I Went to Ulta to Prep for Summer Vacation—Here's My Complete Beauty and Wellness Haul

I'm not messing around when it comes to summer 2025. I want to go to the beach, travel, and savor my vacation time. Even though it's only April, I'm already in planning mode. I'm bookmarking flights, searching for the best stays, and preparing my beauty routine.
That last one might seem random, but asBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's resident beauty editor, I take beauty and wellness seriously. I already made a list in my Notes app of all the possible products I'll need, from highly effective SPFs to beach-inspired body mists and multitasking makeup products. I already scoured Ulta's website and added all of the products from my list (as well as a few extras) to my shopping cart. Why Ulta, you ask? It's simple. I can shop for drugstore heroes and luxury favorites at the same time. Yeah, my shopping is pretty much sorted, and my OOO request is incoming. Ahead, see my complete beauty and wellness haul.
Skincare
This is my face sunscreen of choice. It offers SPF 50+ protection, and it's spiked with collagen peptides that help protect against sun damage and visibly correct existing signs of aging. Basically, it's an SPF and anti-aging serum in one. As for the texture, it's milky and lightweight, so it sinks into my skin like a dream. It also plays well with makeup. There's a 100% chance I'm stocking up on it before summer vacation starts.
This is my body sunscreen of choice. Vacation's Classic Lotion SPF 30 smells like summer, bottled. In fact, when I know I'll be wearing it, I purposely skip perfume. That's how good it is. Plus, thanks to a whole host of good-for-skin ingredients—coconut oil, aloe, banana extract, niacinamide, and vitamin E—I know my skin is getting some much-needed TLC.
Here's another body sunscreen I added to my cart because it's basically made for a scorching summer vacation. The non-aerosol mist offers organic SPF 50 protection, and ethically sourced mica offers the glowiest, juiciest, most sun-kissed look. It's giving golden goddess vibes. The fact that it also contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E is just a bonus—so is its guava scent.
Makeup
When I'm on vacation, I can't deal with traditional foundations. I want easy, one-step results from a glowy, multitasking product. That's why I'm stocking up on It Cosmetics' CC+ Nude Glow Foundation + Serum. It has a 90% skincare formula (think niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and extra sun protection) and a medium-coverage, glow-boosting finish. Yep, I'm tossing one in my bag.
I don't usually wear concealer on vacation—only if I'm going out to get dinner and drinks and want to disguise my dark circles. In that case, I'll use L'Oréal's Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer. I like that it's waterproof, so sweat and humidity don't stand a chance.
Sculpted skin is a must. For that, I'll rely on an oldie but a goodie—Fenty's Match Stix Contour Stick. The shades are on point and look so natural on the skin. The creamy formula is easy to work with too.
Because I want a vacation glow without the sun damage, I'll warm up my skin with this iconic drugstore bronzer. The silky pressed powder looks so natural on the skin. Don't take my word for it. Sofia Richie Grainge is also a fan of it. She calls it one of her "secret faves."
I'm a blush girl, so I like options when I travel, hence the reason I always pack a blush palette rather than individual shades. This new palette from Revolution Beauty contains everything I need—cream, matte, and shimmer blush. (The latter can double as a highlighter in a pinch.)
I also love Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Palette. It houses the brand's Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder next to the Pillow Talk Matte Blush for a bright, flushed, and blurred complexion. It's a foolproof combo. And can we talk about that packaging? I think it's so charming.
I'm loyal to my new favorite lip combo, so there's no chance I'd leave it behind when I go on vacation. It starts with Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat Lip Liner. (I use the shade Pillow Talk Fair.)
The second part of the lip combo is Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm Lip Gloss. It has a super-shiny yet nonsticky finish and a cooling, plumping effect. I swear this enhances my lips like nothing else. I always get compliments when I wear it.
Here's a budget-friendly lip product that I can stash in my beach bag. The foolproof lip oil offers a sheer tint of color and glass-like shine while actually boosting your lips' natural color. It's also moisturizing and nonsticky—the perfect combo.
I never wear waterproof mascara because it's such a pain to remove, but on vacation, I'm a different person, okay? I need a waterproof formula so my lashes can hold up to sweating, swimming, and high humidity. This affordable, lengthening one is my favorite.
Fragrance
There's only one fragrance I'll wear on summer vacation this year, and that's Ouai's St. Barts Hair Body Mist. With notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose, and musk, it's literally a luxurious tropical vacation in a bottle.
Wellness Bodycare
Remember how I said I wanted a nice, sun-kissed glow without the sun damage? This is how I'm going to get it. I've used Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam for years, and I won't stop now. It's one of the only formulas that delivers natural-looking, even, and streak-free color every damn time.
Whether I'm shaving my legs, underarms, or bikini area, I almost always use Billie's Malibu Razor. It gets rid of unwanted hair without causing too much irritation or ingrown hairs, and the handle's bright, summery color combo is too cute.
I love Truly's body and personalcare products. The Coco Cloud Whipped Shave Butter is included. The coconut milk infused formula protects the skin from razor burn and prevents ingrown hairs caused by friction. It smells incredible and gives me the closest shave and silkiest skin. Coco Cloud indeed.
Despite all of my precautionary measures, the odd ingrown hair is destined to pop up. When it does, this is my secret weapon. The formula uses willow bark extract, witch hazel, and aloe to penetrate the pore, reduce redness, and provide antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects so the ingrown hair won't stick around. The rollerball makes precise application easy.
Saltair products are so good, so please, don't sleep on them. Take this body oil for example. It contains a whole host of good-for-skin oils, including moringa, kukui, cacay, and sea buckthorn to nourish the skin with fatty acids and antioxidants. Oh, and the scent, Salt Water Vanilla, is incredible. Notes of vanilla, sea salt, and creamy sandalwood are warm and alluring.
I'm planning to pair the Saltair Body Oil with this body gua sha tool. Apply body lotion or oil, and gently scrape the tool up the limbs. It stimulates circulation, encourages lymphatic drainage, and eases muscle tension. Talk about the perfect tool for summertime self-care.
On vacation, I don't necessarily try to eat healthy or monitor my diet, and admittedly, I tend to ingest a lot more alcohol than I normally do. That's a recipe for bloating and an angry gut. That's why I'm going to pack these Lemme Debloat: Daily Digestive Gummies in my carry-on. They contain two clinically studied probiotics and a prebiotic to support digestion, promote a healthy gut, and support the immune system.
With more alcohol than usual and long days spent in the sun, dehydration can happen. Moon Juice's Mini Dew Electrolyte + Mineral Supplement is the fix. It contains pink salt electrolytes and minerals for increased hydration. With two flavors to choose from—Pomelo Grapefruit and Watermelon—it's a delight to drink.
Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing Wholesale Replica Bag and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.
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