Body & beauty

Jo Fairley: Beautiful travel-sized beauty

The Beauty Bible guru reveals that the best things often do come in small packages

The reason I’ve always loved kits and mini-sizes is not just for stowing in a spongebag or a beach basket, but because they let me try things without splashing out for full sizes. I can make up my mind about whether I love the texture, the scent, how it makes my skin or hair look and feel. A travel size won’t give you insights into long-term improvements – but it can save you from a big, and sometimes pricey, mistake. And if there’s something in a kit that you don’t want for yourself? Gift it to a friend. Alternatively, check out sites like biggreensmile.com, lovelula.com and naturismo.com, which also offer individual travel sizes. Sometimes, you see, the best things really do come in small packages.

Green People Family Fun Starter Pack: As someone who has over the years discovered I’m allergic to many different sun products, this is brilliant: the 30ml sizes of Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 and Sun Cream SPF15 with Tan Accelerator have reassured me I can use them safely without coming out in a rash. Plus, the Organic Children Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF30 (50ml) will be handy for back garden paddling pool visits by small children.

Inika Face in a Box: It’s not hard to find skincare or haircare in dinky sizes, but make-up trial sizes aren’t so readily available. Inika’s starter kit offers almost everything you’d need for complexion perfection, though, from mineral and liquid foundation samples, concealer and primer to bronzer, mattifying powder and blusher, in a drawstring bag with a full-size kabuki brush, for application. Now put your best face forward – naturally, of course.

Evolve Organic Skincare Bestsellers: Your chance to explore the heroes within this proudly British skincare collection, which is still hand-made in small batches. Your skin will thank you for introducing it to Evolve’s Hyaluronic Serum 200 (10ml), Daily Renew Facial Cream and Radiant Glow Mask (both 30ml) – this mask is a great skin quick-fix, created with raw cocoa powder, clay and ‘upcycled’ blueberry particles.

Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Travel Trio: Again, an accessible way to discover why (in my opinion) these all-natural, award-winning haircare products are really worth the investment, showcasing generous 50ml discovery sizes of Pure Harmony Hairbath, Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner and Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner – which I definitely would have dismissed as too lightweight for my bleached-to-high-heaven hair, if I hadn’t tried it for myself.