Travel Beauty Must-Haves, Holiday Gifts For Her

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03-07-2025

For When You're… On The Plane
Smug's Contoured 3D Blackout Sleep Mask, £15, and Memory Foam Earplugs, £5
If you are flying for more than a couple of hours, then you're going to need a few things to make the journey a little more comfortable, and earplugs and a sleep mask are always essentials for me. I adore this blackout mask from Smug because its unique contoured shape leaves space around your eyes, which protects your lashes from damaging friction while also adding an extra layer of comfort by not having the fabric pressing down on you. In addition, the contoured fit and mask's black material seamlessly blocks out all light — which is perfect for creating your own little sleep sanctuary on a busy airplane. And Smug are really coming through with all of your sleep necessities, with their earplugs also an ideal choice for when you want to ensure as much peace as possible in a busy environment. Made out of memory foam, the earplugs adapt and mould to each person's individual ear shape, which makes them super comfortable and prevents them from slipping out in the night, like so many other earplugs do. Needless to say, while you might be whipping these out on the plane over, they are also absolute must-haves for your holiday accommodation, with ineffective curtains and noisy neighbors making them the travel essentials that just keep on giving.
Glow Recipe Lip Glass Balm Treatment for Shine and Hydration, £19.00
In addition to being noisy and generally unpleasant, flights are renowned for how drying they are on your skin, particularly your face, which is why I always love to have a good lip balm to hand for regular application throughout the journey.However, if you have Glow Recipe's recently-launched Lip Glass Balm Treatment in your hand luggage, then you don't need to worry about reapplying all the time, as each application delivers an impressive 12 hours of shine and hydration. FYI, the range is actually inspired by Korea's famous shaved ice dessert, Bingsoo, and is available in four flavors: Ice Bingsoo, Watermelon Bingsoo, Blackberry Bingsoo, and Strawberry Bingsoo, with each tint packed full of antioxidants and fruit extracts that nourish and plump your lips while delivering a burst of hydration and glassy finish, all while smelling deliciously fruity. What more could you possibly ask for?
LANEIGE Cream Skin Cerapeptide Mist, £10
And speaking of airplanes drying you out, I can't remember the last time I flew without a refreshing skin mist to hand, and I'm obsessed with this Cream Skin Cerapeptide Mist from Laneige.Mists are perfect for waking up your skin (and yourself) during a long journey, but this one has the added skincare benefits of actively working to protect your barrier with a firming formula that will also boost your skin's elasticity and radiance with regular use. And, as with all things Laneige, it is incredibly hydrating, making it the perfect secret weapon to combat that unpleasant plane air.
For When You... Land
Plenaire Skin Frosting Deeply Hydrating Mask, £18
While I personally don't love the idea of doing a full skincare routine and/ or face mask on an airplane (by the way, many skincare specialists actively advise against this!), I do love nothing more than having a face mask to put on straight after a flight, which is why I was overjoyed to see that Plenaire now do their iconic Skin Frosting mask in a handy travel size.Skin Frosting is perfect for travel because it is specifically formulated to be as deeply hydrating as possible, with raw coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and Japanese tsubaki (camellia oil) all coming together to create an incredibly nourishing formula that will help your skin recover from exposure to drying conditions while simultaneously working to boost your skin's elasticity and moisture retention. As if that wasn't enough, it also has natural anti-inflammatory ingredients that work to calm and soothe skin and can serve as a refreshing tonic to sunburn or irritation from hot temperatures while abroad. All in all, this mask left my skin feeling hydrated, plump, and supple, and gave me a dewy glaze that I absolutely loved. I'll definitely be making this a staple in my post-flight self-care routine going forward!
For When You're… Sunbathing At The Pool Or Beach
Revolution Skin Sunray Glow Daily Protection Sunscreen SPF 50+ with Vitamin C and Revolution Skin Sunray Blur Daily Protection Sunscreen SPF 50+ with Niacinamide, £12
In case you didn't know, Revolution recently launched not one but two daily protection sunscreens that are specially formulated to enhance the appearance of your skin while giving it important protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. The Sunray Glow day cream is infused with vitamin C and has a subtle shimmer finish to instantly brighten your skin and give you a dewy glow. Meanwhile, the Sunray Blur cream is infused with niacinamide, vitamin E, and glycerin to help reduce the appearance of pores with a smoothing effect. Both of these products contain SPF 50+ and are incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing on your skin. The three-in-one formula works to protect, prime, and moisturize, and I was pleased to find that I could also reapply the cream over my finished makeup without ruining my base. As a lover of all things sparkle, I think the Sunray Glow is my personal favorite of the two, but they both do exactly what they say on the tin, and I am so happy to have found a protective sunscreen that actively improves my overall makeup routine, too.
Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Body Spray SPF 50, £36
But, of course, it's not just our face that needs protecting, and Sol de Janeiro has really come through with their Rio Radiance Body Spray SPF 50, which — as you can probably imagine — smells absolutely incredible in addition to being super practical. Rio Radiance is available in Cheirosa 87, which is arguably one of Sol de Janeiro's most summery fragrances, with notes of leite de coco, solar tuberose, and vanilla. The spray design makes for really easy application, and the formula has been enriched with niacinamide, pongamia seed, and pitanga extract to help protect your skin from environmental pollutants and aggressors, leaving you with a luminous glow and visibly brighter skin while shielding it from UV damage. Oh, and it is also infused with coconut water, which is both incredibly hydrating and cooling, providing an instant pick-me-up upon application. Who said that UV protection had to be boring?!
Philip Kingsley Swimcap, £25
And before you dive into the pool or go for a dip in the sea, you might want to apply your Swimcap, a water-resistant mask from Philip Kingsley that is designed to be worn while swimming or sunbathing to protect your hair from the damaging effects of UV rays, salt water, and chlorine.The formula is made with castor oil and olive oil, which help to lock in moisture and boost shine, as well as hydrolyzed elastin, which strengthens your hair's body and elasticity, reducing breakage... And I am pleased to say that it really does work!While I have never been the kind of person who refuses to get their hair wet when on holiday, I do struggle with the aftermath of a fun day at the beach or water park, with my hair always left feeling incredibly dry, tangled, and in terrible condition. But after applying Philip Kingsley's Swimcap on a recent holiday, my hair was bouncy, shiny, and tangle-free when I washed it at the end of each day, which was a total game changer. FYI, this product also contains UV absorbers that are said to create a protective layer around your hair to shield it from the discoloring effects of chlorine, which basically prevents bleached hair from turning green. Full disclosure, I don't have bleached hair, so can't personally vouch for this, but the reviews certainly do.
For When You're... Going Out In The Evening
Trinny London Trinity Lip, Cheek, and Eye Makeup Stick, £36
And after your day in the sun, you'll probably want to get ready for a nice evening out, and there are some brilliant makeup products to make that process as easy as possible for you, starting with this Trinity Lip, Cheek, and Eye Makeup Stick from Trinny London.I don't know about you, but I regularly travel with just the free under-seat luggage that you get on budget airlines, which means that I need to streamline my packing as much as possible, so this multi-use stick is a total godsend when it comes to packing light.In just one dual-ended product, you have makeup for your eyes, lips, and cheeks covered, with Trinity available in three shades that are created with complementary colors in mind; one glow, and one creamy matte.New York, which is the one that I have, comes with a rose gold glow and a terracotta brown, Mustique has a sunset bronze glow with fresh petal pink, and Venice combines a golden pink glow with a soft dusky rose. Each color is easy to blend and incredibly buildable, meaning that you have full control over how much depth your eyes, lips, and cheeks get, culminating in a harmonious, put-together look. I absolutely love this product, and it pretty much has me covered whenever I need to be selective with my packing.
Revolution Jelly Bronze Bronzer Stick, £5.99
I am also a big fan of this new Jelly Bronze stick from Revolution, with the jelly formula feeling incredibly cooling on my skin, which is perfect when applying makeup in warmer climates. This product is also incredibly buildable, which I appreciated on holiday as it meant I could use it to create a deeper bronze on the first couple of days, before reducing it down to a subtle sun-kissed glow as my skin became more naturally tanned. In terms of space-saving, Jelly Bronze also delivers with small and lightweight packaging, and, as an added bonus, you don't even need a brush to blend the product — tapping it out with your fingers works just as well!
