The Best Beauty Products on Holiday

 & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I'm back from a wonderful 10 night stay in Skiathos, Greek Islands.  We've been there several times and I've already re-booked for next year. No wonder they call it the boomerang island. 

It's very hard to beat in terms of a perfect location, beautiful scenery and good food. Above, in a new-to-us restaurant in Skiathos Town, called Paraxenos. It was a great discovery.

Today's post will focus on the capsule wardrobe I took - pros and cons - and a few standout beauty products. 

I packed a slightly different wardrobe than usual.  I created a "Kettlewell Capsule," because Kettlewell's clothes, colourful basics for those who have had colour analysis, are light and every colour in your "season" goes beautifully with the rest.

I took a few of my Georgian collet necklaces plus a new necklace and bracelet created for those coded Spring by Bjewelled (I'm wearing them above)  so that I could dress up my outfits.

During the day I wore shorts with a Kettlewell tee. In the evening I had a couple of Kettlewell skirts - the ruched in chocolate, above, and a cream skirt I bought from them in 2013, plus my smarter city shorts and crops from Roman, and a selection of Kettlewell tops. I also took a silver sequinned skirt but didn't wear it  (too dressy).

The capsule worked pretty well. I missed the ease of a kaftan or beach dress after a swim. I used to have lots of them but they're all a bit shabby now. I'm going to buy a couple in the sale, ready for next year. 

I took two gym outfits but in the end didn't use them, and just four pairs of shoes: my trainers, which I wore on the outbound flight and would have worn in the gym or on a walk, plus my sparkly sandals, above, from Accessorize (old), a pair of flip flops for the beach, and my very comfortable metallic sandals from Moshulu, which I showed you here.  Four was the perfect number. 

Above: arriving at Skiathos Town by water taxi. The boat leaves from the private beach at our hotel and takes just 15 minutes. I'm wearing the Kettlewell cream skirt from 2013 that I recently rediscovered in my seasonal change around, and their sleeveless v neck in Buttermilk. I took my large gold evening bag, old, and used it most evenings. 

As you may recall, I had a colour re-rate recently and am now pivoting to the spring colourway, while still mixing it with some of my winter favourites.  Wearing the cream and buttermilk convinced me that I am indeed a spring - I was pleasantly surprised at how good the colours looked. 

What weighs my suitcase down the most is my beauty products. I like to have my favourites, particularly shampoo and conditioner, shower gel and body lotion (Clarins Eau Dynamisante) and quite a lot of creams and make-up. 

I took too many, as always, and didn't use some.  I was swayed by a recommendation in the Sunday Times to try a wash-off body tanner that they were raving about.  But I didn't use it at all on holiday. I had forgotten that those products may look good on, but they stain sheets and towels so you need to have another shower.

There were four stand out products for me. A new shampoo and conditioner, a hyaluronic moisturiser, and a tinted sun cream.

Look Fabulous Forever Volume Boost Shampoo and Conditioner

I'm always very impressed by the products designed for older women by Look Fabulous Forever, and this new hair care trio is no exception.  I didn't take the Root Boost with me because on holiday I usually let my hair dry naturally without any products, but I've used it at home and it gives great volume.  My mum's hair has become very fine so I let her try these products too and she was very impressed. 

They're full of good ingredients: the shampoo for example has Capilia Longa™, a turmeric complex that encourages hair follicle growth, pro-vitamin B5 to improve the overall condition of the hair, and a botanical hair volumator complex to increase hair volume.  The products are silicone free and vegan.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Pigment Correct

I've written many times about my love for La Roche-Posay's Anthelios range, and always wear their SPF50 on my face.  This product is new, a tinted version, and I was very impressed with it.  I used it instead of foundation in the evening when I still wanted sun protection but also wanted my skin to look good.  It's designed to protect skin from hyper pigmentation, while helping to conceal the dreaded brown patches. The tint was great for correcting a white "gap" on my neck where I didn't catch the sun because I was dipping my head to read. 

I'll also use it for my normal sun protection back home when I'm not actively sun bathing but just need a hard working SPF50 for walks, chores and gardening.

Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion

I can't speak highly enough of this.  I took a trial 15ml pot with me and discovered that it replaced at a stroke the need for eye cream, hyaluronic serum, neck cream and moisturiser. I just wish I'd tried it before the holiday because it would have saved some space in the suitcase!

I've just tried to order a large pot from Cult Beauty but it's out of stock. I'm obviously not the only one who loves it.

It's a lightweight and luscious cream which really does seem to plump up and hydrate the skin. Below:  ready for an evening out. I used just 4 products: the Moisture Cushion and and Anthelios Pigment Correct on my skin, plus lipstick (L'Oreal Flamingo Elegance) and a little mascara, Huda Beauty's Legit Lashes in blue. 

That's it for today: I'm back on Monday with the Style Not Age Challenge, and the pictures were taken in Skiathos.

Have you any beauty hero products you always take on holiday, or are hoping to try?

I was gifted with Look Fabulous Forever's Volume Boost Shampoo, Conditioner and Root Boost products, but my opinions are always objective and copy approval was neither sought nor given. Everything else I bought myself. 

Sharing this post with: On Mondays We Link Up at Glass of Glam, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness  and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Style with a Smile  at Stylesplash, TFF at Doused in Pink, Lizzie in Lace, Confident Twosday at IDoDeclaire, Rena at Fine Whatever,, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style,  Weekday Wear Link-Up at Away from the Blue Sunday Showcase with Chez Mireille and Elegance and Mommyhood  (first Sunday of the month), Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Link Up Pot Pourri at My Bijou Life, Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle,  Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi

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