Holiday Beauty 2014: Sun Protection, Skincare, Haircare, Perfume

Hey peeps,

I hope you're having a lovely evening - I'm just catching up on #GBBO while blogging and enjoying a cupcake on the sofa :)

Last month, I went on holiday to Costa Adeje in Tenerife and Hurghada in Egypt and although the outfits changed, the beauty bag stayed the same.

I'm going to do a separate post on my make-up bag but here's what I brought along in my holiday wash-bag...

Sun protection:

Soltan Protect & Tan Ultra-Light Texture Suncare Lotion SPF30 & SPF15
I first got wind of these products on last year's holiday to Almeria in Spain. I like to tan as safely as possible and never start out wearing a factor lower than 30 - but I like the look of a healthy tan, too. This offers the best of both worlds as it protects my skin from the sun (it has 5* UVA and UVB protection) while enhancing the body's natural tan. I didn't burn once when I used this and I came home with a natural, golden glow. Who said you had to spend a fortune on suncare?
Malibu SPF 20 Clear Hair and Scalp Protector
I've never thought to protect my scalp on holiday before - obviously I wear a hat to protect my face but this ensures my scalp is protected too. It's nothing special but I just spritzed it onto my locks first thing and my scalp didn't burn at all. Not exactly glamorous but you've gotta tell it how it is!
Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF30*
Another one from my 2013 holiday beauty bag, this is one product I simply could not be without now that I've tried it. I have oily/blemish-prone skin so I need to be really careful with what I put on my face - a bottle of greasy sun cream just doesn't cut it. This on the other hand doesn't break me out, it has a lovely, light texture, it smells of oranges and most importantly, it protects my skin from the sun. It is pretty pricey (£57.00) but it has lasted me ages as you only need the tiniest bit.

Skincare:

Murad Essential-C Cleanser*

As you probably guessed, this also made an appearance in last year's beauty bag. Again, I just love the scent, and it makes my skin feel squeaky clean. Sadly now every time I use this, it just reminds me of holiday - and how much I want to go away again!

Avene Thermal Spring Water

I have a very soft spot for Avene after going to Avene in the south of France last year to learn about how all the products were made. This water spray was a staple in my beach bag oh holiday - I used it to cool down by the pool but I also sprayed it onto a cotton pad and used it as a refreshing toner.

Murad Anti-Aging Moisturiser SPF 20*

I mainly used this because I absolutely loved the other Murad moisturiser and I didn't want to use that up! So I used this as my night time moisturiser when my skin didn't really need a high SPF. It definitely didn't clog up my pores and made my skin feel really soft but not at all greasy.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I switch between using a hot cloth cleanser and a Micellar water to remove my make-up but on holiday, I preferred to use a Micellar water as it was just too hot to use my Cleanse and Polish! This was really light and fresh - but it was annoying having to use like ten cotton pads rather than one washcloth.

Lancôme Bi-Facial Eye Make-Up Remover

Unlike hot cloth cleansing which removes every trace of make-up, I find that Micellar waters leave little bits of make-up around my eye area. I used this as the last step in my facial regime and it left my eyes properly cleansed and soothed. It is quite pricey though so I'm not sure I'd repurchase.

Haircare:

Mark Hill MiracOILicious Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner with Moroccan Argan Oil*

I'd never used this range of hair products before but fell in love with them on hols and have been using them ever since. It's made with Argan oil but the scent isn't like the typical Moroccanoil smell - bizarrely, it actually smells like sweets! It's so funny, every time I use this in the shower now, I immediately get transported back to my holiday days. I love it.

Mark Hill MiracOILicious 2 Minute Intensive Treatment*

I used this after the shampoo and conditioner to give my hair a real treat. It felt really luxurious on holiday and after I combed it through, my hair felt so soft and smelt amazing. I would definitely re-purchase - even just for the smell of sweets!

Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel

I first laid eyes on the Honey I Washed The Kids soap years ago so immediately snapped it up when it was made into shower gel form. It smells so yummy - like creamy honey, and it makes washing in the shower (admittedly a mundane task!) much more enjoyable.

Mark Hill No Knots! Detangling Spray*

I use a detangling spray every time I wash my hair as it gets really knotty. After towel-drying, I used this to give my locks a hit of moisture without leaving my hair feeling heavy.

Mark Hill MiracOILicious Moroccan Argan Oil*

As you can imagine, I loved using this because it smelled the same as the other products in the range. I warmed up a few drops between my hands and applied to the lengths and ends of my hair. It didn't make my hair greasy at all - just lovely and soft. I would definitely re-purchase.

Mark Hill Party The Night Away Firm Hold Hairspray*

I didn't use this a lot on holiday because I preferred to keep my hair sleek and straight (no hairspray needed). But when I curled or plaited my hair, I used this to a) add volume and b) keep the look in place all night.

The Wet Brush*

I typically use a wide-toothed comb on towel-dried hair, but this has completely changed my hair routine! The bristles are really soft and don't pull or tug on hair. Instead, it brushes through locks a dream and leaves them really soft and smooth.

Perfume:

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh EDT

I bought this duty-free on the way to Tenerife as I went there without a signature holiday scent. It was a nice addition to my holiday outfits but I wouldn't say the scent is anything special necessarily. It might be because it was Eau De Toilette, but the scent was very light and didn't seem to last all night on me. Still, it was nice to spray it on as I walked out the door and made me feel ready for the night ahead.

What are your holiday beauty bag essentials?

Let me know in the comments below.

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples