Packing made simple...
Let’s kick things off with how I pack and the gorgeous Flower Stripe Large Hanging Wash Bag* from Orla Kiely (£36 here). If you’ve followed me for a while, you might know all about my obsession with hanging wash bags and this is one of the best I’ve found! What I love about it is that the bag unzips to have four key sections. You have three smaller sections at the top, two of which are waterproof, one which is mesh. Then you have a huge space at the bottom for your large products. The bag folds up into a compact rectangle shape, but when you get to your destination, you simply unzip and hang it somewhere so your products are all easy to grab. Genius!
As well as my larger bag, I also take a smaller beach friendly bag which I can use for all my seaside essentials. This year I’m obsessed with these Hit The Beach Pouches* from Superdrug (£4.99 here). Not only are these bags available in neon pink, neon orange or neon yellow, but they are also a really good size. Which means you can really cram them with a lot of products, plus they are waterproof, so they won’t get damaged!
My Poolside Essentials...
When I’m at the beach there are several things I like to have by my side. The first is an array of SPF options – I always kick things off with the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light SPF (£16.50 here). This is a fabulous facial sunscreen, which is available in an ultra-lightweight formula for normal to combination skin. It’s great for anyone who is prone to sensitivity, sun-intolerance or prickly-heat, but still offers UVA/UVB protection in a SPF 50+ formulation. This year I’m also obsessed with mist SPFs, so they are so handy for topping up on-the-go. The Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Multi-Protecting Hydrating Mist SPF30* (£9.99 here) is a fabulous option – you just take the mist and spray it on your face and you’re protected! You don’t even have to rub this beauty in, which means you can top up your SPF without disturbing your makeup!
If the worst does happen and you manage to get burnt by the sun, it’s important to have a good after sun on hand! I’m currently loving the Vichy Ideal Soleil In Shower After Sun* (£13 here), which can actually be used in the shower, or on dry skin – which just makes it amazingly multipurpose!
Other poolside essentials include products for the hair, this year Schwarzkopf have a great trio kit which offers the hair UV- defence, free radical defence and colour fade prevention. The new Schwarzkopf BC Sun Protect Travel Set* (£20.95 here) contains mini travel sizes of the BC Sun Protect Shampoo, Spray Conditioner and Shimmer Oil. The products are really lovely and help to keep your hair beautifully groomed and well-protected during your holidays. Another important hair essential is a good detangling brush. I’m currently obsessed with the Pink Rebel Original Tangle Teezer* (£11 here) which is part of their limited edition Neon Brights collection. It’s perfect for banishing tangles and knots without tugging or pulling at the hair. It has two different sized teeth; the longer teeth gently detangle the hair, whilst the shorter teeth smooth healthier, glossier hair.
Other haircare essentials include the John Frieda Dream Curls Shampoo, Conditioner and Hairspray* (£1.99 - £2.50 each here). I’ve been a long time user of John Frieda products, first their brunette range and now that I have a perm, I always use the Dream Curl range. I love that they are available in miniature form for travel and they leave your hair in the best condition – with no frizz in sight! The other thing I rely on is Philip Kingsley Swim Cap (£15 here) – you just comb this through wet hair and shampoo it out. It helps protects against dryness and damage caused by chlorine and salt, preventing discolouration and colour fade by filtering out harmful rays of the sun.
The other thing I like to have on my side at the beach is a Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel* (£3 each here). Merci Handy have a whole range of hand cleansing gels, which are formulated created with vitamin E and Cleansing Pearls, which help leave your hands feeling both clean and soft. You never know what you’ll be faced with on holiday, but this allows you to have clean hands whether you’re on the beach or the plane! The gels are available in seven beautiful scents - Coco Rico, Flower Power, Chérie Cherry, New Wave, Black Vanilla, Oh My Lemon and Lollipop.
Let’s talk makeup...
