*** This post was made in partnership with NEUTROGENA®, GAP, and bareMinerals . All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.

It is officially everyone’s favourite time of the year again—the holidays! And of course, time for another rendition of #MDVPHoliday. But this year we decided to change things up a little and to escape the cold by booking a trip to the tropics to enjoy some sun, sand and well-deserved time off for #MDVPHoliday18. It’s safe to say that the holidays tend to be one of the busiest times of the year for us, so a little bit of pre-emptive R&R was much needed.

I’ve already done a complete Travel Diaries recap of our experience in Belize and 10 things to do, so if you’re interested in learning more about what there is to do in Belize, make sure to give it a read!

For our two previous annual holiday campaigns, #MDVP (Mel, Dave, moi, and Peter) had chosen stay-in, in favour of rediscovering our own city and what it has to offer for those who aren’t necessarily keen on or able to jet-set to somewhere warm for the winter. And although we had so much fun dining in at some of the best restaurants, enjoying the finest hotels, and exploring some of Toronto’s Christmas markets, we felt that it was time for a change. Traveling somewhere warm when it’s winter where you live, and traveling somewhere cold when it’s summer where you live is a total and complete mind game. Those of you that have done it will really get what I mean. Right now my body is conditioned to the cold lifestyle and finds it tricky to think in a different mindset to fully prepare and pack for a tropical trip. But after traveling to many tropical destinations within this past year alone, practice has served me well, and I’ve fully nailed down what you’ll need to bring for your next trip to the tropics if you have one coming up this winter season!

Lots and lots of sunscreen

If it wasn’t already obvious, it is sunny and hot in the tropics. I’ve been burned one too many times by the sun that by now I’ve learned my lesson and literally bathe in sunscreen before ever setting foot out into the sun. But while you may be packing and putting on sunscreen, are you applying the right one? While there are many different products to consider, these are the ones that I brought with me on our recent trip to Belize:

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick Sunscreen SPF 50+

When I’m traveling and I’m out and about, I always, always, always make sure to only bring sunscreen that is at least SPF 35+ with me. If you’re someone who refrains from using sunscreen because of the ooey-gooey sticky mess that comes with the territory of applying sunscreen, then this sunscreen stick is going to be your saviour. The application itself is completely hands-free, also making it mess-free so you can instantly pick up your phone to snap a pic of the beach as soon as you’ve finished applying your sunscreen!

I particularly love the dry-touch tech behind it, so I can immediately lie down on my beach towel without worrying about slathering sunscreen all over it. If I could only bring one sunscreen with me, this would be the one!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

When you’re in the sun, besides being protected from the sun, hydration is also key. I often find that my face is the quickest to burn because I always leave my head out of the water, so learning to continuously slather sunscreen onto my face has become quite the skill of mine. This specific formula is excellent for someone who is particular with their facial skin and sun care because it’s formulated with Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to help maintain the hydration levels of your skin.

The water-gel formula is also ideal for quickly absorbing into your skin without leaving behind any greasy residues, which is also great when paired together with your swim goggles—no one likes a greasy view! Psssst! This formula is also water and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so go snorkel and spy on all of the sea life that you can find! Just remember to re-apply!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Lotion

If I’m going to be lounging around by the pool or on a beach, this is the formula that I reach for. Since I don’t need to worry about going hands free, I’m more than happy to apply the lotion with my hands. It also definitely helps that it’s formulated with a dry-touch technology that helps to quickly absorb the product into your skin without an oily finish. Remember the days of wiping your hands off on your beach towel before touching or picking up anything? Yeah, those days are in your past!

If you do decide to take a dip fear not, this formula is also water and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes, so as long as you haven’t lounged too long in the sun to warrant a reapplication, you’re good to jump into the water!

All of the necessary swim gear

If you’re a bit of a germaphobe like I am, then using previously used swim and snorkeling gear might creep you out a bit. I know that after my first tropical trip, I swore up and down that I would bring my own snorkel mouthpiece, goggles, and even flippers on my next trip—this was over 5 years ago. Truth be told, I forgot to do just that on the new few trips that I went on, but for Belize, I made sure that both Peter and I were fully equipped with our own swim gear. Now if you’re not much of a snorkeler, you can absolutely gloss over this section, but I do really believe that some of the gear is necessary for anyone who’s going to be traveling somewhere with a beach.

