Every year, just before I go on holiday, I find myself standing in front of an open suitcase wondering what really deserves a place in my wash bag.

Years ago, I would have packed almost every skincare product I owned. Cleansers, exfoliators, masks, serums, oils and moisturisers all seemed essential because I believed healthy-looking skin came from using more products.

Now, my holiday skincare routine looks very different.

Discovering Traditional Persian Medicine completely changed the way I think about beauty. Instead of asking, "What product do I need?" I now ask, "What does my skin actually need?"

That simple shift has made all the difference.

Traditional Persian Medicine teaches that healthy-looking skin isn't created by one miracle product. It reflects what is happening throughout the body and is influenced by everything from digestion and hydration to sleep, emotions, movement and the changing seasons.

That's one of the reasons I no longer think about preparing my skin for holiday a few days before I leave. Instead, I think about building daily rituals that help my skin stay balanced before, during and after my trip.

If you're hoping for naturally glowing holiday skin this summer, these are the five things I never leave home without.

1. Sefidab® Face Detox Rice & Rose Skin Peel Powder

No matter where I'm travelling, this is always the first product I pack.

Summer holidays usually mean sunscreen, long days outdoors, warmer temperatures, sea salt, chlorine, sweat and pollution. All of these can leave the skin feeling congested and dull by the end of the day.

That's why I always travel with Sefidab® Face Detox Rice & Rose Skin Peel Powder.

Inspired by centuries of Persian beauty rituals, it combines rice, rose and Rare Persian Blue Salt to gently exfoliate and refresh the skin.

One of the things I love most is that it feels incredibly gentle. I don't want to strip my skin while I'm away or use harsh scrubs that leave it feeling uncomfortable after a day in the sunshine.

Instead, I want my skin to feel clean, soft and refreshed before applying my evening skincare.

For a week's holiday, I'll usually pack two tins because I know I'll use it throughout the trip.

For me, healthy-looking holiday skin always starts with clean skin.

That's why Sefidab® Face Detox Rice & Rose Skin Peel Powder has become such an important part of my routine.

Internal Link Opportunity: Sefidab® Face Detox Rice & Rose Skin Peel Powder

2. Sefidab® Body Detox Calendula & Papaya Skin Peel Powder

One thing I've noticed over the years is that most people spend far more time caring for the skin on their face than they do the rest of their body.

Yet, during the summer, it's often our body that's exposed to the sun the most.

After a day at the beach, my skin has usually collected layers of sunscreen, sea salt, sand and sweat. Rather than reaching for a harsh exfoliator, I prefer a gentler ritual inspired by Traditional Persian Medicine.

That's exactly why I created Sefidab® Body Detox Calendula & Papaya Skin Peel Powder.

Combining calendula, papaya and Rare Persian Blue Salt, it helps gently exfoliate the skin while leaving it feeling beautifully smooth and refreshed.

One question I'm often asked is whether exfoliation removes a tan.

My approach has always been to avoid aggressive scrubbing and instead focus on gentle exfoliation that removes dull surface build-up while helping the skin feel healthy and cared for.

For me, tanning aftercare isn't about trying to make a tan last forever.

It's about keeping the skin healthy enough to continue looking its best.

When my skin feels smooth, hydrated and well cared for, it naturally looks brighter too.

3. Damnoosh™ Gut Detox Tea Tonic

This is the holiday essential that surprises almost everyone.

When I tell people one of the first things I pack isn't skincare, they usually look confused.

But this is where Traditional Persian Medicine completely changed my perspective.

For years, I believed that if my skin wasn't looking its best, I simply needed a better moisturiser or a different cleanser. Now I know that healthy-looking skin is influenced by so much more than what we apply to it.

It's affected by what we eat, how we sleep, our stress levels, our hydration and, importantly, our digestion.

That's why Damnoosh™ Gut Detox Tea Tonic is always one of the first things that goes into my suitcase.

Travelling often means eating differently, changing routines and spending long days out exploring. I like having small rituals that help me feel grounded wherever I am, and enjoying a cup of Damnoosh™ Gut Detox Tea Tonic has become one of them.

