Beauty in Maui, Hawaii: Places To See & My Favorite Travel Beauty Products

As some of you already know, last month I headed on a vacation to Maui with my fiancée and her family. I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful a place Maui is. I desperately needed a getaway and Hawaii was the perfect place for that. There’s something magical about the island and visiting you get to see its beauty firsthand. From the breathtaking waterfalls to the impeccable beaches, Maui is a place you can’t easily forget about. We stayed a full week and decided to focus just on the island of Maui for our first Hawaii visit. Here’s more about our trip including places to stay, things to do and see, and my favorite travel beauty products of the moment.

Places to Stay
The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
6 Kai Ala Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 667-3200

If you're looking for a home away from home, look no further than the Westin Resort Villas. The villas are set on Ka'anapali Beach and make for the perfect family getaway. The resort features five pools, tropical gardens, including a Koi fish pond. Our villa was spacious and featured a stunning bathroom with a large Jacuzzi. My favorite part of the villa was the full kitchen where we made breakfast daily. It was such a relaxing experience to wake up in paradise, cook breakfast and sit on the balcony listening to the sound of the island. The Westin Ocean Villas are also located near popular attractions, such as the Historic Lahaina Town and Haleakala National Park.

Image courtesy of the Westin

I'm definitely a hoarder of minis and I made sure to take plenty on this trip. The best part about minis is that it's a great way to test a product before you commit to the full size. Seen above are products from StriVectin, Tatcha, SK-II, L'Occitane en Provence, St. Ives, Olay, The Wet Brush, Hourglass Cosmetics, Amlactin, Amika, Mario Badescu, and Shiseido. You'll find luxury brands mixed with drugstore favorites whenever I travel. I fell in love with Tatcha on this trip since it was my first time trying the brand - really impressed!

The Ritz Carlton
1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii 96761
(808) 669-6200

My fiancée and I decided to stay one night at the Ritz Carlton for a romantic evening away. This hotel did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, I knew it was going to be special. We were gifted these beautiful white Hawaiian leis upon arrival and the concierge service was amazing. We headed straight to drop off our things and were pleased to find out that we were placed on Club Level. Now, I myself have never been on Club Level at the Ritz before, but I don't think I could ever again do without it. Club Level at the Ritz is another exceptional way they provide personalized service. Breakfast, light snacks, hors d' oeuvres, beverages and sweets are served daily, including unlimited alcohol. Kristal, my fiancée, and I couldn't get enough. We spent most of our time either there or at their incredible pool.

My beautiful lady enjoying breakfast from the Club Lounge

Our suite was extremely cozy and had a balcony with stunning oceanfront views. It felt like the true Hawaiian experience we were both looking for.

Other notable amenities:

• On-property and nearby recreational activities include tennis court, basketball court, swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, sailing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, hiking, and stand-up paddling.
• Six dining experiences featuring local ingredients from the resort’s sustainable organic garden, fresh seafood and Pacific cuisine - we dined at Kai Sushi and it may have been the freshest fish I've ever had in my entire life! 
• The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, Kapalua featuring treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions and an array of body treatments, massage and facials, and a fitness center with cardio equipment and daily fitness classes.

I couldn't leave home without my favorite Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser Precision. My at-home hair removal journey has ended after 3 months of using the Tria, but I still use every now to touch up if I know I may not be shaving for a while. It was the perfect size to travel with and I can happily share that my hair barely grows back after the 3 month treatment. It's definitely an investment, but a worthy one. To learn more about experience, head over to read my first post.

I kept it pretty natural in Maui, but a night out called for a full face. I made sure to pack Hoola Bronzer from Benefit Cosmetics and Hot Mama! from theBalm to keep with the Hawaiian theme.

To Do List

Road to Hāna Tour
Traveled with Valley Isle Excursions 

The Road to Hāna was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We took the tour on our second day and it was a great introduction to the beauty of Maui. The Hāna Highway is a 64.4 mile long stretch of Hawaii Routes 36 and 360 which connects Kahului with the town of Hāna. It's world famous for the natural beauty of its landscapes and waterfalls. I fell in love with rainbow eucalyptus, black sand beaches and the quaint town of Hāna. Hāna has that small town atmosphere that seemed untouched. I felt blessed to be able to take the full day journey.

Snorkeling at Molokini
Traveled with Trilogy Excursions

Molokini is a crescent-shaped volcanic crater which forms a small islet. It's said to have some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii. This was my first time ever snorkeling and needless to say, I was terrified. Something about being in the middle of the ocean in Maui had my thoughts running wild. I kept looking for sharks or some equally scary sea creature, but I survived and can't wait to do it again! The team at Trilogy Excursions were excellent at making me feel at ease and I felt comfortable being more adventurous. Kristal and I saw so many fish and the most beautiful coral. I was bummed the sea turtles were shy, but there's always next time!

Sunrise at Haleakea National Park
Kula, HI
(808) 572-4400

There's nothing quite like watching the sun rise above the clouds and I can officially say a bucket list item has been checked off. I highly recommend you see this wonder if you're heading to Maui. It's one you definitely don't want to miss. The summit of Haleakala is over 10,000 feet above sea level, so it's extremely cold and brutally windy. Bring a jacket, scarf, gloves, long pants, etc. I'm usually quite warm, but I was shivering the entire time - luckily our driver had bought along blankets. You'll have to arrive at the summit around 5:00 AM to get a good spot, but it's well worth the wait. Even before the sun rises, you get the most beautiful shades of color in the sky. Possibly my favorite moment of the trip was our guide playing "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles as the sun was rising.

Dinner at Mama's Fish House
799 Poho Place, Paia, Hawaii 96779
(808) 579-8488

I took a lot of Snapchat's in Maui and this was one of them (in case you're wondering, beautynyc is my username on Snapchat). This photo was taken right before we had the most delicious meal at Mama's Fish House. Everything about this restaurant was perfection - the location, the ambiance, the staff, and of course, the food. I didn't take any photos of my food because I was too busy practically licking the plate. I went with the signature dish for my main course - Macademia nut crushed ahi mahi stuffed with lobster and crab. It was incredible. We'll definitely be back! 

Lomilomi Massage at the Ritz Carlton Spa
1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii 96761 
(808) 669-6200  

Image courtesy of the Ritz Carlton

What's a vacation without a massage? The Ritz Carlton Spa is considered one of Maui's most luxurious spas. It offers a variety of treatments and therapies based on native Hawaiian healing traditions and the plants, flowers, fruits and herbs in Hawaii. I choose the Lomilomi massage which is based on the Hawaiian tradition of working with the body, mind, and spirit. The treatment was gentle, but did help relieve my muscle tension. I felt fully relaxed after and spent the rest of my time in their calming relaxation lounge.

Old Lahaina Luau
1251 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 667-1998

Wearing MAC's RiRi Woo on lips before Luau

Our last evening in Maui was spent at the Old Lahaina Luau. I can't imagine a better way to say Goodbye to Maui than on a beach at a traditional Luau watching the sunset. The Old Lahaina Luau is definitely the most popular Luau on the island and it's no wonder - the show was fantastic! You start the evening with dinner and the night ends with an entertaining show. Highly recommend if you plan to attend a Luau during your Maui visit. 

If you made it this far, thank you for reading! Have you ever visited Maui? If not, are you planning to in the future?

Special thanks to Tria for sponsoring this post.