My holiday make-up products usually fall into three categories: multi-use, major glow, and mini-sized.
I want to get the most out of my products without them taking up too much space – and they need to be quick and easy to use while helping to deliver the one thing we all want on holidays: sun-kissed, glowing skin.
While I try to keep things mini-sized as much as possible, I do throw in the odd full-sized hero item if I know I’ll use it.
Some of the products on this list are long-time favourites, but others are more recent launches that deserve a permanent place in any holiday make-up bag.
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Westman Atelier Petite Contour and Blush Sticks
Westman Atelier Petite Contour and Blush Sticks (€26 each from Space NK) – marvellously mini at 2.5g each – fit snugly in the palm of your hand and do a multitude of things, from contouring and blush to highlight and more.
There are two in particular I always bring with me: Petite Face Trace Contour Stick in the shade Biscuit, a cool-toned light brown that doubles up as contour, bronzer, eyeshadow – you name it; and Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal, a pale, cool-toned pink that works beautifully as blush and even as a lipstick. They’re sturdily packaged too, with magnetic snap closures – perfect for travel.
Poco Beauty Universal Solar Glow
New and excellent from Poco Beauty is the next iteration of their bestselling Universal Glow Treatment. While the original is an iridescent, almost transparent, skin-evening, glow-giving multitasker that can be mixed with foundation or worn alone, Universal Solar Glow (€55 from pocobeauty.com) is a sheer bronzed tint of the same magic – and designed for both the face and body.
It’s perfect for warming up the skin a little more, or matching tan on the body to tan on the face (and it’s wonderful over existing tan). It’s a really good bronzed tint, too – no orange tones here.
Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Tinted Serum Foundation
My go-to base for years now, especially for the summer months. Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Tinted Serum Foundation (€25 from sculptedbyaimee.com) is a skincare-meets-make-up product that genuinely makes your skin feel (and look) fantastic; hydrated, plump, and generally happy – both on application and as it wears throughout the day.
The light, fluid formula is quick and easy to slather on, and buildable – ideal for evenings when you want a little extra coverage. The shade range is excellent, too – which is key as I often switch shades depending on how faux-tanned (or not) I am.
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick
Another foundation – but this time in stick format. I wrote about Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick (€47 from Brown Thomas) when it launched, and as I said then, it was one of the first products I felt Tilbury had actually undersold – the sheen it gives to the skin is that intense.
I like bringing this along as it offers more coverage and, more importantly, more glow. We’re talking light bulb skin. The creamy stick formula means no mess or fuss – it can be applied in seconds and blended even faster. Plus, the packaging is feather-light.
Trinny London Miracle Halo Complexion Illuminator
Another recent launch I’ve loved is Trinny London Miracle Halo Complexion Illuminator (€38 from Trinny London). This takes glow-giving multitasking to the next level. It can be worn alone, mixed with moisturiser or foundation (my favourite way to use it), or tapped on as a highlighter across the high points of the face, collarbone and beyond.
As the name suggests, it’s an instant illuminator and delivers a head-turning, shimmery glow – no chunks of glitter in sight. It also comes in five shades so that you can find the perfect hue for you. One thing to note: a little goes a long way. It’s highly pigmented, so a light hand is best.
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer
There’s nothing quite like NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer (€35 from Boots) when it comes to maximum coverage and serious staying power. And at a perfectly formed 6.5g of product, it’s incredibly light and unassuming in your make-up bag.
The reason I love this so much (and bring it on nearly every trip I take) is that it works under the eyes – though only the tiniest amount is needed – and also performs brilliantly on the face to even out skin tone or cover blemishes (and the staying power is exceptional).
This week I’m loving ... Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash
Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash (€51 from Brown Thomas) delivers a delicate flush of colour to the cheeks in the kind of quietly luxurious format we’ve come to expect from the brand. The watercolour-inspired liquid blushes are dreamy to use, offering a sheer, buildable tint that feels more skincare than make-up. Housed in sleek glass vials, this is blush reimagined for the grown-up beauty obsessive.
