(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
I recently had the privilege of visiting Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize—a gorgeous resort that’s part of the Family Coppola Hideaways. It also happens to be smack-dab in the middle of the rainforest with rushing waterfalls and lush vegetation that make you feel like you’re in a dream. It was my first visit to the country, and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I’m a girl who likes to plan and know what products to bring for every type of climate, so it took a bit of guesswork to figure out what to bring on this trip. Luckily, my intuition didn’t fail me. The products I brought were exactly what my skin needed, and I had to share.
If you’ll be visiting a similar climate anytime soon, you’re going to want to keep reading. I’m sharing all my essentials that got me through a trip to the rainforest ahead.
Dagne Dover
Landon Carryall – Large
I have to start with the luggage I brought because it’s worth shouting about. I’ve waxed poetic about Dagne Dover travel items before, but the brand’s new S/S 25 Lakehouse collection features some gorgeous new limited-edition colors I had to get my hands on. I took the large Landon Carryall in pine with me on my trip, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best travel bags I own. It’s so roomy and has pockets for everything. I can comfortably fit a 16-inch laptop in it along with a couple outfits and other accessories like headphones. It also fits under the seat on a plane so you don’t have to keep it in the overhead. I never travel without a Landon bag now and a few of my other Dagne Dover favorites.
Dagne Dover
Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack – Medium
I needed a really good backpack for this trip because we booked a lot of all-day outdoor activities. I know this is technically labeled as a diaper bag, but I love how versatile it is. While it definitely would make a great diaper backpack to use every day, it works just as well for hiking and other outdoor activities because it has its own slot for a water bottle (or baby bottle) and fits so many things in it. As usual, Dagne didn’t disappoint, and the number of pockets is unmatched. The medium size worked perfectly for my weeklong trip.
Dagne Dover
Sydney Checked Luggage in Onyx, Smaller – 25 Inch
While I have many smaller Dagne travel bags, this was my first time bringing a full-size suitcase from the brand on a trip. I know this one is pretty expensive, but trust me, it’s so worth it. The 25-inch size is perfect for a four- to seven-day trip—like all of Dagne’s other travel items, it feels like a total Mary Poppins bag. It fits so many things, and I love the front-pocket feature. It zips open and allows you to grab things out of it without having to unzip the entire suitcase. It really came in handy when I wanted to grab smaller items and toiletries that I packed in that section of the suitcase without opening the entire thing. It rolls super easily too and is pretty lightweight overall.
Listen, I’ve owned a lot of cosmetics bags in my life, but this is by far the best (and chicest!) one. The bag contains the brand’s trademarked Pristinium lining shield that’s heat resistant with barrier technology that helps keep your products at a safe temperature. It not only kept my products from leaking or exploding on the plane, but it also fit so nicely in my suitcase. I don’t often take cute cosmetics cases because they’re too big, but this one is perfectly sized and doesn’t take up too much room. I know it’s hard to justify spending over $200 on a cosmetics case, but I love this one with my whole heart. It’s super durable, and I can tell it will last a really long time.
MATTER OF FACT
Remove + Replenish Gel Balm Cleanser
I’ve been obsessed with Matter of Fact’s suite of minimalist skincare products lately. My skin tends to get so dehydrated when I travel, and this glycerin-packed gel-balm cleanser provided the perfect solution. It definitely has a different texture to it—it’s not like a traditional cleanser, but it leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and soft. I have acne-prone skin, so it’s hard to switch to a cleanser that doesn’t foam, but trust me, this one is amazing and can act as both a makeup remover and cleanser in one.
MATTER OF FACT
Brightening + Firming Serum With 20% Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid
This vitamin C serum was the first product I tried from Matter of Fact, and I completely fell in love. It contains a 20% concentration of vitamin C, so it may irritate some folks, but if you can tolerate it, it’s the best vitamin C serum I’ve ever used. The ingredient list is minimal, but trust me, it packs a real punch in the brightening department. I’ve never gotten more compliments on my skin than when I use it, and it helped protect my skin in unfamiliar territory.
