in case I lose mine (which is quite often).

Read our full review of Sun Bum lip balm here.

Okay, socks are not necessarily an often-forgotten item, but the right socks might be.

I've learned that thicker socks don't always equate to warmer feet, and after a few bumpy years of my ski boots not fitting properly, I had to take a second look at the socks I was wearing.

Smartwool's Freeskis are perfect socks for ski boots— they're a medium thickness, have light cushioning for arch support, and mesh for breathability. They're also tall and hug my calves snugly so they won't slide down or bunch up.

If I'm skiing for a full day, I'll always stop for lunch, but with intense physical activity comes a heightened need to snack. (Even if I'm not skiing, I believe in snacking.)

Onnit Protein Bites are ideal for mountain sports and activities. These grass-fed whey protein bites have 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and are non-GMO. They're also small enough to fit in your pocket, which is an extra bonus.

Your phone's battery drains a lot faster in the cold, and you're probably taking photos and videos up in the mountains too, so having a portable phone charger like this can be a big help.

This lightweight portable phone charger from HandFan also doubles as an electric hand warmer with three different heat settings and has a built-in flashlight just in case of emergencies.