I love to travel.
Who doesn’t?
And as someone who writes about beauty and wellness for a living, I am pretty much a human guinea pig when it comes to curating the perfect holiday skincare and beauty packing list.
I have tried and tested countless lotions, creams, sprays, balms, gels, scents, makeup products and haircare buys over the years, and have really managed to sort the good from the bad and the useless from the must-haves.
Holiday beauty needs to work hard – because there is only so much you can cram with you in a suitcase.
So here it is – my highly curated, tightly edited collection of travel beauty essentials for your holidays and travels, all designed to make you feel your most glowy, dewy and hot girl summer self – in just 10 amazing products.
1. YSL NU Bare Look Tint
In summer, I barely wear makeup, certainly not anything heavy, like foundation. However, sometimes, like for nights out or if I am doing something special, I do like to make sure my skin looks even and glowing.
Which is why I am obsessed with the new Nu collection from YSL Beauty – in particular, the Nu Bare Look Tint – a makeup skincare hybrid that can be used as a tinted moisturiser or as a buildable lightweight foundation.
Named after the French word for “nude,” the YSL Nu collection comprises five products formulated with botanical ingredients sourced from YSL Beauty’s Ourika Comunity Gardens in Morocco. Each product is packaged in sustainable and recycled materials, uses vegetal ink printing, and forgoes any plastic sleeves.
I love how glowing this makes my skin look, and how it doesn’t feel heavy or make my face feel sticky – even on hot and sunny days.
€31, Feelunique.com
2. Tisserand Total De-Stress Pulse Point Roller Ball
Can we all agree travel can be stressful – especially these days?
I’ll take all the help I can get in feeling more zen on travel days, and hence, I always make sure I have Tissrand’s Total De-Stress Pulse Point Roller Ball handy, so I can apply as needed.
Tisserand is a bit of a cult brand when it comes to essential oils, and has a great range, including this De-Stress one, with oil blends that help to reduce feelings of anxiety and bring a sense of calm, and I swear it actually works – just a little sniff of this, and I automatically feel more relaxed and ready to switch into vacay mode.
€6.99, Boots
3. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
If you invest in one beauty buy, this summer, let this be it.
This cult-buy mask will drench your thirsty, stressed, jet-lagged skin in moisture by steeping cells in a nourishing mix of vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants and gently exfoliating extracts.
The result? Dewy, glowy nourished skin that looks instantly renewed and radiant.
€38.95, Beautyshop.ie
4. IMAGE Vital C Hydrating Anti-Ageing Serum
I am obsessed with these hard-working products that really do what they say on the tin – and this serum will forever be part of my summer beauty routine.
Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum from IMAGE is a pharmaceutical-grade Vitamin C serum that immediately reduces and soothes the visible effects of environmentally ravaged skin – and hence is perfect to use on your face after spending time in the sun. This serum is chock-a-block with vitamin C and works at a cellular level to treat fine lines, fade sun damage, increase hydration, control acne and stimulate cellular turnover for more youthful, smoother-looking skin.
€72.50, Millies.ie
5. PS Creme Blush
A beautiful weightless cream blush enriched with vitamin E that is perfect for just dabbing into your cheek for a subtle colour and glow to your cheeks.
€3, Penneys
6. Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash
Yes, I know we have all used our fair share of antibacterial hand gels these past couple of years, and to be honest, I try to avoid them all in favour of good, old soap.
However, when I am travelling, I like to know I can quickly clean my hands, even when there is no bathroom nearby.
Which is why I never travel without this alcohol-based mist from Aesop to quickly cleanse my hands when needed.
With moisturising saccharide isomerate and aloe vera, the non-drying formula targets the ‘bad guys’ without stripping skin of its oils, so it’s less prone to chapping and cracking when endlessly cleansed. And with a blend of mandarin, rosemary leaf and cedar, the scent alone is enough to give you a lift and re-centre your senses whenever you spritz.
€8.25, Cult Beauty
7. Seoulista Blondi Locks Instant Hair Treatment Mask
My hair can get quite dry in the sun, so I always make sure to pack a hair mask to use at least once a week.
Created for all blonde hair types, the Seoulista Blondi Locks hair mask helps restore a sleek, luminous shine to dull blonde hair using a brand new hi-tech formula with shine-enhancing actives to help to restore luminosity.
I love how it smells and how it makes my hair feel after, so soft, and deeply nourished.
€12, Millies.ie
8. Rudolph Care Sun Face Cream SPF 50
I never go outside with SPF on my face, and one of the very best sun creams I have ever found is by Danish eco brand Rudolph Care.
Sun Face Cream SPF 50 is a rich and nourishing sun cream that protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays, and even better? It carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel certification to ensure that the product does not contain ingredients that may negatively impact your health or the natural world.
Swimming? The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is also your guarantee that coral reefs are not damaged when you swim in the sea, and the product also carries the Vegan Trademark label.
€37, Rudolphcare.com
9. Avène Hydrance AQUA-GEL 3-in-1 Moisturiser
After a day in the sun, I love to apply a nourishing face cream to soothe and calm my skin – and I love keeping it in the fridge, meaning it feels extra cold and refreshing when I apply it.
One of my absolute favourite products to use is the Hydrance AQUA-GEL 3-in-1 Moisturiser from Avene, which can actually be used as both a day cream, night mask and also as an eye cream.
This heavenly-feeling gel cream moisturises, soothes and even detoxifies the skin, and really is a must-buy for any sun holidays, trust me.
€31.50, Boots
10. R+ Co Rockaway Salt Spray
Whether you are actually going to be lounging on a beach or not, the Rockaway Salt Spray from R + Co will make it look like you just came from the beach. The salt spray adds volume and texture for a tousled, fresh-from-the-shore look.
I love how it contains powerful natural plant ingredients to volumise and strengthens hair, as well as add body, and protect colour – all in one spritz.
The addition of vitamin C provides the hair with potent antioxidants to reduce the impact of free radicals. The hair looks beautifully wild, volumized, and yet deeply nourished and soft.
€27.90, Kaos.ie
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