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My holiday begins as soon as I unzip my suitcase. Hopefully there will be a new bikini, labels still attached, resting near the top, but for me, filling glistening bathroom cabinets with box-fresh beauty products is what really puts a spring in my step. Experience has taught me that skincare emergencies arise on sunny getaways, so I’m always armed with the antidote. Aloe for the accidental burn, nourishment for weak nails and straw-like hair, descalers for lizard skin, and a mascara that doesn’t melt or run in the heat. Here are my summer beauty essentials.
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Kloris Luxury CBD Balm, £62
I create space in my suitcase by leaving out a bulging medical bag. I reason that wherever I’m going in the world, they’ll have a pharmacy, and local remedies are often the best. What I can’t rely on finding is a high-strength CBD balm. I apply it to the soles of my feet when I can’t sleep, on my achy, arthritic knee that flares up in the heat, and on any other aches and pains, or when hormones are raging.
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Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush in Cherie, £28
I’d love to travel with one make-up product but, alas, my make-up bag fills an entire drawer in the hotel bathroom – even though I only ever use a few products over and over again. This is one of them. The nude rose shade perfectly complements sun-kissed skin and can be used on eyes, cheeks, and lips.
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Dr Barbara Sturm Aloe Vera Gel, £50
There is a whopping 90 per cent aloe vera in this cooling, soothing, and hydrating gel (the most I have ever found in an off-the-shelf product is 70 per cent). This is exactly what my skin craves after a day in the sun to cool, refresh, and regenerate.
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Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, £26
Sun exposure, chlorine, and sea water can make hair feel like straw on holiday. I particularly love this mask, which restores moisture and shine without heaviness.
