Mykonos is a coup-de-foudre island. Not even time to land and already conquers you with that cobalt blue sky, the dazzling white of the cycladic-style houses and the slim kiss of the shining sun. What is said the perfect destination for a holiday of total relaxation, between sea, sun, boat trips and a good dose of fun. Yeah, because Mykonos is famous far beyond the borders of the Aegean Sea because of its unleashed nightlife, which remains confined only to some areas of the island. So if you're looking for peace and quiet, you don't have to change your destination, just head to the most laid bays along the southern coast, where there are also beautiful villas to rent and the most exclusive resorts. I stayed at the Aphrodite Beach Hotel, directly on the sandy beach of Kalafatis, immersed in the green of oleanders and Mediterranean maquis, which has as plus a beautiful swimming pool shaded by palm trees, a real jolly when on the beach the meltemi blows strong, quite frequent from here.
A peak and windy sun are in fact a constant of the Cyclades, mostly barren islands and with poor vegetation. In order not to risk ruining your holiday with burns and erythms you should therefore prepare before departure an ad hoc travel beauty, with sunscreens and targeted products for your skin type, not always easily available in the islands. Personally, I usually prefer to travel with a reduced baggage to the bone, but to the beauty products I do not renounce. Also because there is no better time than a holiday to cut out pleasant moments all for itself and I take advantage of it to test new cosmetics and discover unpublished beauty rituals. Otherwise, what relaxation is it?
This year, even, I also played in advance. While being castana, I have the complexion very clear and sensitive, which is easily reddened. So I wanted to try to give her a "help" from the inside taking for the first time Inneov Solaire capsules, a food supplement with innovative formula which contains lactic ferments and natural pigments such as B-Carotene and Lycopene that help the skin gradually prepare for sun exposure, avoiding harmful shock. For an optimal result, I started taking them 4 weeks before departure, one per day, then continuing to hire them for the duration of the trip and the week after returning.
Predicting long days on the beach and on the boat, I packed a high protection sun for the face and one with medium spf for the body, obviously waterproof, that after the first days, when the skin began to be pleasantly golden, I replaced with l’Olio Nutriente Anthelios SPF30. If you do not know it yet is because it is a 2014 novelty of Laboratori La Roche-Posay a brand partner of dermatologists who only find in pharmacy. Light and emollient, easy to dose with the convenient pump diffuser, however, ensures high UVB+UVA protection with SPF 30, is waterproof and, unlike what you might think it is an oil, not unge. Believe me, once you try you will not want to separate. In fact, I always carried it in the backpack during the excursions, for having it at hand at all times.
Mykonos is a rather small island, which turns comfortably on scooters or quads, to definitely prefer to the car to explore the interior or reach the beaches of fun as the legendary Paradise Beach, which after sunset turns into an en plein air disco, or the most remote and secluded coves of the northern coast. I recommend you spend at least half a day visiting Mykonos Town, also called Chora, the capital, which despite being one of the most touristic places in the Mediterranean has maintained the style and atmosphere of the typical Cycladic village, with whitewashed houses, narrow and winding streets ravvivate by lively spots of bouganville, Orthodox churches and cafes overlooking the avenue of yachts and fishing boats of the old port. Up on the hill, the five majestic windmills that are the symbol of the island.
Besides from the ground, Mykonos must be discovered above all by the sea. The Cyclades Islands are a real paradise for sailors and in fact I did not miss the opportunity to make a few sailing trips among the islets that surround the island. We sailed from Kalafatis Bay to the island of Dragonisi, a protected nature reserve famous for its seabeds rich in marine caves, thrown from the divers, where I spent hours snorkeling. A marvel! But if you don't have a boat, no problem, from the port of Mykonos leave mini-cruises and daily excursions to the nearby islands, including Delos. A little more than half an hour of navigation to make a jump in the time of thousands of years. The island is a great archaeological park, one of the most important in Greece, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to legend, Apollo was born, king of the sun, and in ancient times the island was the main center of the Cyclades archipelago. Prepare for a fascinating tour even though long enough and entirely under the peak sun, so do not forget hat and sun protection.
And after a day of wind, sun and sea diving? Nothing better than a good aftersole to hydrate and give relief to the skin. In my kit I had milk after sun Capital Soleil of Vichy that is a true daily beauty treatment for the body, a creamy and impalpable veil that hydrates and immediately gives a pleasant feeling of freshness, my skin was immediately softer and brighter, so that I continued to use it at home as a moisturizing cream for the body. For the face instead I had chosen a soothing fluid as Toleriane Ultra Fluid Laboratories La Roche-Posay, ideal for those who, like me, have ultra-sensitive skin. It is in fact based on thermal water and Neurosensine, a powerful soothing active with softening effect, which moisturizes and soothes intensely, attenuating skin reactivity. Without preservatives, parabens, alcohol or perfumes, it is so fluid and fresh to be also suitable for the eye contour. A veil on face, neck and décolté and I was ready for the nights of Mykonos.
by Maria Grazia Casella for the #Beautyviaggio project of The Travel News
Beauty part in collaboration with Inneov, Laboratori La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Roger & Gallet.
