It’s that time of the year (again) when the sun is too hot to tolerate, the air-conditioning splutters in exhausting attempts to maintain some feeling of coolness and being indoors is usually the best idea until the electricity dies a sad death. The best thing about summer, however, is the prospect of summer holidays. What wouldn’t you do to transport yourself to a sandy white beach with your hammock hooked between two shadowy palm trees? A couple of days in the pine infested crisp, sharp air of the mountains would be perfectly invigorating. Whether you’re up for tropical and breezy cities by the sea or exotic distant locations, summer vacations turn out to be the best thing about summer.

So as tickets are booked and exciting holiday plans and schedules are sketched out, remember that your face and skin need as much replenishment as your entertainment-sapped soul. You will undoubtedly remember to pack your toiletries and essentials but beyond the necessary, these are items of vanity that you should not leave your home without. Instep looks at seven beauty essentials you would probably be screaming S.O.S without!

 

Make-up Kit

You can’t do without make-up! Whether it’s a trip to the mountains or the beach, you want to look pretty and flawless so you look your best in those holiday pictures!

We recommend:
Nabila’s NO Makeup Palette

The recently launched minimalistic NO Makeup palette is an easy-to-carry kit, which consists of all the essentials you would ever need. The moderately priced palette is a unique mix of blush, concealer, blender, lip colour, and powder/puff. This could become your favourite new travel buddy.

The product can be bought at Nabilas Karachi and Lahore branches.

Cleansing Wipes

Whether it’s the grueling sun or make-up residue, you cannot live without face wipes. Think of them as trinkets of bliss, which not only keep your skin hydrated and moisturized but also, manage to keep the pores dirt-free. They are ideal when you’re partying late and you don’t have the time or energy for a cleanse-tone-moisturize ritual.

We recommend:
Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes

There are endless varieties of facial wipes in the market but not every product works for every skin type. Go for a brand that is known for its expertise in skin products, like Nivea.  These Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes  are perfect to keep that sensitive skin hydrated and refreshed! Just remember not to overdo it.

Dry Shampoo

Let’s keep it real. You need to maintain that blow dry or avoid daily washes when on holiday! On those lazy days, one would much rather profit from using the ‘shampoo-in-a-spray-can’ or rather ‘dry shampoo’ and save time for having fun!

We recommend:
Tresemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Unlike other dry shampoos, which tend to leave an oily residue or sometimes even induce hair-fall, the Tresemmé range of Fresh Start dry shampoos are the perfect products for quickly resurrecting one’s hair. You can select from an option of three different products according to a personal preference. Think of it as the ultimate necessity for clean and good looking hair!

Face Wash

There’s one product that works as the perfect pick-me-up in the mornings, and that is face wash. Not only does it help you maintain a healthy regimen of facial cleanliness but also helps keep the skin looking fresh in the morning!

We recommend:
The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash

Compared to many other varieties of face wash available in the market, The Body Shop is the safest bet for an organic product that you know will work and not just make the skin extra-dry. The Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash in this regard, is the perfect product for almost any skin type due to its mild ingredients, which clean, exfoliate and keep the skin baby-smooth.

Sunscreen Lotion

Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen lotion is not just for your next trip to the beach, or tropical locale. The sun’s grueling rays can be equally disturbing and damaging to the skin even if you are going somewhere with a cold climate like Canada! Sunscreen lotion is your best bet.

We recommend:
Clarins UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40

Unlike other sunscreens, the Clarins UV Plus Day Screen is excitingly non-oily. Albeit the product is priced a little on the higher side, one wouldn’t be complaining after noticing the positive changes it has on the skin. Just think of it as a godsend, especially if the plan is to visit and walk through sunny cities.

Perfume

Coco Chanel said it best when she said, "A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future". The power of perfume is universal. Not only does fragrance have an divine effect on the senses, the alluring scents of perfume are enough to make any vacation feel like a million dollars.

We recommend:
Chance Eau De Parfum by Chanel

With a peppery yet surprisingly floral scent to it, we love Chance for its subtle perfume and feel it’s the perfect product to take along for vacations. That said, we all have personal favourites when it comes to perfumes and we advise you to pack the smallest bottle of a pure extract of your choice to minimalize the bulk and maximize the scent!

Moisturizer

Thankfully, there are a variety of products that one can use to protect their faces, however your body just needs one, and that is moisturizer. Not only does it help keep the skin hydrated throughout the day, the extra layer of protection helps the skin remain relatively safe from the alarmingly harmful rays of the sun, especially in the harsh summer weather.

We recommend:
Crabtree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil

In a world of endless options, a lot of products promise excellent results yet deliver disappointment. Thankfully, Crabtree & Evelyn’s Jojoba Oil moisturizing lotion is all that it claims. The Jojoba oil used in the product is essential for keeping the skin hydrated even in the toughest, driest conditions as jojoba has been used for ages due to its nourishing capabilities.  Think of it as the perfect thirst quencher for the body.