How to look "polished" while staying in hotels/on holiday

[askii]

How on earth do people manage to look polished when contending with bad hotel lighting/air con/hard water etc when staying in hotels or on holiday? I'm always envious of those who manage to look so effortless in these situations

Nothing clingy, natural fabrics, long flowy clothes and minimal skin exposed to avoid the overcooked lobster look.

truth, I'm usually juggling three pairs of specs, paying slowly with two purses and taking ages to sift through every unusual coin, I'm hot and shiny and I have some weird stain on my trousers/armpits, and I'm peering at Google translate with a furrowed brow and terrible posture because I'm tired 😅

Me too!

Reading with interest. I always look shite in holiday photos! My hair takes a lot of styling although it's got thinner (thanks menopause! 🙄)

I also think my "holiday wardrobe"
is an absolute mish mash of stuff and that doesn't help.

Always take your own hairdryer

Travel clothes steamer has been a game changer for me. I'd never iron on holiday but the steamer does make even my clothes which don't need ironing look pristine

Other longer term prep includes all clothes in a limited, neutral colour palette, body freshly waxed, eyebrow and eyelash dye, cuticle creme every night, glossy body oil all over immediately after the morning and evening shower, delicate but comfy sandals

Oh, plus sunglasses and comfortably within healthy BMI. Then, putting all that behind me and feeling relaxed and happy, genuinely enjoying the break. All good.

A tan helps a lot even more so then weight I think.

I don’t have straight and wouldn’t waste time on holiday trying to keep it straight. I either tie it back or plait it & that encourages the wave.

I think it’s easier to not bother with lots of make up so just use cream based blushers/bronzers etc.

glossy body oil all over immediately after the morning and evening shower

I’d be scared of this staining my clothes

Clothes wise - non clingy items that suit you & you feel comfortable in, I don’t think you have to prescribe to a certain colour palette.

I splurge on sandals as I want comfort & style eg K.Jacques.

Bolder jewellery is back in and I think can look good when everything else is more pared back.

I like a basket bag as leather can look heavy in the heat, you can pick up nice ones in European markets.

Or cuticle cream

Thankfully my unruly curly hair comes into its own, just scrunch and leave to dry, it naturally highlights in the sun, I do use lots of conditioner though. I have nail extensions anyway (cut relatively short and look pretty natural) and I get my toes done both in a classic matching colour, I have lipfinity lipstick that lasts 8 hours, waterproof mascara, moisturiser with factor 30 in and prescription sunglasses, a range of knee length or longer dresses and chub rub shorts. Pretty easy maintenance. Don't overthink it

I would have thought that sunglasses were a given if you were staying somewhere sunny.

They protect your eyes and reduce the risks of eye cancers and cataracts.

I have always had very photosensitive eyes and have always worn sunglasses in bright weather (prescription ones now).

Totally agree re travel steamer, 'polished' starts with uncreased clothes.

I used to take a different outfit for each day and each evening but as I got older & wiser I was less bothered about wearing the same evening outfit twice . That meant that I take only my very favourite outfits,
and focus more on making sure I had everything to make the outfit look finished - shoes, bag, jewellery, jacket, makeup etc. I make sure I add things like bracelets and rings that I have in my jewellery box but rarely remember to wear!

I've always been a bit paranoid about clothes smelling if worn twice but given I'm not a 'smelly sweater' and only worn for a few hours in an evening not really a problem. Steamer comes into play here too tho as it also deodorises so I steam to freshen up before wearing again.

I don't have frizzy hair usually but as soon as it gets a whiff of sea hair, at home or abroad, off it goes! I take a hair smoothing oil with me and it helps.

Don't get sunburned. So many pink English hams in the Cyprus resort I've just returned from.

I live in a hard water area in the uk so this is normal hair for me!

I crank up the air con in hotel rooms so I’m cool when putting on make up/doing hair.

I did watch one woman on the balcony across from us 2 summers ago go back to the room about 4, then emerge on her balcony in a dressing gown with big rollers in her hair to read her book for an hour. At dinner later she had lovely bouncy but smooth curls so I’m guessing she just let it air dry in the rollers. This did seem rather ingenious a plan that I might do if I can fit the Velcro rollers in my bag this year.

Yes, the sunburn. Have these people not heard of factor 50 sunscreen?

