Mexico City Guide for Beauty Enthusiasts | Essence

This spring, Mexico City (CDMX) has been trending across TikTok as an affordable destination for beauty and health lovers. With over 5.5 million posts under the hashtag CDMX, the creators invite you to spend the day with them as they explore the architecture, restaurants, vintage markets, and of course all the spas and pharmacies the city has to offer.

For as long as I can remember, beauty and health have been one of the most interesting ways to immerse yourself in a destination. This is an often overlooked aspect of culture, but like art, food, and fashion, it’s shaped by a city’s history and community. In my years of traveling to Mexico City, I have been endlessly fascinated by the city’s vibrant beauty and healthy landscape. And by exploring its beauty, we can bring back a piece of our culture with us in our daily rituals.

What you need to know before you go

Located in a valley in Mexico, CDMX offers gorgeous, rugged mountain views of the Neovolcanic Mountains, but its altitude and insulating topography can make you a little nervous. Not only does altitude present challenges, but so do environmental stressors such as pollution and UV amplification. To better understand how the city’s beauty culture and climate affect your body, we spoke to local dermatologist Dr. Rosalia Velez Muniz about how to best prepare for your trip.

“Mexico City faces particularly severe pollution levels due to its high altitude and dense population,” Vélez Muñiz told ESSENCE. “Pollution also compromises the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to dehydration, inflammation, and sensitivities.”

As someone with particularly dry and sensitive skin, I found that my skin was very sensitive to the lack of humidity in the city air. To combat this, Vélez Muñiz recommends optimally preparing your skin before traveling by incorporating more hydration and “ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, resveratrol, and phytoesterols that neutralize free radicals and increase skin’s resilience.”

Additionally, high altitudes can cause shortness of breath and fatigue, and in more severe cases can lead to altitude sickness. On my first trip, I underestimated my body’s reaction to altitude and developed mild altitude sickness, which left me feeling nauseous and tired for the first few days. At the beginning of your trip, it’s a good idea to plan some extra time to acclimate to the altitude before taking in all that the city has to offer (otherwise you might get out of breath and not be able to really enjoy it).

beautiful scenery

One of the most impressive aspects of this city is the green spaces present throughout its architecture and landscape. It beautifully expresses the deep historical importance of nature to Mexican culture and health.

Before becoming CDMX, it was the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The city still retains much of its pre-Hispanic infrastructure. To this day, indigenous customs are evident in beauty and health rituals rooted in respect for the authority of nature. While natural, clean beauty is a “luxury” niche in other markets, here indigenous traditions are deeply embedded in the current beauty landscape. Their organic, plant-based health and beauty treatments are inspired by a time-honored commitment to transcending trends.

Inside My Spa Day

Keeping my sensitivity to heights in mind, I started my recent trip with a relaxing stay at the Ritz-Carlton Spa. While CDMX’s gorgeous architecture captivates at every turn, this property offers unparalleled views of the vast Chapultepec Park and city skyline. Visiting their spa feels like being transported to a tranquil oasis in the sky. Sitting back, eating, and relaxing before immersing yourself in the city’s vibrant energy is now my favorite way to start a trip.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with the signature Head in the Cloud time capsule experience. A 25-minute scalp massage in a zero-gravity chair reduced stress and rebalanced my body from head to toe. After a long day of travel, it eased my ongoing headache and set the tone for the next few days of relaxation.

The next day was dedicated to the full spa experience, which began with relaxing by the pool and skyline view before starting my service. The spa is located almost at eye level with Chapultepec Park, so you can relax and feel like you’re surrounded by greenery. While talking to other visitors and residents, we found out that it’s popular in the city. There’s a good reason for that.

After our sauna session and shower, we tried the Awakening Ritual, a 90-minute foot cleansing ritual and full-body massage inspired by the Aztec symbols of the Little Sun and New Moon. Stimulate new energy with long linear massage movements and green jade crystals to awaken, balance and heal your energy centers. Shortly after, I received a custom facial combined with aromatherapy to address my skin’s specific concerns such as dryness and congestion.

During our stay, we ate at the property’s restaurant Samos, which had views of the city and park. The restaurant offers gourmet cuisine from across the country and across a wide range of culinary disciplines, perfecting your spa day. CDMX is one of my favorite food cities (even as a vegan) and Samos has some of the most delicious and interesting food I’ve ever been to.

Best Beauty Boutique & Spa

The city is best known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural history, and world-class gastronomy, but for me, the beauty shops are a must-see. Keeping with tradition, most spas and beauty boutiques focus on local brands of natural remedies that you won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re looking for a scenic area that you can walk around for hours without having to worry about finding a store to visit, Amsterdam Avenue in Condesa is my personal favorite. The oval-shaped street has a central sidewalk in the middle of the street and is covered by a leafy canopy. Some of my favorite stores include La Tienda Del Savoy, XAMANA, and Mahlak Botiqueria, which sell body care, skin care, makeup, and perfume. We also recommend Aloe Vida in the historic center of Coyoacán, home of Frida Kahlo.

If you’re looking for more affordable and discreet spa options, KOTI Wellness and Youth For Us are popular choices. Both have multiple locations across the city, making it easy to get a sauna session, facial, or biohacking therapy to suit your needs. Wellness as a social practice is very common and KOTI Wellness offers group sessions where you can interact with other people rather than traveling alone.

Dermatologist Approved Pharmacy in Mexico

Every time I come to CDMX, I visit Dr. Muniz in Coyoacán for general research and treatment. Also, especially when trying out a new product, it’s a good idea to consult a professional to ensure nothing gets lost in translation. In addition to spa and in-office treatments, she recommends the pharmacy as a must-have for beauty enthusiasts.

If you go to a Mexican pharmacy, it will be difficult to go back to an American pharmacy. My personal favorite, as recommended by Dr. Muniz, is San Pablo, a chain of restaurants located throughout the city. We carry a wide selection of Mexican, American, and other international brands, offering skin, hair, body care, supplements, and more. And if you feel intimidated by the sheer number of items on offer, the staff is extremely helpful. My Spanish isn’t the best, but I manage with the help of Google Translate each time I visit.

My essentials include sunscreen (I know America is decades behind when it comes to filters), regular supplements like Lion’s Mane and B12, and tretinoin and other eye-catching goodies.