Packing for a holiday abroad means thinking a little differently about the beauty products you usually reach for at home. A trip to the Maldives usually involves plenty of time outdoors, whether you’re swimming off the beach, having lunch beside the water or heading out on a boat. That change of routine can affect your skin and hair more than you might expect.
Strong sunshine, warm temperatures, salt water and air conditioning all play a part, so the products that work well at home may not always be enough. You also have luggage limits and hot weather to think about, which makes a carefully chosen beauty bag much more useful than packing your usual collection of bottles and jars.
Protect your skin from the sun
With lots of your day likely to take place outdoors, sunscreen deserves a permanent place in your beach bag rather than staying back in your room. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF 50 product for exposed skin and reapply it regularly, particularly after swimming or sweating.
Your face may feel more comfortable with a lightweight facial SPF that sits easily underneath make-up without feeling greasy. Remember areas that people often miss, such as your ears, hairline, lips and the tops of your feet. An SPF lip balm is particularly useful when you’re spending several hours beside the pool or sea.
Keep your routine light and hydrating
Hot, humid conditions can make a complicated skincare routine feel uncomfortable, especially if you normally layer several rich products. A gentle cleanser can remove sunscreen, sweat and make-up at the end of the day, while a lightweight moisturiser helps replace moisture without leaving a heavy layer on your skin.
This simpler approach also saves valuable suitcase space, particularly when you’re travelling between islands or using a seaplane with stricter baggage allowances. Decanting your regular cleanser and moisturiser into small reusable containers can help you pack only what you genuinely expect to use.
Look after your hair around salt water
Swimming in the Indian Ocean can leave your hair feeling dry or tangled, especially if it is long, curly, bleached or colour-treated. Rinsing it with fresh water once you leave the sea helps remove salt rather than letting it sit on your hair throughout the afternoon.
Pack a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray that you can apply after rinsing. A wide-tooth comb can then work through knots more gently than repeatedly brushing damp hair. If you plan to swim most days, a small conditioning mask gives you the option of adding extra moisture when your hair starts to feel rough.
Choose make-up that suits the climate
A full make-up bag rarely earns its luggage space when heat, humidity and regular swims become part of your daily routine. Lighter products tend to feel more comfortable and require less maintenance when you’re moving between the beach, restaurants and excursions.
Instead of a heavier foundation, you could use a tinted moisturiser or light skin tint where you want some coverage. Waterproof mascara makes sense if you expect to swim, while a cream blush can be easier to blend quickly with your fingers. Add a tinted lip balm and you have an uncomplicated combination that works for a relaxed dinner without spending much of your evening getting ready.