6 Ways To Get Your Body Summer Ready

Are you summer ready? After months of wearing teddy coats and winter boots, we’ve finally reached the season of bikinis and sandals. But, before you panic after realising your body and toes haven’t seen the light of day since some time last year, it’s never too late to get started. Your body confidence starts here.

We’ve listed six things you need to do before hitting the sand – from fostering a golden faux glow to getting your feet sandal-ready.

1. Buff Away Dry Skin

Exfoliate your body! We can’t stress enough how important it is to exfoliate regardless of the season. Exfoliation is number one on our list.

Shed off your dry winter skin and remove that fake tan by gently exfoliating the body – arms, elbows, knees and feet with the Exfoliating Body Scrub. This product is well-loved and has hundreds of five-star ratings. With smoothing Natural Bamboo Powders and a hint of ginger, the exfoliator 'rubs away' rough, flaky surface cells and impurities, giving skin a sleek new start.

Clarins beauty experts swear by this as a vital first step to achieving a firm and youthful-looking body. It has bamboo powder and a hint of ginger, which sloughs away rough, dead skin cells and facilitates skin cell turnover. It’s also an excellent pre-self-tan step.

2. Golden Gorgeous Faux Glow

Since there is no such a thing as a healthy tan, medical experts warn, if you have a pale complexion, self-tan is your best option to get that oozing glow. First, make sure your skin is well-exfoliated and moisturised to prevent streaking.

Clarins self-tanning products dry quickly – in just four hours. It comes in three textures: liquid drops, milky lotion and cooling gel. If you’re a bit self-conscious about the appearance of cellulite, tanned skin will make it less noticeable. To foster a perfect fake tan, make sure to start with a fresh canvas.

For the face, Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster can add customised radiance and a healthy glow. Simply mix this self-tanner with any Clarins face care product to add an extra self-tanning benefit to all of the hydrating, anti-ageing and firming actions of your usual day and night creams.

For the body, you can opt for Self Tanning Instant Gel. This self-tan gel has a fresh, non-oily gel texture that naturally and evenly tans the skin in an instant thanks to the [SelfTanComplex], a combination of naturally sourced DHA and erythulose.

For women who have medium or deep skin tones, a bit of a shimmer would have a healthy, glowing effect. Applying a highlighter to body parts will play up your bone structure and even make you look slimmer.

The SOS primer is great for putting up a sheen on your collarbone and on the apple of your shoulder. The iridescent gleam enhances bone structure. Apply some shimmer drops outside of your arm for added luminosity. This will elevate your summer nights and give your skin a boost of glow!

Word of Caution: The WHO strongly advises limiting sun exposure to a minimum. Never let your skin burn in the sun, whatever your skin colour is. Applying SPF generously during inevitable days under the sun and reapplying every two hours will prevent serious skin issues such as UV damage and, worst-case, skin cancer from developing.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with seven people dying every day. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race. So, stock on SPF, and bring a sun hat for extra protection. The bigger the brim, the better for shade.

3. Flawless limbs

Want to have gorgeous flawless summer-ready legs? Ensure to exfoliate your pins to help relieve you of stubborn ingrown hair and dry, flaky skin. Then, make them extra radiant and sheen by lathering Moisture-rich Body Lotion. Enriched with a higher concentration of Shea Butter and a blend of organic plant extracts, this lotion provides the skin with ultimate comfort and boosts the hydration of even the driest skin.

4. Eat Right

Nobody needs to feel like they should fit into a certain size. But sometimes, it’s good to beat the bloat and that heavy feeling.

To feel a little lighter, nutritionists suggest avoiding inflammatory foods, and reduce salt and sugar from your diet.

Adapting an intermittent fasting routine is considered a healthy plan for life. There are several different ways to do intermittent fasting, but they are all based on choosing regular periods to eat and fast, such as an eight-hour period each day while fasting for the remainder. Or you might choose to eat only one meal a day two days a week.

Not only will you get a leaner body, but the health benefits such as a longer life and a sharper mind, according to a study, are also good side effects. Fasting results in clearer skin and keeps acne at bay.

Finally, allotting time for physical activity as short as 20 minutes will help achieve a healthier and toned body.

5. Paint your nails

Pamper yourself with a luxe mani-pedi before you begin your summer adventures – even if it’s just a simple picnic in the park or sipping cocktails in far-flung tropical islands – make sure your nails scream summer.

Keep Hand and Nail Treatment Cream handy to nourish and moisturise your hands and strengthen your nails even on the go.

6. Sandal-ready feet

Use a foot file to soften and smoothen feet and soles, followed by exfoliating to further remove dry and dead skin cells. Cap this off by applying Foot Beauty Treatment Cream before bed. After long months of wearing boots consistently, the arnica extract will relieve swelling and fatigue while virgin cashew nut oil and shea butter smoothes-away roughness. Thanks to myrrh, your toes will be strengthened and healthy.

Most of all, be confident in the skin you are in – whatever shape or size.

We all have to remember; that feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and the sand in your toes is a privilege – so enjoy every single minute!