Beach Body Beauty Blitz

So, it’s August (finally!) and you are just a week away from your summer holiday. If you haven’t booked one yet, then there are some fabulous deals around at the moment to escape our British rain. Snap one up and then follow our 5 easy tips to feeling fabulous in your bikini..

1. BIKINI BODY

Avoid heavy, starchy foods. Don’t attempt to crash diet a week before your flight and expect to feel fab when you get there. We can’t all be Kelly Brook and you’re more likely to fill up on all of the “bad” holiday food as a “reward” and end up feeling sluggish and bloated in your bikini. The best thing to do is to just be careful with what you eat leading up to and on your holiday – eat more fruit and veg and less bread and cake. It’s a simple plan, but we always seem to forget it!

2. SUPER SKIN

Drink lots of water to flush out toxins and leave your skin looking healthy and refreshed all over. It’s that old chestnut, but water really is the best thing that you can put in your body to feel awake, alert and healthy. Avoid lots of caffeine and sugary products as they can dry out your skin. Also use a good exfoliator before and during your holiday. The healthier your skin is, the less likely it is to peel. Don’t be worried about scrubbing your tan off. If your skin is healthy, it won’t come off! Stay moisturised too, which will keep your skin from drying out in hot weather. SPF15 is really the minimum that you should be using in the sun. It is also recommended that you use a separate sun cream for your face, as the skin is more sensitive and always exposed. Opt for a higher SPF if you are pale and ALWAYS use after sun lotion to cool down your skin and prolong your tan.

3. HEAVENLY HAIR

If you are looking after your body and your skin, all of those tips should come in useful for your hair too. However, you can do more. Make sure that you use a moisturising conditioner to keep your hair from drying out. Ideally leave it on for a few minutes in the shower, whilst you are shaving your legs or exfoliating, so that it has time to really treat your hair. Another great idea is to use an intensive hair mask a couple of times a week to really make it shine. If you are a sun bunny, don’t forget to protect your hair too! Either wear a stylish hat (there are many in this season!) or use a protective sun spray to prevent drying.

4. TANTALISING TALONS

A DIY manicure isn’t as difficult as you may think. And in these credit-crunching times, many women are opting for a home remedy to costly salon prices. File your nails down so that they are all the same length going from the outside to the middle in one direction from both sides of the nail. Then apply a cuticle cream or oil to your cuticles and leave to work for a few minutes, before pushing the cuticle down into the nail bed. Rinse your hands and apply a base coat, 2 coats of your chosen colour before sealing it with a top coat, waiting for each to dry in between. Colours for this summer include corals and neons. If you really want to be ahead of the pack, opt for green as it’s what we will all be wearing for AW09. Finally use a good moisturizer and avoid washing up!

5. PERFECT PEDICURE

Don’t forget about your tootsies because you don’t want them to let you down this holiday, given all of the effort that you’ve put in above! First use a foot file to get rid of any dry skin, then soak your feet for a good half and hour before drying and applying cuticle cream/oil and pushing the cuticles back, file your toenails to smooth, then apply base coat, colour and top coat. Finally, once your polish is dry apply an intensive foot cream and slip on a pair of socks overnight to really let it soak in. Your feet will look perfect in some on-trend gladiators whilst out sight-seeing or a pair of cool flip-flops by the pool.