At last, after seven months of waiting since booking it, I'm finally off to Ibiza next week for a long-overdue holiday. Though you may have already had your week in the sun this summer, for those doing as I am and jetting off in September (once all the anooying, chavvy 18 year olds have all gone back to school...) here's a little pick of some of my favourite holiday beauty essentials at the moment...
Hair
I don't tend to do much with my hair on holiday; wash and go generally cuts it. One essential though is Boots Sun Swim & Gym Leave In Conditioner (£3.59 at www.boots.com). After a swim in the sea or a dip in the pool a quick spritz of this detangles and leaves my long hair super soft. The only thing I use if I'm heading out of an evening tends to be Bumble + Bumble Surf Spray (£9.50 for 50ml at www.boots.com) - the perfect product for that tousled, beachy wave I so perpetually crave.
Face
Burt's Bees is fast becoming one of my go-to beauty brands thanks to its natural products, and the Facial Cleansing Towelettes (£5.99 at www.burtsbees.co.uk) have become a travelling essential. Anti-oxidant rich white tea extract and other botanical extracts like cucumber extracts and aloe leaf Juice cleanse and calm your face naturally and remove all traces of make up. Ditto, the brand's new Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut and Pear (£3.69) is packed with natural ingredients including coconut oil, pear extract and shea butter, nourishing lips with the added bonus of tasting like a Pina Colada.
A decent facial sunscreen is something of an essential when on vacay. Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream For Face High Protection UVB/UVA 30 (£19 from www.clarins.co.uk) is a high facial protection for sun-sensitive skin, perfect for all skin types, even my oily T-zone. It provides reinforced sun protection with photostable and heat-resistant UVB-UVA filters. Combining efficacy with the most incredible texture, it protects against dehydration as well as helping to prevent the visible signs of premature skin ageing. Another great one I love is the Chanel Product UV Essentiel Daily UV Care Multi Protection Anti Pollution SPF30 (what a mouthful! £41 at www.boots.com). Its UV filters block UVA and UVB rays, free radicals and urban pollution, responsible for hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and photoaging, to ensure external protection of the skin. It's also sweat-resistant in hot and humid conditions. It is the essential complement to all skincare rituals.
Body
A good body moisturiser is an essential for prolonging one's tan, and I love Marks & Spencer's Nature's Extracts Creamy Coconut Body Butter (£4.80 for 200ml from www.marksandspencer.com). It smells incredible, as well as being super rich and instantly quenching dry skin. The new Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Oil in Shea and Warm Vanilla (£8.99 for 150ml at www.boots.com) contains a hint of golden shimmer, perfect for highlighting tanned legs after a day soaking up the sun by the pool.
As far as sun protection goes, I tend to plump for a factor 30 for the first couple of days while I get used to the sun and then go down to a 15 for the last few. Newly launched this year, I love the Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid SPF15 (£17 for 200ml at www.boots.com). This sun fluid combines immediate and effective UVA/UVB protection with an ultra light formula that dries instantly, plus the non sticky and non greasy formula absorbs instantly without leaving white marks for skin that feels silky and smooth. Enriched with an anti-oxidant* Vitamin E derivative, it helps to prevent sun induced premature skin ageing and is also sweat and water resistant.
Scent
Don't know about you, but I'm something of a fragrance chameleon, with a vast collection of different scents for day, night, summer and winter. Crabtree & Evelyn's Caribbean Island Wild Flowers (£39 for 100ml from www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk) definitely falls into the summer category. A fruity floral, blending Spider lily with tropical citruses, orange blossom, night blooming jasmine, palm leaves and a touch of sea air; it just epitomises the scent of a tropical beach. Although it may not be making the actual holiday journey with me, my final pick is the delicious, heavenly-scented {b]Heidi Klein Coconut Beach Candle[/b] (£36 from www.heidiklein.com). Made from virgin beeswax, which ensures a slow burn and maximum fragrance release, the fragrance is a blend of coconut, jasmine, marine and vanilla, and is evocative of tropical beaches and faraway islands - burning it pre-holiday is sure to get you in the mood for the beach!
Love Laurel x
