As holidays should be a time of relaxation, we’ve teamed up with Hairtrade.com and their beauty expert Joanne Dodds to bring you 10 accessible products and simple tips to help make your holiday stress-free:
Cotton pads
How many times have you had to deal with a bronzer explosion or cracked packaging when travelling with makeup? Save yourself the stress next time and make sure to place a cotton pad or two in-between your compact packaging. This will prevent them from shattering in your suitcase and crushing your precious powders.
Avocado
Sea breeze, sand, sun rays… sounds like an ideal summertime combination but, together with chlorine, they actually create a nasty cocktail resulting in dry and damaged hair. How can we bring back that much-needed moisture and hydration while still on holiday? Just grab an avocado, crush it with quarter of a cup of olive oil and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Leave it in your hair for 20 minutes, then rinse with water and enjoy perfectly smooth and silky hair for the rest of your trip.
Read more: DYI facial: 3 natural beauty recipes
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is known for its soothing, inflammatory properties, but if you want to maximise its healing properties and take refreshment to the next level, make Aloe Vera ice cubes by simply freezing an Aloe Vera-based gel. Thank us later.
Read more: What it does… aloe vera
BB cream
No one likes the feeling of sun screen, foundation, and sweat caking up during hot summer weather. To feel light and fresh, yet still get a good amount of coverage, opt for a BB cream. It’s easily absorbed by the skin, allows it to breathe, and usually contains high SPF – what’s not to love?
Vinegar
The combination of sun and salty water is no friend to dyed hair as it can quickly encourage colour fading. To keep your colour untarnished, mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with a bit of water and put it in a spritz bottle. Spray the mixture all over your hair and rinse after 10 minutes. The naturally acidic pH of vinegar will reseal hair cuticles (which open with hair dye) and make the colour last longer.
Tomato juice
The combination of sun, chlorine, and heat can not only damage your hair and fade your colour, but also add a not-that-flattering greenish tint. If you don’t fancy looking like you’ve tangled seaweed in your blonde locks, coat your scalp in tomato juice, as its warm red colour will act against the green. After 10 minutes, wash your hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
Coconut oil
Don’t fancy squeezing multiple beautifying products in your suitcase? Then coconut oil is your saviour. Its hydrating properties make it a great alternative to moisturiser, conditioner, serum, cuticle oil, or as a summer frizz-tamer. Just put it in a small travel container and you’re good to go.
Baking soda
If you plan on staying away from the sunshine this summer and opt for a fake tan instead, make sure to pack baking soda, as it’s great at brightening and evening out skin tone. You’ll no longer have to fear patchiness after applying your fake tan in a rush – simply hop in the shower and exfoliate your skin with some baking soda on a loofah.
Read more: Is there a safe way to get a natural sun tan?
Baby powder
Tired of bringing tons of sand back to your hotel room every time you go to the beach? Dust your skin with baby powder just before you walk through the door – it will absorb all the moisture that is causing the sand to stick to your skin, like sweat, sun cream and sea water.
Nail polish in the fridge
High temperatures can cause nail polish to turn thick and gloopy. Keeping it in a cool place like the fridge can extend the shelf life and make it smooth and easy to apply.