Poolside preening: The four beauty prep treatments to do before jetting away on holiday – and the ones that are a ‘waste of money’, say experts

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Waxing? Done. Eyebrows? Shaped. Hair? Cut and blowdried. Fake tan? Lathered on. And that’s just him. 

The list of beauty treatments you might feel like you need ahead of a big holiday is seemingly endless, from manicures and pedicures to plucking and preening. 

According to a 2025 report by the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, Brits spend an average of £150 a year on pre-getaway beauty prep – but do we really need to?

Here, the Daily Mail asked leading beauty experts about which treatments are worth your time – and which you’re better off avoiding altogether… 

The pre-trip essentials 

FACIALS

Across the board, experts raved about the benefits of a pre-holiday facial: from achieving a glowing complexion to intense hydration, the perks are worth it, they said.

Expert cosmetologist Vlada Bilenca, from the Fam Beauty London salon, told us: ‘It’s nice to have a facial, a deep cleansing – then you are preparing your skin for your holidays.

‘Skin boosters – injectable treatments to improve your skin hydration – are great too,’ she added. ‘It’s bio-revitalisation to boost your skin before the holidays, because when you’re on holiday the sun damages your skin.’

Vlada adds: ‘When you’re traveling a lot, you’re losing a lot of water, and you’re losing a lot of hydration. That is why our key point here is to actually fill in your skin with as much moisture and water as we can from within, in order for it to retain it.’

Tricia Trimble, founder and CEO of SPF specialists Suntegrity, chimes in: ‘I always recommend keeping things simple and focusing on treatments that make your skin look fresh and healthy without causing irritation. 

‘A gentle peel or enzyme treatment a few days before you leave is wonderful for removing dull surface skin so your makeup goes on more smoothly and your skincare products absorb better.

‘I also love doing a hydrating facial like a HydraFacial or oxygen facial before a trip. It deeply hydrates while providing a light exfoliation, leaving your complexion smooth, plump, and luminous with zero downtime.’

SKINCARE

It’s not just pro facials that should be part of your pre-holiday routine: general skincare is one of the most important things you can focus on.

You don’t need to spend a fortune, either. 

Celebrity esthetician Tammy Fender says: ‘It feels good to spend the weeks preparing for your trip treating your skin to extra-loving care. 

‘I like to recommend gentle home exfoliation and masking to cleanse and detoxify the skin and to make sure that hydration and nutrients are well replenished.’

As well as standard skincare, there are new techniques you can implement.

Tammy adds: ‘Incorporating manual lymph drainage or gua sha practices into your routine helps, and all of these techniques work so well in harmony with a professional holistic facial treatment.’ 

BOTOX

Vladislava: ‘I would say that Botox is really good to have before the holidays. 

‘Let’s say two weeks before your holidays, then it helps when you are enjoying the sun on the beach, and you’re frowning all the time due to the sun.’

Be warned, though – it needs to be done well in advance of your trip. More on that later. 

MASSAGES 

Massages, you might think, belong in the realm of holiday activity – not holiday preparation.

But one expert disagrees.

Tammy Fender says: ‘I love to arrive at my destination feeling as ready to relax and enjoy as possible. 

‘Booking a massage can put you in a vacation state-of-mind before you even leave and take the edge off of travel, as can a few extra hours of sleep – both of which benefit your wellbeing, but also your skin, which is so reactive to cortisol and stress.’ 

The beauty treatments to avoid at all costs

ANYTHING ‘DETOX’

The idea of a detox can seem alluring – from juice cleanses to skin detoxes, they often promise impressive results in a short period of time.

But don’t be fooled. 

Shamsa Kanwal MD, a board-certified dermatologist with more than 10 years of clinical experience, from MyPsoriasisTeam, says: ‘Anything “detox” focused is usually marketing, not physiology, especially lymphatic facials sold as permanent sculpting.’

Last year, Gwyneth Paltrow spoke about her love of cleanses and detoxes – but experts criticised her claims.

Instead, focus on science-backed treatments and avoid anything promising a quick fix. 

AGGRESSIVE TREATMENTS

Ildi Pekar, a celebrity esthetician based in the US, says: ‘I always tell my clients don’t try something aggressive right before a trip. The best prep is skin that’s calm, hydrated, and balanced. 

‘A gentle exfoliation combined with a deeply hydrating treatment is ideal. It smooths the skin, boosts circulation, and gives that natural glow without risking irritation while you’re away.’

She’s an advocate for treatments such as microcurrent, radiofrequency and an oxygen facial.

Dr Ariel Ostad, a cosmetic dermatologist and facial cosmetic surgeon, echoes this: ‘Treatments are rarely a “waste” if they’re done appropriately, but timing matters. 

‘For example, aggressive resurfacing treatments right before travel such as deep chemical peels or ablative lasers can backfire. 

‘They require downtime and leave the skin more vulnerable to sun damage. That’s why you should time them to be done about three to four weeks beforehand. 

‘Another mistake is trying new treatments right before leaving. If your skin reacts poorly, you don’t have time to recover. When preparing for a trip, predictability and minimal downtime are key.’

