My Spanish hols are over for another year (boohoo!). Just after I got back last year, I blogged about my hero products. This time I'm doing the hero thing slightly differently - I’m writing about products that came to my rescue, only in ways I wasn't expecting...
Hair
Batiste and Schwarzkopf Gliss Dry Shampoos
Dry shampoo has got to be one of the best hair product inventions of modern times. It soaks up grease super efficiently, so I can get away with washing my hair just twice a week. A greasy bonnet is not my problem on hols though as I wash it more frequently - but clean limp hair is!
Within half an hour of washing, my porous mop can look lifeless due to it soaking up the extra moisture in the air. I found it didn’t do this though if I sprayed a layer of dry shampoo directly after styling. Bravo! Batiste costs £4.99 for 400ml here. More on Schwarzkopf here.
L’Oreal Paris Magic Retouch
I had my roots done just before I went on hols. But by the second week some pesky greys were starting to show. They don't usually appear so quickly and so I hadn’t thought to pack my Color Wow root touch-up.
In a blind panic I legged it to town and found this can of L’Oreal Paris Magic Retouch spray. Generally I prefer powders as they are easier to apply – sprays tend to squirt beyond where you want them to (use them over a sink). On the plus side, though, spray application is quicker.
While the L’Oreal cover-up worked as expected, it was having to use it in the first place that wasn’t! £5 for 75ml here.
Skincare
REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial
My skin is generally dry but on hols it has greasy moments too, thanks to sweaty Mediterranean Summer temperatures and the generous use of thick sunscreens. I popped the REN 1 Minute Facial in my suitcase for its active vitamin C, to give my skin an anti-oxidant boost. I wasn’t expecting it to tackle the morning grease on my skin too – which it did, quite superbly. Another round of applause! £32 for 75ml here.
Elemental Herbology Hand Nutrition - Intensive Hand & Nail Repair Cream
Knowing that the sun dries my skin out, I packed a couple of moisture-rich formulas, this being one of them. We often neglect our hands, despite them being exposed to the sun as much as our faces. This cream made my parched hands feel alive again. Fair enough. But it did so for an age after I’d applied it. Ok, that’s impressive! Plus the fragrance here is fresh, fresh, fresh – just perfect when a day sitting around the pool in 35 degree heat makes you feel anything but! I do wish this had an SPF though. £16 for 75ml here.
Nuxe Masque Crème Fraiche de Beaute
I regularly grab this at home when my skin is particularly thirsty. What I hadn’t noticed before was how incredibly cooling it feels on the face. I’m assuming that’s because I feel hotter in Spain and so I notice the effect more. Whatever, it was most welcome!£18.50 for 50ml here.
Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder
I usually use this to set my make-up (I dispensed some into the Eve Lom powder container you see pictured which is refillable and travel friendly). On hols I found another use for it – to soak up the excess moisture on my face caused by sweat and thicker sunscreen. I patted it on when things were starting to feel a little clammy. It did the job without clinging to the moisture or going patchy. It is also hypoallergenic, so suitable for sensitive skin. Check out my full review here.