I don't see it as a holiday detox.

I simply see it as another way of looking after my body.

Traditional Persian Medicine has always taken a whole-body approach to health, and that's something I try to bring into my own daily life. Beauty has never been about one miracle ingredient or one miracle product. It's about creating habits that support your wellbeing over time.

That philosophy sits at the heart of The East to West Lifestyle Co©.

4. A Wide-Brimmed Hat

This might seem like an unusual holiday essential in a skincare article, but it's one of the most important things I pack.

I love sunshine.

I love spending time outdoors.

But I've also learnt that enjoying the sun and protecting my skin don't have to be opposites.

Traditional Persian Medicine teaches us to work with nature rather than against it, and that includes respecting the seasons.

Summer is naturally considered a hotter time of year, and as someone with a naturally Choleric (Hot & Dry) temperament, I know my skin can become drier, more reactive and more easily irritated if I don't look after it properly.

That's why a simple hat has become one of my favourite beauty tools.

It's not glamorous.

It's not expensive.

But it helps me enjoy long walks, afternoons by the sea and sightseeing while giving my skin a little extra protection.

I also believe it's important to combine traditional wisdom with modern science.

That's why I always recommend following guidance from the NHS and the British Association of Dermatologists on safe sun exposure and using sunscreen appropriately.

Traditional Persian Medicine isn't about rejecting modern advice.

It's about bringing ancient wisdom and modern knowledge together.

5. A Reusable Water Bottle

If there is one holiday habit I never compromise on, it's staying hydrated.

It's easy to become dehydrated when travelling.

Long flights, hot weather, alcohol, walking all day and simply forgetting to drink enough water can all leave us feeling tired, sluggish and generally not at our best.

I always keep a reusable bottle with me because it serves as a simple reminder to drink little and often throughout the day.

Hydration isn't glamorous.

It won't suddenly transform your skin overnight.

But combined with a balanced lifestyle, nourishing food, restful sleep and a consistent skincare routine, it becomes another piece of the puzzle.

That's one of the biggest lessons Traditional Persian Medicine has taught me.

Health isn't built through dramatic changes.

It's built through small, consistent habits repeated every day.

Beauty Starts Long Before Skincare

As I finish packing my suitcase, I'm reminded that my holiday beauty routine looks nothing like it did ten years ago.

Back then, I believed beautiful skin came from owning more products.

Today, I know it comes from understanding my body.

That doesn't mean I never enjoy trying new skincare or discovering new beauty products.

It simply means I no longer expect them to do all the work.

Instead, I focus on the things that make the biggest difference:

Gently cleansing my skin.

Looking after my body from within.

Supporting my digestion.

Staying hydrated.

Protecting my skin from excessive sun exposure.

Creating rituals that I genuinely enjoy and can maintain long after my holiday has ended.

Traditional Persian Medicine has taught me that beauty isn't about perfection.

It's about balance.

It's one of the reasons I created The East to West Lifestyle Co© and why every product I develop is inspired by that same philosophy.

Whether you're planning a weekend away or a two-week escape in the sunshine, I hope this encourages you to think differently about your own holiday skincare routine.

Because glowing skin doesn't begin when you open your wash bag.

It begins with the small choices you make every single day.

Thanks for reading Sherry 

Sources & References

• The Yoga of Herbs — Dr David Frawley & Dr Vasant Lad
• An Introduction to Islamic Medicine — M. Salim Khan
• The Golden Key To Discovering Yourself — M. Salim Khan
• The Traditional Healers Handbook — Hakim G. M Chrishti
• Theoretical Principles of Tibb — Rashid Bhikha
• Temperamental Approach of Medical Disorders in UNANI Perspectives
• The Canon of Medicine Volume 2: Materia Medica — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
• The Canon of Medicine Volume 3: Special Pathologies — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
• Avicenna's Medicine
• Unani Dermatology — Dr Izharul Hasan
• The Wisdom of Temperaments — Hamid Eslamian & Persian Bell