Suitcase out on the bed?

Sun holiday season is here again and if you’re packing the essentials for a week or two of salty hair and sandy feet, now is the time to re-think what you’re packing in your cosmetics case.

If it’s been ages since you last jetted off on a beach break, a few smart purchases will make sure your next vay-cay photos are free of sunburn, frizzy hair and parched skin.

Here are six holiday buys we guarantee you’ll be raving about beside the pool:

1. The hairbrush 

It’s time to update your Tangle Teaser. The brand that none of us can live without has just added a new addition to its range.

The Easy Dry & Go Large gives long hair the salon-style blow-dry it deserves. The cult brand’s latest innovation combines unique teeth technology, more bristles, a bigger pad and strategically-placed vents to speed up drying time and turn down the frizz whilst reducing heat damage for post-shower hair.

Even using a weak hotel hairdryer, we found the vented brush produced a sleek finish.

Easy Dry & Go Large Lilac Cloud is €22 and available from Careplus and McCauleys chemists. 

2. The tan 

Nobody wants to be faffing about waiting for a tan to develop on holiday, that’s why faux tan fans in-the-know are obsessed with the best-selling Rapid 1 Hour Liquid Tan from He-Shi.

This luxurious tanning foam is alcohol-free and formulated with enriching avocado and argan oil to keep your skin hydrated – you even have the freedom to control the depth of your colour shade.

We got three full-body applications out of the mini travel size mousse. Our advice is to pop on a layer after the pool and wear a kaftan while you enjoy a sundowner, then shower and get ready for the night – your tan will continue to develop and you’ll wake up glowing the next morning for another day by the pool.

He-Shi is on offer at a bargain €14.46 right now when you buy direct from their website. 

3. The sun protection

If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts or irritation, choosing sunscreen can be a minefield. P20 has been protecting people from the harmful effects of sun damage for over 30 years with its unique and ultra-protective sunscreen formula. This year they’ve introduced P20 Cream for Sensitive Skin SPF30 and SPF 50+.

This new addition is fragrance-free, contains hand-selected hypoallergenic ingredients and offers high UVA and UVB protection for up to ten hours per application while being extremely gentle on the skin.

Just apply it once first thing in the morning and there’s no need to load up your skin with layer after layer of SPF during the hottest part of the day.

P20 Sun Protection Cream Body SPF30 is €23 from pharmacies. 

4. The multi-tasker 

If you’re attempting to travel light this year, a bottle of NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is one of the best multi-taskers money can buy.

The iconic oil nourishes and repairs skin in a flash and can be used on the face, body and even in your hair.

Completely organic, the dry-touch formula combines precious organic Ente Plum oil and organic Sesame Oil to infuse your skin with a satin sheen. The Neroli scent will whisk you away on holiday before you’ve even reached the departures gate too – no need to pack a separate perfume.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is €32.90 here. 

5. The face spritz

A soothing and hydrating face spritz is heavenly after a day on the beach (keep it in the fridge for an even more refreshing wake-up call in the morning).

If you’re feeling fancy, Avant PH Balancing & Brightening Rose Infusion Day Mist (€92 here) is the one beauty therapists and make-up artists are raving about right now. Rose works to buff away dead skin cells and impurities to reveal soft, fresh and youthful skin – a pump or two between the beach and bar will leave you glowing for your pre-shower mojito.

It smells divine too.

6. The lip colour 

Gloss tends to melt off the lips in hot weather, so if you want to keep your lip colour rich and deep for your holiday pics, invest in a premium matte. Step forward Giorgio Armani with the new Lip Maestro Mediterranea liquid lip colour range; six new shades inspired by the sun-flecked colours of the Mediterranean.

A palette of modern yet classic tinted neutrals, the tan-browns and beiges flatter summer skin like nobody’s business with a luminous velvety finish that feels delish after a day on the beach.

Our pick is 109 Tan, a supremely wearable desert rose shade.

The Armani Beauty Lip Maestro Mediterranea collection is €38 from Brown Thomas Cork.