Capture Your Summer Glow: A Riviera Escape With Estée Lauder At The One&Only Aesthesis

The journey began at Heathrow Airport, where our guests glided into a moment of calm at Estée Lauder’s counter at World Duty Free.

Here, skin was hydrated as serums were tapped gently into the skin with Summer Glow Skincare treatments, and cheeks were given a lit-from-within glow with Sunrise to Sunset Makeup touch-ups. Bronze Goddess: The Scent of the Summer filled the air, setting the holiday mood with notes of creamy coconut, amber, and solar florals in every spritz.

A short flight later, the scene changed. The One&Only Aesthesis, just a half hour from Athens, revealed itself like a secret whispered along the coast, with low-slung villas framed by pines, a saltwater pool that glitters like glass, and a private beach just out of sight. It was here, on this delicious slip of the Athens Riviera, that Estée Lauder, in partnership with The Wedding Edition, gathered a rather fabulous guest list to Capture Your Summer Glow: 48 sun-splashed hours of scent, skincare and summer reverie.

Joining the getaway were Annabelle Hoy, Dënis Colak-Taylor, Pam Hughes, Nimi Blackwell, and Maja Malnar, each arriving from across Europe to discover this Grecian idyll— and quite possibly the most photogenic escape on the Med.

The first afternoon unfolded beneath citrus trees, where icy cocktails clinked and conversation flowed across a breezy, sun-drenched lunch. Tucked away in each bungalow, a post travel skincare edit to refresh and nourish after flying. In each wardrobe, a curated selection from By Rotation hung elegantly alongside Stone and Mason evening bags. There was a mood of quiet glamour. The kind of hush that precedes the magic of golden hour.

Later, guests drifted to the Glow Suite to learn beauty tips and tricks tailored to summer escapes. Double Wear Foundation and concealer shades were matched in daylight, lids were lit in soft golds, and cheeks polished to perfection with Bronze Goddess bronzers and highlighters. Champagne was poured and fresh fruit platters were enjoyed, while outside, the light began to dip.

By evening, everything glowed. And as the sun slipped behind the horizon, guests arrived for cocktails beside the pool at Villa Ilios, a private home carved between pine and sea. Hurricane candles flickered along a long table laid on the terrace, dressed in breezy linen and soft white florals. This was golden hour, bottled.

Dinner was as decadent as the setting. Burrata and cherry tomatoes with basil and carob. Traditional chicken with aubergine Spetsiariko and Sfela. A dark chocolate mousse to finish, scattered with berries. Each place was marked by an engraved bottle of Bronze Goddess Nuit, discreetly gleaming in the candlelight.

The next morning began slowly. Breakfast was served under the palms—icy coffees, just-baked pastries, and the faintest scent of fig on the air. Some made their way down to Mystiko, the resort’s hidden beach, where Estée Lauder cushions lined each sun lounger and Gigi & Olive towels embroidered with each guest’s initials soaked up the morning heat. Bronze Goddess Highlighting Gelee was swept across sun-kissed cheeks, and Perfectionist Pro UV Gel SPF 50 was reapplied, just so. A final few hours of quiet, salty contentment.

Come late afternoon, there was one last dip, one last spritz of fragrance with Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche, and moments shared alongside a final meal at the One&Only’s poolside restaurant, Ora. Back at the airport , a final Estée Lauder facial awaited, along with a top-up of glow essentials to carry the Riviera home. Somewhere between Athens and the arrivals hall, summer was already becoming a memory. A moment made for keeping.

Visit the Estée Lauder counter at the airport before you fly to ensure your beauty bag is filled with every summer glow essential.

Travel hack: if you don’t have long to spend at the airport, pre-order Estée Lauder products to pick up at Duty Free with Reserve & Collect service.