Look Beautiful at the Beach

When summer comes around, you want to feel and look gorgeous for your long days at the beach. Getting ready for beach season can happen all year long by implementing exercise and healthy diet into your daily routine. Eating a diet high in protein, veggies, and healthy fats and increasing cardio and strength activities will get your body lean and toned, and learning what skin care routines and accessories make you look and feel best will help you exude confidence at the beach.

Steps

Accessorizing To Fit Your Body Type

1. Go shopping for a swimsuit that suits your shape. Every body type looks best in a different style of swimsuit. Whether you’ve got curves or a straighter waistline, purchasing a suit that flatters your figure is a guaranteed confidence builder.
   • For a big bust, opt for a halter-style bikini top with cups or inner support or a bra top with underwire support.
   • For a tummy, try a tankini, especially A-line style tankinis. If you are worried about your hips/bum, boy leg shorts always look hot.
   • For a small bust, find a top with ruffles, a bow or any textural embellishments to emphasize.
   • Pastel colors suit paler skins, whereas bright colors look great on tanned or dark skin. Keep in mind you need to be confident in whatever swimsuit you're in!
2. Wear a fun hat. Hats are both good sun protection and a fun beach accessory. If you’re feeling self-conscious about your body, hats help to draw the eye upward and bring more attention to your face.
3. Paint your nails and toenails. Try out a bright summer color that will stand out, like yellow or orange. Getting a manicure and pedicure will make your nails pop, and also get rid of unwanted flaky skin on tricky spots like the bottoms of your feet, palms and cuticles.
4. Try out a new hairstyle. Between sun, ocean water, and sand, your hair is inevitably going to get messy at the beach. Why not prepare at home by giving yourself a cute hairstyle that lends itself to frizz and mess? Top knots and side braids are casual, cute, and naturally cut down on frizz and sun exposure.
   • If your hair starts to feel dry after a few days at the beach, go heavy on the conditioner and purchase a leave-in cream with SPF.
   • For the adventurous, throw on a colorful headband or scarf to take your hairstyle to the next level.
5. Bedazzle yourself. Jewelry at the beach is eye catching and makes you stand out. Wear a long, delicate necklace, a leather bracelet to class it up, and a pair of sunglasses that flatter your facial features.
   • Pick out a colorful beach bag with modern print to glamorize the process of lugging around towels and other beach necessities.
   • Kaftans are chic and act as useful cover ups when the sun gets a little too overbearing.
6. Stand up straight and with confidence while on the beach. The best accessory anyone can have at the beach is confidence. Try practicing a few mindfulness exercises a day such as meditation or yoga to feel more comfortable and relaxed in your own skin. And don’t forget to smile and have a good time at the beach. If you act confident, you’ll feel confident!

Getting in Shape

1. Develop a cardio routine. To look good at the beach it’s important to feel fit and toned, and cardio is a great way to burn extra calories. Working in about 45 minutes to an hour of cardio 4-6 days a week will help speed up your metabolism. Cardio also releases hormones that decrease stress and appetite and boost your overall positivity!
   • Be sure to pick an activity that you enjoy. Running, biking, and swimming are all fun cardio exercises for some, but if these aren’t for you, check to see if any zumba or spin classes are going on in your gym or neighborhood.
2. Incorporate strength workouts. The best way to get that toned body you’ve always wanted is to start including strength based exercises into your weekly workout routine. Strength training increases lean muscle mass, reduces body fat, and burns calories. Aim to do strength exercises 2-4 times a week, depending on your level of fitness.
   • There are many ways to strength train. Lift weights, do yoga, do bodyweight exercises (push ups, pull ups, squats) – even ditching your car and walking back from the store with heavy groceries is a great strength activity!
   • There’s a misconception that lifting heavy weights will make women too bulky. Straining your muscles is in fact the only way to get them the stronger – the unwanted bulk comes from eating too many calories. Next time you’re in the gym, ask a friend or trainer to show you how to do deadlifts, squats with weight, and kettlebell swings. These are both excellent workouts that will tone up your whole body.
3. Work your core. Adding a substantial amount of core to your workout will help your abs ready for swimsuit season. Be sure to do a variety of high intensity workouts. Mountain climbers count as both cardio and abs, and holding side and front planks for 30-60 seconds will target your abs, back and shoulders.
4. Cut out carbs. Replacing unhealthy carbs such as sugar and starch (breads, pastas, pastries) with healthier alternatives reduces appetite, burns fat, and makes you feel and look more fit. Fill your diet with lots of lean protein (poultry, fish, legumes, and eggs) and as many vegetables as you’d like, and you’ll see and feel the results.
   • Cutting carbs doesn’t mean completely eliminating them. The most important change you can make to your diet is getting rid of those processed foods that don’t provide your body with nutrients. Eating whole grains high in fiber such as oats, brown rice, farro, or quinoa in moderation will help you feel full and keep your diet balanced.
5. Drink lots of water. Dehydration causes water retention, making you look unnecessarily bloated, puffy, and fatigued. Be sure to drink six-eight cups of water a day, and try cutting out diuretics (coffee and alcohol) a few days before you hit the beach to make your body as hydrated as possible.