MATTER OF FACT
Minimalist Hydrating Moisturizer With Pro-Vitamin B5
This moisturizer is everything. Don’t believe me? Please see the hundreds of five-star reviews on Sephora. The texture feels rich, but this moisturizer is designed to be light for oilier, acne-prone folks. I’ve tried oil-free moisturizers in the past that haven’t been enough for my dehydrated skin, but this one is perfect. It firms the skin and calms any redness or irritation from breakouts with Centella asiatica extract. If you’re on the drier side, don’t worry. The brand also makes a richer version called The Maximalist ($80).
Like I mentioned previously, my skin gets so dehydrated when I travel, and it feels like no matter how much moisturizer I put on, it gets tight throughout the day. This moisturizer kept it from doing that. It created a shield of moisture that locked my skincare routine in without feeling heavy or greasy. It’s also silicone-free which is another plus for those with acne.
MATTER OF FACT
Resurfacing + Hydrating Multi-Acid Serum With Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide
It’s so hard to find an exfoliant that doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin but is still powerful enough to clear out old texture and breakouts. It took my skin a second to get used to this, but once it did, it worked wonders. I could use it in the jungle without my skin becoming super dehydrated, and it kept any travel-induced breakouts at bay. It contains a blend of salicylic acid, niacinamide, and larch tree extract, which hydrates and boosts the serum’s exfoliation power.
MATTER OF FACT
Barrier + Antioxidant Treatment With Bakuchiol & Squalane
Most of my skin sensitivity issues stem from the fact that my barrier is damaged. This treatment is perfect for that. It contains a high dose of squalane to help repair your barrier along with liquid crystal lipids, which mimic the ones in your own skin. It has a lightweight oil texture and you only need a few drops (which you can mix with your moisturizer) to see a difference. This also really helped keep the dehydration at bay on my trip and provided antioxidant protection.
SIV
Biome-Balancing Serum
TBH, I destroyed my skin when I was younger because I constantly dealt with breakouts. My skin microbiome has been out of whack since I used things like tretinoin and Accutane, making it more sensitive and reactive. Any time I travel, I notice I break out easier and my skin gets more irritated and red. SIV has been a game changer for me. I’ve only been using it for about two weeks, and I’ve seen massive improvements. It really protected my skin from all the unfamiliar debris that can come with being in a new country. I didn’t experience one new breakout while I was there, and my skin was generally calmer.
Pai
Rosehip Bioregenerate Universal Face Oil
Pai’s rose-hip oil is such a staple for me. As an oily, acne-prone girlie, I tend to gravitate toward single-ingredient oils, and this one is one of the best out there. It’s so hydrating without being greasy and gives your skin a glow almost instantly. Any time I needed some extra hydration in the morning, I would dab this on and my skin was instantly quenched.
Pai
Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil
Any time I wear makeup, this cleansing oil removes it so quickly and easily that I have to believe it’s witchcraft. Pai’s products are all insanely good (and organic!), but this is my top pick from the brand besides the rose-hip oil. Even when I wasn’t wearing makeup, I would double cleanse with this before using my Matter of Fact cleanser and it left my skin feeling so hydrated and smooth.
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun SPF 50+
This is my all-time favorite sunscreen, and it’s perfect for traveling because it adds so much extra moisture to your skin. Honestly, if you’re oilier, you could probably get away with just using this as your moisturizer and sunscreen because it’s that creamy and hydrating.
Saie
Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator
I never travel without my Saie Glowy Super Gel because it’s a lazy-girl way of giving my skin a vacation glow without having to apply a full face. Even if you do still want to apply foundation, you can mix a few drops of this with it to give your skin an extra radiant finish.
Pai
Gentle Genius Barrier Care Replenishing Body Wash
Like I said, I’m obsessed with Pai products, and this new bodywash from the brand is such a winner too. I brought this on my trip, and it was perfect for removing stubborn layers of sunscreen without me having to over-scrub my skin. It’s also fragrance-free and designed for ultra-sensitive skin, so no worries if you have a skin condition. It’s also so hydrating—my skin felt as soft as a baby’s whenever I would get out of the shower.
Pai
Gentle Genius Barrier Care Soothing Body Cream
I love making everything a spa experience, and this rich body cream helped me do that even on vacation. The amount of long-term hydration this formula adds to the skin is unmatched with a bio-mimicking ceramide complex and calendula, oat, and olive squalane. The bottles are a little larger for traveling, but I found that I didn’t have any issues fitting them into my suitcase. Consider this my petition to the brand for travel sizes of these.
