After a day spent swimming in turquoise coves, lounging on pebble beaches and tanning under the perfect Mediterranean sun (yes, I’m basically describing my dream trip to Mallorca), you head home, have an everything shower and curl up in bed scrolling through your photos from the day. Your skin is bronzed, glowing, and somehow your acne has faded into a distant memory. But while there’s no denying the magic of a holiday by the sea, reality eventually catches up. Your skin comes home feeling drier than when you left, your barrier is crying out for some TLC, and that cute little sun-kissed flush across your nose? Adorable in the moment, but not exactly ideal in the long run.
So, if you can’t make it to Europe this summer but still want that post-holiday glow, fret not. With the right skincare, a little strategic warmth and a few clever beauty tricks, it’s entirely possible to recreate the look at home without sacrificing your skin barrier or sun safety.
We rounded up the ultimate routine for faking a post-holiday glow, from prepping your skin and adding believable warmth to the finishing touches that make everyone ask, “Where did you go on holiday?” If anyone asks… it’s completely natural, of course.
Prep
The key to an effortlessly natural glow starts with skin prep. While a week spent swimming in the sea and strolling along sandy beaches can naturally slough away dead skin cells, a chemical exfoliant delivers the same smoothing effect, only with added skin-loving benefits and none of the sun damage. Unlike harsher exfoliating acids, lactic acid gently dissolves dead skin cells while helping to attract moisture to the skin, making it an ideal choice for boosting radiance without leaving your complexion feeling stripped.
Our exfoliator pick: Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
This cult-favourite treatment pairs lactic acid with brightening liquorice root extract to gently exfoliate dull skin, improve the appearance of uneven tone and reveal a smoother, more radiant complexion by morning.
Available here.
To recreate that healthy glow that usually follows a week of lowering your cortisol levels and lounging poolside with a book in hand, vitamin C is your best friend. This powerhouse antioxidant helps brighten dull skin, fade the appearance of post-breakout marks and leave your complexion looking fresher and more even.
Our vitamin C pick: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
Combining multiple forms of stabilised vitamin C with hydrating, skin-supporting ingredients, this affordable serum delivers a brighter, more even-looking complexion without the intensity of some higher-strength formulas.
Available here.
The final step: moisture. Hydrated skin not only looks healthier and more radiant but also creates the smooth canvas your glow-giving makeup deserves. To help products layer seamlessly without pilling, opt for a lightweight moisturiser packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and barrier-supporting squalane.
Our hydration pick: Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Cream
Infused with hyaluronic acid and squalane, this lightweight cream delivers lasting hydration while leaving skin looking plump, bouncy and ready for everything that follows.
Available here.
Warmth
One of the best souvenirs from a holiday? The tan you bring home with you. Every glance in the mirror is a little reminder of those carefree days by the sea. Thankfully, you don’t need the UV exposure to recreate that just-back-from-Amalfi warmth. Today’s self-tanners are easier to apply than ever, last just as long and give you all the bronzed benefits without compromising your skin.
Our body pick: Tanologist Extra Dark Self Tan Gelly
Despite its intimidating name, this express self-tanner delivers a natural-looking bronze rather than an over-the-top tan. The hydrating gel-cream texture applies like a moisturiser, can be rinsed off after just one hour (or left on longer for a deeper result) and continues developing over the next 24 hours into a believable, sun-kissed glow.
Available here.
Our face pick: Isle of Paradise Self Tan Drops
If full fake tan sounds like too much commitment, self-tan drops are your new best friend. Mix a few drops into your daily moisturiser, carry on with your day and let them work their magic.
Hours later, you’ll be greeted with a believable, sun-kissed complexion that looks like you’ve spent the afternoon lounging in St. Tropez, when really, you’ve barely left the AC.
Available here.
Glow
Hot, humid holidays always make me want to ditch my makeup bag altogether. But if you’re not quite ready to stop there, a few strategic finishing touches can take your faux tan from convincingly golden to positively radiant.
Our primer pick: ONE/SIZE B12 Base Thinner Luminous Vitamin Pearl Boosting Serum
More skincare-meets-makeup than traditional primer, ONE/SIZE’s luminous serum is infused with vitamin B12, hydrating ingredients and light-reflecting pearl pigments to leave skin looking brighter and healthier with a subtle bronze tint before you’ve even reached for your foundation. Wear it alone for a natural glow or underneath makeup for an extra dose of radiance.
Available here.
Our body shimmer oil pick: Sol de Janeiro GlowMotions Glow Oil
To recreate the skin glisten that usually comes courtesy of warm, humid evenings spent dancing at European beach clubs, Sol de Janeiro has entered the chat. Sweep this shimmering body oil across your arms, legs and décolletage for a subtle golden sheen that catches the light beautifully. Even better, it comes scented with the brand’s iconic Cheirosa 62 fragrance, so you’ll smell like pistachio, salted caramel and sandalwood long after your perfume has faded.
Available here.
Our skin illuminator pick: PATRICK TA Major Glow Body Balm
For glossy skin that reflects the light like the Mediterranean at golden hour, look no further than Patrick Ta. Using a large kabuki brush, buff the balm onto the high points of your body, think collarbones, shoulders and shins, for a glass-like sheen that enhances your tan rather than covering it up. Formulated with nourishing jojoba oil, shea butter and ultra-fine pearl pigments, it leaves skin looking luminous while feeling beautifully moisturised.
Available here.
Our bronzer pick: Victoria Beckham Bronze Water Tint
Victoria Beckham’s Bronze Water Tint has sent beauty TikTok into a frenzy, and for good reason. The featherlight water formula melts seamlessly into the skin, creating believable warmth without ever looking heavy or muddy. Sweep it across the high points of your face for a bronzed finish so natural, you won’t be able to tell where your skin ends and the makeup begins.
Available here.
Our blush pick: REFY Watercolour Blush in Lychee
Skin-like, barely-there formulas continue to dominate beauty trends this season, and REFY’s Watercolour Blush is one of the best we’ve tried. The shade Lychee mimics the natural colour you’d get after an afternoon at the beach. Dab it across your cheeks, temples and nose for a healthy holiday flush, minus the forgotten SPF.
Available here.
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