Keep luggage light and packing stress-free with mini and multi-purpose hair and beauty goodies that have you looking good both on the road and off it
Streetwise Skincare
The day before your road trip, head for a department store and stockpile mini versions of your favourite skincare products - most counters have them and will be happy to hand them over. If you have a lengthy drive ahead, put two drops of basil oil in your bath or on a cloth and rub over your body to sharpen concentration and increase alertness. Once on the road, cleanse skin and remove eye make-up in a flash with cleansing wipes, which are also great for freshening up when you're feeling hot and sticky. Can the aerosol and slip a dinky deodorant into your bag or pocket. Need to exfoliate? If you're stopping off at the beach you'll have nature's natural exfoliator at your fingertips; handfuls of sand mixed with sea water and applied to skin in gentle, circular motions will soften and smooth dry areas. Keep skin hydrated and glowing by using a body moisturiser with a low level of self-tanning ingredient - everyone's doing these at the moment. Hair serum is not only good for taming frizzy locks, it can also be used as a body oil - rub a couple of drops between your palms and smooth over shoulders and shins for a glamorous sheen.
Look for leave-in conditioners and hairsprays containing UV filters, as these will double up as sun protection for your hair. Leave-in conditioner is also a great smoothing agent and helps tame unruly locks. If hair is coloured or dehydrated and you run out of protective product, maximise damage limitation by slipping on a hat or head scarf. You don't need a bagful of products and appliances to create a sultry style - simply spritz hair with a mineral water spray (which can also be used to cool your skin down in the car or on the beach) until damp, then twist random sections for a tousled 'do in seconds. You can also scrunch in extra texture with texturising products or a light spray gel. To reactivate styling products already in the hair, wet hands and scrunch hair with fingertips. Forget about shampooing daily - at the end of the day, remove dirt by rinsing hair in lukewarm or cold water, or try a dry shampoo. Make-Up that goes the Extra Mile
Wave goodbye to bulky make-up bags and buy a handy palette containing products for eyes, lips and cheeks. Then all you need is a good tinted moisturiser to hydrate and give skin a healthy glow, eyeliner and oil-blotting papers, which blot away shiny skin in seconds and mean you can leave your fiddly face powder at home. Water and gel-based formulations are best when the weather's hot, as they're lightweight and sink in easily. And if you have oily skin, look out for oil-free and waterproof products, which will last longer when the heat is on. If you love the effect of mascara and just can't be without it, why not consider having an eyelash tint a couple of days before you leave? Best performed in the salon and great for giving lash definition that lasts around a month, you can also swim and dance the night away in steamy nightclubs without having to worry about panda eyes. Choose dual-purpose products: pack double-ended pencils, and lipsticks and balms that contain an SPF filter, so you don't have to pack a separate protective product. Always go for pale polishes as they give a naturally groomed effect and won't look too awful if they chip. Or simply buff your nails for a lasting sheen. Even if you're a high-maintenance kind of girl, leave the nail polish remover at home and instead pack wipes which are quick, convenient and won't ever leak.