“Some of the benefits of swimming derive, ironically, from daring to come as close as we can to this very fight for survival […] The act of getting in is a small defiance of death itself.”
― Bonnie Tsui, Why We Swim
My foot sweeps the surface of the pool, testing the temperature.
I know the whiteboard says 78 degrees, but I don’t believe it until I feel it for myself.
Yup—it’s a mild 78. I swing my legs in easily. Next, I submerge my torso and feel the abrupt chill in my organs. A layer of goosebumps form on my arms. Then it’s a deep breath, a head tuck, and a big PUSH off the wall.
And I’m off!
For the next 45 minutes, I’m in a blue void. All I see is sky, water, and the lane line beneath me. I only come up for air when I need it. My my heart rate slows down, my lungs expand, and my thoughts go still.
In my most recent AMA, a common question was along the lines of how I find inspiration/get out of my own head/manage creative ruts.
Swimming is essential to my creative process. There are certain ideas and thoughts that only reach me when my body is underwater, suspended in a purgatorial state where I’ve renounced all my earthly belongings—save for my suit, cap, and goggles. No phone, no jewelry, no vintage designer clothing.
Some of my greatest breakthroughs have happened while I’m doing backstroke, arms stretched out and grinning at the sky because I’ve just had an epiphany about the perfect source to interview for a story.
There are a million reasons why swimming is good for us. There is nothing quite like water submersion that makes my brain feel refreshed and my body feel full of vigor. And for me, those are the ideal conditions for creativity to flow.
Last week, a reader named Claire asked about pool bag recs for getting back into swimming. Others in the chat chimed in, and I decided to share my mine!
Here’s a full guide to what’s in my swim bag, including suit recs and my hair/skin/body care routine. For context:
I swim in an outdoor chlorinated public pool, so my primary concerns are protection against (1) the sun and (2) chlorine damage
I have eczema, mostly on my hands, and it can flare up from time to time. Chlorine is a bitchhhhhh if you have eczema.
I live close enough to my local pool that it’s easy for me to just towel off, put on a swim parka, and drive home to shower instead of using the locker room. However, when I used to work in an office I would go to the YMCA during my lunch break and shower in the locker rooms.
The section below includes partial sponsored mentions from CUUP and iHerb.
Swim prep
The most annoying part…but skin protection starts here.
Apply my normal daily face SPF. I usually put SPF on in the morning, but I do a fresh layer before the pool for extra coverage.
Apply skin SPF. I use Banana Boat Light as Air because the formula is a nice texture. I’ve tried “fancier” IG brand sunscreens where the branding is indeed cute but the formula is not particularly superior than a drugstore brand.
I use a long hair blue swim cap from TYR. These all inevitably rip…I’ve tried every swim cap brand, unfortunately they’re all prone to deterioration over time. But they last a good 2 years if I’m careful.
I’ve been wearing the Speedo Vanquisher goggles since college. They come with different nose bridge heights so you can adjust. I’ve had to replace these as well every few years bc the elastic can snap from wear and tear.
Eye drops (idk what brand they are, just whatever’s at CVS) for extra moisture. A bit of goggle leakage is inevitable in the pool, and my eyes are more sensitive than they used to be.
This is my swim parka. It is not cute. But it’s SO needed esp in the winter.
Keen flip-flops. Most comfortable and grippy flip flop ever. I am begging Keen to make them in more colors…
I’ve cycled through a few different swim bags/backpacks; right now I use a mesh tote. I highly recommend mesh because even the most diligent among us will occassionally forget a wet towel or suit in your bag, and it can be a recipe for NASTY mildew if it’s zipped in a dark, fully enclosed nylon gym bag.
My last locker room step before getting in the pool is slathering a thin layer of Vaseline all over my face, neck and palms (where I have eczema). This is a tip I learned from my esthetician, Shannon. She has treated many UC Berkeley swimmers for acne over the course of her career and tells everyone to use the Vaseline trick. I used to think it would “clog my pores” but she said the molecules are too big to clog lol. This makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in protecting my skin barrier during a swim. It reduces that awful tight feeling from chlorine.
Oh and if you’re new to lap swimming, I recommend a pair of fins and a kickboard for basic drills. They’re a hassle to pack but will improve your experience as a beginner.
Suit Recommendations
For high-impact (lap swimming workouts)
Left on Friday’s Sunday suit has been my most-worn for the past year. Compressive, color has not faded, cute for a “training suit.
Jolyn two pieces are sturdy and dry fast. Fun colors. Material is more textured and bottoms are double lined which I appreciate. Their one pieces have never fit right on me though.
