You know the feeling: the dressing table is overflowing, products stacked everywhere, and on the morning you actually need your SPF it's nowhere to be found. It's been left on the bathroom shelf, obviously. Let's be honest — a well-thought-out dressing table isn't the one holding the most, it's the one where the essentials are within reach. So what should stay, and what should go?

Sunscreen, the step we no longer skip

A sunscreen isn't a holiday accessory. It's the step that does the most to protect your skin over the long term — and the one we most often get wrong through sheer inconsistency. A simple rule of thumb: a high index, 50 for the face if your skin is fair or marked by pigmentation, 30 for the body if you tan without burning. The real lever isn't the formula, it's the amount — a pea-sized amount for the face, a small glass for the body — and the frequency: reapply every two hours. Towels and sweat wipe it all away.

One aside: sunscreen doesn't replace shade or clothing — it's a complement to both. And if you want to get your head around ingredients, mineral filters — zinc oxide, titanium dioxide — sit on the surface of the skin, which often makes them better tolerated by reactive skin, though they can leave a white cast. Worth a patch test before you head out, as ever.

Bottle of sun lotion with a botanical feel resting on a stone, a fresh leaf beside it
Sunscreen, an everyday step — not just for holidays

The Cosmébio or COSMOS Organic label guarantees a minimum share of naturally derived ingredients and a specific manufacturing charter. It says nothing about protection, which depends on the index, how much you apply and how often. And refills, where they exist, often cost a little more up front but less over time.

After-sun and hydration

Sun dries out your skin, especially when you're out in it day after day. An after-sun lotion or gel, applied to clean skin after a lukewarm shower, soothes and rehydrates. As for texture, it's up to you: something light if you run warm, richer if your skin feels tight. For the face, there's no need to layer up — a hyaluronic acid or glycerin serum under your usual moisturiser is more than enough.

Product photo inspired by Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum - 100 ml
Product photo inspired by Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum - 100 ml

The question to ask yourself: will you be outside afterwards? If so, keep a dedicated facial SPF. If not, your usual moisturiser does the job perfectly well.

Facial sunscreen bottle lying down, a drop of white fluid on the shelf
The dedicated facial SPF, kept to hand even in town

Hair, the step we always forget

Between the salt, chlorine, wind and UV, hair ends up dry and brittle by the end of summer. A gentle shampoo after a swim, a mask once or twice a week, and you'll see the difference after a few washes. The tip that genuinely works: rinse your hair with clean water before you get in — it absorbs less chlorine.

After-sun hair care range: gentle shampoo, mask and shampoo bar
Gentle shampoo and mask: the duo that repairs summer hair

Makeup, the light version

During the day, you don't need foundation. A waterproof mascara and a tinted balm are enough. In the evening, a bronzing powder on the raised areas — cheekbones, forehead, the bridge of the nose — warms the complexion without overloading it. And gloss has given way to lip oils: the same glow, a less sticky finish.

Product photo inspired by Tinted Daily Lip Balm
Product photo inspired by Tinted Daily Lip Balm
Bronzing powder applied with a brush to a young woman's cheekbones
Bronzing powder warms the complexion without overloading it

Organise your dressing table by use

My advice: organise your dressing table by use, not by brand. Whatever you use every day goes at the front, the rest behind. You'll forget fewer things on your way out — promise.

Terracotta pot holding brushes on a wooden dressing table shelf
A terracotta pot for brushes, at the front of the dressing table
Wooden dressing table with a mirror, large size and refill resting on the top
Large size and refill: budget also comes down to the packaging

Budget

Prices vary with the size, the index and where you buy. As a rough guide on the UK high street:

  • Facial SPF 50: expect around £10 to £30 at a pharmacy, chemist or supermarket; up to £40 for branded mineral formulas.
  • After-sun or body lotion: £8 to £25 depending on the size.
  • Hair mask: £10 to £25; more in a salon.
  • Bronzing powder: £15 to £40.

What pushes the price up: the index, how refined the texture is, the packaging. Refills and glass containers often cost a little more to start with but less over time.

Sources

  • NHS — nhs.uk
  • Santé publique France — santepubliquefrance.fr
  • Institut national du cancer — e-cancer.fr
  • ANSES — anses.fr
  • ADEME — ademe.fr
  • Cosmébio — cosmebio.org

Food supplements do not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.