POOR TIMING

Regardless of what kinds of treatments you want to have before jetting off abroad, timing is key.

Even the best prep in the world can be wasted if done too close to your trip.

Dr Gina Maccarone, a cosmetic surgeon and founder of The Surgeonista, explained: ‘The biggest mistake people make before travel is doing a treatment too close to departure. Even excellent treatments can be disappointing if swelling or peeling hasn’t resolved yet. 

‘Aggressive procedures like deep chemical peels or major laser resurfacing right before a trip are usually not ideal. Timing matters just as much as the treatment itself.’

Dr Jason Champagne, a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Beverly Hills, echoes this: ‘Treatments that are done close to traveling can be a waste of money. Some treatments that can be a waste of money before travelling include resurfacing and chemical peeling. 

‘It is better to consider the timing of the treatment than the kind of treatment.’

BRAND-NEW SELF TANNER

In general, the days where streaky orange fake tan was favoured are behind us.

With plenty of excellent products on the market now, it’s easy to get that natural coveted glow. 

But one key mistake people still make? Trying a new product – right before a trip. 

Brittney Bennett, celebrity spray tan artist and founder of Be Bronze tanning studio, with studios in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, said: ‘Trying a brand new self tanner days before a trip could lead to an unnatural colour and ruin the trip.’

What should be on your travel beauty packing list? 

It’s no surprise that all the experts agree on one thing: sun cream is the number one travel essential – even on winter trips.

Tricia from Suntegrity, who’s an experts on the matter, says: ‘The most underrated investment isn’t a treatment at all, it’s a high-quality mineral sunscreen used every single day. 

‘A good mineral sunscreen is always at the top of my list. Protecting your skin from UV damage is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent premature aging, pigmentation, and long-term skin damage, especially when you’re spending extended time outdoors.’

Other than that, there are a few items to pack that could improve your trip.

Tricia advises a hydrating serum and solid moisturiser are essential, because sun, travel and air conditioning can dehydrate the skin. 

A lip balm with SPF is another non-negotiable.

She adds: ‘The one thing people consistently forget on winter trips is sunscreen. UV exposure doesn’t stop in winter, and in snowy environments it can actually be more intense because sunlight reflects directly off the snow. It’s one of the most common causes of unexpected sun damage.’ 

Elsewhere, you might want to add electrolytes – to improve hydration, especially if you’re flying. 

Cecily Braden, an esthetician, spa educator and founder of The Lymphatic Brush, adds: ‘Electrolytes to replace minerals lost through sweat, prevent dehydration. The heat from the sun causes an increase in circulation, which can lead to swelling and excess fluid retention. 

‘The Lymphatic Brush is a “travel must” for me to reduce inflammation during travel and minimize swelling and bloating. I use it to reduce fluid and promote a smoother tone in my arms and legs when wearing swimsuit, sundresses or shorts.

‘Compression socks are non-negotiable when flying or driving long distances.’

Any pre-flight advice?

Social media is awash with videos of influencers using face masks onboard flights. 

But while these can work, some experts are not convinced.

Olha Lialina, general manager at Fam Beauty London said: ‘I have tried a couple of times to do a face mask on the aircraft, which was a total disaster, because my face mask busted and exploded in my bag. I was still able to actually use the face mask. But I didn’t really see actual results I was hoping for.

‘That is why I’ve changed my strategy – I use a very hydrating and very thick face cream, which I apply right before I go to the airport. 

‘Yes, it’s not very lightweight, but at the end, when you’re washing your face at the end of the day, after all of the travelling, after all the airports, you can see the difference, that your skin is still glowing, it keeps all the hydration, it doesn’t let the moisture out, which is actually a lifesaver.’

Olha also advises drinking a glass of water every hour on board.

Another lesser-known tactic involves bringing one simple item with you – to create an ambience of calm. 

Tammy Fender adds: ‘To help dissolve tension, I fly with a small spritzer of Bulgarian Rose Water in my carry-on and tune in to a very calming playlist of binaural music to support meditative theta and gamma waves during boarding and landing.’

And another seasoned pro even has some more unconventional advice in terms of hygiene and skincare. 

Annabelle Taurua, beauty expert at the world’s leading beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha, says: ‘It is common for people to sanitise their seat tray when getting on a flight, but what they don’t realise is that that is not enough, and they should in fact be sanitising their whole seat as well. 

‘It might look clean, but it can harbour bacteria and residue from previous passengers that will then be in very close contact with your skin.

‘Touching any of the unsanitised surfaces in your seating area, whether it be the tray, your seat, the arm rests and then touching your face will very quickly undo all the effort you put into your skincare routine, potentially leading to breakouts. 

‘Cabin air is very dry, and this can weaken your skin barrier, making it much more prone to irritation and sensitive to bacteria. So sanitising the whole area is really important and will help your skincare actually work as opposed to having to fight against new impurities every time you touch your face.’

What are the best travel beauty products to pack? 

If you’re planning a holiday, there are plenty of beauty accessories that will make your journey much smoother.

Here’s our guide to the best travel beauty essentials you should pack for your next break…