Nu Swim is such a fashion girl’s swim brand. Understated, intentional cuts, interesting colors. Comfortable but not as compressive as the brands above. The straps stretch out faster with wear.
For medium-impact (works for lap swimming, but not as performance-oriented)
Lido Lido is also a total fashion girl swim brand, and who I want to be when I’m on vacation. I love the fit of the Trentasei one piece—a wide neckline and thin straps are my fave as a broader-shouldered person. The material is slightly thinner than the “performance” oriented suits above.
For how splashy the Damson Madder swim prints are, they’re surprisingly sturdy. I’ve worn their bottoms for surfing once and they stayed in place.
Calomel is very similar to Nu Swim but the fabric isn’t as compressive. It is cheaper in price so you kinda get what you pay for. Stylish cuts.
For low-impact (cute and comfy for a dip)
Oddli makes colorful plaid and striped sets with button adornments. This is what I imagine girls wear to braid each other’s hair in the Ojai river.
I have this CUUP top that I mix with Left on Friday bottoms, and the extra bra shape support is helpful when I’m PMSing.
Goldie has an excellent selection of bikinis, tankinis, and swim shorts that nail the blend between sexy and sporty.
For sauna/natural fiber swimsuits:
Some of you asked specifically about this, which is not my area of expertise. I did some research but to be honest a lot of the options out there look like Daenerys Targaryen wildebeest scrap lingerie and I cannot recommend them in good faith. Which leaves us with:
Oddobody has a 100% organic cotton swim collection that launched this month. This is def what I’d wear to the sauna cause it’s simple, classic, unfussy—and the thin ties keep things a little sexy.
This Canadian brand, Simply Merino, makes a stylish-looking one piece that is 92% wool.
Post-Swim
Immediately after getting out, nothing feels better eliminating the damp cold air (words that would trigger a TCM doctor) in an large towel. Use whatever you have, I feel most cocooned in an old Tekla terry towel I got on sale a few years ago.
If it’s a nice day out and I am in the mood to sunbathe on the grassy patch after my swim, I towel off, try to get my hair 50% dry, put it in a claw clip because I can’t stand the feeling of wet hair drippage, and lie down with a hat and sunglasses.
I use the Eadem face mist for instant skin calming, esp that tight area around the eyes where your goggles have been pressing into your eye sockets. If I happen to remember a le chou chou lip balm in my bag I’ll swipe some on as well.
Ok fast forward to showering at home. My hair is crunchy at this point! For shampoo, I usually use Hairstory New Wash because it helps with maintaining texture and the direction I’ve trained my hair to fall if that makes sense.
The Roz milk serum conditioner lives up to the hype in my opinion. I’m 70% through my current bottle and will be re-ordering. I apply when my hair is half dry; it’s great for shaping my bangs too. Doesn’t hurt that it smells like a luxe Northern CA boutique hotel in the woods.
When I feel like my skin has grimey buildup and regular soap isn’t doing enough, I use the OSEA body polish (tiny pumice specks are gentle on the skin, grapefuit scent) with an exfoliating washcloth. Not as effective as a skin scrub at the Korean spa but it’s satisfying to see some dead skin putty roll off!!!!
Weleda Skin Food for extra dry spots and eczema patches after showering.
The last thing that I don’t always make time for, but feels sooooo relaxing, is foam rolling or doing a tennis ball massage on my back, neck and traps after showering. Swimming really works your upper body and shoulder injuries are common. Rotator cuff PT exercise videos on Youtube are a great free resource.
Molehill Miscellany
My favorite underwear brand, Oddobody, is running a seasonal warehouse sale. Up to 60% off organic cotton undies and loungewear.
Happy back to school season! Here’s what 31 readers wore in college in 2016. American Apparel trapeze dresses and matte lipstick galore…we had such a blast back then.
My fave outfit I wore this week was a pink silk dress with a teal bra that peeked out at the straps for contrast.
Other bras for strap color contrast: this botanical lace floral in violet that is ever so slightly witchy, and this passionfruit mesh orange I’d style under a pink spaghetti strap tank or dress.
Veronica Szálas Valentine interviewed me about my jewelry collecting process and favorite pieces. Read here!
Coming next for paid readers: 2027 fall fashion (red + purple color combo is gaining traction as we speak) was prophesied by Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.
Need a refresher on the story? This Mr. Paulson guy on Youtube will read it aloud to you.
xo viv
Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe recs and latest finds are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;) This post includes affiliate links.
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Tip for those who don't swim cap- the Ceremonia Guava Leave In Rescue Spray applied to hair BEFORE going into the pool/water helps a lot and I like it for also having UV protection for hair as well.
As a fellow hand eczema sufferer, that vaseline tip just blew my mind. How have I never thought of this!!!