Rima Suqi

Tortillas on the street, Mexico City, December 19, 2010.

Silk Weaving factory, India.

Mexico City, December 19 2010

Last year I did a sunscreen test drive for Organic Spa magazine. I learned a LOT about so-called natural sunscreens. Namely, oxybenzone is potentially very very bad, but mineral based sunscreens are better. The only problem with the latter is that the mineral based products can leave white streaks on the skin. Not cute. Had Coola’s products not had oxybenzone as an ingredient, they would’ve been my favorite of all the sunscreens tested – but they did and I was bummed.

Earlier this year they released a mineral-based line, which I thoroughly test drove while in Mexico. Bottom line: loved it. No white streaking and it actually worked (I had been using a different mineral based product and fried twice, despite obsessive reapplying). Sport block spf 30 for body, $34 here

And I also used the unscented mineral spf 20 for face, here.

Months ago I mentioned to a friend, in a manner so offhand I didn’t even remember it, that I loved the Smythson currency case pictured below:

Yesterday the UPS man delivered it to my door. Monogrammed. It’s a rare instance when anyone listens and remembers, but it’s so AWESOME when they do. Thank you JMT! This makes up for a recent “gift” from a (really) good friend, which was handed to me as she uttered the line “I know how much you like J. Crew, but I got you an Anthropologie gift certificate.”

On a hammock at Las Ventanas, staring at the Sea of Cortez

From a store in Todos Santos:

Although I am a Contributing Editor to Organic Spa Magazine, my dirty little secret is that I’m not that into beauty products. Scrubs/exfoliants, yes. Face creams, yawn. However, I happen to be staying at the CondesaDF in Mexico City, which features Malin + Goetz amenities.

I’ve known the M+G guys since they started their company and while I am a fan of many of their products (and packaging) I had never tried their Vitamin E Face moisturizer until yesterday.

Woah. Light. Not greasy. Tingly in a good “time to wake up” way. Feels like its doing something. I would absolutely buy this (and it’s not cheap – $45 for 4 oz, $82 for 8.5 –  it would have to be a “cost per use” rationalization).

My friends at Rancho Pescadoro are offering an incredible deal for a dermatologist (yes, you gotta be an MD). I’ve pasted the deal below. I’m leaving this place today, kicking and screaming. If you qualify and have the time, you’d be a fool not to take them up on this. Link is here.

The Big Daddy Special

Are you a real, live dermatologist? We’ll trade you 5 nights lodging for two for 4 full exams and basic treatments. Bring fillers and we’ll comp your food and drinks as well.

I posted pictures earlier this week should you need more than what’s below. You could be sitting at this pool with the ocean a few steps away. Surfers. Fish tacos. Need I say more?

New from Tom Dixon, the Peg coat stand.From $650.