Best Products for Family Adventure Holidays

Adventure holidays involve lots of time outdoors and on the move. They also mean limited luggage, a factor we’ve borne in mind when compiling the following list of products to keep all the family fresh and energized.  

All prices were correct at the time of going to press.

ESSENTIALS

La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 (£13, boots.com) is a multi-purpose, antibacterial balm that can be used by the whole family, including babies and those with sensitive skin. Its uses include soothing grazes and inflamed eczema, repairing nappy rash and nourishing dry skin.

If you’re spending lots of time in the great outdoors, a tube of Elemental Herbology's Wind & Cold Therapy (£19, elementalherbology.com) is a must – the ultra-nourishing balm formula repairs dehydrated, cracked and inflamed skin, making it ideal for dry hands, chapped lips and sunburn. Its cocktail of botanicals, including keratin, 'tree of life' and argan oils, calendula, shea butter and fresh pumpkin cells, provides long-lasting hydration.

New from cult Australian brand Black Chicken Remedies, the Balm of Ages (£29, roullierwhite.com) comes in a practical tin in a glam velvet bag. Its many uses mean you can cut down on products you need to carry with you: its highly therapeutic blend of organic ingredients researched from ancient healing traditions, including sea buckthorn oil (known to help eczema), camellia oil (for face and hair care) and cajuput (used by Aboriginals for its antiseptic properties), soothe irritated skin, add moisture to dry patches, help ease minor scrapes and burns, minimize stretch marks and effectively remove makeup and grime.

Ideal for taking on the plane, the Moa The Mini Green Balm (£4.50, feelunique.com) in its 15ml tub contains 100% natural ingredients so is safe to use on all the family – on sore skin, cold sores, chapped areas, insect bites and dry patches.

If you can't leave the house without a lip balm, the Skin Shop's Liquorice Balm (£7.95, skinshop.com.uk) not only keeps lips smooth and supple but also contains glycyrrhizic acid (GA) that prevents outbreaks of cold sores, often caused by exposure to the sun.

Weleda's Skin Food (£2.25, weleda.co.uk), a beauty secret since first launched in 1926, is a  wonder cream famed for its natural ingredients with super-moisturising and repairing properties. It can be used all over but is perfect for elbows, feet and hands – and has now been launched in a handy 10ml size. 

Ideal for adventurous travelers, White Glo's Travellers Pack (£2.99, boots.com) contains toothbrush, mini toothpaste and dental flosser toothpicks in a clear zippable case.

Lastly, lack of space doesn't mean you have to leave vital vitamins at home – Advanced Nutrition Programme's Well Away multivitamin blister strips (£9.95, anpshop.com) in their lightweight, resealable pouch will see you through your trip.

BODY

Pack a high-factor, gentle sun protection formula that all the family can use. My favourites include La Roche Posay Anthelios Dermo Kids 50+ SPF (£16.50, boots.com), aimed at fair and sensitive skins, and Green People's Organic Children Sun Lotion Medium 25 SPF (£9.45, biggreensmile.com), which is fragrance free and contains organic shea butter, calendula and aloe vera. For those with allergies to sun cream or with very sensitive conditions, including children, apply Kalme Undercoat (£9.95, skinshop.co.uk) before using other products to help de-sensitise the skin.

Take a effective body wash to get rid of the day's grime and sweat – pack a moisturising formula so you can leave bulky body creams at home. Dove's Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash (£2.40, boots.com) with almond cream and hibiscus lathers up a treat and leaves skin soft and dewy. Or Woods of Windsor Blue Orchid & Water Lily Moisturising Bath & Shower Gel (£8.50, woodsofwindsor.co.uk) is a great little luxury to have when on the road, with its gentle fragrance and pretty packaging – and it not only contains vitamin E to leave skin hydrated but can also be used as a bubble bath for kids. Alternatively, Child's Farm natural and organic products for children come in handy 100ml sized bottles, including the Hair & Body Wash and Bubble Bath (both £4.69, childsfarm.com).

