And I’m back!

Hello beauties, I’m back from my ramble around Namibia. Rested, revived and ready to go.

I thought I’d share the beauty products I took with me to survive the dry desert air.

I never leave the house without Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream, so why would I go away without it? It’s great for dry lips, insect bites, super dry hands etc, etc, etc

A shed load of sun protection:

For my face – Vichy Capital Soleil SPF50

For my body – Eucerin Extra Light Sun Lotion for Body SPF50 that I put on in the morning before I went out and then during the day I opted for Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh Invisible Cooling Mist SPF50 because it’s cooling effect is just so welcome in 45C!

For ears and other easy to burn places – Comfort Zone Sun Soul Stick SPF50 worked a treat!

Piz Buin After Sun Lotion – Not for sunburn, but to nourish my skin at the end of a long day in the heat and dry air.

Sisley Sunleya Age Minimizing After-Sun Care – Again, not for sunburn, but for nourishing my face after a day in the heat.

St Tropez Wash Off Instant Glow Body Lotion – was a lifesaver for my lily-white legs when I had to don shorts. The formula glides on easily and delivers a gorgeous natural bronze glow without having to fuss too much about even application. It lasts all day and won’t rub off onto clothing. Then all you need to do it wash it off with soap and warm water.

Bug spray – I never go so far as the West Coast without bug spray. I am that person – the one who gets bitten no matter what.

I also took loads of lip balms – Blistex, Ultra Sun, Piz Buin and Clarins were what I decided on in the end. All of which come in incredibly useful – Ultra Sun and Piz Buin during the day for their SPF protection and the Clarins and Blistex at night to repair and nourish.

Little bottles of TRESemme – I always travel with these. If they’re finished, I refill them with my regular shampoo and conditioner. I also took a small can of Batiste Dry Shampoo – as you’re never too sure of the camping facilities. As luck would have it, Namibia is seriously jacked when it comes to camping, so I had hot showers every day.

My 10ml bottle of Moroccanoil – as you know I use it daily, especially in the dessert.

An array of wet wipes and waterless hand cleansers – doesn’t matter what brands, as long as I have a LOT of both.

I normally take whichever skincare I’m using at the time, but for this trip, I took the opportunity to test Lamelle’s Luminesce travel set. I’ve been wanting to try the range, so thought this would be a great time. It consists of a Brightening Cleanser, Brighter Day Serum, Evening Glow Serum and Brightening Defence SPF30. I was impressed that I noticed a difference in my pigmentation within the 10 days that I was away (especially seeing what I hot climate I was in). I applied my Vichy SPF50 over the top of the Brightening Defence SPF30, as I felt I needed all the protection I could get from the glare of the dunes. I also had to top-up my moisture levels with Coverderm’s Maxydrat Visage. This was because the Luminesce was developed to fight pigmentation, not deeply hydrate very dry skin like mine. At night I applied the Evening Glow under my Sisley Sunleya. I used MAC’s Fast Response Eye Cream to keep my peepers looking fresh.

Eye drops are another obvious one – I wouldn’t have survived without these! Sand and grit are not fun to have in your eyes, so lots and lots of eye drops were used!

I always take my everyday deo, soap and the smallest perfume I can find. In this case, Nivea’s Invisible, Crabtree and Evelyn heritage soap and Lush’s Imogen Rose Gorilla Solid Perfume.

I kept my body well moisturised with a combo of Greenland’s Fruit Emotions Coconut and Tangerine Body Butter that comes in a cute 100ml tin and a 50ml bottle Palmer’s Olive Butter Formula Body Cream.

The best find of this trip was not a beauty product, but you can buy it at Dis-chem, so I’m including it, is Dr Beckmann’s Non-Bio Travel Wash. It’s liquid clothes washing gel that can be used in hot and cold water! Leaves clothes soft and super clean! Highly recommended if you are traveling anywhere that doesn’t have a laundry service.

You’ll notice a severe lack of make-up on this list. Truth is, I didn’t take any. Not even a lipgloss!