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ELLEs holiday skin special reveals the best products you need to get a great tan, while still and most importantly - protecting and nourishing your face and body. Weve edited products that prep your skin for tanning before you jet off, as well as our favourite multi-tasking SPFs (slimming, shimmering, and tan accelerating) and post-sun saviours to pack in your suitcase.
Want shimmering, dewy, beautiful skin, read ELLEs guide to skin finishing
A great tan (fake or real) is all in the preparation. Get your skin sun-ready with body scrubs, moisturisers, meaning you can play safe with a high factor on holiday and still turn a nice golden brown…
Three weeks to go Boost your tanning abilities from the inside out with these Thalgo supplements. Ocea Sun contains beta-carotene derived from the algae Dunaliella salina, tomato lycopene and lutein (a Carotenoid found in leafy greens that is high in antioxidants) which improve the skin’s ability to tan, while also protecting it from environmental damage. Start taking these supplements three weeks before you holiday, as well as during and after to achieve an intense, long-lasting tan.
Thalgo Ocea Sun Supplements, £25, at thalgo.com
Two weeks to go
This a godsend for paler skintypes who don’t go sunkissed with quite as much ease. Payot's serum stimulates melanin production that turns you brown. Apply daily two weeks before sun exposure, Dr Payot’s tan accelerating concoction is top secret, but it does contain sunflower extract to prevent skin ageing in the sun. The clear gel sinks into skin fast making it an easy addition to you pre-holiday routine.
Payot Les Solaris Benefice Soleil tan accelerating serum, £23. Enq: 0207 494 6220
Ten days to go
Start lightly exfoliating with this skin body lotion by slathering on after showering every day for 10 days before you jet off. The 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid will gently slough away at dead skin cells – no scrubbing required - leaving your skin soft, smooth and glowing.
Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA £23.75, at paulaschoice.co.uk
One week to go
This scrub contains plenty of antioxidant-rich ingredients – green & white tea, ginko biloba and sophora japonica to mop up free radicals that will exacerbate the signs of ageing through sun damage. Start exfoliating every other day with this granule-packed scrub a week before you jet off; use it to target super dry areas and places that don’t tan as well. It will leave your skin super soft and regenerated, so you’ll tan more evenly.
Elizabeth Arden, Green Tea Revitalise Renewing Body Scrub, £17 at House of Fraser
Three days to go
To avoid looking pasty in your bikini for the first days of your holiday, start layering on Melvita’s Tanning Preparation Milk a few days before, until you reach your desired bronze hue. This natural tanner uses extracts of carob and sugar to tan the skin; while safflower and coconut oils nourish.
Melvita Prosun Tanning Preparation Milk – Gradual Tan, £17, at melvita.co.uk
On the day
All the way from dream holiday destination, Maui Babe Browning Lotion is a must-have for Hawaiian babes to accelerate the rate at which you tan. It doesn’t have an spf, but you can layer under a sun lotion and still reap the benefits. The all-natural oil contains Macadamia Nut Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, Aloe, Kona Coffee Extract and vitamins to accelerate bronzing in the sun, as well as aloe to soothe. It’s water resistant and if you’re heading anywhere tropical insects hate it.
Maui Babe Browning Lotion £23, at victoriahealth.com
Sun protection isn’t just about a high factors, while you’re chilling on the beach, your sun cream should be hard at work, which is why we’ve rounded up the best lotions with added extras. From a cream that speeds up your tan, to one that tones you while you sunbathe – it’s time your sunscreen worked that bit harder…Vitamin-rich block
This spf 20 block contains Pro-Vitamin B5 to help skin recover from existing damage; a 2002 ‘Journal of Dermatological Treatment’ study noted that provitamin B5 enhanced skin repair, while vitamins C and E fend off environmental damage caused by free radicals. It also contains hyaluronic acid, shea butter and oil of evening primrose to keep skin nicely moisturised.
Dermalogica multivitamin body block SPF 20, £29. Enq: 0800 591818
This dual purpose eye and lip spf 30 sunscreen is genius! The rose-coloured gloss is more like a lipstick (not too shiny or sticky), while the eye cream can be smoothed onto the lid and under the eye. Plus, they’re both water-resistant.
