18 Of The Best Summer Beauty Essentials For 2025, Tried And Tested

Elle

3 days ago

Every holiday requires a beauty routine to match. The ELLE team reveal the skin and haircare heroes they won't leave at home, from the best sunscreens to the glow-giving bronzers.
While I would award myself professional status in my ability to stay supine almost all day, only breaking position for delicious drinks, it is not the beach holiday that gives me life. Instead, it's the hustle of a strange city – and the navigation of unknown sounds, streets and snacks – that really feeds my soul.
But there is an art to these short getaways, and it starts with packing smart – preferably in a carry-on, so you can get to your destination as soon as possible and avoid wheeling a heavy suitcase over cobbled alleyways. The seasoned city-breaker travels light, leaving valuable real estate in her suitcase for memorabilia and novelty fridge magnets that she couldn't resist.
So only the best products get a space in my plastic security bag, including my fail-safe La Roche-Posay, which is light enough for hot, sticky days, but strong enough for my sensitive skin. For shoulders and shins, I take Clarins Invisible Sun Stick, which looks like an orange lollipop, so even the kids get in on the SPF slip, slap, slop action. (If their little hands get too exploratory, there's always the Neal's Yard sanitiser, which is brilliant on planes, too.)
I should (I don't) go make-up-free on holiday, but I find that a good lipstick can give a healthy flush to lips, cheeks and lids. Too cute not to pack, a tiny pot of Elemis' cleansing balm will get all the grime and grease off at the end of the day.
If my travelling companion and I still have the legs for sun- downers, that's when I'll drench myself in Penhaligon's Solaris. The blend of citrus, vanilla and sandalwood comes with me every time I go away, so now it always reminds me of excellent adventures.
The Blush
The sunscreen
The hand sanitiser Credit: Neal's Yard Remedies
The cleanser
Now 20% Off Credit: Elemis
The perfume Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe, contributing editor
The ultimate out-of-office fantasy? crystal-clear waters, blue skies and not a deadline in sight. But while salt, sun and sand are good for the soul, anything in excess is rarely good for your skin.
A high-protection, broad-spectrum SPF50 is non-negotiable on holiday. Lightweight formulas enriched with antioxidants, such as niacinamide, can defend against UV rays and environmental stressors, but make sure you find one you enjoy applying – brownie points if it's a moisturiser, too. My go-to is Purito's daily sunscreen, but if your choice lacks added antioxidants, layer it with Medik8's C-Tetra, a gel-like serum packed with vitamins C and E.
Take a tinted SPF, too; heavy foundations have no place on the beach. For a put-together look, I also like to add a swipe of mascara, as well as a touch of Haus Labs by Lady Gaga's bronzer in Jatoba Sun Deep, Ami Colé's hydrating lip oil in Excellence and Westman Atelier's liquid highlighter in Peau de Soleil.
Body oils and subtle shimmers are the easiest way to elevate skin on balmy evenings. Look for something with a barely-there, hydrating feel, with a soft, golden sheen that'll catch the light on your shoulders, collarbones and shins, delivering a no-make-up glow. I love Patrick Ta's Major Glow Balm and Victoria Beckham's Portofino '97 for that goddess-level radiance.
The bronzer
The Sunscreen
Now 14% Off Credit: Purito
the Body oil Credit: Victoria Beckham Beauty
The highlighter Amelia Bell, multiplatform beauty director
Though not exactly in the realm of a relaxing holiday, for me, there's nothing more feel-good than a great headliner and some unpredictable British weather. Whether it's a four-day stint at Glastonbury or a few hours at London's ebullient Mighty Hoopla, you need the right formulas, clever textures and a hard working yet considered line-up of products. Some might argue that one of the joys of these events is that you need less rather than more, but I would beg to differ.
As a multi-step routine is unlikely, I strip back my skincare and focus on the basics: namely, hydration. The refreshing Allies Of Skin Probiotics Treatment Mist is a good start – it locks in moisture, working as a salve for sweaty, lacklustre complexions. This year, I'm also taking Susanne Kaufmann's body mist for quick spritzes and Artah's Cellular Hydration powder for a boost of electrolytes.
Next up, sun protection. Formulas have come on light-years and the latest solutions are ideal for festival-goers. Take Dr Jart's on-the-go stick; it covers tricky spots such as the scalp and shoulders, and is invisible upon application – plus, it's enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid. As for haircare, nothing revives my two-day-old locks quite like a sea-salt spray and Sam McKnight's biodegradable cleansing cloths – a saviour if you have a fringe like me.
Finally, as I'm not a glittery-make-up person, my list comes complete with a bold red lip, a Barbour jacket and boots.
The hair refresher Credit: Hair by Sam McKnight
The sunscreen
The Face mist
The Body Mist
The Supplement Katie Withington, beauty writer
For some, a long-haul escape is daydream material. As a writer whose job entails whirlwind travel across the world, my own fantasies involve lying horizontal for 24 hours straight – a desire long at odds with the pressure to 'make the most' of my annual leave. That was until I stumbled across the subtle art of the staycation: no passport panics, no post-holiday blues and no compromise on that all-important beachy bliss – just pure, uninterrupted downtime.
For trips to Broadstairs, my favourite British coastal town, I pare back my make-up entirely, appreciating the salty breeze on my (almost) bare skin. I cheat the post-sunshine gleam by applying a tinted SPF for light coverage, and a toasty-red blusher across the top of my cheeks. Come rain or shine, I also make sure to pack a high-factor SPF, so I'm not caught out. A final spritz of Maison Margiela Replica Sailing Day never fails to capture that summer spirit for me, even when I'm fending off seagulls on terra firma rather than gliding across the glittering seas.
After a long day exposed to the elements, spending the evening's golden hours lazing in the garden feels soul-soothing. Loewe's outdoor candle makes the experience even more luxurious, wafting aromas of verbena and cedar while casting a sunset glow. I wouldn't swap it for anything – especially not Heathrow flight delays.
The blush Credit: Charlotte Tilbury
The skin tint
The perfume
The Sunscreen
The candle
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