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It has been five years since we had a family holiday and I forgot so many travel beauty tips.

So many people I spoke to before my departure said it had also been years since their last holiday due to the R word , so if you are lucky enough to be heading abroad this year, here are a few tips that you may have forgotten as well.

Firstly make sure to have your waxing done a few days beforehand because if you leave it too late heat on heat can cause a reaction.

Attend to brows and lashes and a tint is great to have for the beach. The night before the flight apply a mask to remove dead skin and to keep the skin hydrated.

No matter how tempting it is, alcohol and altitude don’t mix well for your skin as the flight dehydrates the skin, as does alcohol, so it is double trouble for your skin. Water is the only way to go if you want your skin to look fresh when you reach your destination.

On the day of your flight avoid heavy makeup and it will have a tendency to dry in. Use a primer first to make your makeup last longer, opt for a BB cream and keep it as natural as possible.

A mineral spray such as Avene is ideal to keep the skin fresh and dewy as well as been very cooling. If your skin is oily bring some rice paper to blot the T-zone. When you board your flight remove your shoes to avoid feet swelling and if leg veins are an issue don’t forget your special tights.

During the flight if you are feeling a bit peaky apply a shimmer blusher to add a little colour, green around the gills is never a good look! Lips tend to dry out very easily, so apply a good lip balm like Burts Bees frequently during the flight.

Eyes can get very bloodshot from reading so eye drops are great to have, avoid heavy mascara as panda eyes are not a very attractive look. I recommend having the three-week lashes done in a salon before you go as it looks great and it is one less thing to worry about.

A bright neon nail colour may look great on the beach but travelling plays havoc with your nails, hauling bags around is just asking for a chipped nails. Apply a good base coat for the journey and apply the colour at your destination. Bring a travel size hand cream for flight to keep those digits soft and supple.

When packing your cleansers, toners and moisturisers, go for travel sizes or the little refill bottles are perfect. A good shampoo for removing chlorine is vital, I found Kerastase Bain Apres-soleil just brilliant as it felt like it really cleaned the scalp.

This holiday I had a hero product for hair called Beach Texture Spray by Structure, just wash and spray/ It smells divine and gives hair a beach look and feels very soft.

I packed a bag full of sun tan lotions for testing purposes. Ambre Solaire new spray for wet or dry skin is a great beach product as it can be applied straight after the water and it has a very cooling effect as it is a spray and is so handy.

I also forgot the tip of oil on skin after a day in the sun as it hydrates but also makes a tan look great. Irish company He-Shi have a new body oil called Sublime Dry Oil and it is great for prolonging your tan.

When you get to your destination keep your eye and lip pencils in the fridge and remember to pack a makeup pencil pointer as pencils tend to melt in the heat . A new long lasting lipstick by Bourjois is great for its staying power in the heat. Keep the night time makeup as minimal as possible as the sun kissed look is meant to be as natural as possible. When I got home I forgot something else – the rain!!

Next week : what glasses best suit your shape face.

Facebook: Mary O’Donnell Beauty,  Twitter: @maryodonnellbc Website: http://www.maryodonnellbeauty.com