Avon Anew solar advance eye and lip sunscreen SPF 30, £13 at Avon
With Guam’s signature seaweed formula of caffeine (to boost circulation), lipase (an ingredient that breaks down fat), and plant extracts it stimulates the body’s lipolytic process (where fat is turned to energy) in the adipocyte cells (the ones responsible for cellulite) contained in the upper layers of the skin. Toxins are drained leaving the skin looking firmer and more even in tone.
Guam Fango Slimming Sun Cream SPF 30, £37.95, at Beautique.com
This sunscreen offers spf 30 protection to prevent UVB rays from burning the skin and PA+++ protection against UVA rays that cause skin ageing. The key ingredient is Pro-Niacin that rebuilds the skin barrier to keep it protected and moisturised; it’s also clinically proven to visibly improve skin tone, texture, fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and hyperpigmentation. However, if you’re prone to skin pigmentation, you’ll probably want to stay in the shade when the sun’s at its hottest.
Nia 24 Sun Damage Prevention UVA/UVB Sunscreen – SPF 30, £37, at Space NK
Adaptasun is skincare brand Institut Esthiderm suncare line. The sun lotions work to give you the best possible tan because a suntan is actually the skin’s natural defence against the harmful effects of UV rays; so Adaptasun neutralises the sun’s negative impact on the skin, while stimulating it to tan (which it does impressively fast). Don’t be put off by the lack of traditional spf ratings, use the 3 star products on your summer holiday and the two star at home.
Institut Esthederm, Adaptasun Sea and Tropics Tanning Body Lotion, £41, Space NK
This all-day formula means you only need to apply once to ensure you’re protected (it’s so effective Ultrasun is prescribed on the NHS to cancer patients). The golden shimmer isn’t just there to give your skin a pretty glow it reflects the sun’s rays so your skin is less likely to absorb them – clever!
Ultrasun SPF 20 sensitive glimmer formula, £22. Enq: 01737 245 499
Repairing and nurturing your skin once you’re out of the sun is imperative. ELLE’s pick of the best after sun products all work to soothe and hydrate – preventing the dreaded peel, we’ve also selected products that will prolong and even enhance your tan.
Super coolingAloe vera is one of the best ingredients for cooling sunburnt skin. This light, refreshing gel comes in a big tube and can be slathered all over to instantly cool and soothe the skin. Keep it the fridge for an even cooler hit.
Garnier Ambre Solaire After Sun Gel with Aloe Vera, £9.18, at Boots
On holiday your skin can be prone to redness or become irritated and blotchy from the heat. With menthol to cool, arnica and chamomile to soothe and ferulic acid to protect from UV damage this cream relieves irritated skin - the ideal holiday companion.
Dr Nick Lowe Redness Relief Calming Cream, £15.31, at Boots
Guerlain’s highly concentrated serum can be added to any moisturiser or suntan lotion to stimulate melanin production during or after sun exposure. Simply mix two drops to your daily dose of face cream and four drops to any body products.
Guerlain Terracotta Tan-Prolonging Complex Serum, £40 at Escentual.com
If you overdo it in the sun, make sure you have Sue Devitt’s masque to hand. Designed especially for sun exposed skin, the cloth is packed with marine crystals and resveratrol (found in grapes ) to reduce inflammation and fine lines. Seaweed protects against the environment, while hyaluronic acid increases moisture levels in the skin by 67%. Most impressive, though is that this masque will decrease skin temperature on the face by 10°c in less than 60 seconds.
Sue Devitt microquatic marine crystal collagen masque, £82, at Harvey Nichols
If you prefer to play it safe by slathering on a high factor or staying in the shade? Fake a tan with Decleor’s Gradual Glow Body Milk. This sweet, freshly scented milk contains essential oils that hydrate, while leaving your skin lightly tanned after just one application.
Decleor Aroma Confort Paris gradual glow hydrating body milk, £30.50 at Decleor
Unlike Garnier’s after sun, this light, cooling gel contains a high 88% aloe vera, making it ideal for targeted hydration where your skin really needs it. Ignore the fact it is called a ‘facial gel’ and use it to soothe any areas that get burnt, you can also use it as a light but hydrating moisturiser while you’re on holiday.
Blink Brow Bar Aloe Vera Facial Gel, £24
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