Sonia Haria, 39, is the Beauty Director of the Telegraph, author of South Asian Beauty and on the advisory board of the British Beauty Council. She shares her packing tips for a family summer holiday to the south of France.
I have three kids, two boys aged nine and seven and a three-year-old girl, so I literally have a sliver of a suitcase to pack what I need for a week away. The rest is stuffed with inflatables! I even pack a pump.
With holiday wear I am a creature of habit and a repeat buyer. I have three pairs of the exact same sandals – two of which are coming with me – the Santorini by a brand called By Pollyanna, in black and tan – similar to Ancient Greek but half the price and go with everything, day to evening.
I take three Uniqlo vests with built-in bras, in khaki, cream and black, which are the only tops I need and I wear them with two of the same high-waisted ‘mom’ style M&S shorts, which are great for petites. I roll up a couple of With Nothing Underneath linen shirts, which are perfect cover ups.
I adore bright colours and pack the same dresses – a red halter neck from M&S, a bright pink linen kaftan from Zara, I’m a high-street girl – Uniqlo. Cos, Zara and M&S are great. I’m not a fan of print, apart from my leopard print skirt from Rixo.
I did spend money on a brown and a black swimming costume from Heidi Klein and Melissa Odabash, both of which are still coming with me eight years later. They are such a flattering shape and wash well.
My beauty routine Is obviously important – I’ve been in the industry for 15 years and tried basically everything, and this is what works for me.
First up, two days before a summer holiday, I apply Gatineau gradual tan. I’m Indian but my legs are really pale and I want a nice even colour. I have a giant bottle at home and pack a travel-sized tan which I apply as a second layer when I arrive.
I bring a giant bottle of Ultra Violette to keep by the door of our villa – between us it’s used up by the end of a week. I also rate La Roche Posay with SPF 50, I’m a fan of its new serum, which sits nicely under make-up and is non-greasy. And Helico Care does a great SPF stick which smells of vanilla.
But while we all know about the importance of SPF, many of us neglect our hair in the sun. I pack Davines heat protecting spray which conditions the hair and prevents my middle parting area from burning.
I tend to leave the shampoo and conditioner at home and instead buy them at a local supermarket – we go to Greece often and I will hunt down Korres products which are amazing.
I’m super streamlined with my make up on holiday – a Bare Minerals skin tint stick which I scribble on for glow and coverage. Some tubing mascara Ilia mascara Limitless Lash is a favourite, Rhode pocket blush (in Candy Apple matte red) for both lips and cheeks, and I’m done.
I wear SPF instead of moisturiser in the day but can’t be without my SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum which gives anti-oxidant protection and the vit c is great for me as I’m prone to pigmentation.
Finally, a good tip is to throw in two or three sheet masks, which weigh nothing – my favourites are Dr Jart or any Korean brand like Bio Dance from Boots and pop them on post-sun and pre-dinner for a great hydration boost.
‘I’ve tried thousands of beauty products – here are the ones I take on holiday’
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum – come rain or shine! I decant into a mini bottle for hols.
La Roche Posay Serum sunscreen.
Big family sized bottle – half a litre – for us all! Ultra Violette Extreme Screen Hydrating Body and Hand Skinscreen.
SPF stick to keep in the beach bag, love the Caudalie one, also my kids love this one as it smells of vanilla: Heliocare 360° Pediatrics Stick SPF50+.
I will also pack a smoothing wax for any flyaways and to keep my hair back in the sun or under a cap – such as Oribe’s Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick.
Gatineau gradual tan – I use the big bottle at home and take the mini with me for day one on holiday.
Hourglass Vanish Concealer – THE BEST! I prefer not to wear a full foundation on hols, instead just take this for under eyes and any little bits of pigmentation.
If I do take foundation, it will be something sheer like Bare Minerals Skin Tint Stick.
Rhode Pocket Blush in Candy Apple – perfect reddish shade for lips and cheeks on hols.
Always need an SPF Lip balm – essential. I rate this one: Super Healthy Skin Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 30.
A tubing mascara is a must-have in the sun/humidity as it won’t flake. I like the Blink Brow one or my new favourite is the Clean Volume by Merit. Comes in black or a very chic brown.
Clothing:
M&S Mom Shorts which annoyingly they don’t seem to do anymore! But they are similar to this without the frayed edge: High Waisted Raw Hem Denim Shorts
Sandals – these ones in black and tan, so comfortable! Good for day and evening Santorini Sandals – Black
Packing cubes, always. I have some Anya X Uniqlo ones but also some of these from Amazon: OW-Travel Packing Cubes
Sonia Haria’s book South Asian Beauty is out now and you can buy it here.
