I used to be the girl that didn’t travel lightly. Wanting to cover all eventualities I would pack absolutely everything and then, to be safe, a little bit more. And that goes for beauty too. We’re talking; three foundation choices, four different blushers, ten lipsticks – honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking! These days I pride myself on being a streamlined packing pro and coincide my holiday capsule wardrobe with an edited makeup bag to match. On a recent trip to Ibiza, I packed just seven makeup essentials to take me from poolside to the club, and it’s all I needed.
Whether you have a summer holiday coming up, or are just looking for an edit of products that will avoid a midday makeup mishap. These multi-tasking, lightweight and waterproof textures in universally flattering bronze hues will deliver when the weather gets a little too hot to handle.
#1 The Sweatproof Foundation
Shiseido Wetforce Quickdry Sports BB Compact SPF 50+ in Medium Dark
Foundation becomes a different ball game during warmer temperatures, and I’m here to show you how to play it. Lighter, buildable textures are essential, but at the same time, you need a base that will withstand heat, humidity, sweat and water. Not too much to ask, right?
For me, this nifty little compact foundation from Shiseido ticks all the boxes. Its natural satin finish, creamy texture applies provides a seamless application and offers buildable coverage, so I can use just a little during the day time and amp up the intensity for the night. It’s great for all skin types, including my super-fussy sensitive skin and has high broad-spectrum UV protection that’s also water-resistant.
See how this foundation holds up underwater here.
#2 Two-Second Sun-Kissed Skin
GUERLAIN Terracotta Contour & Glow Palette
A good bronzer is a holiday must-have for me. It’s the non-negotiable item that gets added to my summer makeup immediately, before anything else. Mainly because I don’t like to tan my face, preferring instead to slather it with factor 50 and ward off any sun-induced wrinkles.
This bronzing palette has it all. A little bit of cool-toned contour – tick. A warming bronzing powder with a subtle shimmer – tick. As a bonus, it has a beautiful peachy-pink blush shade and gold highlight to complete the sunkissed look. Last but not least, I love the sturdy packaging; it’s great for throwing into your bag for touch-ups throughout the day without the fear of it getting smashed or broken in transit. It has it all!
#3 The Cooling Cushion Blush
Lancome Cushion Blush Subtil Cooling Cushion Blush in Sorbet Grenadine
I have always been an avid powder blush fan. I tend to shy away from liquid and cream textures in fear that they won’t work for me. How wrong could I be? Since trying this cushion blush from Lancome, I’m obsessed with the finish it gives my skin. It provides a watercolour dewiness, without looking greasy; it’s also buildable so you can create a natural flush or something a bit more intense for the evening. Don’t be afraid of the vibrant colours either. When applied to the skin and blended, it offers the perfect tint of colour and has a cooling sensation that makes it fantastic for the hot weather.
#4 The Glow On The Go
GUERLAIN Terracotta Skin Highlighting Stick in Bronze
Highlighter is an instant skin pick-me-up. It’s one of those products that has a multitude of uses and works everywhere and anywhere, but especially on holiday. For beach days, after applying my SPF, I draw a little of this cream stick highlight by GUERLAIN onto my cheeks, the bridge of my nose and temples. The creamy texture is so easy to blend with my fingers and gives my face a quick, bronzed glow. Then, for the evening, I use it as a luminous foundation base, a cheekbone highlight, but also to enhance my decollete and legs as a finishing touch. Just add a white outfit and some chunky gold jewellery, and you’ll have your holiday look nailed, I promise!
#5 The Day to Night Eye Palette
Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette in Rosy Contouring
Ok, so the natural choice here would be a cream eyeshadow, surely? That’s what every summer makeup bag recommendation contains, after all. But here I am recommending a powder eyeshadow palette to you. Hear me out on this one though. Cream shadows are great, but the looks you can create are limited with just one colour. When creating a capsule makeup bag, the best idea is to pick products that work on multiple occasions. A palette that covers a range of hues from light to dark will be far more useful when you’re away. I adore this one from YSL because it allows me to create a light wash of colour over my eyelids for daytime, but I also have the option to use the darker shades for a smoky and sultry eye look for the night. Each shade has a buttery texture that blends easily into the lids and makes easy work of switching up your look.
#6 Waterproof Lashes for All
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Waterproof Mascara
Summer holidays and mascara don’t (usually) go hand-in-hand. If you’re not splashing around in the pool, you’re up against high levels of humidity. You can avoid panda eyes and midday eye blunders this summer, the way I do: by switching to waterproof mascara. Even if you’re not going away on your travels, this is an excellent tip for surviving the summer heat!
I have particularly sensitive eyes at the best of times, and they get worse in the hot weather, which is why I love the Toleriane Waterproof Mascara from La Roche-Posay. Its long-lasting formula gives volume, curl and perfect separation, while still being easy to remove with a good bi-phase eye makeup remover. I recommend their Respectissime Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, it’s a cult-favourite and has been tried and tested to remove anything and everything you can throw at it.
#7 The Lip-Loving Plumping Gloss
bareMinerals Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Spark Plug
A long-time neutral lipstick enthusiast, with room for the occasional bit of sparkle on my lips. And my holiday lip wardrobe follows suit – shock horror! There is a method to my madness, though, a nude lip goes with absolutely everything, so when packing light, it is the ideal choice.
A nude lip gloss is a great travelling companion because it’s easy to apply without a mirror, I’m sure we’ve all been blinded by the sun’s reflection in a compact at some point, right? I love the bareMinerals Moxie Plumping Lipgloss because in just one quick application it gives me fuller-looking lips with a high shine finish. Moxie has more than colour up its sleeve. It’s also a lip treatment loaded with a mineral complex, vitamin A, C, E and peptides; including hyaluronic acid to support the natural collagen in your lips. This lip shine will keep your lips hydrated and moisturised throughout your holiday.
Discover More
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• Inside Ceryn’s Holiday Makeup Bag
