Top Tips

Chances are, if you’re off on holiday this Summer, you’ll be spending a few hours at least on a plane on your way to your destination. As lucky as we are to be jetting of to the sun, your skin is not always left in the best condition, thanks to the recycled air, pressurised environment and, if you’re in it for the long haul, a sleepless night. We all dream of stepping off the plane looking fresh as a daisy, so follow my simple 4 step in-flight routine to keep your skin looking and feeling it’s best.

Step 1. Gently remove any make-up. It’s unlikely that you’re usual in-shower cleanser will be the most practical here, so opt for a Micellar water that will get the job done, with as little mess and faff as possible. Top tip: to avoid having to decant your cleanser into a 100ml bottle, and to make things nice and easy…pre-soak your cotton pads in your Micellar water, so you’re left with a home made wipe, with all the handy benefits, with none of the harsh chemicals. Try Decleor Aroma Cleanse Soothing Micellar Water 400ml.

Step 2. Now that you have a cleansed base, it’s time to top up the hydration level in your skin. The recycled air on-board can be very drying. I would recommend a 2 step process. First, apply a serum or facial oil that will work in the deepest layers of your skin. I love Decleor AROMESSENCE NÉROLI Hydrating oil serum. Just 3 drops will keep your skin hydrated and give you a definite glow on the skin.

Step 3. Next layer your moisturiser on top. You’ll want to go for a hard working moisturiser that will provide maximum hydration throughout the flight. I like to pair Decleor’s Aromessence with their HYDRA FLORAL 24hr Hydrating Light Cream. Although this cream is this light it packs a punch and provides a long-lasting moisturising effect for dehydrated skin. For in-flight sizes of both of these products, try the Decléor Hydrating Starter Kit.

Step 4. Don’t neglect your lips. Your skin will dry out during a flight, and your lips are no exception. No-one wants to start a holiday with sore, chapped lips. Keep them hydrated with a balm such as Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm Hydrate. Apply every hour to replenish dry and irritated lips.

Step 5. Last and by no means least, treat your eyes. This will help you look fresh and awake when you leave the plane. Try Decléor Hydrotenseur Anti Fatique Eye Serum 15ml. This serum is an intense treatment, containing a high proportion of Hyaluronic Acid to rescue the delicate eye contour area. After use, your eyes appear rested, smooth and relaxed, as if after a good night's sleep. Winner winner.

So give this routine a try next time you’re jet setting and notice the results in your skin.

xoxo

Now that we are officially into the summer months and the sun has finally decided to make an appearance, we all know the importance of protecting our skin and how to keep it sun safe. We all invest in SPF, scrubs and moisturisers to help maintain the best looking skin possible, but we often forget about protecting our hair and scalp. Follow my quick guide to keep your hair looking, feeling and behaving at it’s best throughout the summer.

Step 1. Protect

Even if you’re not on spending your whole summer laying on the beach, your hair is still vulnerable to UV damage. UV rays act on the hair much like bleach and as a result can lighten the colour. If you’ve spent your hard earned cash perfecting your shade, that can be frustrating. UV rays can also damage the proteins in your hair, causing breakage and a brittle hair shaft. To help protect against this, spritz a sun protective spray through your mid-lengths and ends before stepping outside. For the convenience, and the gorgeous smell, I opt for L’Oreal Solar Defense Spray 125ml.

Step 2. Avoid Water Damage

Whether you’ll be dipping in a swimming pool filled with chlorine, or keeping it more natural with salt water at the beach, these water types can wreak havoc on your hair. Salt and chlorine can be very drying and with the added bonus of sun exposure added to the mix, it can lead to more than a few bad hair days. Now, I’m going to share with you the best piece of hair related advice I’ve ever been given. Your hair is like a sponge…it will absorb water, but only a certain amount. The trick is, to make it absorb the right type of water. Rinse your hair in a poolside shower BEFORE you get in the water. It can only absorb so much and the fact that your hair is already wet will act as a barrier to the salt or chlorine from being absorbed. Genius.

Step 3. Scalp Safety

Your scalp can burn, just like your skin, so it’s important to protect it as much as possible. Using the right shampoo before you step into the sun can help protect your scalp and provide UV protection. Try L’Oreal Solar Sublime Shampoo 250ml and EVO Ritual Salvation Care Conditioner 300ml

Step 4: Fight Frizz

We all know that sun + heat + humidity = frizz. Fact. Don’t stress though, there is a solution. Use a weekly conditioning treatment to strengthen your hair, close the cuticle and restore moisture. This will make it more manageable and less likely to frizz. Redken Extreme Megamask 200ml is a great option. Just leave on for 3-5 minutes after shampooing every 3 days and you’ll be set. When you are out in humid weather, make sure to apply a product that will create a barrier between your hair and the moisture in the air. I always recommend L’Oreal Tecni Art Liss Control + Serum 50ml.

Have you got any sun-safe tips to share? Pop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear them.

xoxo