BEAUTY KNOWHOW: Pack light and carry on 

You can’t take your dressing table on holiday – but you can take these… 

Summertime and the packing isn’t easy. Especially not if you’re talking liquids. Nothing over 100ml when you’re trying to keep your in-hold luggage weight down or limiting yourself to a cabin bag only – something I used to be able to do but have somehow lost the art of. So if you’re off to sunnier climes, here are the beauty basics – and my favourites – that will see you through a week or two away. Your bronzer and blush will have to be powder and you’ll need to pick up shampoo and conditioner when you’re out there, but my theory is that I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t love a reason to visit a local pharmacy.

Shiseido Colorgel Balm in Narcissus (£25, johnlewis.com from Thursday). Brand-new technology from this Japanese behemoth combines lightweight texture, serious hydrating ingredients, good pigment and a slightly shiny finish. A must-have addition to any lipstick wardrobe.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 7 Day Cure Replumping Ampoules (£19.99 for 7 x 1.3ml vials, superdrug.com). Hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes it great for hydrating skin. While this is intended for use as a week-long kit, one vial works wonders as a quick fix after a dehydrating flight or day on the beach.

Kure Bazaar Nail Polish in French Rose Glow (£15 for 10ml, lovelula.com). This sheer pink varnish has a very shiny finish to give nails a natural but polished look.

Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 (£7.50 for 2 x 100ml tubes, amazon.co.uk). This line was created by experts with the aim of eradicating skin cancer. They reckoned the way to do it was to create a top-notch product, sell it as cheap as chips and not for profit. It isn’t greasy and soaks in fast with no residue. One tube won’t last a fortnight, but it’ll get you off to a good start and it’s available in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Belgium.

Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara (£19 for 8ml, eyeko.co.uk). Not only should this still look good after a dip in the pool but it adds lengthening drama to lashes, too.

Sisley Super Soin Solaire Tinted Sun Care SPF 30 (£120.50 for 40ml, sisley-paris.com). Though this is expensive, it’s not just my favourite suncare for face, but also one of my all-time favourite beauty products. I always come back to this and, because it’s tinted, it doubles up as foundation when I’m on holiday while deploying two mineral solar filters and antioxidant skincare benefits. Wonderful stuff.

Kora Organics Noni Glow Body Oil (£52 for 100ml, spacenk.com) is a fabulously moisturising treat for skin which also leaves a glamorous finish on limbs for some added sheen in the sunshine (try saying that after three piña coladas). Diane von Furstenberg loves this stuff, so what more convincing do you need?

Curionoir Orpheus Incarnate Pocket Parfum (£35 for 4ml, curionoir.co.uk). OK, you may have to ditch your favourite fragrance if you really want to go lightweight, but this dinky bottle from Kiwi brand Curionoir is adorable and the fragrance is an enticing unisex mix of fig, tobacco, iris and musk.

Lixirskin Good Skin Trio Mini Set (Vitamin C Paste, Universal Emulsion and Electrogel Cleanser, £34 for 90ml, lixirskin.co.uk). This cult skincare brand has had the nous to create travel-friendly sizes of its top sellers. The cleanser can double up as a detoxifying mask and the emulsion works as a day and night cream.

Boutique Illuminating Drops in Champagne (£4 for 12ml, sainsburys.co.uk). Great for adding a little liquid radiance to the face or décolletage. Use alone or add drops to your skincare.