For really sporty holidays, products that help to ease tired limbs at the end of the day include Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Gel (£37, aromatherapyassociates.com), which comes in a small 55ml bottle but packs a hefty punch, with a little going a long way, combining rosemary, lavender and ginger to warm and relax the body. The Organic Pharmacy's Arnica Soothing Muscle Soak (£35.95, feelunique.com) is ideal to use in the bath for general aches and pains, so decant some in a labeled bag and have a soak with a handful now and then throughout your trip. Beyond Organic Skincare's Foot & Muscle Reviver (£27.40, beyondorganicskincare.com), a muscle rub and foot balm in one, contains organic spearmint and rosemary to help with sore feet, aching legs, back or any part of the body that has been overworked.

If you can't bear the thought of leaving your body cream at home, pack versions that either all the family can use or that can double up. Melvita's new honey-based Apicosma Body Balm (£22, melvita.co.uk) is ultra-nourishing and gentle enough for all to use. Blend Collective's Hydrating Hand & Body Lotion (£19, blendcollective.co.uk) treats hands and body, energizing you with its Sicilian lemon, May Chang and lime. Meanwhile, Nuxe's classic Huile Prodigiuese (£29.95, marksandspencer.com) is a multi-purpose dry oil that can be used on the face, body and hair, leaving skin satiny soft and hair glossy.

Meanwhile, Irish brand Voya's Organic Voyager is a good luxury option when keeping packing to a minimum (£32, Selfridges.com) – this cottonwash bag keeps it simple with its 75ml body wash, body moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner.  

Active holidays can often mean tired feet or, worse, blisters and cracked heels. The Organic Pharmacy's Manuka & Peppermint Foot Cream (£19.95, feelunique.com) in a handy 50ml size contains antiseptic manuka honey to keep feet in tip-top condition. L'Occitane's Dry Skin Foot Cream (£8, ukloccitane.com), which is rich in shea butter and can be massaged in to ease tired feet, also comes in a 30ml travel size and can also double as a hand cream.

Salt of the Earth Natural Deodorants – which work by leaving a thin layer of pure alum, a traditional antibacterial mineral salt, on the skin – come in travel-sized roll-ons or sprays (£2.55, crystalspring.co.uk)  and are safe for even young teenagers to use. Dove's Maximum Protection Deodorant Cream (£5.30, boots.com) claims to protect for 48 hours so is ideal if your adventure takes you off the beaten track. No4711 Body Spray (£3.29, boots.com) with its uplifting scent is ideal for spritzing and refreshing when on the go and can be used all over.

Mrs White's Unsung Hero (£20, roullierwhite.com) is an eau de cologne with a twist – ideal for exotic locations, it contains a natural insect repellent but, instead of the usual potent smell repellents can have, gives off a lemon tea scent suitable for men and women.

HAIR

A dry shampoo is a great idea if you aim to be on the road for any length of time. Timotei's new Pure range containing products infused with 100% natural organic extracts includes a Dry Shampoo  (£3.70, sainsburys.co.uk) that uses green tea leaf. The range also includes a fantastic 2in1 Shampoo (£2.99) allowing you to ditch the conditioner and pack the one product.

The two-in-one Organic Colour Systems Soothe Plus Shampoo (£14.95, organiccoloursystems.com), containing organic ingredients such as fennel seed, geranium oil and comfrey, is extremely mild and designed for people with irritated scalps, and can double up as a body wash that’s suitable for babies too.

Also perfect for all the family are Herbalife's Herbal Aloe Shampoo and Conditioner (£9.22 each, products.herbalife.co.uk), rich in essential vitamins and minerals and infused with botanical ingredients. Free of nasties, the formulas are gentle enough for children to use as and come in travel-sized tubes.

New to the UK, the Mixed Chicks range of hair products for children with curly hair is especially suited to mixed-race children, and the funky packaging and cool designs will appeal to all ages and, crucially, to both boys and girls. Best of all are the genius Travel Packs (£2, curlyemporium.co,uk) containing generous sachets of paraben and sulphate-free shampoo, deep conditioner and leave-in conditioner.

