PREPPING for your summer holiday can be a time-consuming affair. From self-tanning to dropping a few pounds, there is a seemingly never-ending list of beautifying tasks to tick off before you feel ready to hit the beach.
By starting preparations now and following our expert guide on what to do and when, you'll be ready for your holiday in no time.
Four weeks to go diet
If you want to lose weight before your summer holiday, start cutting down on junk food.
"Reduce your intake of refined sugar to aid healthy weight loss," says Lily Simpson of The Detox Kitchen (detoxkitchen.co.uk).
"Eat extra helpings of green, leafy vegetables and good quality lean protein and you will be on your way to a healthy summer body."
Eating the right kinds of foods can also lead to a flatter stomach.
"Fibre-rich raw vegetables as well as lightly-cooked vegetables will cleanse your digestive system, which may result in less bloating," Lily adds.
Antioxidants can also help you de-bloat so try swapping your usual afternoon cuppa for a healthy green tea such as Pukka Herbs Supreme Matcha Green Tea, £1.89 (ocado.com).
Magnesium, found in spinach, bananas, nuts, seeds, fish and whole grains, will also help you achieve a flatter stomach.
Exercise
Getting active will not only speed up your weight loss but help you tone up, sleep better and give you an energy boost.
Pick a sport or book an exercise class that gives you a full body workout. The Virgin Active Queenax Fast Class (virginactive.co.uk) is a 20-minute class using equipment that looks like a climbing frame. Participants jump, climb, swing and hang to burn fat, increase strength and improve mobility.
To keep you motivated, celebrity personal trainer Russell Bateman (thesbcollective.com) advises training with a friend.
"Peer pressure can make exercise fun," he says. "You support each other and are less likely to cancel a session when you know someone is waiting for you."
When completing squats, lunges or press-ups, make them last five seconds to make your muscles work even harder.
One week to go hair
"A full head of colour is best done at least a week before sun exposure," says celebrity colourist Josh Wood (joshwoodcolour.com).
He advises not exposing freshly dyed roots to direct sunlight because it can affect colour, making it look brassy.
"For longer trips I would dye the roots to match your natural colour. This 'root shadowing' gives a more natural result," he says.
"As your new colour is blended with your natural colour, you will not have to worry about obvious-looking roots coming through while you're away."
When on holiday, care for your hair as you would your skin. "Conditioner creates a barrier between the hair and the sun so use a lot of it," says Heidi Gammon, principle colourist at Atelier Josh Wood. She also recommends using a mask such as Wella SP Repair Mask, £20.40 (feelunique.com). "If you're blonde, use a blue-tinted conditioner to brighten highlights and remove yellow tones."
Try Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Conditioner, £19 (philipkingsley.co.uk).
Cellulite
No matter how toned or fit you are, cellulite can still affect you.
The orange peel effect can be tough to shift but by using the right treatment it is possible to reduce the appearance in just one week.
The best way to do this is with a cellulite-busting spa treatment. "This should be conducted one week before hitting the beach," says Maria Hatzistefanis, skincare expert and founder of Rodial and Nip+Fab.
"This gives your body time to flush away all toxins so that the skin appears smoother and free from cellulite."
If you prefer to use an at-home cellulite cream you must start applying it a month before your departure date, advises Maria.
"Nip+Fab offers a cellulite product called Cellulite Fix which should be used 28 days before a holiday," she says.
"It should be used twice a day and after exercise. Cellulite is extremely stubborn, which is why frequency is the key when using a product like this."
Three days to go waxing
As hair tends to grow more quickly in the summer months, you need to take this into account. So don't go for a wax more than a couple of days before you're beach bound.
"Prepare skin for waxing by using a scrub the day before and don't use any moisturiser on the day of Read morethe wax as it acts as a barrier," says Carleigh Rayner, training manager at Strip (stripwaxbar.com).
"Also make sure you don't go in the sun for 48 hours before you have a wax, so your skin does not become irritated," she says.
"Ensure you wait 24 hours before applying fake tan to give your skin a chance to calm down.
"That way you should enjoy at least 10 to 14 hair-free days before you see any regrowth."
Tanning
Applied properly, fake tan can be your legs' best friend, making them look slimmer and helping to even out skin tone while you are on holiday. For the perfect faux glow, start the process a couple of days before you go away.
"First, exfoliate from top to toe," says Nichola Joss, tanning expert for St Tropez. "Use a hydrating body scrub to remove dead skin and nourish the fresh skin underneath.
"Next, apply a firming body butter to hydrate, tighten and tone your skin. Massage it in to boost circulation and give skin a radiant glow.
"The day before you leave, apply St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil, £25 (boots.com) to give an all-over golden sheen.
"Use a mitt, starting from your ankles and working upwards, massaging the oil gently into the skin," she says. "Leave for eight hours to develop before washing off the guide colour to reveal your tan.
"Remember to use a hydrating moisturiser to ensure your tan fades evenly."
One day to go eyelash tinting
Tinting brows and lashes is a great way to gain extra definition and means you don't have to wear mascara by the pool.
"When out in the sunshine your eyebrows are exposed to UV rays which can cause the hair to lighten," says brow guru Shavata Singh (shavata.co.uk).
"Tinting is a great way to prevent this. I recommend getting brows professionally manicured one day before going on holiday. Groomed eyebrows are the equivalent to a mini-facelift. It takes no longer than 15 minutes and will last for the length of your summer holiday."
Shavata advises that a tint should be no more than a couple of shades darker than your natural colour and the effects should last up to two weeks.
Nails
To keep your nails in tip top condition for the duration of your holiday, Nails Inc founder Thea Green recommends a long-lasting gel manicure.
"Our own Nails Inc Gel Manicure (from £38, nailsinc.com) lasts for up to three weeks," she says. "The manicure works to strengthen nails, prevent bending and breakages.
"It encourages natural growth underneath the gel and is finished with a professional gel top coat that locks in colour.
"If you're going to perform an at-home manicure make sure that you use both top and base coats.
"Applying additional top coat every couple of days will keep your nails looking fresh."
One final tip. While you're away, apply hand cream regularly to stop skin drying out in the sun.
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