How - Body

What to pack on holiday

November 1, 2009

I have never mastered the art of efficient packing, I always take twice as many clothes and then end up wearing a quarter of what I’ve got. The problem is that I always pack for ALL eventualities and can’t bear the thought to not be prepared.

It’s no easier with cosmetics. My makeup bag is frequently the heaviest item in the suitcase - even when I do remember to decant my shampoo and conditioner into travel size containers. Again - its the thought of being caught out without that one item that just finishes the look off, that I can’t handle.

Except when I’m going to the beach. This is the one time I can really let go, and later this week, while you’re at your desk, pondering what to have for dinner, we’ll be sitting at Matapouri beach wondering how soon is too soon for a gin and tonic. Let’s hope for sunny weather!

So what to pack?

Perhaps I should start with what I won’t pack. I won’t need too much makeup because there’ll be no fancy dinners or parties to dress up for (long gone are the days of trying to impress surfy boys - oh that’s right, I married one - oops), so I shan’t take eye shadow quads, liquid liners, matte lipsticks in fire-engine red or black lipgloss. Black lips at the beach…. might be a leeetle bit odd. Just sayin’.

If I do manage to do any face painting while away, I will stick with the discreet version - tinted moisturiser (quite like M.A.C Studio Moisture Tint with SPF 30 but I also like Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear SPF 30), concealor (for the dark rings under my eyes that never seem to disappear, thanks child), mascara (Lancome Hypnose), lash curler, blush (Bobbi Brown cheek tint for a natural look), bronzer and perhaps a little bit of shadow. I might take a M.A.C Shadestick or Innoxa Line and Define Eye Colour. But then I do quite like the golds in the Lancome Declaring Indigo palette and there’s nothing more beachy than pretty shimmery golds. Of course my lips will need protection, colour and hydration - (current obsession is Lanolips but I do like the Hissyfit glosses and M.A.C have just released Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm).

And of course what better to put all this in than this clever makeup bag - The Refresh bag, $44.90, that is insulated with ice to keep your products cool! Find it here at www.floozy.co.nz

Of course only a fool would go to the beach without sun protection and nowadays there’s NO excuse for getting pink. There’s a smorgasboard of products - Hissyfit Handy Work doubles as a handcream and sunblock; Invisible Zinc offers 4 hour protection (good for those that swim) and I might not be in the city but that doesn’t mean I won’t apply my Clinique City Block.

Even the mini-me has choices - Clarins have a gorgeous very high protection sunscreen for children and Invisible Zinc has a Junior Roll On.

Of course I’ll need the usual suspects - the daily delights we simply can not live without: cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner and perhaps a face masque as a treat. Or maybe not.

One thing to remember is to switch fragrance to an alcohol free version - lurking under many a woman’s chest are dormant sun spots waiting to emerge in her later years - speckly reminders that perfume and the sun were not meant to go hand-in-hand.

You could toss a couple of nail polish shades (or do them before you leave as I have)… this bag is already groaning under the weight. I wonder if there is anything I can skip?

What do you ALWAYS pack for holidays?

Tamsin xo