July Favourites

As I’ve recently returned from a lovely summer getaway to Majorca, unsurprisingly my July Favourites have taken a bit of a sunny twist. Now I’d be lying if I didn’t say my ultimate favourite this month was the cocktail menu (Banana Margarita’s, Pina Colada’s, Hugo’s, the list goes on…), but here’s another few things that I’ve been loving:

I’m a massive fan of lobster, to eat that is, not look like. Blisters, red raw back and shoulders, skin peeling off my nose and forehead…I’ve been there before, and I assure you, it isn’t my best look. So I’m big on sun protection. I love the light formula of the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ to wear on an everyday basis on my face, underneath or instead of foundation. I teamed it with the Ladival Lotion SPF 30, which helps protect against both UVA and UVB rays as well as harmful IR-A rays, whilst on holiday. Admittedly, I only turned a nicer shade of pale, but I still looked better than my crustacean friend.

Not only do I worry about my skin’s exposure to the sun, I also worry about my hair’s. I treated my locks to an Aussie Moisturise Miracle Mask every evening instead of my usual conditioner for a little extra hydration. 

And whilst during the day I omitted the full face of make-up routine, of an evening I do like to get dressed up. I loved the Clinique Beyond Perfecting 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer to give me the most amazing, flawless finish that even a barbie doll might be jealous of.

In-between lounging around in the sun in this gorgeous bikini from the Kendall & Kylie Swim Collection for Topshop bikini, and taking the odd cheeky mid-morning nap, I had plenty of time to read. I finally finished And The Mountains Echoed which was every bit as beautiful as Khaled Hosseini’s other novels, and got my teeth stuck into the 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.

And lastly, and possibly the only thing better than Banana Margaritas this month, are the new Nakd Bar flavours that I arrived home to. So far my favourite is the Carrot Cake flavour, but I can just tell the Peanut Delight won’t be too far behind…

What were your favourites this month?

K

What's In My Holiday Skincare Bag

I dread checking-in my suitcase at the airport. I fear that my case will send those scales flying way over and I'll have to pay for the extra kg allowance, and trust me, I've already got greater plans to spend that money in duty-free. Now seeing as half my suitcase is compromised between important skincare, make-up and snacks, I know that it'll be my underwear thats first to go...But hey, if in the name of good skin I'll have to spend the holiday in my birthday suit, I'm prepared to make that sacrifice.

Here's the products I'm taking - in order of application:

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Nivea Rich Moisturising Day Cream (for dry/sensitive skin) with SPF 15

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF 50+

Cloud 9 Clarity Clearing Spot Gel

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

LUSH Oatifix Face Mask

Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil 

There's nothing worse than sacrificing your underwear for a whole load of products you're not actually going to use, so I only fill my skincare bag with things that I use on a day-to-day basis. 

Being red-headed and pale with freckles, I'm very wary about my exposure to the sun. I  always apply an SPF 50 like the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF 50+ all over my face and neck, come rain or shine, and you'll find me on the sun lounger with a large floppy hat and sunglasses (chic). Between the drying air-conditioning on the flights and the long days in the sun, I find that my skin gets very dehydrated and looses it's glow. I make sure to drink plenty of water and use a moisturising face mask like the LUSH Oatifix every other day to keep it in good condition. And I can always guarantee I'll be blessed with a big break-out just as I'm to spend a week almost make-up free, so I'm taking the Cloud 9 Clarity Clearing Spot Gel to use on spots for it's fast and effective relief (it also dries super quick and clear leaving me feeling more confident).

What would you sacrifice your underwear for when you go on holiday?

K