For make-up artists and beauty enthusiasts alike, the holiday season can be a time of great excitement, but also great temptation. The desire to look and feel our best can lead to overpacking our cosmetic bags, resulting in a face that’s caked, overdone, or even melting in the heat.

“Less is more,” says Una Tynan, make-up artist and co-founder of Lisa & Co Cosmetics. “Keep it simple. You’re taking a break from routine, so you want something quick and easy. A great light base, a touch of bronzer and a swipe of lip colour can be all you need. Your skin will thank you and it’s a super quick routine, giving you more time to relax.”

However, as Tynan notes, we can often find ourselves packing a multitude of products in the hope of achieving the perfect holiday look. But this can lead to texture issues, as well as a general feeling of being overwhelmed.

Texture can be an issue as much as wearing too much, so creams and liquids are preferable to anything powdery. Powder-heavy routines can be left at home, as they can cake in humidity, making it difficult to achieve a natural, sun-kissed look.

Furthermore, Tynan suggests that we can leave behind multiple-shade eyeshadow palettes, full-coverage foundations and contour kits. “Daytime holiday make-up is usually quite minimal, while evenings are more about enhancing the natural glow you’ve picked up during the day,” she says. “Just a few versatile products will keep things light and fresh.”

Must-Haves for a Holiday Kit

So, what are the must-haves for a holiday kit? According to Tynan, a lightweight base such as tinted moisturiser, BB or CC cream, or sheer foundation is a must. This provides a natural-looking base without caking or overwhelming the skin.

• A concealer for touch-ups or if you feel you won’t need base at all.
• A liquid blush and bronzer, both of which will give a dewy look and enhance any natural glow.
• A lip liner and lip gloss, as well as a cream eyeshadow.

Tynan recommends applying light layers of each product. You can always add more, but heavy application will feel heavy and suffocating in any heat. Bring a blotting product to help with shine, such as little packs of blotting sheets or a setting spray to keep everything in place.

Alternative Options

Instead of waterproof mascara, Tynan suggests skipping it during the day. A lash lift can be a great alternative, as it curls the lashes up from the eye, giving a more opened-up appearance. It is essentially a perm for the eyelashes, which, combined with a lash tint, mimics the effect we achieve with mascara and lasts longer.

Tubing mascaras are also a holiday option. These are mascaras with polymers as an ingredient, which basically wraps the lash all the way around, creating a sort of tube that is flexible and non-flaky. They’re less likely to smudge in sweaty weather and offer better water resistance in the sea or swimming pool.

Another great option is waterproof eyeliner, which offers a bit of effortless, budge-proof definition. Just apply a light layer, and you’re good to go!

Product Recommendations

For a holiday routine that’s quick, easy and impactful, try the Lisa & Co Cosmetics Liquid Luxe Trio. This set of three tubes contains a bronzing or contouring Cocoa, an illuminating Golden Glow, and a blushing Pinch of Peach, which together lend a light-catching and complete complexion look that’s very flattering and easy to blend with fingers.

Alternatively, try the Clarins Water Lip Stain, which performs two functions as a lip liner and lip colour in one. It’s a magic little product that’s perfect for throwing into your holiday kit. It dries quickly to a non-transferable tint, over which you can apply SPF lip balm or gloss.

For a budge-proof eyeliner, try the et al. Line + Define Eyeliner in Cocoa. This gel-like eyeliner is silkier than traditional eye liners and allows for easy application as well as a brief window in which a flick or a smoky effect can be achieved.

So, the next time you’re packing for a holiday, remember that less is more. Keep it simple, and let your natural glow shine through.