In a matter of weeks I will be on a beach sunning myself, baring all. And although this sounds rather lovely (minus the baring all part), the last minute booking has plunged me into pre-holiday panic, the kind where you book beauty treatments and buy products in the hope of looking fabulous in time for your flight. But panic aside, it’s time to put my game face on and step up my beauty routine.
BODY
Full body exfoliation and moisturisation will give your skin a
pre-holiday boost and ensure it is primed and prepped for the long awaited
sunshine. A vigorous all-over body scrub will ensure your tan will last longer,
appear more even and be less prone to peeling. This is because the sun colours
the top layer of your skin, which sheds approximately every two weeks. Exfoliation will also leave the skin silky smooth, so scrub away those skin
cells and grab your choice of scrub, exfoliating mitts or both and get to work
paying close attention to your knees and elbows. Goodbye lizard skin!
Exfoliation and moisturisation go hand in hand, so hydrate your body with
an all-over deep moisture massage. This will promote circulation, in turn helping the skin to appear smoother in texture, all whilst
reducing the appearance of both cellulite and stretch marks.
DE-FUZZ
Hair removal is an absolute must. We’ve all seen that one lady sunning
herself who is literally bursting at the seams! Forget the razors and hair
removal creams, opt for a bikini wax at least 24 hours before your holiday
instead. It really isn’t all that bad. Waxing will ensure your bikini line is
smoother and far longer lasting. My top tips for a bikini wax, is to exfoliate
your groin area prior to your wax and apply tea tree oil post wax to sooth and
protect against ingrown hairs. Don’t forget to pack tweezers to pluck out any
small hairs if they are to grow back during your holiday.
BROWS & LASHES
In all honesty I don’t bother with waterproof mascara on holiday, I want
to be carefree, not worrying if my mascara is running down my face, as I splash
about in the pool! I suggest tinting your lashes before you travel, this can be
achieved either at home, or at a beauticians. Don’t forget to pay attention to
your brows also, tame them and tint them too as the sun can bleach hair. The
colour will last up to two weeks and you will gain effortless structure without the use of brow products.
FACE
Our skincare routine may serve us well, but it’s always a good idea to
give your skin a little extra TLC before a holiday break. You can either book a facial
at your local beauticians, or use your favourite products at home. I like to
treat my skin with my 3 step detox routine, which gives my skin a much needed
hydration boost and leaves my skin looking fresh, bright and more importantly clear of any pesky spots.
The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator (full review) / Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (full review) / Visiq Facial Steamer (full review) / Magnitone Cleansing Brush (full review) / Una Brennan Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Clay Mask (full review) / GLAMGLOW Thirsty Mud Treatment (Full Review)
NAILS
I for one struggle to find a polish that truly doesn’t chip after a good few days, careless of the price or what it promises. So I opt for a long lasting durable mani and pedi before a holiday in the form of Shellac. Shellac is longer lasting and more durable than your regular polish and lasts around 14 days and even longer on your toes! I have an at home kit which I bought on eBay, but you can have the treatment in store which costs around £25. The application process is relatively simple and your nails will be dry instantly, not to mention look seriously glossy. Also no need to pack polish, or remover! Bonus!
FEET
I’m sure we are all aware of how sole destroying sandals can be! I like to treat my feet and soak them in a bowl of warm water - you can add
bath milk, or a soaking scrub to increase softness. Next, I dry off my feet and
exfoliate away any rough areas with a pumice stone, or foot file and follow up
with a scrub. To finish, I like to massage a small amount of Elizabeth Arden 8
Hour Cream onto the bottoms of my feet, (any foot cream, or even vaseline
will do) and pop on some socks before bed. It may take time to get super smooth
feet, so repeat this a couple of times a week and voilà, you’ll be flip-flop
ready!