One way I keep my packing streamlined, is to pick cosmetics that are streamlined and small – it’s a good way to use up all your minis! I recently travelled with the Nip + Fab Foundation in #10* (£12.95 here). I’m a really big fan of the formulation, as it’s been designed to recreate “photoshopped skin” – create for holiday selfies! However, what swayed me to take it is the packaging! Not only is the packaging really compact, it’s also made from plastic, which makes it lightweight and it’s got going to get smashed in your suitcase! Another favourite base of mine is the ESPA Naturally Radiant Tinted Moisturiser* (£32 here). This is my option for when I need something lighter, as this product literally changed my life! You do have to spend a while blending it into your skin, but afterwards it gives you a completely even skintone. It’s buildable, so you can keep adding extra coverage and then I just add a little concealer over blemishes. The best thing is that really leaves your skin GLOWING, it’s beautiful.
If you don’t have any makeup minis to hand, you could pick up something like The Benefit First Class Faves Set* (£21.50 here) which is a perfect airport buy! Inside the box you’ll find 6 first-class faves, including Chachatint, POREfessional PRO balm, Dandelion radiance liquid, Dandelion powder blush, Roller Lash and the Total moisture facial cream. You can reserve the product before you fly, pick it up before you leave and you have some amazing products to use whilst you’re away. My favourite item is the Benefit Dandelion Powder, a sheer pink blusher which just gives you a lovely radiant glow.
My last two makeup favourites are the Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara (£10-£18 here) and the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows (£23 each here). Waterproof mascara is an essential holiday companion, as it keeps your mascara from being destroyed by water or sweat! The Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara is fairly new to my collection, but it’s the best waterproof mascara I’ve tried. It offers you an intense curl, volume and length – plus it does not budge! Frequent Hope, Freedom, Love fans will not be surprised that I’ve added the Stila Eyeshadows into the mix! These eyeshadows are a highly-pigmented glitter, which you paint on to the eyelids and they do not move. It’s a perfect holiday eyeshadow – who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle in the sun?
Let’s take a look at some of the other skincare that I pack into my suitcase. First up a good Micellar Water is an absolute must – after a day of SPF it’s really important to double cleanse the skin and the Sensibio H20 Bioderma Micellar Water* (£5.10 here) is a perfect companion. The BIODERMA micellar water contains “micelles” and it’s made to suit all types of skin. Simply soak a cotton pad with Sensibio H2O and then use it all over the face and eyes, to cleanse or remove makeup. The great thing about this is that it’s available in three different sizes, so you grab a handy mini for your trip. The Clinique Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser* (£24 here) is available in single-use sachets, which means you can pack exactly the amount you need and they take up no room at all! The powder cleanser is formulated with Pure Vitamin C and you activate the ultra-fine powder with water. You simply pour the powder into a wet hand and then add the water, working the powder into lather. After rinse the product from your face, you’re left with skin that feels healthier, younger-looking skin. It’s a non-stripping formula, which means you can use it for your whole holiday.
Lastly lets talk scent! I love taking perfumes on holiday as I believe scent is the best way to trigger memories. However, I prefer to take away scents which will be safe in my suitcase and won’t get broken. The Layering Lab Body Sprays* (£2.99 each here) let you experiment with your fragrance on a budget! The range of six fabulous scents allow you to take a bespoke approach to switching up your summer scent, plus they arrive in plastic bottles, so they won’t smash. The amazing thing is that these beauties only cost £2.99 each! The Ted Baker Polly Mixtures* (£15 for 10ml) is a sweet, potent scent, but it is easy to chuck in a travel bag. Polly Mixtures is beautiful – the top notes include mandarin, red berries and peach (hurrah for the peach), the middle is white jasmine, honeysuckle and peony. The end of the scent is a mixture of amber and vanilla topped off with white musk.
And breathe! If you’ve made it this far you deserve a medal, as you’ve made it all the way to the end of my Travel Essentials post! I’d love to know in the comments if you’ve found something new, or if I’ve missed out one of your own favourites! What products are essentials in your travel bag?
