My suitcase weighed in at 20kg as it hit the scales at Gatwick airport when we checked in for our flight to Porto Santo last month. I would usually regard myself a light packer, and I did up until this point. But I should have considered this a possibility the moment my sister asked me why I needed to fly half the contains of the bathroom cabinet with me to Portugal as I shoved my wash bag into my case. And in hindsight, she had a point, as it’s safe to say not every single product got put to good use during my holibobs. But a handful of products did and I thought I’d share those with you today.
It might be the most unappealing product in this round-up, but it’s easily one of the most important. If like me, despite your best efforts, your skin burns within minutes of being exposed to the sun, aloe vera gel is a must. I repeat it’s a must-pack beauty product for a hot summer holiday. Typically brand-to-brand the formulation of aloe vera gel doesn’t differ, so I tend to pick up a tube from wherever is convenient. But trust me when I say this green goo will help soothe, hydrate and calm the worst sunburn of your life.
Although aloe vera gel doesn’t make you oily, it can leave a sticky film on the skin. So to ensure you can wear your favourite (and most comfortable) dress to the all-inclusive evening buffet without the garment sticking to your thighs (or backside in my case) after sun sprays such as HERBIVORE After Sun Soothing Aloe Mist are a great alternative. The blend of aloe vera, lavender and peppermint essential oils means the mist is cooling, soothing, hydrating and anti-inflammatory. It’s worth noting, however, that HERBIVORE uses glass bottles to house their beautiful products, which is great for the environment, but not our luggage. But it’s nothing a Glossier pink pouch couldn’t help a gal out with.
My love for Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream hasn’t wavered since it first made an appearance on my top shelf last June, as smothering my limbs in this stuff is always a pleasure. Not only is the sugary, summery scent addictive, but it’s also hydrating, creamy and leaves my skin noticeably soft and suppler, without that typical greasiness associated with most body creams. But does it make my butt plump? Honestly, this isn’t a Brazilian bum lift in a jar per se, but the dimples in my skin, scars and stretch marks have been visibly reduced.
Typically I don’t tend to style my hair on holiday; it goes up during the day, gets washed post pool/sunbathe session and is let to air-dry before I head out to consume several piña coladas. But one of my all-time favourite styling products and after sun hair saviours is Moroccanoil Treatment Light. To apply, I gently squeeze out the moisture from my hair (after washing), rub a tiny amount of the oil into the tips of my fingers and work the product through the mid-section and into the ends of my hair. The lightweight oil feeds my hair back to its best after being exposed to heat and humidity, reducing frizz and unruliness, leaving it seriously soft and shiny.
Call it a quarter-life crisis, but I’m suddenly seeing fine lines developing on my face, and I’m freaking out. I blame the one too many years of using sunbeds and not wearing a sunscreen with a high SPF rating. But rather than dwelling on the should haves, I now wear and strongly suggest investing in a moisturiser with an SPF rating of 30+ (and not using sunbeds blah, blah, blah…) to help slow down the ageing process. My current favourite is Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ that has an SPF of 50 as well as high UVA protection. It can be worn alone, or under makeup and is comfortable, lightweight and doesn’t look white on the skin – it just feels like a regular moisturiser. And of course, you can still get a tan while wearing sunscreen. So don’t disregard the importance of facial SPF, or rely solely on your foundation with SPF.
While it’s not a necessity, it’s always nice to pack a beauty product that helps you to indulge in a little pampering while you’re away. And as I was planning to lounge in the sun for hours on end, which can leave my complexion feeling zapped of moisture, I opted for Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask, which has a seriously hydrating formulation - more so than Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. It also contains vitamin C, Niacinamide, Green Tea and Chestnut Extract to boost hydration, brighten, soothe and reduce uneven skin. The balm is thick and smells a little minty, and I found it is best applied overnight, especially if you’re after uber-dewy plump skin.
Admittedly this was the first time I’d taken a false tan product abroad and to do so sounds a little ironic, doesn’t it? But I wasn’t blessed with skin that tans seamlessly the same shade from head to toe, and I found that Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant HD Finish 24HR Wear came in handy during my stay. It worked a treat at helping to even up my skin tone, I simply applied a thin layer of the wash-off self-tan every evening to any exposed limbs and rinsed off before I got into bed. But it’s worth mentioning if you apply too much, the product can ball up and I recommend applying with a tanning mitt to avoid a streaky finish. I’m not one to book a pre-holiday spray tan, but I wouldn’t hesitate at packing this again.
