Alex Steinherr reveals her must-have holiday beauty essentials for glowing skin

While we all look forward to our summer holidays, there’s no denying that the combination of sunshine and heat can wreak havoc on our skin. Luckily, The Glossary’s Beauty Director Alessandra Steinherr is on hand to share her go-to holiday beauty essentials, which will leave your skin bright and glowing whatever the weather. From soothing sunscreens and serums to hydrating masks and mists, here’s what she’ll be packing to achieve the perfect holiday skin this summer.

When we’re on holiday, it’s a good idea to give our skin a holiday too. When temperatures and humidity rise, our sebaceous glands naturally produce more sebum, which can result in clogged pores and blemishes. Sunshine is also a trigger, lowering collagen levels and causing inflammation and irritation, especially for those prone to rosacea flare-ups and breakouts. The last thing you want to do, therefore, is layer on product after product, which you’ll likely sweat off anyway. You want to simplify your skincare regime and use lighter formulations as your holiday beauty essentials, to give your skin a rest.

I would avoid using too many actives on holiday, such as acids and retinoids. I’m not saying using them in warmer weather will damage the skin, but the sunlight and heat can potentially cause an issue, so be careful. Instead, focus on hydration and sun protection – these are key for holiday skin. You want to ensure your skin barrier is healthy (sun can impair the barrier function), so that it retains water and maintains the natural hydration in the skin – look for formulations with skin barrier-boosting ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, peptides, humectants and fatty acids.

Above all else, your holiday beauty essential is SPF, which protects against harmful UV radiation from the sun and is crucial in preventing premature lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer (this isn’t just true for when we’re on holiday, we need to protect our skin when we go about our day-to-day in the city, too). To maximise your skin’s defence, you could apply an antioxidant serum prior to sunscreen – this will protect skin from sunlight-induced free radicals that can also speed up the ageing process. After a day in the sunshine, skin needs a serious moisture boost; my after-sun go-tos are Esthederm After-Sun Repair (£40), which instantly hydrates and soothes the skin, and Clarins SOS Sunburn Soother Mask (£22) for a cooling, calming fix if you’ve had a little too much exposure.