Barbados, Beauty, Caribbean, Popular, Travel

In My Barbados Bag…

27 September

While getting my finances in order has been the primary focus of this grand experiment, I have to remind myself (especially when I’m not making as much progress on my finances) that I, as a multifaceted #OGMILLENNIAL woman, have multiple goals and purposes on my current path, two of which are getting my physical and mental wellbeing in order. Since touching down in Barbados, the progress I’ve made in both areas has been exponential and I know part of that is due to finally establishing a set routine for (most) of my week.

Part of building that routine has involved finding products that support my physical and mental well-being, helping me stay balanced as I work toward my goals. Every product featured here (and across this site) is something I personally use and love, and I’m committed to partnering with brands that align with my values and passions. That being said, some of the links included are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase them, at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows me to keep sharing honest recommendations. Rest assured, I only promote products I genuinely use, have bought myself, and believe in!

My essential products for smelling delicious while battling the sun 🙂

Korean skincare is truly superior. Just a few of the products I use daily.

Sun & Skincare:

Korean Skincare: It is a widely known fact how seriously Koreans take their skincare, and please believe I took advantage while I was living in the Land of the Morning Calm. While I had already been using Corsx Snail Muchin (crazy name, but its vegan, lol) for the better part of the year, when I got to SK I made sure to stack up on the rest of my routine. I’m not an esthetician so I don’t know why some products work better for certain people than others, however, rice-water-based products have been doing wonders for my normally acne-ridden complexion. Additionally, being in Barbados I’m applying sunscreen to my face a lot more than normal, and the Dr. G sunscreen works great, but doesn’t have a white caste. Now that I’m finally getting tan, I appreciate this benefit more than ever!

Mad Rabbit: If you know me or even follow me on Instagram, you know I have more than a few tattoos, and one, quite large tattoo that runs from my ribs to mid-thigh, wrapping to part of my booty meat :). When I decided to come to the Caribbean for an extended period, I knew I’d be soaking in the sun more than usual and needed extra effort to preserve my body art. Enter Mad Rabbit. So far this product has worked wonderfully, even on days I’m spending 3+ hours laying out on the beach.

Sol De Janeiro Body Mist & Firming Body Oil: I love both of these and have been a loyal SDJ girl for the better part of five years… their signature scent smells amazing and the body oil has done wonders for smoothing out the stretch-marked highway of my belly skin. For the last few months, I’ve also used the body shaping tool sold on the Sol de Janeiro website and it has only improved my results further. 11/10 can not recommend enough… oh and did I mention how amazing it smells?!?

City Lips Plumping Lip Gloss: The only thing I ever use on my lips. I absolutely love this product. I’ve tried a lot, like a lot, a lot, of similar products by big and small names alike… and this is the only product that has actually worked. I keep a tube in my car, my gym bag, purse, and now suitcase. It goes wherever I go, literally.

Kopari: If you’re going to be spending your days tanning on the beautiful Bajan beaches, you might as well sparkle a little while doing so, right? Given my propensity to NOT being able to tan, and the fact that I’m finally getting a natural, gorgeous tan for the first time in my life, I have to balance my love of caramel-colored skin with oh, you know, NOT getting skin cancer. Given this, I’ve created a pretty “sophisticated” sun care routine, which includes this easy-to-apply and non-sticky sheer SPF 50 sunscreen.

At the very beginning of my Eat… Pray… Gym journey. This was about a week into arriving in Barcelona back in April. I was about 15 lbs heavier and struggling both physically and mentally.

September 19 – Almost one month into Barbados (and about six weeks into taking the creatine and EAA below daily). While I’m always my own worst critic, the physical improvements are EVERYTHING.

Health & Wellness:

Creatine & Aminos: Upon arriving in South Korea, I started noticing that I was dropping good weight (ie: my curves) pretty quickly. A combination of less processed foods and finally, fully transitioning to a vegetarian diet, I’m sure, but nevertheless, the loss found me researching ways to start toning and tightening while also upping my protein intake. At the recommendation of a VERY FIT and successful personal trainer friend of mine, when I left South Korea I started integrating creatine and essential amino acids into my daily routine. About six weeks into this new daily habit, I honestly haven’t felt better. The images above also highlight the physical progress I’ve made in just a few months. And while I’m not saying the Creatine and Aminos are the sole reason for this progress, I know they’ve definitely aided in my improved overall health and wellbeing. 200/10 can no recommend enough.

Armra: I’ve been taking Armra for the better part of two years now (maybe three?), and I absolutely can not recommend it enough. I’ve always had issues with chronic joint pain (due to my toxic relationship with basketball), bloating, acne, brittle nails, stringy hair, etc. Since integrating Armra into my daily routine, all these trouble spots have improved tenfold, especially the joint pain and bloating. I’ve recommended this product to all my friends and family and have even bought it as gifts for loved ones. If I have no other supplement in my bag, I have this one!

Sun Warrior Protein: I actually came across this for the first time in Barbados, and I absolutely love it. Plant-based, so it fits into my vegetarian diet, this protein powder is also tasty (but not overpowering) and is not chalky or gritty, so it’s easy to drink with just water or coconut milk. Sun Warrior also has a pre-workout that I haven’t tried out yet, but as my current supply (bought in Barcelona) is about to run out, I will be reupping with their watermelon flavor for sure.

Part of my daily supplement routine: Protein, Creatine & Aminos (for the muscle booty gains, lol) and Armra, for overall wellness.

I was never a shorts gal, but let me tell you this Bajan sun and heat has converted me!

Gear:

Do It Anyway Gym Hat: Ahhhh, the product that jump-started my passion project… As you can tell from the three pics of me in this blog, this is my go-to hat for the gym, both for the message I see every time I look in the mirror and because the distressing and color keep the sweat from showing through! Comfy, adjustable, machine-washable, and ready to tackle a full routine of Good Mornings, RDLs, and sumo squats.

Boujhetto Bikini: The only string bikini I own, I love the color on this one, as well as its very cheeky (pun intended) messaging. It provides a little sass, a little ass, and everything else you need for your most boujhetto day at the beach.

FCK THE ALGORITHM Gym Tee: Shameless self-serving plug. While I’ve traditionally been a “sports bra and leggings at the gym” girl, since FINALLY launching my very micro staple collection and arriving in Barbados (ya’ll… hot and humid is an UNDERSTATEMENT!), I’ve transitioned into a full “shorts and tee” fitness girlie. Outside of it being my design and the message behind it, I love this tee because it’s oversized but not boxy, and is made from 100% US grown cotton. What more could you ask for in a pump cover?

Shorts & Sports Bra Sets: Now, anyone who knows me in the real world, knows I’m a jeans and leggings kinda girl. While I don’t why I decided to get a few short sets before I came to Barbados, I’m sooooo glad I did! The sets I bought are soft, comfy, and inexpensive, but hold up well. I’ve pretty much been only wearing the 5 or 6 pairs of shorts I brought with me, and they’re holding up so well with the heat, sweat and constant wear and washing. And while I typically gravitate to darker colors because I don’t like visible sweat, this style comes in over 30 colors. And the final reason to cop a couple pairs? No butt scrunch!!

in post feature

FCK THE ALGORITHM Gym Tee

In a world where algorithms dictate what we see and how we live, this tee offers a bold declaration of resistance. Stand out, think freely, and live authentically… because your life isn’t a curated feed. It’s raw, real, and entirely your own. Don’t engage in the bullshit or fall victim to clickbait. It’s time to live in the world we create on our terms.