Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Beauty and the Beach

Illustration Caitlin Kuhwald

Grooming expert Ahmed Zambarakji shares his essential tips for looking good and feeling fabulous on the sands this August, wherever you’re headed

Destination: Nice

PACK: Only amateurs attempt to emulate Riviera chic with a pair of oversized specs and a skimpy bikini – the real difference between the jet set and the day-trippers along the Côte d’Azur is the intensity of the tan. Use Institut Esthederm’s lauded Refreshing After-Sun Fondant (www.esthederm.com) to blend in with the perma-tanned elite. This light-reflecting formula deepens your hue while also undoing UV-induced damage on a cellular level. During the daytime, protect yourself with Sisley’s Facial Sunscreen SPF50+ (www.sisley-cosmetics.com); a costly but effective French anti-ageing formula that’s de rigueur among the 40+ crowd that catwalk down La Croisette.

To perfectly offset your glow, choose this season’s must-have raffia tote from Balenciaga (www.balenciaga.com) – provided you can jump the waiting list – and some cult sandals from St Tropez’s artisan of choice, K Jacques (www.kjacques.fr).

PAMPER: Those of you in need of pre/ post-beach beautifying should make the pilgrimage to the spa of the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat (71 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, tel. , www.grand-hotel-cap-ferrat.com), where ladies who lunch indulge in treatments devised by French institution Carita. Make the most of your swimwear by fighting cellulite with a Body Strategist treatment (€145 for 75 mins), or counteract sun damage with Soin Apres-Soleil (€130 for 60 mins). And if you’ve time and money to spare, sign up for the three-hour, positively slothful Joyau du Grand-Hôtel (€500), which offers all the trimmings.

Destination: Barcelona

PACK: Barcelona’s spontaneous partying means you’re likely to have little time for anything more than a quick sprucing up between beach and bar.

To help, make sure your swimwear moonlights as clubwear. This is relatively easy for girls – you can simply throw on a frock and a pair of heels – while guys should opt for Orlebar Brown’s classic beach shorts (www.orlebarbrown.com) from this season’s coveted collaboration with Bill Amberg, which can be paired with a matching duffle bag for beach essentials.

Since there won’t always be time for a shower, you can rely on the Rub-out Dry Cleanser from Ojon (www.ojon.co.uk): a dry shampoo that tackles excess oil, impurities and any inexplicable marine debris you might have picked up during the day. The heavy-duty sun protection range from Invisible Zinc (invisiblezinc. com) should be able to keep up with all-day revelry, since its unique physical barrier won’t break down with prolonged sun exposure. What’s more, the brand’s selection of tinted products (Tinted Daywear SPF30 and Tinted Lip & Cheek Balm) allows girls to leave the majority of their make-up in the hotel room.

PAMPER: Post-party hangovers can be soothed away at the Six Senses Spa perched atop the sky-scraping Hotel Arts (19-21 Carrer de la Marina, tel. , www.sixsenses.com, treatments from €145), only a stone’s throw from the beach. This venue offers unsurpassed views of the city – which can also be enjoyed from the rooftop Jacuzzis.

Destination: Naples

PACK: What better way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the AmalfiCoast than by wearing the region’s most famous flower? The fig-based Fico Di Amalfi from Acqua Di Parma (www.acquadiparma.com) is one of the most coveted unisex fragrances from the selectively distributed Blu Mediterraneo collection; a tangy mix of lemon, pink pepper and bergamot.

Considerably less glamorous is the reality that too much Mediterranean sun can rip into the skin’s collagen supply and account for 80% of what we define as premature ageing. So, improve your skin’s elasticity with Italy’s own Collagen Firming Formula by Bakel (bakel.it), which contains natto gum: a viscous protein solution that purports to actively re-plump skin. UV exposure can also play havoc with your hair, changing its colour and sending that pricey pre-holiday do into a dehydrated halo of frizz. Spray on Kérastase’s Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur (kerastase.co.uk) to shield your barnet from sun damage, counteract frizz and strengthen the hair fibres.

PAMPER: Day trips to Positano aren’t complete without a visit to the Aveda Concept Spa at Le Sirenuse (30 Via Cristoforo Colombo, tel. , sirenuse.it), where Ayurveda meets aesthetics. If a 50-minute session of chakra balancing (€110) sounds a little too hippy for you, sign up for a more traditional – and decadent – four-handed massage (€180).

Destination: Greek Islands

PACK: Fashion-forward yet barely clothed, the Mykonos mob need to make their statement with a relatively limited wardrobe. Timex’s 30-Lap Brights Watch (www.timex.com) makes a refreshing change from the ubiquitous G-shock wristwear that’s usually sported on the beach; the redesign of the Ironman model marries form and function (30-lap memory, 100-hour chronograph with lap and split options, on-the-fly-lap recall and a countdown timer), making it as suitable for posing as it is for serious watersports. Pair with a baseball cap and trendy trunks from Dsquared (www.dsquared2.com), and you’ve got your summer wardrobe sorted.

With all that skin on display, however, it’s paramount that any pastiness is banished before you hit the beach. St Tropez Everyday Body and Everyday Face (www.st-tropez.com) cleverly combines serious moisturising benefits with a healthy touch of colour, and achieves a plausible hue without streaks or that tell-tale fake tan scent. Bear in mind that these products don’t contain sunscreen – but they do work wonders for a pre-holiday confidence boost.

For natural bronzing, invest in suncare from design-savvy Greek brand Korres (www.korres.com). Its paraben-free Sweet Orange Sunscreen (SPF25) gives great results, which can be enhanced with The Organic Pharmacy’s Tan Accelerator (www.theorganicpharmacy.com); a turbo-charger for your tanning experience.

PAMPER: Greece is famous for thalassotherapy: the water-based treatments designed to restore energy and vitality by boosting the cardio-circulatory system and undoing the damage done by partying. Head to the spa at Blue Palace (Elounda, Crete, , bluepalace.gr) for a bespoke detox treatment.

Destination: Faro

PACK: Taking care of the entire family, never mind yourself, can make that precious holiday time at the gateway to the Algarve more exhausting than enjoyable. Kids’ skin is far more sensitive than that of adults, and since frolicking children are unlikely to seek shade or avoid the water, it’s important that they’re protected with a durable and waterproof sunblock. Long-lasting protection by way of dexpanthenol – a form of provitamin B5 favoured by long-distance swimmers – is included in Nivea’s new EU-compliant Kids Sun Swim & Play range (www.nivea.com). With an SPF of 50+, you won’t have to slather it on them quite so often – which leaves you more time to chill out on a lounger.

Another affordable, family-friendly must-have comes from Mark Hill; his Holiday Hair collection (www.markhill.co.uk) is designed to undo UV damage and counteract awkward holiday frizz at a fraction of the price of fancier brands.

PAMPER: Offload the kids at the Penguin Village (suitable for children from three months to 11 years old) while you make the most of the more grown-up activities at Le Méridien Penina Resort (Penina, Portimão, , www.lemeridienpenina.com) – including the 18-hole Sir Henry Cotton championship golf course, tennis courts and a Beauty Centre with in-house hairdresser.

Leave a Reply