Caribbean Chic 🌴🐚

It’s been a while since I was frequently posting, which means I have plenty of updates to share from the past few weeks – including a sneak peek at some of the finds debuted during my recent holiday to the Caribbean!

My boyfriend and I decided on the destination some time ago, and I was counting down the days as soon as we hit September. We treated ourselves to a 11 day-long retreat to Punta Cana, a beautiful resort-focussed town on the East coast of the Dominican Republic – pure bliss! Obviously, I stocked up on bikinis prior to the departure date, including two firm favourites below.

Blue bikini: eBay (I know, what a find!).

Floral bikini top: H&M. Coral bikini bottoms: Victoria’s Secret.

I also used the time to debut some of my summer finds, including this coral wrap maxi and cream lace crop top combo. Complete with lashings of matte Mac lip colour in Honeylove, nude eyeshadow blended out for a natural holiday look, and some obligatory wooden bangles (holiday must-haves), I was set for the evening. Heated styling is also a no-no on holiday,  I opted to leave my hair showing off its natural curls.

Top: Zara. Skirt: ASOS. Bangles: Assorted.

Always Use Protection

For many years, I’m not ashamed to admit I should have taken better care of my skin when it came to sun protection. For one, I didn’t always invest in a high protection moisturiser, which now I am coming to regret slightly as I travel into my (gulp) late twenties! I also didn’t always use a high enough factor on my face when on holiday – the results of which are unfortunately likely to surface when I’m older.

Luckily, I’m now wise enough to know protection is ten times more important than a deep tan on your face (which I like to fake!), I also learnt in addition to a high-factor face cream, you should prime your skin with a light sunscreen – even in the depths of winter!

I’ve always had quite sensitive skin, and the last thing I wanted to do was trigger any breakouts, which I’ve had in the past from slapping greasy sunscreen all over my face. So, after a lot of research, and a bit of guidance from one of the lovely ladies at my work, I splashed out on a lightweight, high factor SkinCeuticals UV defence cream, to use as a base under my moisturiser.

Even after a week’s worth of use, I have to say it’s one of the best face products I’ve ever invested in. At £30 a tube, it’s by no means a steal, but I’m certain it will last for ages and surely you can’t put a price on looking after your skin.

For a daily step by step, first apply the suncream, taking extra care to areas such as nose, cheeks and forehead. Secondly, apply moisturiser, making sure this also has a factor of at least 15. I use the Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser (SPF 15). Then, prime, and continue with your daily make up regime.

Margarita, Mamacita?

It’s been just over a month since I travelled to Mexico for an autumn break. My boyfriend and I had spent hours trawling the web for just the right getaway spot, eventually settling on the crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and good-time vibes of Cancun. I already have way too many clothes, especially when it comes to holidays, but obviously I couldn’t resist a further few items for the occasion…

First things first – some new bikinis (essential, of course). A combination from H&M bargains and a couple of splurges from Victoria’s Secret helped complete my collection. I opted for a couple of different styles and colours pending the tan situation, as well as a sexy low-cut costume from ASOS. I chose white (daring, I know), but only for when I’d already had a few days of sun.

Following the bikini splurge, I treated myself to a couple of new dresses, one of which was a gorgeous flowing black backless maxi from Ashanti Brazil. To accessorise, some beautiful (and purse-friendly) jewellery pieces from H&M. I’m not usually one for gold, but I feel it always bodes well on holiday, especially when teamed with a healthy glow and a bright dress.

We were only staying in Mexico for a week, but it gave me enough time to showcase my new swimwear, and a few different outfit styles at night. My favourites included my black maxi split skirt with ASOS floral peplum, which I teamed with jewelled sandals and a fishtail plait. Not forgetting one of my all-time go-to’s – a floral midi stretch dress from Zara, which Kim Sears wore to Wimbledon last year (securing it’s place as a sell-out item just hours later). I usually team this with one of my favourite belts from Ted Baker, to clinch and shape the waist further, and tousled beachy waves.

I also made sure to pack my cute white tulip dress, which I purchased during my time at University for a last minute trip to Ibiza, and wore with statement earrings and a bright pink lip. A simple black midi dress and my Moschino letter belt also looked great mid-week, especially with a deep red lip. My favourite is Eva’s Pure Red, from the L’Oreal Color Riche collection. Unlike some, it lasts for hours and goes on as a thick matte for a bolder, more statement colour.

Finally, my ASOS floral hitchcock dress, which I bought at the bargain price of £15, teamed with Accessorize sandals, a high bun and a nude lip (thank you Charlotte Tilbury!) provided me with instant summertime chic on our last night. However, the tight-fitting waist wasn’t as friendly as I’d hoped after several cocktails and a 3 course dinner!