Fashion Done Your

Holiday season is on the horizon and with that comes the wonderful fun of picking out your favourite products to take on your travels. Beauty has always been a favourite topic of mine and nothing excites me more than a browse around the shops as soon as that holiday confirmation lands in my inbox. Whilst the last two years have seen a rise in British summer holidays, more and more brits are taking to the skies and enjoying that freedom that we’ve all missed so much. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love a trip to the beautiful destinations that this country has to offer, and I will absolutely be embarking on a few staycations this season, however nothing gets me more excited than the feeling of warmth hitting my face as I step off the plane. I have been extremely lucky with my adventures already this year and I hope to enjoy them even more now that I have the freedom as a “grownup” (I use that term loosely) to explore even further.

One of the many exciting factors of travelling is the packing. I know that many of you may see it as an additional stress on top of all the other arrangements that must be made before going abroad, but I try to see it as an adventure in itself. This year, in the build-up to my own summer holidays, I have been researching some of the top beauty products to get me prepared and I would love to share them with you. One of the fantastic things about living in London and getting experience in the fashion and beauty world, is that I have learnt so much about what products are best for such occasions; knowledge that I, of course, must share with you all.

As some of you may know, I am quite an avid fake tanner (much to the dismay of my dad), however I have very much toned my tanning activities down in recent years (half a bottle is no longer the aim). I think the older I’ve got, the less desire I have to lather layers and layers of tan on every week, mostly because I really can’t be bothered! On occasion, I will use the trusty tanning mousse to give myself that quick fix of sun-kissed skin, but these days I lean more towards a more natural option. The Dove gradual tanning lotion is the natural and easy equivalent to the mousses; it develops slowly and can be applied every day or once a week depending on the shade you wish to achieve. I tend to pop some on after every shower and after a couple of days, my skin appears glowy and healthy.

One thing that never goes out of fashion in my eyes is SPF. With the rise of sunbeds and tanning oils, it is so important to remember to protect your skin because no tan is worth sacrificing your health for. I will openly admit that I could do so much more to protect my skin, especially in warm weather, so I have recently tried the ‘Hello Sunday: The Everyday One’ moisturiser, which contains factor 50 without the greasy residue of sunscreen. This product is slightly steeper than your average sunscreen at around sixteen pounds, but it is heaven in a bottle. The consistency is very light and creamy and leaves your skin feeling moisturised for hours. It really is worth the investment in my opinion, and I usually avoid the pricier products if I can.

Another product that has caught my eye this month is the Bali Body highlighter; a highlighter designed for your body rather than your face. This seemed like a strange concept to me at first, but then I witnessed first-hand the shine it gives your skin after application. I would say that this goes beyond just the ‘holiday essentials’, however if you fancy a little treat,

by Molly Dutton

this product looks gorgeous under the sun and I will be using it to add a bit of extra flair to my Instagram photos. I was incredibly impressed by the size of the product and, when I was trying the product, I really felt that a little bit goes a long way which is important when selecting which items will make the final cut for your suitcase. For my holiday, I will be popping some of this into a small travel bottle so as not to take up too much room.

Anyone who knows me will know that nude lipstick is an absolute must-have item in any bag that I carry; I typically wear the same Makeup Revolution matte nude with my Technic clear lip gloss and I’m good to go. However, I have come to the realisation that this lip look suits my face better when I’ve done a full glam look, which is not what I like doing on my holidays. For me personally, there is nothing worse than being really hot and having a full face of makeup on, so I have adapted to make life a little bit easier. On recent sunny days, I have opted for a light foundation, a blob of cream blush and the Lottie London Oil stick. This little stick contains a beautiful, glossy lip colour that perfectly compliments a toned down makeup look. It also manages to last throughout the day, no matter how many cocktails you’re sipping (of which there are many I hope). The product comes in a few shades, my favourite being the shade strawberry dreams as I feel that it gives just enough tint without being too strong.

Finally, I have been testing out a brand new product that I don’t ever usually buy; primer. This always seemed rather pointless to me but now that I have been introduced to office work, I feel that any product that keeps my makeup on my face is a blessing. There are so many to choose from but the one I am experimenting with at the moment is the Rare Beauty poreless primer. Not only is this primer super silky on the skin, it also comes in blush pink packaging which makes me extremely happy. Skin prep is very much in fashion at the moment.

Get your travel bags at the ready, it’s beauty browsing time.

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