Before you go -
Fake tan - not dark just enough for some colour
Toes and finger nails painted
Eyebrows - tinted/ shaped or whatever you normally do
Clothes - only take one to three colours - so that everything matches
Take plainer things rather than print - or limit the print to a few items
Try and stick with cottons / natural fibres
Go looser in fit if it's hot - you won't wear the tight fitting things !
Two pairs of decent flat leather sandals - tan / metallic/ black - maybe one sturdier for walking then a lighter style for eve
Couple of pairs of good quality sunglasses- black / brown frames
Tote style handbag for travelling then maybe a straw bag and a neutral clutch bag
Practice hair up styles rather than trying to style hair every night . Loose bun with a few bits pulled out
Minimal jewellery - but take a few different bits - a bigger earring looks good if hair up . A few bead type bracelets if it's beachy kind of place
Makeup - lighter than you normally wear

For me one piece outfits help, midaxi dresses, jump suits or play suits. No worries about coordinating and they give a streamlined look. I wear one to dinner and then recycle it as a day outfit or beach cover up later in the week.

i also have a illuminated make up mirror that is charged with a USB cable. I'm fed up of hotel rooms that only have a tiny mirror, set above my eyeline in a dark corner of the room.

I only bring 2/3 pairs of shoes - white trainers and tan Birkies are the essentials. They go with everything. If we are going somewhere a bit more formal I'll add tan or rose gold wedge heels.

Factor 50 sunblock/primer, eyeliner, mascara, red lipstick and a few colours of Jones Road Miracle Balm sort out makeup.

For hair, a treatment mask is essential. Also a hot brush to smooth and add shine after rough drying.

I have just come back from a Greek island, and people were very casually dressed. Not as smart as the outfits outlined on this thread. We were just bed and breakfast and ate out at a different taverna every night.

I am definitely not a polished person - on holiday or at home - but these things help.

I always have a haircut (I have thick wavy hair so go a lot shorter in summer) and get my nails and feet done the day before I go.

Lots of moisturiser, twice a day.

Never bother with make up during the day and if hot in the evening just light eye make up and lip gloss.

After a lot of mistakes with over packing to work around a few anchor items. For city breaks in cooler months jeans and a denim skirt then more intetesting tops. For hot holidays then plain tops that go with most clothes and more interesting print skirts, dresses and bottoms. Skirts and dresses in light cotton jersy are great as they pack well (can be rolled).

For hot holidays Uniqlo airism under vests are a revelation, they help tops sit better and absorb any sweat.

When out and about on hot holidays I always carry tissues, hand santiser, vaseline (great for when sandals and bra straps rub) water, a large light cotton scarf and a light scented cologne to spritz (I like the ones Korres do).

I’m always askance at people who go on holiday to dress up

I want a break from doing that and look like a mess. Same as the previous b n b poster

think the dressing up thing is a bit package holiday

For me it is not so much dressing up as trying not to look like a sweaty mess, minimising any effort while on holiday.

But also If I am on holiday I do want to look nice, just as I would if I was going out somewhere at home.

Given you’ve said hotels in the UK, I’d say as well as all the tips above, trying to get the room temperature right definitely helps with puffy eyes. Drinking more water before bed. Taking my own shampoo, and I usually use a nighttime hyaluronic face mask when I’m away with work to help me rehydrate. If my hair is flat from the water I tie it up. And I don’t eat excessively from the breakfast buffet!
I try and take clothes I love and feel confident in and iron them if needed.

The last time we were so where hot it was Siena in Italy, so I took my cue from local women. White or navy or natural linen dresses or shorts. Flat shoes, 'hermes' style sandals or neutral espadrilles. Tan or neutral bag. Plain nails. Obviously there were variations on the themes, but you could certainly spot the non European tourists.

Got to say I love going on holiday as the water is always much softer than it is at home! We have super hard water in the south of England. My hair looks great on holiday! I just blow dry the front and let the rest dry naturally.

Rather than spending money on mani's, pedi's, brows, steamers, expensive bags, etc., just book a better hotel that has good lighting.

I'm not sure why people think everyone else is looking at them and judging. Perhaps it's a reflection of what people do themselves which is a pretty poor way to spend a holiday.

All of the posts above are why I'd rather book a villa.

I don’t holiday in hot places, maybe partly due to all of this!

My tip is a two way travel mirror with a magnifying side. Where possible position yourself near the window for make up. I often find you are just too far away from hotel mirrors. I also agree with PP it is better to take your own hairdryer even just a travel one.