CULT BEAUTY: PASSPORT TO PARADISE
Dream destinations, cultural hit-lists, beauty-packing essentials — Cult Beauty have stepped Out of the Office, into Paradise.
Relax With Coffee And Culture In Provenance
I’m staying in Provence with a group of friends who I’ve known since high school this summer, staying in a villa in a small village surrounded by vineyards and lavender fields. We’re renting some bikes and spending most of our time cooking, swimming and enjoying being together, which is rare given everyone's busy schedules.
A Morning In Gordes’ Old Town
We’re doing a day trip to Gordes. It’s a beautiful old town at the top of a towering hill top. There’s a market on Friday mornings, and the nearby Marianna Cafe Gordes is the best spot for coffee. We also sampled so many ice creams — I opted for a grapefruit sorbet. Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a must-visit there, too. It’s a 12th-century monetary building, surrounded by the most beautiful lavender fields. It’s so serene and minimal. My favourite lunch spot in Marseille has to be Tuba Club — I’d recommend any of the sashimi, and I also had an incredible green Bloody Mary.
Polly’s Summer Skincare Highlights
When it comes to my holiday skincare, I love all the Supergoop sunscreens for everyday protection with a matte finish, and also really like using Mario Badescu’s Coconut Body Oil on my legs and arms. For my face, I’ve recently become a fan of LANEIGE’s Water Bank Cream Moisturiser for an instant dose of hydration.
Shop Polly's Edit
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A Long, Hot Summer in Sorrento
An Out-of-Office Playlist
"When it comes to a poolside playlist, it’s all about the nineties classics — Groove Armada, Jamiroquai, TLC. My holiday read is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It’s been a while since I’ve found a book that I can’t put down and this is certainly one of them.
The Must-Pack Beauty Essentials
"I keep my makeup very minimal when I’m in the sun. Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Poreless Primer is my daytime staple — it gives my skin a healthy, hydrated glow while keeping it protected with its SPF 50 formulation.
"My skincare staple for doubling down on a hydrated glow is Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. Vitamin C Cream — it’s an instant complexion booster.
"I like fragrances that capture the relaxed mood of summer, so the soft vetiver and cedarwood notes of Le Labo’s THÉ MATCHA 26 are a dream — it’s my scent of the summer."
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An Idyllic Staycation on the Suffolk Coast
"I’m staying close to home this summer, but in the dreamiest way," says Chief Buying Office, Billie. "We spend every summer on the Suffolk coast at my family home in the picture-perfect village of Orford. It’s one of those idyllic English villages with thatched cottages, big skies and boats bobbing in the harbour."
Coffee + Culture
"The Orford Flower Show is a gloriously nostalgic village fête that feels like stepping into a Richard Curtis film. There’s Pimm’s, Punch & Judy, and fiercely competitive events. Come for the vegetable displays, stay for the sponge cake. It has to be Pump Street Bakery for coffee — there’s no contest. They’re known for their sourdough, but for me, it’s the Eccles cakes.
The Reading List
"I have an unusual habit of finding geo-political chaos relaxing. I’m currently deep into Rory Stewart’s Politics On The Edge. But I also use the slower pace of summer to finally read British Vogue cover to cover (instead of just dog-earing it while juggling 17 tabs open at once).
The Buyer’s Beauty Bag Staples
"I’m physically incapable of packing light — my beauty bag is always bursting. Here’s a few of my Suffolk essentials.
"My holiday makeup is light, but still polished. Westman Atelier's Vital Skincare Concealer and Hourglass’ Ambient Blush & Bronzer Palette are a couple of favourites.
"Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne is my forever summer scent. I fell for it before it arrived on Cult Beauty and I’ve never looked back.
"For SPF, there’s a rotation — ask me to pick a favourite and I’ll have an existential crisis. Augustinus Bader's SPF 50, Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30 by Supergoop! and La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Face Mist are a few of the highlights."
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