I'm not sure if I've mentioned it yet but I'm going on holiday this week! Obviously I'm very excited by the prospect of a week in the sunshine but this also brings with it a teensy bit of anxiety, I'll be spending most of my holiday in little more than a bikini, eek!!
Most of the womens' magazines out there at the moment will have a feature on how to get "bikini-ready". All very well and good if you have a month and the will-power of a rhino, neither of which are currently in my possession. I have 3 days, and zero will-power when it comes to food. With that in mind, here's how I prepare myself for such an occasion.
Rule Number One - and this is the most important one. I accept that I am not going to look like Gisele, Elle or Heidi for this holiday, nor am I going to be able to significantly change my body shape. I want to arrive on my holiday ready to relax and have fun, not light-headed because I haven't eaten carbs for a month and have spent my life in the gym.
Rule Number Two - Make the most of what you have got. For me this is about having soft, glowing skin that's not super-pale so when you strip off pool side you may actually blind someone. And pretty toes! Sounds silly but this is one thing that EVERYONE can achieve!
So what do I do?
First of all, use some of these beauties in the shower daily. These are exfoliating gloves and can be bought virtually everywhere that would sell shower gel. A simple way to smooth, soft skin.
In the morning after my shower I slather on this stuff:
Slimwear by Soap & Glory. It's a body balm that reduces "puff" and "orange peel" effect. I really like it. I've tried more expensive brands before but this totally seems to tighten everything up and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and toned.
And then in the evening, 10 minutes or so before bed, some St. Tropez Everyday Body Moisturiser (Light-Medium).
The reason I do this before bed is two-fold:
1. I generally don't have time to wait around in the morning for lotions to "sink-in"
2. For some reason, all moisturisers with an element of fake-tan smell really "biscuity" on my skin. I've tried so many brands over the years but they all do it. I love St. Tropez for the colour it gives my skin. Just warm and naturally tanned. Putting this on before bed means I can wash the smell off in the morning but keep my tanned skin, perfecto!
On to your tootsies. I swear by the products in the pic below to transform my feet and make them look pretty.
1. Ped-Egg. Great for getting rid of dead-skin. You use this "dry", so no doubling over in the shower with a pumice!
3. Pretty Nail Polish. This one is "Show-Off" by Rimmel, London. But any pinky/coral/red polish will look lovely on your toes.
And, that's it. There's nothing left to do, except have a fabulous time and feel confident with what I've got.
What's your pre-holiday beauty regime like?
P.S. I am not affiliated with any of the brands above in any way. These recommendations are made purely on my own experience and opinion.
