June in Blighty may have been a washout so far, but hopefully you’ve got a sizzling holiday in sunnier climes to look forward to this summer! In 8 weeks I’m heading to ‘Marbs’ for a fun girly getaway, followed by a relaxing escape with my boyfriend and some friends to our Portuguese property in the Algarve 3 weeks later. Take a glimpse at my holiday packing list and luggage essentials…
My holiday wardrobe is…
feminine but comfortable; I like to keep cool in floaty fabrics with pretty detailing and bright, standout accessories. During the day I choose bold bikinis with frills and cute prints to flatter my pear shaped figure, accessorized with intricate shell and starfish pendants and oversized sunnies. Evening staples in my suitcase include colourful maxi dresses, wearable, go-with-everything wedges and chic, white pieces – the perfect companion to sunkissed skin.
My failsafe packing secret is…
styling holiday outfits as thoroughly as possible before I leave - a pre-planned wardrobe saves precious holiday time, plus I avoid over packing and feel confident I’ve remembered everything! Being a beauty journalist, toiletries are predictably the items I find hardest to limit… I try to take miniatures and multi-purpose products wherever possible, but I’d never compromise on my must-have beauty items to do so.
My poolside essentials are…
first and foremost, SPF protection. St Tropez’s suncare range is the best I’ve tried – it contains MELANOBRONZE, an exclusive innovation that stimulates melanin production, giving a speedy golden glow and enhancing my natural tan while it protects. For my face I choose Dermalogica’s Solar Defence Booster; I wear it alone on bare skin but it can also by added to your natural moisturiser or foundation for added sun protection if you need extra coverage. After protecting my hair with sunscreen, I spritz on surf spray to achieve manageable texture and style my blonde locks in a topknot, adding pretty floral hair accessories. Summer holidays are a great opportunity to allow your skin to breathe so in the daytime I stay make-up free with the exception of a bold, hydrating lip colour, which I team with oversized sunglasses. You’ll also find a camera to capture memories and a great read in my beach bag – I’ve recently finished two amazing books that I’d highly recommend to holiday book worms: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J Watson and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
My pre-holiday prep starts with…
healthy eating. I usually start my beach body countdown around 8 weeks before my departure date, aiming to replace stodgy meals and sweet cravings with fish, vegetables, salad and fresh berries. For me, nothing is more of a confidence booster than a pampering beauty regime, so in the run up to my hols I pay particular attention to the texture and condition of my skin in my indulgent evening bath. I swear by Caudalie’s Crushed Cabernet Scrub, a grainy exfoliator that not only buffs away dull skin but also contains six cellulite-busting, organic essential oils that tackle problem areas and refine the contours of the silhouette. Other summer bodycare staples you’ll find in my bathroom cabinet are rich, tropical smelling body butter and the multi-purpose Wilkinson Sword Quattro razor. A pre-holiday trip to the hairdressers and a vibrant mani-pedi are absolute musts, and for face framing brows and a fuss free flutter without make-up I rely on professional eyelash and eyebrow tinting – I’ve recently discovered Malika Salons, which are a luxurious one-stop shop for speedy hair removal.
My evening holiday beauty routine…
starts with soothing skin treats to restore moisture and comfort sun damage – I recommend always packing pure aloe vera gel to heal scorched skin and prevent peeling. Post shower I slather on Lancaster’s Tan Maximizer Rich Firming Body Cream, a rich aftersun that deepens and prolongs my tan and firms those dreaded wobbly bits simultaneously. Make-up wise, I opt for easy to blend cream formulas in favour of powder ones and stick to cosmetics that I know are long-lasting so I can focus on having fun! infuses pouts with creamy, intense colour thanks to its highly pigmented, moisturising formula, making it my holiday lippie of choice; Amped, Baby Doll and Heartbreaker are the perfect holiday shades. To keep my wavy hair in check I rely on Moroccanoil Original Treatment Oil, it nourishes hair and banishes frizz so I can let it dry naturally without worrying about frizz.
My in-flight essentials are…
a collection of airport-purchased glossy magazines, my Samsung notebook complete with a selection of films, fleecy socks, a pashmina blanket, hydrating facial spritz and a celebratory glass of fizz to get me in the holiday mood!
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