Summer holiday skincare
After a year and a half of lockdowns and two vaccine shots later, I finally got to pack and do bit of traveling.
I think the trickiest bit about traveling - and especially flying - is cosmetics. Weight limits, fluid limits, baggage limits. The decision-making and compromises, small bottles of products... making sure I have everything I might need... fortunate and anxious challenges. :)
For the very fist time in my life, I not only felt I didn't miss anything, I also felt accomplished I didn't overpack any of the haircare, skincare or body care products.
Here's a list of my hero products that didn't disappoint on my summer holiday in 2021.
What a lean stack!
Skincare
Cleanser: Clarins Cleanser with Cottonseed - a staple I've been using for 10 years. Haven't found a better performing product. One tube lasts me a year, sometimes even year and a half. Apparently it’s discontinued so I linked aleternatives.
Toner - a sample I haven't used before - Kiehl's Herbal Extract Calendula toner. Not great, not terrible - I didn't really like pieces of a plant on my cotton pad.
Moisturizer - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream - a new favoourite! I remember testing out this cream 6 years ago and instantly neglecting it - it was too heavy for my (at the time) young skin. Now I got older I really enjoy the feeling afterwards. Feels like my face had a glass of water!
Oil - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate - I've recently re-introduced this oil into my skincare after 3 years. Used it a couple of times when my skin felt really dry. It did the job well - I woke up with baby skin next morning.
SPF - Neutrogena Age Shield Face Lotion Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF 110 - Taking no chances here. Also used my trusty Clarins SPF 50 stick to re-apply sunscreen on my face throughout the day.
Vitamin C - The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone - the only vitamin C product I actually enjoy thanks to its smooth texture, high percentage and zero smell.
Eye cream - ALCINA Hyaluron 2.0 Eye Gel - on my third package , this one lasts ages. You really should use an eye cream if you're after 25.
Poolside essentials
Hair care
Shampoo + Conditioner: System Professional Solar suite. A gold standard for summer vacations, the shampoo acts as a body wash as well so you save up space. The smell, the performance, the protection - I love everything about it. These products have been scientifically developed to protect your hair from sea, sun, chlorine and salt damage.
Hair protection spray - INVIGO SUN Sun UV Protect Spray- an SPF for your hair. To be completely honest, I consider this to be my vacation 'perfume'. Just spritz it over your hair and body.
Wella Luxeoil - SPD L4 Luxe Oil Elixir - the one and only oil that doesn't put weigh on your hair. A staple for more than 10+ years. Even Meghan, the duchess is using it.
Styling - Sebastian professional Potion 9 Lite Spray - a leave in spray that adds texture to my curls. I'm exploring Sebastian styling range thanks to my mum - she picked this product for me and I am elated. I trusted it so much I took only this single styling product after ca 2 weeks of testing it out.
Body care
After sun lotion- Piz Buin After Sun Tan Intensifying Lotion. Piz buin doesn't disappoint. Hack: put the bottle in the fridge.
Shimmer oil - NUXE Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Purpose Dry Oil - I bought this bottle a couple of years ago and I think I won't be repurchasing it. The smell is too sweet for my taste and I don't enjoy the texture as well. But hey, gotta use it up.
Body SPF - LA ROCHE-POSAY ANTHELIOS SHAKA SPRAY SPF30, La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Invisible mist SPF50 I don't think I'd by buying other brands anymore!
Do you have any favourite summer skincare products? Are you a minimalist or do you tend to overpack? Let me know in the comments. :)