Snorkeling Goggles

The main reason that any of us travel to a tropical destination is because of the crystal clear water (that and the endless warmth), right? And what’s better than swimming in the water? Seeing all of the cool stuff that lives in it of course!

While you may already have a pair of regular swimming goggles at home, I would highly advise that you also pick up your own pair of snorkeling goggles. They’re completely different and will make a world of a difference to your trip experience. Having that mouth piece to attach to your snorkel tube impacts your swimming capabilities a lot more than you can imagine. Instead of holding your breath for 30 seconds or less, only to have to resurface for a fresh breath of air, with your snorkel tube you’ll be able to float along the surface of the water for minutes (or even hours) on end while spying on all  the cool sea life underneath you.

Flippers

This isn’t really a necessity, but more of a nice-to-have. For someone who has extremely small feet, I always feel super self-conscious whenever I’m trying on different flipper sizes at the rental stores. The flippers always either come out feeling too tight, or loose enough that I’ll whack a fish in the face when my flipper comes flying off with a kick. While your guides will always guarantee you that they’ve sanitized their flippers (similar to their goggles), I can never fully trust them. The idea of wearing shoes that someone else has stuck their naked feet in really gives me the willies. But let’s focus on the benefits.

Anyone who has ever swam with flippers on will know how amazing that instant extra power feels that you get with each kick. So it kind it sucks when you have to return them back to the guides at the end of your excursion. How else are you going to chase after the fish at your local beach without those flippers on? So get yourself your own pair of flippers; not only will you use clean ones on your excursion, but you’ll also be able to use them afterwards!

Lifejacket

Also not another necessity, but I stand by having your own personal lifejacket that has been appropriately sized to your body weight and type. Call me picky, but I absolutely detest the feeling of putting on a wet lifejacket that was previously used by someone else. Not because of the germaphobe side of me, but the feeling of putting on a wet lifejacket is comparable to putting on a pair of wet socks—not enjoyable.

Now a lifejacket might take up quite a bit of space in your luggage, so if you have to cut something out, I’d recommend this one. If you do decide to bring one, remember to write your name on it with a Sharpie so that someone else doesn’t mistake it for theirs!

Water shoes

I love a good pair of flip flops when I’m on the beach, but you never really know what the sand will feel like. I’ve traveled to places where the sand feels like pure silk between your toes, and other places where the “sand” is merely composed of a thousand fractured shells that will cut your feet with every step. Plus, you never really know what sort of terrains your excursions will include, and it’s never fun to walk around on slippery wet rocks with bare feet.

Taking up minimal space in your luggage, and barely costing more than $20, this is a great investment that you’ll thank yourself for bringing along.

The right shoes

Speaking of shoes, they’re always an integral component for any of my travels. I’ve rounded up my quintessential shoes for any tropical travels, but do let me know if there are any that I’ve missed that should definitely be included in your packing list!

Water shoes

This needs no more explanation. Worth the money, worth the investment, and worth the sanity of your feet.

Flip flops

When you’re lounging on the beach and don’t want your favourite pair of shoes to get dirty from the sand or wet from the water, you’ll want to have a pair of flip flops around. Not only are they functional and extremely comfortable, but they can be cleaned and dried almost instantly. Every time I return back from a beach, I always make sure to rinse off my flip flops in the bath before setting them outside on the balcony to dry off in the sun.

Flip flops are also fairly inexpensive, so if yours end up getting stolen or break midway through your trip, you can always purchase a new pair without any stress.

Slides/slippers

These are completely different from flip flops, and also serve a completely different purpose—at least for me they do. Anytime you’re traveling to a tropical destination, sand will infest your belongings like no tomorrow. Don’t even try to deny it. You know that you’ll be finding sand in your belongings for weeks on end after returning back home from your trip. But it’s not just the sand that you bring back home that’s annoying, it’s the sand that you bring into your hotel room that’s frustrating. No one in their right mind willingly wants to walk all over sand only to carry it with you into the bed. This is where an extra pair of in-room slides or slippers is key.

Some hotels may provide you with a nice pair of plush slippers but avoid those like the plague! The fabric on them will only serve to attract more sand resulting in being counter-productive to your cause. I like to bring along a pair of rubber sandals that can be easily rinsed off in the shower so that you can clean them from time to time.