Revolution Superfix Hydra Cool Prep + Fix Continuous Fixing Mist, £11.99
And speaking of Revolution, the brand recently upgraded their popular setting spray to make it a summer must-have, with their Superfine Hydra Cool Mist infused with cooling properties that refresh and hydrate your skin.The spray contains both aloe vera and coconut water, with the latter providing your skin with a burst of hydration as well as a delicious coconut scent, and the aloe vera delivering soothing, anti-inflammatory properties that will feel incredible on your skin after a day in the sun — especially if you have been unlucky enough to get burnt.This setting spray was fast-absorbing and left my makeup looking dewy and refreshed without making it cakey or mottled, which means that you can safely reapply it whenever you need a cooling pick-me-up throughout the evening without having to worry about ruining your look!
KAYALI Vacay in a Bottle Miniature Set, £88
Generally speaking, I love all things Kayali, but I am particularly obsessed with their Vacay in a Bottle miniature set, which allows you to travel from Marrakesh to the Maldives on scent alone. Each of the four travel-size perfumes in the set have been inspired by chic holiday destinations, with the scents formulated to complement one another as well as smell delicious on their own. This means that you can layer all of them to create your own bespoke fragrance, or pick and choose a different one for each tripThere genuinely isn't a perfume in this set that I don't like, but my absolute favorite is Capri in a Bottle, Lemon Sugar, which smells exactly as described: like sugary lemon. It is a sweet and unique scent, with the creamy vanilla and musk base notes cutting through the tartness of the lemon and hint of raspberry. As a lover of citrus, fruity perfumes, I can't get enough of this!The note I picked up on the most in Maldives in a Bottle, Ylang Coco, is fragrant rosemary, with this perfume having a kind of herbal aroma with citrus undertones. The base notes are delectable creamy coconut milk, which has hints of vanilla, with a banana and ylang-ylang heart. Meanwhile, Marrakesh in a Bottle, Orange Blossom's, undeniable heart is Turkish rose, making it the sweetest and most floral of the four. However, undertones of pink pepper and its woody cedar base cut through to prevent this sweetness from becoming too overbearing. Finally, the strongest note I was hit with from Maui in a Bottle, Sweet Banana, is — perhaps unsurprisingly — banana, which I really enjoy as I find that banana is a pretty underused scent when it comes to fragrances. This scent is combined with notes of fresh pear, jasmine, sandalwood, and milky coconut, making it a really unique and warming perfume. All of the perfumes in the miniature set are small enough to carry in your hand luggage, and each of them are now available in individual 50ml bottles for once you have chosen your favorite!
Josh Wood Airbrush - Root Spray, £10
I also need to shout out this Airbrush Root Spray from Josh Wood, which is the perfect solution for when you notice pesky grey hairs or roots coming through while you are away. The lightweight formula is incredibly quick to use and instantly blends into your hair upon application. The coverage will last until you wash it out, which means that you can go out feeling confident and reapply every day if needed. Unlike other sprays that I have tried in the past, Airbrush didn't make my hair feel heavy or greasy, and I really appreciate the reassurance of having it to hand when on longer trips, or when I've not had a chance to get to the salon before going away.
For When You're… Getting Ready For Bed
Plenaire Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover, £16
A good cleanser is always important, but when you're on holiday, looking after your skin is more vital than ever, and that is why I opt for Plenarie's Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover, which is now available in a handy travel size. Not only does this cleanser quickly dissolve away makeup and all of the impurities that have built up throughout the day, the jelly texture is also incredibly soothing and cooling on your skin thanks to its gentle rosewater formula.It is also incredibly effective and seamlessly washes away makeup — including stubborn eyeliner and mascara — without you having to scrub, and it left my skin feeling refreshed, cool, and deeply hydrated. A win all round!
LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturiser, £19.50
And I hate to sound like a broken record, but hydration really is key when your skin is being exposed to high temperatures and humidity, drying chlorine, and irritating salt water, and that's why I recommend applying Laneige's Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer first thing in the morning and last thing at night all the time, but particularly on holiday. This moisturizer is a luxurious, thick cream that is designed to quench your skin with intense hydration and softness. Formulated with blue hyaluronic acid, it also visibly brightens and refines your skin for a smoother, even-toned complexion. All in all, this cream is definitely a secret weapon when it comes to maximizing that radiant holiday glow.
