Don’t Go On Holiday Without…
I am often asked the question: which beauty products do you take on holiday? This was asked most recently by the editorial team at Jan. For those of you who didn’t see the article: I don’t leave the house without my bottle of sun cream, lip balm and a little make-up. For holidays I’ve got an extra couple of favourites.
1. Sun cream
Protecting my skin from the sun is like brushing my teeth. That’s why I always have my own brand of sun cream within easy reach wherever I go. At this time of year I use the SPF 15 for my face. And for holidays in the sun, I take my own litre bottles of sun cream for the whole family.
2. Lip balms
During the holiday in particular, I always have a lip balm to hand. This begins on the flight, when the extremely dry air and fluctuating temperatures can dehydrate your skin and lips. For this I just use a tube of Vaseline. A little Vaseline on your skin when it feels dry and tight, is good anyway. A product containing plant extract oil such as jojoba or shea is also helpful. You should always, for that matter, have a good look at the ingredients list on lip balms. Avoid anything with a taste or smell. Lavender, menthol, alcohol or eucalyptus are also best avoided. These substances just make the skin even more dry, making application a vicious circle.
3. Jojoba, kukui and abyssinian
To counteract the extremely drying effects of air-conditioning, sun, sea and swimming pools, I always carry a bottle of pure jojoba alongside my own moisturiser. This product not only hydrates, but is also anti-inflammatory and protects against the damaging effects of UV rays. Those who follow my blog will know that I am an enormous fan of the less familiar Abyssinian oil. This 100% plant oil, from Ethiopia, keeps dry skin hydrated, absorbs easily and isn’t sticky. Another favourite is kukui oil. I usually apply an oil before boarding a plane so that I don’t arrive at my destination with dry, blotchy skin.
4. Conditioner and (hair) oil
Conditioner alone, is often not enough, in a sunny location, when I am regularly dipping in the water and drying my hair more often than usual. That is why I always make sure that I carry a bottle of plant oil with me. I use it as a hair mask, but also put it on my body. Even to remove my eye make-up, and, in fact, did you know that you can also use conditioner as a shaving cream? Shall we say, just travel light. For that reason, I often transfer my own cleanser, toner and moisturiser from large bottles into smaller empty travel size packs. Because I will be taking those anyway.
Kind regards,
Jetske
Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology
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