How to avoid holiday hair...

While on holiday, your beauty products should be within easy reach, so that you can refresh your make-up to look your best. Traveling light is an advantage, so you need items that are compact and portable. Get yourself a spacious shoulder bag and two small, plastic-lined cases, for make-up and other toilet accessories. 

Before setting out, get a manicure, pedicure and hairstyling done, so that all you need is touching up. A short hairdo that you can just brush and arrange works best while travelling. For long hair, carry along a headband and hair clips, to keep your hair in place.

A scarf to protect your hair from the sun, wind and dust can work too. 

Cleansing assumes more importance while on-the-move, to remove dust, old make-up and pollution. After cleansing, apply a scrub and rub gently on the skin, in circular motion. Ready-to-use scrubs are available in small travel size. A sample should do the trick for a week’s getaway. 

A good skin toner is a must for all skin types — to cleanse and refresh the skin. After cleansing, wipe the skin with it, using cotton wool. Carry wet tissues in your handbag during the day, to cleanse, wipe and refresh the skin.

If you are going to a hot and humid place, avoid heavy moisturisers. A light sunscreen lotion may be enough. Avoid sun-exposure as much as possible, especially from noon till about 3 in the afternoon. Night-time cleansing is very important to remove sweat, oil, dirt and make-up.  

A fruit mask is ideal in tropical weather. You can even make one of your own. Make a pulp of ripe papaya, add a little curd and apply it on the skin. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Papaya contains enzymes and helps to soften and cleanse the skin of dead skin cells. It also removes tan. 

For a holiday in cooler climate, or a mountain resort, you may be spending time outdoors. A sunscreen lotion with a built-in moisturiser will come in handy in this weather.  Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out. If you are out in the sun for more than an hour, re-apply the sunscreen.  This means that you should carry it in your shoulder bag.

Exposure to the sun, wind, heat or cold can really dry out the skin and can even cause irritation and sensitivity. 

In cold and dry climate, the skin may get cracked, more so if you spend time in the sun. For normal and dry skin, use a cleansing gel containing aloe vera, which not only rehydrates the skin but also restores normal pH balance. For oily and combination skins, use a cleansing lotion or a light cleansing milk.

If there is excessive sun-exposure or sun burn, apply cold milk using cotton wool. It helps to soothe sun-damaged skin.
 
A pick-me-up face mask can leave your skin looking clean and glowing.  It is a simple of way removing fatigue and refreshing the skin.  You may not have the time to mix ingredients, so carry a peel-off mask to add a touch of brightness to the skin. Ready-to-use peel-off masks are easily available.

After applying the face mask, soak two cotton wool pads in a rose-based skin tonic and use them as eye pads over the eye lids, with eyes closed. Lie down and relax for 15 minutes, while you have the mask and eye pads on. This is extremely relaxing and refreshing.

Take care of your hair

In warm and humid climate, wash the hair frequently and use a hair rinse. Add the juice of a lemon to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. This helps to reduce oiliness and restores the normal balances. 

In dry, cold climate, use a creamy conditioner after shampoo, massaging it lightly into the hair.  Leave it on for two minutes and then rinse with plain water. You can also use a hair serum or leave-on type of conditioner. Take very little and apply it the same way, but do not rinse.