It’s holiday season, a time to get excited about leaving the day-to-day duties behind and get ready to kick-back, relax and explore new cultures! But just because you’re taking some time out to travel, doesn’t mean you need to kiss your beauty routine, healthy eating and fitness workouts good-bye. Overtime, I’ve mastered a balance between embracing new environments, with what I need to sustain a healthy body and mind.
Here are some of my travel tips…
Eating Healthy Abroad – Food Travel Plan
Having dietary needs or nutrition plans can prove difficult to follow when travelling abroad. Not all locations can cater for you and if you’ve been spoilt for choice like I have growing up in London, it can feel limiting. Before travelling anywhere, I plan ahead and take stock of what I need to buy here at home to accommodate my healthy eating habits abroad. My shopping involves healthy, travel friendly foods and snacks: plant-based milks, vegan snacks, oats in various forms, gluten-free snacks, as well as various other protein-based or fibre-rich foods.
You can find my travel packing list for Portugal below:
Eat Real Chilli & Lime Quinoa Chips, Amaizin Natural Corn Chips, Bakery on Main Fiber Power Granola, Livia’s Kitchen Biccy Boms Chocolate, Provamel Organic Cashew Drink, Provamel Organic Rice Coconut Drink, Nairn’s Organic Super Seeded Oatcakes, Deliciously Ella Peanut Butter & Raspberry Balls, Marks and Spencer Made Without Wheat Gluten-free Porridge Oats, Bear Nibbles Yoyo and Eat Real Crunchy Handmade Sesame Bar.
With eating locally, be sure to do your research beforehand. Feel free to ask your hotel for the best restaurants serving fresh produce, but also ask the locals you come across working in shops, cafes and bars. I’d also recommend scouting local grocery stores for fresh fruit and always make sure you have a supply of drinkable water at hand.
SPF Sun Protection, After-sun and Sun Care for Hair
Sun protection is a must during hot summer days away. It’s not just our skin that needs care from harmful UV rays, but our hair too. When travelling to warmer climates, you’re exposed to sun rays around the clock and both skin and hair are at risk of damage.
Sun Protection at the Beach
Recently, I’ve been using sun lotion from a well-known brand, recognised for its sun-care, Lancaster. Lancaster has been around for almost 50 years and it goes by the philosophy less exposure, more tan. Their range helps maximise a natural tan whilst offering vital protection against UV rays.
I’ve been using Lancaster sun cream throughout my time in the Algarve and experienced minimal burning and no peeling. I wore Lancaster Sun Beauty Comfort Touch Face Cream SPF50 and used either Lancaster Sun Beauty Velvet Milk SPF30 or Lancaster Sun Beauty Melting Tanning Milk SPF15 on my body. My skin felt moisturised, hydrated and soft. Moreover, I’ve developed a great tan which is rich in colour. For me, Lancaster has definitely delivered, and I would rate it as the best sun protection lotion I’ve used.
After-Sun Care and Tanning Tips
After a day in the sun, I follow a simple 2-step skin care routine. My tips for taking care of your skin post tanning are:
- After showering, apply a generous amount of aloe vera gel all over.
- Follow with an after-sun tanning lotion.
It is essential to take care of your skin post sun exposure. Protection from sun damage doesn’t end with sunscreen and it’s just as important to treat your skin after sun exposure, as it is during. Not only does aloe vera gel soothe skin, it helps skin cells repair and regenerate with its vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. I try to find the purest versions available and luckily found one in Portugal from Farline. I ran out of my usual Jason Aloe Vera 98% Moisturising Gel while on holiday, which is one of the best I’ve come across.
As well as maintaining healthy skin, I like to keep my healthy tan for as long as possible. Lancaster Tan Maximiser Soothing Moisturiser after-sun lotion has helped prolong my tan and kept my skin radiant and moisturised.
Sun Protection for Hair
I have curly hair which is typically dry and frizzy on a normal day, so sun and humidity can be my worst nightmare! Before travelling, I conducted some online research on products providing sun protection for hair and Sun Shield by Philip Kingsley ranked highly. I used it every day in the Algarve and as a result my hair was left soft and conditioned. It comes in the form of a hair spray which provides effective coverage. Sun Shield offers UV protection and guards against colour fade, as well as damage from salt water. What’s more, it helps control frizz and prevents dryness.
Workout Anywhere Gear – Resistance Band & Sliders
When I go on a beach holiday, the goal is to relax. However, I end up having a lot of unspent energy and feel the need to exert myself. If anything, I find exercise relaxing and therapeutic. Even though our hotel in Portimao has a gym, I packed some equipment which took almost no space in my luggage: a resistance band and sliders. Every day, I spent 10-20 minutes working out on the balcony. Here are some easy exercises you can do anywhere, working out your legs and glutes. Try giving these a go:
Resistance Band Workout: Squats with side kicks – Clam hip abductions – Plank kicks.
Slider Workout: Sliding side lunges – Sliding back lunges – Sliding hamstring curl.
Make sure you complete 10 reps per leg for at least 3 sets.
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