Revitalizing Your Appearance

1. Give your body a full exfoliation. Exfoliating your skin removes flakiness and gives you a healthy glow. Try an exfoliating body scrub in the shower and a deep pore cleansing clay mask for your face and neck. Be sure to moisturize!
   • If you don’t have a body scrub, try mixing brown sugar with any body lotion for a homemade exfoliant. Apply to your skin in a circular motion and then rinse off in a warm shower.
   • Be sure to exfoliate 24 hours before the beach to give your body time to recover from potential inflammation.
2. Make sure to remove all unwanted body hair. Getting a wax or shaving at home will eliminate body hair to get you looking great in a bikini. If shaving at home, be sure to lather up on shaving cream and use a good, 3-4-blade razor to avoid unsightly cuts or razor burn.
   • For those opting for a wax, be sure to book an appointment a few days before you hit the beach to give inflammation time to heal.
3. Apply sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Use sunscreen all over your body and face to avoid a burn. Sun damage also can cause wrinkles, so it’s important to lather up even if you’re working on a tan. Look for moisturizers, make up, and lip balm with a little added SPF to get some extra protection.
4. Get rid of body acne. Sweat and dirt in your pores can easily turn into unwanted pimples and blackheads. If you struggle from body or facial acne, use a body wash that contains salicylic acid to maintain blemish free skin.
5. Apply a self-tanner for a bronzed, beach babe look. This should be applied after you moisturize. It usually takes between 5-7 days for skin to peak, so plan accordingly. There’s no need to use a self-tanner, but many find it boosts confidence in the early beach season when skin is still lighter from winter. Remember, pale skin is beautiful too!

• Make sure all makeup is waterproof.
• For a natural beauty therapy whilst at the beach, you can give your body an exfoliation with sand and rinse with pure ocean water.
• Spray an anti-frizz treatment in your hair and then leave au natural. Low maintenance should be the main aim at the beach.
• Be sure to apply sunblock regularly to avoid sunburn. It is always better to be pale than sunburnt!
• For a more subtle tan, mix self-tanner with your moisturizer for a lighter radiance.
• Get six to eight hours of sleep per night to boost your metabolism and feel fresh at the beach.
• Smile and be confident. You will look a million times better if you are happy with yourself!

Warnings

• Don't forget to maintain a weekly exercise regimen and a healthy eating plan to make sure you look great in your bikini!
• Don't forget to have a shower before you head for the beach...body odor on a hot summer day is a real turn-off.
• Exfoliants can fade or even streak your tan, so be careful.
• Exfoliating and rinsing with ocean water can in turn make the skin more susceptible to dryness and the bacteria and microorganisms that populate both the sand and ocean water. Be sure to use lotion and antibacterial soap on your feet and the rest of your body once you get home.
• Shave before you use self-tanner or it will come off in the places that you shaved.

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