HOLIDAY PACKING ESSENTIALS

The first thing I want to say on this blog post before I get stuck into the exciting stuff is a huge thank you to each and every person who read my 'why am I on this course?' blog last night and especially to everyone who responded in some way. I ended up having a crazy night replying to so many messages, comments, shared experiences and advice from family, friends, teachers, people I hadn't spoken to in ages and also strangers who somehow found my blog post and got in touch with me after reading it. The post has had over 400 views which is bonkers, but all of you who sent me messages really reassured me and it was encouraging to know that I am not alone in how I feel about uni at the moment!! I was overwhelmed with the support so thank you all so much.

I'm done, I know that was irrelevant to this post but I just had to show you my appreciation!
Moving on...

So, on Sunday morning I am flying off to Tenerife with my Mum, her partner and my gorgeous friend Jaymee. I have a "reading" week, Jaymee isn't working and Mum and George deserve a break! So naturally, we're making the most of this opportunity to try and catch some rays and do some relaxing!!

For my own sake, but also for yours, I thought I would do a holiday packing essentials blog post, featuring some of my new holiday purchases!

Firstly one of the most important things to bring for a beach holiday (other than clothes, obvs) is a beach bag, preferably a rucksack (in case some spontaneous hiking adventures happen). I bought this one from Topshop for about £8 and it's made of the most gorgeous, soft, faux leather. I really like the texture, the practical design but also the chicness of this bag. 



Another super important thing to bring with you is a pair (or perhaps two to be on the safe side) of sunglasses. These are another Primark special for £1- you just can't go wrong! I look slightly like a bug wearing these but I love them nonetheless.



Now this next one is something I've not really invested in before, but this time I decided it would be a super good thing to have - a coin purse. For the €10 to hire the sunbeds out for the day, for the small change to purchase ice creams and beach-side pizzas with. Again from Primark (it's just SO affordable and still perfectly good quality), this coin purse has a snake-print texture and is just really handy to take to the beach.



Other beach essentials include:
  • Sun cream (at least SPF20, preferably SPF30. It's so important to protect your skin!)
  • Books/kindle. I always take my kindle on holiday with me and I've downloaded plenty of books to read on the beach! SO relaxing. Holidays are the perfect time to read!
  • Headphones - plug them into your phone/iPod for lots of relaxation
  • Water - absolutely vital! Yes, it gets warm in the sun but you must keep hydrated
  • Towel - if you stay in a hotel, you may be provided with a towel but bring one just in case for sunbathing on the beach
  • Sunhat - I love those big, floppy straw jobbies. Protects your face from burning and keeps the sun out your eyes. A win-win!
Next up - clothes and shoes. And to kick off this list, I'm going to mention these trainer-style shoes that I bought from Primark yesterday for just £12. TWELVE POUNDS! They are as light as air to hold and I wore them all day today because they are just so comfortable. Okay, they're not ideal to wear on the beach but if you end up walking around your holiday destination, sight-seeing, doing touristy things or even walking to and from the shops, these are going to be your most comfortable option!


Other clothes/shoes to pack:
  • Shorts
  • Vests and t-shirts
  • Bikini (if you're a guy, perhaps not this one. Please.)
  • Underwear (goes without saying)
  • Beach wraps - they're light/cool and a perfect cover-up to wear over a bikini to keep you from burning
  • Day dresses
  • Evening dresses (for meals etc.)
  • Cardigans/blazers in case it gets chilly at night
  • Cool pyjamas (if you're going somewhere hot)
  • Flip-flops/sandals for the beach
  • A pair or two of heels for evenings - it's always fun dressing up!



Time for toiletries and make-up. I'm going to start with this gorgeous nail varnish from Seventeen in the colour 'Orange Soda'. I picked this up in Boots for £1.50 in the special offers section! But I fell in love with it because it matches my new orange bikini from Topshop. I thought it would look really great with that bikini on the beach!



Another two make-up products I wanted to mention are the Maybelline 'Dream Fresh BB' cream in the shade 'light'. I have used this for the past couple of years when I have been on holiday because it is a moisturising, lightweight, tinted BB cream with SPF30. Absolutely perfect to wear on the beach when you want to look photogenic for those classic make-everyone-jealous selfies, but also with SPF30 it protects your face from burning and means you don't need to apply sun cream to your face. I don't know about anyone else, but I hate sun cream, especially on my face! So this is the perfect solution for me.
The other product in the picture is the 'Sun Shimmer' bronzer from Rimmel London in the shade 'Light Shimmer'. This is a gorgeous, slightly sparkly bronzer to give you that sun-kissed look.



There are another two products I wanted to mention here - this time for your hair. Firstly, the Charles Worthington Salt Spray. If you end up swimming in the sea, you probably won't need this bad boy! But if you're like me and prefer to just sit and look at the sea, this a lovely product to give you beachy waves.
Next to it in the photo below is the Garnier Ultimate Blends Sleek Perfector Oil in Coconut, which I mentioned in my last favourites video. I love this stuff so much! I use it every time I wash my hair to add some much-needed moisture and make my hair softer. This is particularly great stuff to use on your hair after it's been in the sun all day - give it that extra protection and kindness.


Other essential toiletries:
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Nail varnish remover
  • Shower gel
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Shaver/razor
  • Make-up (I hardly wear any make-up on the beach but it's fun to make yourself up a bit in the evenings!)
  • Medicines (I have asthma and allergies so this is a crucial one for me)
  • Make-up remover/wipes
  • Facial scrub
  • Moisturiser

And finally, the 'other' list. Kicking off with this gorgeous clutch bag (which has a long shoulder strap too) for meals/nights out. Another Primark special for £6. I love the cornflour blue feature in this!


Other 'others'!:
  • Hair straightners/curlers/dryer
  • Camera (I can't wait to take photos and video with my new Canon G7X! Look out for my vlogs by subscribing to my YouTube channel here
  • Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, toothbrush, kindle...) - you will kick yourself if you forget them!
  • Adaptors - some countries have different plug sockets to us Brits so make sure you take the right adaptors with you so you can plug all your electronics in!
  • Money (would be useful if it was in the right currency for your holiday destination!)  


Right, I think that's all I need! But if I have forgotten something, PLEASE comment below and let me know!!

I will be blogging and vlogging in Tenerife in between my reading and sunbathing! So look out for those :-) Also, if you're staying home next week in the miserable British rain/wind...

I am truly sorry x

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