FACE

Long journeys, time spent in the great outdoors and different time zones can all have visible effects. Keep your complexion clean and moisturised to prevent bacterial build-up and to stop lines developing from exposure to wind and sun. Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and Make Up Removing Wipes (£7, waitrose.com) are a practical choice to have with you during your journey, as well as at your destination, keeping your face clean and velvety smooth and also doubling up as hand and body wipes - a lifesaver if you’re delayed in transit.

Jane Iredale's Magic Mitt (£17, janeiredale.com) is another fuss-free option that means you can do away with bottles of cleanser. Wet the soft flannel-like mitt with warm water and it removes make-up and debris with one clean sweep.

For fans of face washes, go for a dual-action product such as Love Your Skin's Rosemary & Willow Bark Exfoliating Wash (£22.99, lys-london.com), which cleanses, removes make-up, exfoliates and tones all in one. Or the new Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Brighten & Refine Facial Scrub by Una Brennan (£8.99, boots.com), infused with menthol, leaves the complexion deeply cleansed and cool after a day in the sun. Ideal if travelling with teenagers, Botanicals Rose & Camellia Creamy Facewash (£14.95, botanicals.co.uk) has a gentle, creamy formula with organic aloe vera and camellia extracts.

A toner, ideally in a spritz, is also another good idea to cool the skin when out and about and can be shared among the whole family. Suti's Peppermint Water Organic Facial Toner (£18, suti.co.uk) wakes up the skin, helps calm irritated, inflamed and blemished complexions, and instantly refreshes and uplifts when tired. Spray on face, tired feet and the décolletage for an instant skin saviour.

Herbalife's handbag-sized spray-on Radiant C Face Quencher (£7, products.herbalife.co.uk) is a fantastic travel companion, working as an instant pick-me-up with its kick of vitamin C, protecting the skin against the elements and hydrating thirsty skin, giving it a fresh, dewy appearance. Packed with sea-sourced vitamins and minerals, the multi-purpose oil-free H20 Oasis Mist  (£14, marksandspencer.com) is a powerful blend of sea fennel, sea lettuce and wakame that moisturises, tones, gives antioxidant protection and can be used over make-up for a long-lasting finish.

A decent moisturiser is a must-have when embarking on a trip. If you can take just one pampering product with you, make it Caudalie's new Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum (£29, uk.caudalie.com), a concentrated formula of organic grapewater and hyaluronic acid that constantly works as a 'moisture surge' throughout the day.

Ideal for combatting the effects of the great outdoors, ARK's Antioxidant Serum (£39, arkskindare.com) provides all-round protection against environmental pollutants with its blend of grapeseed, white tea, blue lotus, gojiberry and vitamin E. The practical 50ml Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50 from Alpha-H (£25.50, hqhair.com) can be used as a normal moisturiser but also gives skin sun protection and is water-resistant for up to four hours.

A cult favourite from Singapore, now available in the UK, Ginvera's multitasking BB Cream (£20, harveynichols.com) moisturises, gives a 30SPF protection, contains green tea for anti-ageing properties and also works as a primer, giving the complexion a flawless finish, ironing out blemishes and bumps like a concealer and foundation in one.

If space is really limited, Pomegranate's Active Night Plus Rollerball in a 10ml size (£12, pomegranatestore.com) is designed as a regenerating night treatment for the face but can also be used as a day moisturiser, on lips, cuticles and dry skin on the body. It’s 100% natural and high in essential omegas and antioxidants.

Specifically for men, A'kin's Visibly Fit 24 Hour Moisturiser (£15.99, biggreensmile.com) has a lightweight formula fitting for hotter climates, with white tea, olive extract and vitamin E to hydrate and soften rough and dull skin.

Perfect for teenage girls (who might be prone to over-packing), the travel pack from Elizabeth's Daughter (£15, elizabethsdaughter.co.uk) contains 75ml versions of its best-selling gel cleanser, daily moisturiser and purifying mask to keep blemishes (and sulks) at bay.

Lastly, packed with mini essentials for body and face, the new Willow Rose & Manuka Honey Beauty Bag (£39, willowbeautyproducts.co.uk) is a glam pink-lined bag with a day cream, cleanser, toner spritz, lip balm, hand and body lotion and body wash. It's the perfect way to pamper yourself when the road gets rough.