I love to experiment with new eyeshadows whilst I’m away as I have the time (and energy) to do so. And before my trip, I hadn’t even opened the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette despite the fact I’d purchased it back in March(!) so it was the ideal candidate for the job. The latest palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills features a selection of neutral eyeshadows including a handful of warm peaches, which are undoubtedly my most worn eyeshadow shade of the past two years. During my stay, I wore all 16 shades and found they complimented my blue eyes and golden glow perfectly.
Rather than second-guessing and buying a foundation that is darker than my usual shade, I like to mix my foundation (MAKE UP FOR EVER Water Blend Face & Body Foundation) with a pump of By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Serum in Sunny Flash. The CC serum isn’t something I reach for during colder months, but when my base needs a hint of warmth, the bronze serum is my top pick. The CC serum isn’t a coverage product, but it blends well with my go-to bases, brightening, smoothing and blurring my complexion. It is, however rather pricey and perfumed, so two things to consider if you're strapped for cash and sensitive to perfumed products.
Lots of booze, bad food, unrivalled stress and freezing temperatures, it's no surprise that good skin can go bad and start misbehaving during the festive season. And unfortunately beauty crisis are unavoidable. But this doesn't mean they can't be treated. So today I'm sharing a few common issues and how to deal with them so you shall go to the ball...
1. Spots
Ever woken up the morning after with a throbbing spot that has appeared outta nowhere and you have big event that night? I have and ain't no body got time for that! More often than not, I will panic and pick, which only makes them worse. But, if you catch a spot early, massage over it using a little of Tea Tree Oil by The Body Shop (£8.00), pushing out towards the ears to drain toxins under the skin and then apply a generous amount of your favourite face mask directly to the spot with a cotton bud and leave it to work it's magic. I personally like Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque (£30.30)* and for on-going breakouts I forever reach for La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] (£15.50), which is quite possibly the best anti-blemish cream.
2. Dry Skin
It's inventible to suffer from dry, dehydrated, reddened skin in the winter months. And whilst it can be hard to fall into the trap of over moisturising (which can cause an outbreak of spots), it's important to treat the skin using products that attract water like hyaluronic acid. Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly (£24.99)*and their Moisture Boosting Sheet Mask (£19.99)* (if the name doesn't already suggest), is a range created to help provide instant and sustained moisture to skin. And obviously, but necessary: drink more water!
3. Melting Makeup
Nothing is worse than leaving the house with a flawless base, to then hit the dance floor for it to slides off your face. So to make sure your base stays put, blend your foundation in thin layers, apply a very light dusting of your favourite powder to the areas that tend to get a little oily (forehead, nose and chin) and spritz with a fixing product. I've currently been using the Gerard Cosmetics Slay All Day Setting Spray in Peach, which impressively prevents both fade and shine and costs a mere £14.50.
4. Frizz
Humidity, lack of moisture and a few styling sessions can cause poofy hair, frizz and frayed ends. But a few simple steps and you can fight the frizz and give your locks some much-needed love. 1) to replenish the moisture load up on conditioner, 2) do not towel dry your hair (it can break and damage the ends), 3) use heat-protector, always, 4) smooth it out with a nourishing hair oil such as John Frieda Frizz-Ease Perfect Finish Polishing Serum (£6.99)* for super silky controlled locks. And during the winter months, don't forget to treat your hair once a week using a good deep conditioning treatment my favourite is Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Conditioner (£4.99).
5. Cracked Lips
Whilst I suffer from dry lips on and off all year, this condition worsens during winter. So to combat chapped lips I like to buff them with a soft warm flannel and follow up with a hydrating lip product. And one balm that has received VIP status during 2016 is the Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips (£12.00)*. It's natural blend of oil and waxes revive badly chapped lips and can be slathered on and used an intensive lip mask, or worn as a lip primer and I can guarantee it will leave your lips super soft and smooth. Plus, it can be used on cracked heels too!
