The simple, botanical swaps your skin and hair will thank you for, whether you’re jetting off or staying in the region
Words by Dr Taniyaa Bakshhi, Brand Lead of Sunny Herbals Middle East and Managing Director of Bakson Group
Summer packing has become something of a beauty paradox. We want to travel lighter, yet somehow our wash bags seem to get heavier every year. Serums for the plane, creams for the beach, products for after the sun, another for after the pool, and a separate one for the hotel air conditioning. But perhaps summer beauty isn’t about packing more. Perhaps it’s about packing smarter.
For those living in or travelling from the Middle East, summer places unique demands on our skin and hair. Long flights, soaring temperatures, humidity, salt water and constant air conditioning can leave even the simplest routine feeling like hard work. Choosing versatile, botanical-led products that work with your skin, rather than overwhelming it, can make all the difference. As Brand Lead for Sunny Herbals Middle East, read on as I share a few of my favourite herbal beauty hacks you need to make space for this summer.
Give Your Scalp a Holiday Too
Summer doesn’t just challenge our skin. Hair often bears the brunt of sun exposure, humidity, chlorine, salt water and hard water, leaveing it feeling dry while the scalp becomes increasingly stressed. Instead of relying on heavy oils during warmer months, consider lightweight botanical scalp mists featuring ingredients such as rosemary and fenugreek (methi). These herbs have long been valued for supporting scalp health while helping to reduce breakage and seasonal hair fall, without leaving behind residue or weighing hair down. A quick spritz after a beach day or after washing helps refresh both the scalp and hair shaft, making styling one of the simplest additions to your summer routine.
Cooling Hydration Is Your Best Friend
Not every moisturiser needs to feel rich to be effective. In fact, during the UAE summer, lightweight aloe-based moisturisers often become the hero product your skin didn’t know it needed. Formulas featuring high concentrations of Aloe Vera alongside Vitamin E offer cooling hydration while helping support the skin barrier after time in the sun or long days spent moving between the outdoors and heavily air-conditioned spaces. The result is skin that feels refreshed, comfortable and hydrated without the sticky finish many richer creams can leave behind.
One Cream That Earns Its Place
If there’s one product worth making room for, it’s one that can do the job of several. A lightweight, multi-purpose moisturiser quickly becomes invaluable while travelling, especially when luggage space is limited. Products that work across the face and body, calm dry patches, comfort everyday skin concerns, prep skin before makeup and provide post-sun comfort naturally earn permanent status in any travel bag.
For example, the Sunny Herbals Aloe Vera Calendula Moisturiser has become exactly that for many people. Designed for life between heat, humidity and endless air conditioning, the lightweight, non-sticky formula supports the skin barrier while delivering hydration that feels balanced, not heavy. It’s the sort of product you reach for after a flight, before makeup, after a day outdoors or simply whenever your skin needs a little extra comfort. In many ways, it has become less of a moisturiser and more of an everyday travel companion.
Beauty That Works Harder
One of the biggest shifts happening in beauty isn’t another trending ingredient but there versatility. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that fit seamlessly into real life rather than demanding lengthy routines. A moisturiser that doubles as a makeup prep base, a calming cream that travels effortlessly from handbag to bedside, or a lightweight scalp mist that refreshes between washes; these products quietly become everyday essentials because they simply work.
Summer is perhaps the perfect reminder that beauty doesn’t need to be complicated. With a carefully chosen edit of botanical essentials, you can pack lighter, simplify your routine and spend less time thinking about skincare and more time enjoying wherever the season takes you.
For more information, visit Amazon, or Instagram: @drtaniyaabakshhi/ @sunnyherbalsmiddleeast and YouTube: @drtaniyaabakshhi.