Comfortable running shoes

Bear with me here. While you might be thinking that it’s crazy to bring a pair of comfortable running shoes when you’re going to be lounging on the beach all day, it’ll do you justice to pack that pair of sneakers. You never know when that travel mate of yours decides to book a last minute excursion to hike through the caves, or you decide to go out on the town one night to try a local restaurant. Plus, sneakers are always a must when you travel. Nobody wants to see your bare toes on the plane, and nobody wants to wear a constricting pair of shoes for an extended period of time.

My’s Clothes – Tank Top, Capri Joggers, Slippers | Peter’s Clothes – White T, Grey Joggers

Comfortable lounge clothes

Although I’d rather completely not wear any clothes at all, if I must, then they’ll have to be lounge clothes. When in the tropics, I always ensure that anything that I wear is relatively loose and flowy. The last thing that you want is to sweat through a pair of skinny jeans and run into the issue of not being able to take them off like Ross in Friends. It’s not a cute look, I tell you.

Seeing as I’m in a swimsuit for about 75% of the time, I like to bring clothes that can double as both lounge and sleep wear. That’s one less outfit that I’ll have to worry about packing! Peter and I both teamed up with GAP to pick our favourite looks from their sleep and lounge wear collection to bring with us on the trip, and the pieces did not disappoint!

I wore the flowy striped top on many occasions out on our morning coffee quests, and Peter wore his white T almost everywhere he went.

Light but glowy makeup

Some call it sweat, but I prefer to call it nature’s highlight. I’m only half kidding. When traveling, I often bring minimal makeup with me, well, because it just completely sweats off! What’s the real point in piling on all those layers of makeup only to see them slowly drip off your face as you’re chilling on the beach or swimming with ocean life?

But who’s to say that you can’t also be glowing up to the gods while you’re on vacation. There’s a fine line to balance on, and these are the main essentials that you’ll need to bring with you to keep yourself looking glowy and fresh without a pound of makeup waiting to slide right off.

Moonlit Magic Deluxe Original Foundation

Sure you may want to cover up any uneven skin tones or acne scarring, but a wet foundation isn’t going to do the trick. I love throwing a powder foundation into my toiletries bag whenever I’m going somewhere warm because I always know and guarantee that it’ll do the trick but won’t slide all over my face. I particularly love this formula for travel because of bareMinerals’ mineral based makeup, so not only is it doing its job at evening out my skin tone, but it’s also doing good for my skin!

As someone who frequently breaks out due to buildup of sweat and oil when traveling, this foundation has truly done the trick at keeping my acne at bay.

Twilight Radiance Highlighter Trio Palette

After starting off with a powder base, it’s good to give your skin some hydration. Instead of layering on the powders, I like to go back in using this cream palette for all 3 steps in my contouring routine—bronze, blush, and highlight. The subtle sheen of the product is easily buildable and great for someone who likes slight glimmer to someone who appreciates a blinding flash.

Aurora Lights Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette

If you enjoy playing around with eyeshadow, then this will be the one and only palette that you’ll need to pack with you. There is a plethora of neutral shades to choose from to help enhance your natural eye shape, or you can amp up your look for a night out on the town with any of the deeper tones. I gravitated closer towards the golds and rosy pinks since those are the everyday colours that I tend to use.

Lightning Flash Gen Nude Lip Trio

When traveling, there’s no time to fuss about what lip colour you’re going to do, and how you will make it last, which is why I love to pack a lip kit with me. At least this way I’ll know exactly what colour combinations I’m dealing with and never have to worry about matching my lip shade to my eyeshadow colour. To keep things simple, this lip kit has been a recent favourite of mine because of how easily it emulates the “my lips by butter” look. There isn’t a shade where you’ll have to worry about the proper application so that it doesn’t look crooked, or a shade that may smear and look messy. It just works.

And there you go! The quintessential guide for what you’ll want to pack on your next trip to the tropics. Hopefully I’ve nailed all of the essentials, but if there’s anything that I’ve missed, definitely feel free to chime in and let me know!

Photography Credits: The Dunk Listt
This post was written in collaboration with Neutrogena, GAP, and bareMinerals however all views are 100% honest and my own.