…And Everything Inbetween
E45 UV Protect Hand Cream, £9.99
While most people don't need encouragement when it comes to developing a skincare regimen for their face, a surprising number of people tend to completely overlook their handcare — despite hands being just as susceptible to the premature signs of aging. Personally, I rarely go anywhere without some kind of hand cream in my bag, but for holiday, I particularly love E45's UV Protect hand cream because the super moisturizing lotion provides SPF 30 sun protection as well as nourishment for dry and sensitive hands. The tried and tested E45 formula contains vitamin E and glycerin, and actively works to prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots from sun exposure while protecting your skin from UVA and UVB. With no added fragrance, it is suitable for sensitive skin, and I love how soft it leaves my hands, and that I can rest easy in the knowledge that they are also being shielded from long-lasting damage in the process.
COSRX Master Patch Intensive, £13.99
Unfortunately, you can never exactly predict when a spot will appear, but if you are sweating more than usual in a hot country then you're probably more at risk, which is why I always like to have some acne patches to hand when on holiday in case an unsightly blemish pops up at the most inopportune moment.One of the reasons why I love COSRX Master Patch Intensive is because the patches come in three different sizes, which means that if you get a cluster of spots right next to each other, you can use a larger patch to cover them all rather than try to fit multiple patches in one spot. They are also transparent and smooth seamlessly onto the skin, making them pretty discreet. The hydrocolloid patches work by absorbing excess oil from the skin while protecting the spot from bacteria and picking. They are also infused with tea tree oil, which helps to soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of redness for a clearer complexion. I have used these patches a few times in recent weeks, and each time I have been left impressed by how much they have reduced the appearance of my spots overnight, and the lightweight packaging makes them super easy to keep on you wherever you go!
Boots' Holiday Bundles, £20
Boots recently discovered that while 76% of people would find a packing list helpful when going on holiday, only 28% of people make one every time, and that is why they decided to step up and put together some seriously helpful, ready-to-go bundles that ensure you have all of the most important items when going away — and you can save a few pounds in the process, too. The bundles are £20 each and consist of five to seven products, and I have to admit that I am really impressed by the attention to detail here.The Boots Beach Holiday Bundle consists of an SPF 30 Soltan suncream, Soltan Aftersun lotion, SPF+ moisturizing lip balm, an insect repellent spray, and even a very exciting Beach Powder that helps get sand off your body after a day at the seaside. Oh, and buying this bundle will save you £7.99 compared to buying each item individually.
But if your holidays are a little more adventurous than just lying around on a beach, don't worry, Boots have you covered with their Adventure Holiday Bundle! This one has an impressive saving of £10.53 compared to buying each of the items individually, and contains Boots' own brand Freeze Gel for muscle aches and pains, Re-Energise tablets, a Soltan Active 8 Hour Protect Suncare Stick, blister prevention tape, blister plasters, and an insect repellent spray.Now you have absolutely no excuse for forgetting the core essentials!
And Finally, For When You… Get Home
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Pre-Shampoo Strengthening and Reparative Hair Treatment, £28
I have to admit that Olaplex's No.3 hair perfecter is a self-care go-to all year round, but this strengthening and reparative treatment is more appropriate than ever after a holiday in the sun, sea, and sand. I really recommend using this pre-shampoo mask once you get back home to restore any of the damage that has been caused by the UV rays, chlorine, and saltwater, with the formula's bond-building technology working to visibly hydrate and smooth your hair, making it stronger and more resilient with a satin-like shine. I try to use this product once a week as I love how nourished and glossy it makes my hair feel, and I always reach for it as soon as I get home from a trip away to get my locks back to their best as quickly as possible.
Institut Esthederm Tan-Prolonging After Sun Body Lotion, £44
And finally, I love this Tan-Prolonging After Sun Body Lotion from Institut Esthederm, which covers all eventualities with a formula that has been specially created to both nourish a tan and soothe a sunburn.Yep, this lotion has every kind of sun exposure in mind, and is deeply moisturizing to prolong the life of your sun tan, while soothing and calming properties make this product a game changer for sunburn, too, as it actively works to normalize your skin's reactivity after being exposed to UV rays. I applied this lotion every day to maintain my natural tan after a holiday, and have been thoroughly impressed with how smooth, hydrated, and bronze it has kept me ever since!
Happy packing!