When it comes to packing for a holiday, selecting a small and very particular amount of beauty products from my ever-growing collection is possibly the most stressful part of my itinerary. I don't know what it is but I somehow convince myself that I'll absolutely need to use everything I own, especially that ruby red lipstick that I wouldn't dream of wearing in the UK as it makes my teeth look 3 shades more yellow than they actually are. Although it took me a good hour, I finally managed to whittle it down to just a few essentials which I thought I'd share with you before I set off to sunny Morocco in the morning. Don't be too jealous.
SKINCARE
I like to keep things simple when it comes to holiday skincare as there's absolutely no point in taking up space in my suitcase with products that I know won't be used. I think holidays are the only exception to use facial wipes to remove my makeup as not only do I wear a minimal amount but it's likely that most nights I'll have consumed way too many cocktails to bother with the whole routine, which is why I have only gone for the bare essentials. The Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is an absolute must have for me as it is such a versatile and useful product for any problematic skin situations, as well as the Liz Earle Skin Repair moisturiser which is my go-to when my skin is needing some TLC.
BASE
Although I don't tend to wear any foundation during the day while I'm on holiday, I like to make an effort when we go out for meals/drinks in the evenings. The two foundations that I'm reaching for the most at the moment are NARS Sheer Glow and the Bourjois Healthy Mix serum. Sheer Glow has been a part of my life for a long time now and it's one of those products that I'd never leave the country without, whereas Healthy Mix is a new addition to my collection but one that I though would be perfect for holiday as it's really light and refreshing on the skin and just gives my face a little pick me up when it's needed. I don't tend to wear powder whilst abroad as I prefer a natural duey look, but I've packed my NARS translucent powder just in case.
EYES
When deciding which eyeshadow palette to take, this was a no brainer for me. The Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette is an extremely convenient, travel friendly product that has everything that I could possibly need in just one palette. With 16 shades to choose from, there's no way that I'll be stuck when it comes to creating my desired eye look. I've been using this religiously since I purchased it and love the fact that not only is it perfect for those neutral, every day looks but can also create insane evening looks too. The Two Faced Better Than Sex mascara is the perfect partner in crime for this palette and great for lifting and volumising the lashes for an effortless but effective look.
CHEEKS
There is no way I'd be leaving the country without my Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter as it has recently become a complete staple in my makeup routine. If you haven't tried this before, I strongly believe that you're missing out. It gives the most gorgeous, champagne toned shimmer to the cheeks and a little really does go a long way. I had to resist taking my Hourglass Ambient light palette away with me as I didn't want it to get damaged, so I decided to stick to a couple of products that I knew wouldn't let me down. The NARS Orgasm blusher has been one of my favourites for a good few months now as it is a lovely subtle, but build-able pink that accentuates the cheek bones and gives off an amazing glowy look. I also thought the NARS Laguna bronzer would be a necessity to balance out my tan as for some reason my face just doesn't seem to catch the sun.
LIPS
As difficult as it was, I somehow managed to narrow my lipstick choices down to just 3 of my current favourites - Charlotte Tilbury's Very Victoria and MAC's Mehr & Honey Love. Each of these shades are perfect for everyday use but can also be glammed up with a liner for a more dramatic, evening look.
NAILS
I popped into H&M over the weekend and had a little browse at their new beauty range. After about half an hour of just staring, I decided it was probably a good idea to actually buy something before I was accused of being a lurking weirdo, so picked up two new nail polishes in the shades Rose Umber and Mushroom. I'm loving my neutrals at the moment and both of these shades are absolutely beautiful, really long lasting and completely unique to anything I've owned before.
PERFUME
Although I usually like to take a couple of perfumes with me to mix it up a bit in the evenings, this year I decided to stick to the one best suited. The best thing about perfume is that when worn in a particular place at a particular time, in months or years to come it's likely to be a scent that reminds you of those memories that you'd like to hold onto. Jo Malone's Blackberry and Bay is one of my current favourites - a fresh and fruity scent and not overpowering in the slightest which is perfect for those sticky summer evenings.
What are your staple holiday products? Are you going away this year?