The Ultimate Holiday Head-to-Toe Beauty Prep Guide

This is your complete holiday head-to-toe beauty prep guide. Start four to six weeks out for the best results.

Step One: Boost Circulation with Dry Body Brushing

If you do nothing else from this guide, do this. Dry body brushing — using a firm natural-bristle brush on dry skin before your shower — is one of the most effective and underrated body treatments you can do at home.

The benefits are significant: it stimulates lymphatic drainage, boosts circulation, sloughs away dead skin cells, and — with consistent use — visibly improves the appearance of skin texture and tone by encouraging blood flow to the skin's surface.

How to do it: Always brush on dry skin, before showering. Use long, sweeping strokes towards the heart — starting at the feet and working upwards, then from the hands towards the shoulders. Use circular motions on the stomach and lower back. Be firm but not aggressive — your skin should be pink and tingling, not sore. Two to three minutes is enough. Follow immediately with your shower and then body cream while skin is still slightly damp.

Do this daily for four to six weeks before your holiday and the difference in your skin's texture and tone will be noticeable.

Cold Water Finishing

End your shower with 30 seconds of cold water. It sounds brutal, but it's one of the most effective circulation boosters available — and it tightens the skin, reduces puffiness, and leaves you feeling genuinely energised. Start with just the legs if a full cold rinse feels too much.

Step Two: Target Cellulite with the Right Products

Cellulite is entirely normal — it affects around 90% of women at some point in their lives, regardless of size or fitness level. But if you want to visibly reduce its appearance before your holiday, the combination of dry brushing, circulation-boosting massage, and the right body products makes a real difference to how skin looks and feels.

Step Three: Deep Moisturisation for a Lasting Glow

Step Four: Hand & Nail Care That Shows

Hands and nails are noticed more than you think — especially on holiday when you're bare-faced and relaxed. A little consistent effort in the weeks before you travel makes a real difference.

Don't forget your feet: Book a pedicure 2–3 days before you travel — not the day before, so any redness from cuticle work has time to settle. If your toenails need extra attention, the Footlogix Toe Nail Tincture 50ml is a professional-grade treatment that improves nail condition with consistent use.

Step Five: Strengthen & Condition Your Hair Before You Go

Sun, salt, chlorine, and heat styling are a brutal combination for hair. Start your holiday with hair in the best possible condition by introducing a weekly deep conditioning treatment in the weeks before you travel.

Step Six: Glow-Boosting Face Masks

Your face deserves the same pre-holiday attention as your body. In the weeks before you travel, introduce a weekly face mask to boost hydration, even skin tone, and give your complexion a genuine glow.

Step Seven: Soft, Protected Lips

Lips take a real beating on holiday — sun, salt water, and air conditioning all strip moisture fast. Get them in great condition before you go, and protect them once you're there.

Step Eight: Exfoliation, Fake Tan & Smooth Skin

Smooth skin starts with consistent exfoliation. In the weeks before your holiday, exfoliate two to three times a week — either with a physical scrub or a chemical exfoliant like a glycolic acid body lotion. This removes the dead skin cells that make skin look dull and uneven, and creates the perfect base for fake tan if you're using it.

In the 24 hours before applying fake tan, exfoliate thoroughly, paying particular attention to knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists — the areas where tan tends to cling and go patchy.

Fake Tan Tips for a Flawless Finish

A pre-holiday fake tan is one of the most transformative things you can do for your confidence on the beach. Modern self-tan formulas have come a long way — the best ones develop gradually, smell beautiful, and give a natural, sun-kissed result that photographs brilliantly.

• Exfoliate and shave or wax at least 24 hours before applying — never immediately before.
• Moisturise dry areas (knees, elbows, ankles) lightly before application to prevent the tan from clinging.
• Use a tanning mitt for an even, streak-free finish.
• Build gradually with a lighter formula rather than going dark in one application.
• Allow to fully develop before getting dressed, and avoid water for at least 6–8 hours.
• Moisturise daily to extend the life of your tan.

Step Nine: SPF — The Most Important Step of All

SPF is the single most important step in any holiday beauty routine. Sun damage is cumulative, irreversible, and the fastest route to premature ageing — and it happens even on cloudy days. Apply SPF every morning before sun exposure, reapply every two hours, and never skip it.

Step Ten: Brows That Frame Your Face

Well-groomed brows frame the face and make an enormous difference to how polished you look — especially on holiday when you're wearing less makeup. In the two weeks before you travel:

• Book a professional brow appointment (threading, waxing, or tinting) rather than attempting a major reshape yourself.
• If you tint your brows, do it at least a week before travel so any redness settles and you can assess the colour in natural light.
• Invest in a good brow gel or pencil for touch-ups on holiday — something waterproof that will survive the pool.
• Avoid over-plucking in the weeks before — let them grow and let your technician shape them properly.

Step Eleven: Hair Removal — Timing Is Everything

Whatever your preferred method — waxing, shaving, laser, or threading — timing matters.

• Waxing: Book your appointment 48–72 hours before you travel. This gives any redness or sensitivity time to settle, and leaves you smooth for longer than shaving. If you're waxing for the first time, allow a full week for skin to recover.
• Shaving: Shave the day before travel rather than the morning of — freshly shaved skin is more sensitive to sun exposure and chlorine.
• Laser: If you're mid-course with laser hair removal, check with your clinic about sun exposure guidelines — treated skin needs careful SPF protection.

Always apply SPF to any recently waxed or shaved areas before sun exposure — the skin is more vulnerable and burns more easily.

Step Twelve: The Pre-Holiday Haircut

Book your haircut one to two weeks before you travel — not the day before. A fresh cut needs a few days to settle and for you to get comfortable styling it before you're doing it in an unfamiliar bathroom with a travel hairdryer.

Consider your holiday destination and activities when deciding on your cut. A beach holiday calls for something that works with natural texture and air-drying. A city break might suit something more polished. Talk to your stylist about low-maintenance styles that will look good with minimal effort in the heat.

And don't forget a conditioning treatment at your appointment — sun, salt, and chlorine are hard on hair, and starting your holiday with well-nourished hair makes a real difference to how it holds up.

Step Thirteen: Choose Your Holiday Scent

Scent is one of the most powerful memory-makers of any holiday. The right fragrance becomes the smell of that trip — and Sol de Janeiro's body and hair mists are made for exactly this. Lightweight, long-lasting, and utterly addictive, they layer beautifully over the matching body creams for a scent experience that lasts all day.

Explore the full Sol de Janeiro Fragrance collection at Oh So Luxe.

Shop Holiday Beauty at Oh So Luxe

Everything you need for your pre-holiday head-to-toe beauty routine, all in one place. Explore our Sol de Janeiro Body and Hair collection, Sol de Janeiro Fragrance, and Travel Size Beauty at Oh So Luxe.

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