Celebrate the summer with a selection of products to get you ready for the beach
Get those bikinis on standby: there’s talk of a long, hot summer. There are so many beautiful British beaches – there’s no excuse for missing out on the sand this season.
We’ve chosen four of our favourite beachy products – and shared some on-point beach-tastic tips. So, crank-up your Ibiza playlist, channel your inner Love Island contestant and get ready to own the sunshine.
Beach must-have no1: High protection SPF
At this time of year, high SPF protection should never be swerved. Choose a water resistant, broad-spectrum sun protection product: Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50 is a sheer solar protection treatment that defends against prolonged skin damage from UV light and environmental assault.
Beach tip: If you’re hitting the beach this week, try cutting out alcohol and caffeine for at least 72-hours before you step onto the sand. Combined with drinking lots of water, this can help to hydrate skin and prevent a ‘puffy’ appearance caused by water-retention.
Beach must-have no2: Sunshine hair spray
Although protecting your skin is a priority, your hair deserves some TLC on the beach, too. A protective sunshine spray can fight frizz, add shine and protect your hair from the sun’s damaging effects. Alterna Bamboo Beach Sunshine Spray is a mist that helps maintain super-vibrant strands by creating a UVA/UVB veil to protect them from the harsh summer elements. It also helps to combat the damaging effects of chlorine and saltwater.
Beach tip: Did you know you can style yourself sexy? Your beachwear and accessories can make a major difference in boosting your body confidence. For example, a short kaftan and wedge sandals – rather than a long cover-up and flip-flops – can turn your so-so beach style into a summer sizzler. Attention-grabbing accessories, such as oversized hoop earrings to add glamour, or a drop necklace to accentuate your cleavage, make a huge difference, too.
Beach must-have no3: Fake it ‘til you make it
If you’re still rather ‘spring-pasty’, use a subtle self-tanning product in your build-up to the big beach reveal. Fake Bake Fair Gradual Self Tan is a great option if you’re heading to the beach today as it gives you a beautiful golden glow from the first application, not the 10th! With all the same ingredients as Fake Bake Original, the colour guide on this product has been lifted to the very palest soft fudge colour – plus a delicious coconut fragrance that immediately transports your senses to the nearest exotic beach…
Beach tip: The style of bikini you choose can have a massive impact on your beach body. A bikini with fabric ruching will expand and contract to mold to your body shape, eliminating any bumps or bulges; hipster-style bikini bottoms sit below your hipbones to make your bottom and thighs look smaller; and ‘style blocking’ helps to downplay your problem spots; for example, if you love your boobs more than your thighs, wear an attention-grabbing top (think neon or embellished) paired with basic one-colour bottoms.
Beach must-have no4: After-sun hair mask
After a long day on the beach, your hair may be parched and in need of some attention. As well as neutralising and restoring post-beach hair in as little as one minute, increasing softness and shine, Alterna Bamboo Beach 1 Minute Recovery Masque prepares hair for its next beach session: it provides UVA/UVB protection to help combat the damaging effects of the sun, the swimming pool and saltwater.
Beach tip: If you could do with an emergency tone-up before you roll out the beach mat, aim for gentle routines that stretch and tone the hips, thighs and buttocks, rather than full-on aerobic blow-outs that could result in injury – or distinctly beach-unfriendly stiffness. If you detest squats and crunches, try yoga instead: you could even boost your beach-cred by practicing a ‘downward dog’ on the dunes…
