So it’s time to get packing again, for tomorrow I’m hauling myself up to the Lake District for a four-day trek to demonstrate my well-hidden, and frankly dormant ‘outdoorsy’ side. Being one half of a long-distance couple means I have this whole short-break thing in the bag, quite literally. I keep an edited pick of my decanted favourite products, sachets and travel-sized items from skincare, body and hair categories in a handy pocket ready to be thrown into my suitcase at any minute. Want to see what bits from my toiletry stash have collected the most travel miles?

A dinky bottle of Bioderma goes with me everywhere – I’ve been through about three minis of the stuff! I use this to remove my makeup, and then follow with the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm*, which I have decanted into a Muji tub. As a toner and all round miracle spritzer I carry the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (gosh, it’s been a while since I’ve raved about that old chestnut hasn’t it!?) and then for a daytime moisturiser I use a sample of the REN T-Zone Rebalancing Day Fluid that I got with a Space NK purchase. If I’m feeling particularly fruity I’ll layer on some Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning Lotion (again decanted into a Muji container), to develop a little extra warmth to my skin. Now the two suspicious looking unlabelled samples are actually Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair and Aplha H’s Liquid Gold*, which I use on alternate nights as my evening skin treatment. I love both of them and I find that either work well when concentrated on spotty patches too – double winner.

Lets not forget body bits here. The Diptyque Revitalizing Shower Gel* not only smells divine, but can be thrown on to wash your locks as well if need be. And as I’m now a slave to moisturising my limbs, I like to apply the Fresh Seaberry Restorative Body Cream daily whenever I’m away. For some reason it just makes me feel that little bit more pampered and homely. Strange, but true. Miscellaneous (but very necessary) items that swim around in the bottom of the bag include a muslin cloth, a pouch with a shedload of cotton pads and cotton buds which I tend to go through like they’re going out of fashion, hairbands, a fold-up toothbrush from Muji, a tiny tube of toothpaste, deodorant and whatever sachets of shampoo and conditioner I have hanging around.

So with toiletries already sorted and thrown in the case, it’s time to start with makeup. Now that category may be a little bit tougher to narrow down. I’ll drop you an update soon….

*PR Samples