*This post is not sponsored – all products bought and tried by the writer.*
Holiday time for me means almost 20 days of what I call soul food – endless walks on the beach, shell collecting, ocean gazing and marvelling at the multi-coloured world of a rock pool. We go to a fairly remote area, so there is a sense of freedom and lightness, a letting go of the year (and what a year it’s been) and looking ahead to the next, hoping for the best.
In terms of beauty, you will have read and heard that sun protection should be the number one beauty product on your list – and it is on mine – however, I do feel that some sun is beneficial, especially in the morning. So if you want to bask on a rock and watch the dolphins play instead of hiding in a beach tent then do your homework and shop for reputable sun protection before you splurge on the embellished kaftan you’ve had your eye on.
My favourite sunscreen has been Heliocare for many years – it works, it’s tried and tested and I have several products that I enjoy using. I love the advanced XF gel SPF 50 for my face – it’s not tacky, it absorbs well into the skin and it does not leave the dreaded white cast that many other sunscreens do. I skip foundation when I’m on holiday, but still like my complexion to look even, bronzy and glowy – and the product that gives me all of that is the Heliocare Tinted Gelcream SPF 50. There is a Light and a Brown tint and they offer good coverage, as well as protection from UVB and UVA rays.
Other brands worth mentioning are La Roche Posay – found at Dischem – their Anthelios Ultra 50+ BB tinted cream is also gorgeous, but I would recommend this for drier skins.
If your skin tends to be on the combination/oily side, you might try the SVR Sun Secure Blur (SPF50) – it really does blur imperfections and leaves the skin feeling soft and velvety. If you don’t love fragrance, steer clear – but for me, the citrusy, apricot-like scent is just gorgeous and summery. If you want the added skincare benefits to your sunscreen, then Filorga UV Bronze SPF 50+ for the face is packed with antioxidants and vitamins. These brands also make sun protection for the body in various formulas – make sure you choose one with SPF 50 and don’t forget to apply on backs of hands.
Lastly and frivolously, because after the disaster that in one word was 2020, a holiday lipstick is definitely an essential item (please take note, Covid Command Council members).
Yes, you need this one, you’ll thank me for it – it’s a Mac Limited Edition encased in gorgeous bronze packaging; a soft peachy pink lipstick with a lustre finish, perfect for mature lips (please stay away from matte or long-lasting lip products – they do not do us any favours). I think it’s a suitable colour for all skin tones and depending on the lip liner you use, it can change to a more rosy hue (use Mac Soar) or a warmer, spicy peach (Mac Spice is beautiful). It’s creamy, hydrating and absolutely fabulous. The clincher? It’s called À la Plage- which in French means – To the Beach!
Where to buy
Products mentioned are available at selected aesthetic clinics, doctors’ practices and salons nationwide.
Some are also available to purchase online:
- www.dermastore.co.za
- www.skinmiles.com
- www.sandtonaesthetics.co.za
- www.onlineskinshop.co.za
- www.absoluteskin.co.za
The Mac A La Plage Lipstick is available in store and online from www.maccosmetics.co.za
*This post is not sponsored – all products bought and tried by the writer.*
Mac pics from Temptalia website www.temptalia.com
Paola Chellew is a freelance journalist and regularly writes for a number of publications. A former professional contemporary dancer, she has always loved the arts in all their forms. She has been a freelance writer for many years and has been published in various magazines including Live Out Loud, Private Life and Do It now magazines. Her passion for beauty and skincare started in her teens, when she would read every beauty editor’s picks and reviews. Serious about skincare, she has researched medical-grade products for over ten years, as well as aesthetic treatments to restore and repair skin to look its best. Having turned 60 last year, she has dedicated her blog to the “over 50s and beyond Club”, shining a spotlight on a generation that is seemingly side-lined by the beauty industry. “There is no age limit for when you stop being beautiful – a gorgeous lipstick, a sexy fragrance, radiant skin- these are not synonymous with youth- they are just things that add an extra sparkle to my day”.
📸 Profile photo credited to Lerissa Kemp Photography
- Paola Chellewhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/paola-chellew
- Paola Chellewhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/paola-chellew
- Paola Chellewhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/paola-chellew
- Paola Chellewhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/paola-chellew
