Summer holidays are made for slowing down and switching off from busy, everyday life. While great for the soul, a week or two of travel, air-conditioning, sun, sweat, SPF, chlorine, saltwater can upset skin, leaving it dehydrated, sensitive and out of sync… and you stressed about it.
Keeping skin (and yourself!) happy on holiday shouldn’t feel like another task on your to-do list though. With your Gem & Tonic favourites and these seven top tips, it doesn’t.
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Quench thirsty skin
Keeping holiday skin hydrated by day, then soothed and recharged each night doesn’t need heavier moisturisers - just smarter ones. Our Hydrating Face Cream and Energising Body Lotion are lightweight, fast-absorbing and loaded with mineral-rich actives that deeply hydrate, calm, protect and boost skin barrier strength without leaving skin sticky in the heat.
An extra tip: If you’ve got tired, achy legs and feet after a day sightseeing, smooth on our Energising Body Lotion. The magnesium-rich Olivine in the formula soothes and recharges, helping you sleep better and wake re-energised.
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Keep your water bottle close
Sun, heat and active days can quickly sap energy, as well as affect skin’s plump, hydrated glow. Keeping a refillable water bottle on hand is a great reminder of how much water you’re drinking, will maintain energy levels and, of course, your skin will thank you too.
“Gym bag, beach bag, day bag - my refillable water bottle goes everywhere with me. In summer, it’s even more important to keep your water intake high, so drink at least a litre a day.” Gemma Atkinson, our Founder
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SPF, every single day
We love glowing holiday skin. Sun damage? Definitely not. Applying sun cream is one of the best things you can do to keep skin healthy and protected from premature ageing, pigmentation and long-term damage. After applying your Hydrating Face Cream and Energising Body Lotion each morning, follow up with SPF - and remember to top it up every two hours and after swimming.
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End the day with a proper cleanse
Skin soon lets you know when you’ve not fully cleaned away SPF, sweat and daily dirt. Our Nourishing Cream Cleanser melts it all away in seconds with its complex of cleansing Moringa Seed. The bonus - Peat Extract deeply soothes and Quartz, Papaya and Liquorice gently exfoliate to leave skin super-smooth and bright.
An extra tip: after cleansing, apply another layer of our Nourishing Cream Cleanser and leave on as a 5-minute mini mask. It’s an amazing glow-booster (no make-up needed), whether you’re heading out for dinner or just enjoying a little evening self-care.
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Don’t forget your scalp and hair too
Sun, swimming and sweat affect your scalp and hair as much as your skin. Before swimming, soak hair first in clean water to reduce how much chlorine or saltwater it absorbs, then rinse again after asap. While waterside or out walking, keep your scalp protected with a hat.
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Embrace low-maintenance hair days
Summer is the perfect excuse to give heat stylers a holiday too - plus air-dried hair means less dryness and damage. As an extra boost, if roots feel hot and sweaty when you wake, through the day or pre-evening dinner, treat them to a quick spritz of our Hair and Scalp Mist. It instantly refreshes, cools the scalp and revives hair before the next wash. Better still, Plant Keratin helps strengthen and antioxidant Bamboo Filtrate conditions while Amethyst and Moonstone boost shine and radiance.
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Properly activate holiday mode
Glow Getters - this one matters just as much as all our skincare tips above: holiday = unplug. Leave your phone inside the villa or zipped in a bag pocket so you’re not tempted to scroll social media, check work emails or start your to-do list for when you get home.
Rest, read a book, enjoy slow meal times, have an early night. It may not sound so glamorous, but it gives your mind and body the best chance to reset and recover properly… and, honestly, your skin will reflect this too.
“With lots to see and do, you can end up draining your battery even on holiday. Listening to your body is one of the best forms of selfcare, so plan quiet days and evenings to recharge, sleep and reset.” Gemma Atkinson, our Founder
Enjoy the summer and stay glowing!