I’m a beauty editor – these are my 15 summer holiday essentials
With the unseasonably warm weather here (no complaints!), my mind has immediately begun fixating on summer holiday season.
While dreaming about all the holiday destinations I’d love to jet off to is all well and good, the logistics of getting there is another thing entirely. Unfortunately for me, one of my character flaws is an inherent incapability at packing light; I’m the person who brings a large 32kg suitcase (with the shameful ‘heavy’ sticker) on a 2-day weekend trip.
In my defence, as a beauty editor, my routine is sprawling – across skincare, makeup, fragrance and wellness – and that’s before I’ve even packed any clothes. After lots of hard work, I’ve managed to get the weight down to an acceptable 30kg by streamlining my beauty must-haves.
How did I do it? Focusing on the most important areas from body care heroes to skincare saviours, essential sunscreen and fun and flirty fragrances that transition beautifully from day to night, the important thing to remember is that they’re meant to be essentials not necessarily your everyday routine faves. So think carefully! Bonus points for multi-tasking products that tick multiple boxes and staples that you’d want if you ended up stranded on a desert island.
Keep reading the find out my new fave launches and staples that are going straight into my suitcase when it’s time to go on a summer holiday.
As a Tatcha superfan, when a new release drops, I’m automatically seated. If you’ve already discovered the godly glow of the brand’s Dewy Skin Cream (if not, why not?!) then, like me, you’ll adore the new Milky Sunscreen SPF50+. Giving your skin a flawless, dewy finish – that stays glowy, instead of getting greasy – I promise you that the silky formula doesn’t leave a hint of a white cast, even on darker skin tones.
After something else? Shop more of the best sunscreens for dark skin.
I love a lip gloss, I literally cannot get enough of them, but as a connoisseur only the best make it to the sacred space (read: my handbag). If you’ve ever ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the sight of a sparkly lip gloss, only for it to be disappointingly sparse after applying then I have the product for you. Available in 13 shades – Stardust Love and Honey Moon are firm faves – Yves Saint Laurent Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss leaves your lips sparkling with high-shine, longlasting shimmer and a sheer tint of colour.
Despite being blessed with beauty and brains, I have been cursed with the sweatiest eyelids in the world. As somebody who dons graphic liner almost every day, in the summer months, I’m always at risk of it sliding down my face before I’ve got into the office. Thankfully I recently discovered One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray that not only locks my makeup in place all day long (it promises up to 16 hours), but gives your skin a beautiful blurred finish.
Since my shaved head requires very little attention, the one thing I don’t skip is scalp care – I am 99% scalp after all. Keeping my scalp fresh and oil-free Dyson Amino Leave-In Scalp Bubble Treatment is rich in aminos (obviously) and gets straight to work from the first use to give your head much-needed moisture and oil-control while banishing flakes and thickening your hair (should you have any).
Daily SPF is mandatory all year long, but in the summer months , topping it up every two hours (especially after taking a dip or sweating excessively) is essential. CeraVe Invisible Sun Stick SPF50+ is the perfect size to fit in a pocket or pouch and applies invisibly so not to ruin your makeup. Providing instant protection for your face and lips, the stick design is also great for running along your hair part – often a blind spot for sunburn. Shop more sunscreen sticks here.
Effortless fluffy brows are well within reach thanks to Vieve Modern Brow Gel. Guaranteed to survive heat and sweat without leaving them feeling crispy or dry, you’ll be amazed at how durable the formulation is. Even better, the blend of prickly pear leaves and unroasted green coffee beans encourage the growth of fuller brows too. I find the best results are achieved by lightly sweeping the mini brush through your entire eyebrow once or twice and using a clean spoolie to set the shape without overloading them with product.
I recently told you that metallic makeup is going to be one of the biggest beauty trends of 2026 and Donni Davy’s brand Half Magic is one of my faves. For occasions where I know I’m going to be showing off skin, I generously glide a foundation brush dipped in Half Magic Glitterpuck in the shade Glimmer Pop for a sparkling layer of shimmer that rivals Zara Larsson and twinkles with every small movement.
This one is pure nostalgia. Almost 30 years after the original Clinique Chubby Stick launched, it’s back and better than ever. Perfect for carrying around in your purse, this multitasking hero is great for use on your lips, eyes, cheeks and nose for an instant flush that blends beautifully into the skin with just the tips of your fingers. Grandest Guava and Plenty O’ Papaya are my go-to shades, but there’s a whole spectrum of colours from rose pink to plum to experiment with.
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Believe me when I tell you that Fenty Body Body Lava is liquid gold in a bottle. Designed to deliver that post-hol glow all year round, this is literally the perfect way to cheat it from day one of your trip and leave everyone wondering if you just arrived from another sunny destination. For me, Hold My Trophy and Penny Drop are the MVP shades, but they’re all suitable for all skin tones. And, of course, because it’s got Rihanna’s fingerprints all over it, it also smells heavenly too – a richly intoxicating floral vanilla.
Cool and refreshing, Curél Deep Moisture Spray is always at hand for spritzing my dry, sensitive skin post-cleanse and before applying products – especially after a long day in the sun. An instant pick-me-up, it’s great to carry around for an instant refresh during the day and the superfine mist won’t mess up your makeup or SPF. Earn bonus cooling points by stashing it in the fridge between uses.
Joining the scent-sational Beach Skin Body Mist – which smells just like a sunny day at the beach in a bottle – Phlur just launched an accompanying Shimmering Body Oil with the same sunny notes of coconut milk, tiare blossom and ocean mist. Giving you a golden glimmer all over, the nourishing body oil can help amplify your body mist if used in tandem, or it works just as hard solo. Most importantly, it absorbs quickly so doesn’t stain your clothes – especially anything white!
If, like me, you’re a Sweaty Betty, then the summer months mean your shower has to do a bit more heavy lifting to stave off unsavoury scents. For me, Rituals The Ritual of Seshen Foaming Shower Gel is always within reach. Its rich, velvety foam completely envelops your body and feels nourishing and the bright scent, infused with citrussy orange blossom and delicate lotus flower lingers long after you’ve dried off. The only downside… it’s limited edition, so snatch it up while you still can!
I’m calling it now, Maison Crivelli Musc Nurāsana is officially the scent of the summer. A delicate, inviting musk, the only way to describe the scent is to imagine sensual skin-to-skin contact on a summer’s day. It’s got depth and warmth thanks to bergamot, ginger and cardamom, but it’s also intoxicatingly sensual with Damask rose, tonka bean and, of course, musk. Whether you’re spritzing before a day at the beach or prior to a night on the town, it wears beautifully at any time of the day.
Feeling good in the summer (and while travelling) is more than just how I look on the outside. A while a diet of fun, sun and cocktails is great for the soul, it can wreak havoc on sensitive stomachs like mine. I’ve found my solution is wrapped up in a single convenient capsule courtesy of Epetōme. Designed to deliver 11 clinically trialled bacterial strains direct to your digestive system – alongside some additional gut goodness like FOS fibre, vitamin D and zinc – the Synbiotic Duo Cap keeps your tummy happy wherever you’re travelling to.
Blurred beauty is all the rage on the red carpet right now and who doesn’t want to look softly out of focus at all times? If that sounds appealing to you, then you’ll likely also be a fan of Huda Beauty Easy Bake Pressed Powder. Banishing excess oil and shine from my forehead and nose – AKA my problem areas – I was most surprised by the flawless airbrushed finish it gives you. Pores literally eliminated! Peach Cupcake is my go-to shade, but Pound Cake and Banana Bread are great choices too.
