Tropical holiday beauty
Date posted: November-12-2010
12:36
Strike the perfect balance in your holiday beauty bag with this list of what to pack (and what to leave at home!)
There have been many times in my life when I have been labelled an ‘over packer’. Usually I take offence, justifying it by saying that I need to be prepared in case of any situation.
I finally decided the label was warranted, though, after a recent four-day tropical holiday, where I realised I had only used a fraction of the items I’d packed – including the ones in my beauty bag.
The rule of thumb that seasoned travellers swear by is to pack what you think you need, then reduce it by half. This mantra brings terrified shudders for the over-packing-inclined, like myself!
I can see now that I actually probably would have benefited from following that old rule. So with the benefit of hindsight, I’ve done an edit of what I really should have packed in my beauty bag – and what should have stayed at home.
Toiletry bag must-haves:
• Toothbrush and toothpaste – so often forgotten yet so essential.
• Sunscreen – absolutely vital if you’re planning on being outdoors. Throw in an aloe vera spray for after a day in the sun, too!
• Deodorant and perfume – to keep you smelling fresh.
• Tinted moisturiser, bronzer and lip balm – all you need for a relaxed, beachy make-up look.
• Cleanser and daily moisturiser – these basics will keep your skincare routine on track without having to spend too much time on it.
• Razor and tweezers – to keep everything tidy and in order!
• One hair texturising/holding product – a multi-tasking hair product that can be used without a heat-styling tool.
Bloom Cosmetics Overnighter Bag, $34
Colgate MicroSonic Power360° Toothbrush, $7.99
Sunsense Ultra SPF 30+, $21.95
Garnier Mineral Deodorant, $5.45
True Solutions All Day Moisture SPF 30+ Tinted, $60
Dove Cleanser & Toner in One, $6.99
Schick Intuition Plus Pomegranate, $11.99
Redken Wool Shake, $36
And things that should have stayed behind:
• Soap, shampoo and conditioner – if you’re staying at a hotel, they usually have their own.
• Foundation, eye shadow, mascara, eye liner, blush, illuminator, lipstick and any other heavy-duty make-up – as if you can be bothered when you’re on vacay!
• Hair straightener – a complete waste of time and effort, especially if you’re swimming every day.
• Serums, toning mists and night creams – an everyday cream will do you just fine.
Remember – the more you over pack, the more you end up having to lug around with you (or, er, have your boyfriend lug around for you!).
- OK! Beauty Editor