So our friend Amanda is taking off for Mexico soon. I’d be jealous except that I just got back from the Riviera Maya in Mexico! (You can be jealous of both of us now.)
Amanda asked me to do a Mexico post for all of you in honor of her vacation, and since I haven’t edited a single photo from my trip yet, I thought it would be great to give her some packing ideas for her trip! I took along similar versions of most of these things, but some I just wish I would have brought along.
Woven Fedora: I’m addicted to mine. (So much so that I bought a second one last year after I left the original one hanging on a hook in an LAX bathroom stall.) Not only does it keep your face shielded from those powerful rays, it’s great to have along to throw over beach hair. Because let’s face it. You’re on vacation in Mexico, you don’t want to spend ANY time doing your hair. That doesn’t mean you can’t still look cute though!
White linen pants: I always take a pair with me to a tropical locale. They’re comfortable, breezy, and can easily go from beach to dinner to drinks, which makes them a great multi-tasker in your bag.
Rash guard: Ok, this is something I wish I would have had. The water was nice and warm, but we spent a lot of time snorkeling and by the end of the trip my boyfriend and I both wished we would have had one as a little added sun protection on our backs. This striped one from J Crew is probably the most stylish one I’ve ever seen. (Most are a little too “sporty” for my taste.)
Drapey Tank: This tank is a great coral color for the tropics, packs and travels well, and is easy to throw over a bathing suit for a quick trip into town or an impromptu beach cover up.
Colorscience Sunforgettable: LOVE this stuff. It’s powdered sunscreen and you can brush it on your face throughout the day over or under makeup. It’s waterproof, works immediately (unlike lotions) and is actually good for acne prone skin (that’s me) because it’s loaded with zinc. It is pricey though, and also hard to get even coverage on large areas of skin (like backs.) That’s why I used it mostly on my face.
Pareo wrap: An absolute must have for any beach vacation. It’s a beach coverup, a dress, a wrap and so much more depending on how you tie it up. I’m really drawn to the bright ikat pattern on this one.
Oversized sunglasses: The sun is so bright in Mexico, not just any pair of glasses will do! Oversize ones seem to block out just a few more rays.
Iphone Drisuit: Ok people, this was hands down THE best thing I brought along. Underwater photos and videos with your phone is pretty rad, and the quality of the photos is stunning. It was also nice to have on the beach as extra water and sand protection. Yes, I was nervous when I took the first plunge with it, but it worked brilliantly!
Intelligent Nutrients lip balm: This is on the list because it’s something I always have in my bag- traveling or not. It’s more expensive than most lip balms, but after you use it, you’ll understand why. Nothing else compares. It really is the best. And traveling on planes always dries me out a bit, so it’s a good thing to have stashed in your carry on as well as being a good quencher after a day in the hot sun and salt water.
Backpack: This is the first trip that I took a canvas backpack with me, and it’s going to be my standard gear from now on. It’s incredibly utilitarian as you explore new cities, but you don’t have to sacrifice style with one like this.
Sun Visor: Yes, I know I already have a hat on the list, but having a visor came in super handy too. I have long hair, so it’s almost always up off my neck when I’m in the heat. A visor not only keeps your head cool while giving you a little sun relief, it also lets you keep your hair wrapped up on your head at the same time. I picked this one because the slight trucker hat styling keeps it from going old lady on the golf course.
Hope you have an awesome trip Amanda- We’ll miss you!
