A Collegiette’s Guide to Packing for Spring Break

Packing for Spring Break is both exciting and daunting. This list of must haves and tips will help you pack like a pro for the most anticipated week of the year!

1)   Every girl needs her makeup to survive, but spring break is a time to leave it at school! Give your skin a break and stick to lotion and minimal makeup over break.  Bring your go to essentials like: concealer (for those wretched dark circles), mascara (L’oreal Voluminous Mascara), a lip tint for a splash of color (a rich pink or coral) and a lip gloss with a hint of sparkle (my favorite is MAC Lipglass). Be sure to include a facial sunscreen as part of your daily routine on break. Although freckles may look cute today, sun spots thirty years from now won’t!

2)   Flowy maxi dresses are the epitome of spring break perfection! They’re perfect for lunch on the beach, or going out at night. They are both sexy and sophisticated and can be purchased almost everywhere. H&M and Forever21 always have prints to die for and they can be found for prices to die for too! A few “go-to” dresses are essential for any Spring Breaker.

3)   Swimsuits are the first thing every girl thinks of when they start to pack for spring break. This is the one time it’s okay to over-pack on an item. You never know how much time you’ll be spending at the beach vs. the pool, and you’ll need a swimsuit to impress cute boys, while getting the perfect tan. Pack the swimsuits that are unique, fit you best, and of course, adorable. Even though we may not all have that supermodel bod, we all have the ability to rock a swimsuit like we belong on the cover of Victoria’s Secret.

4)    Another beach must have is a swim cover up. Wrapping yourself up with a towel is so summer public pool! For spring break, you want to look casual and trendy. Perhaps your swim cover up could transition into a cute outfit you wear out. Our go-to cover up is a romper. A romper is a cute way to cover up your swimwear, but can also make a stylish outfit by throwing some wedges with it. Victoria’s Secret always has cute cover ups, but for cheaper options look at Target. A simple, chic cover up can also be a plain, oversized V-neck. Pair it with a piece of statement jewelry or your favorite charm necklace and not only do you have a cover up, but also a cute look that shows your personality!

5)   The sun can do a lot of damage to your hair, even in the short time of a week. Protect it by covering your locks with a hat. Big, floppy hats ooze old Hollywood style. They protect your hair from sun damage, and can help block your face to keep it protected too!

Fedoras and ball caps are also a great way to go. Fedoras make almost any outfit magazine worthy and they’re perfect for any look. Baseball caps are easy and fun. Grab yourself an IU cap and hit the beach!

6)   Vacation is a great time to crack open a book you’ve been eying for a while. Reading reduces stress, increases tranquility, and helps you build your vocabulary. Bring one or two books in your carry on and in your bag to the beach. While you’re in paradise you might as well get lost in a great novel too! If you’re looking for something funny, witty, and moving, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close could be right up for your ally. The book was made into a movie, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. A must read series is Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series. It’s hysterical, sexy, and has hot vampires (of course) and humans who crave their blood! A Place of Yes, written by TV reality star Bethenny Frankel, tells us how to get everything we want out of life. This read is both inspiring and uplifting; perfect light reading to enhance your life!
 
Whether you’re headed to a tropical beach or back home with your family, spring break is a time to relax and kick back from school. No matter where you’re headed, be sure to make the best of it!