27 June 2006
BEAUTY AND THE BEACH: CELLU-LITE RELIEF
Want to look your best on holiday? Then follow our tips for getting your body in tip-top condition
LET'S be honest, it' s a nightmare being Scottish and trying to pull off having a Mediterranean body.
And no wonder it feels like mission impossible. After all, winter has been long and we've comfort-eaten our way through it. So when those two weeks of summer come, it's a real effort to look good.
So, while we might be looking forward to sunny days on the beach, we also panic when it comes to having to bare a little of our milk-bottle-white flesh.
The main pre-holiday bugbears for women in their twenties to fifties are cellulite, the condition and state of their legs and getting rid of unwanted hair.
Let's start with cellulite. Even Kylie says she has it. And although that statement has always been debatable - what with her fabulous bum and thighs -the point is that even pop divas can suffer from the curse of orange peel.
It's just so annoying to go on I holiday and watch those little foreign gazelles bouncing about the beach with not a dimple in sight. But the good news is that if you're serious and realistic, there are ways of combating the curse of the 21st century.
First off, it has to be said that prevention is better than cure, although this problem isn't irreversible.
You can make a stab at shifting it by cycling or running. And let's be realistic here, you don't have to run five miles a day and cycle another 10 to get rid of it - but a gentle jog or cycle three times a week would be a great start.
On a different note, you should try to reduce your caffeine intake. Coffee is cellulite's best mate and if you can cut down to one cup a day, preferably in the morning, you are beginning to eliminate some of the toxins that cause cellulite.
Fizzy drinks such as diet cola also perpetuate the problem, so start drinking fruit juice or water instead.
Ah, the water subject raises its head again. It's so cheap and simple, but if you keep your body properly hydrated and then flush out the toxins that hang around this area, you're on your way to a less lumpy bum.
There's no doubt that the beauty industry has capitalised on cellulite. They know that we women are a bunch of paranoid pampered pooches who would rather spend a fortune on miracle creams than putting in huge amounts of effort to exercise.
One cream that is great for firming the skin is Guerlain Issima's Ice Lift Body Treatment, £35.50, which promises freshness and guarantees firmer looking skin for a body that seems to be newly sculpted (available from major department stores or call 01932-233909).
Or you can try the latest product on the market to combat cellulite - Biotherm Celluli Peel, £29, the first biological dual-action toning and skin renewal treatment for skin that feels brand new and appears more toned (available on 0800 037 1020).
When it comes to the condition of our legs, it's a good start if they are brown. And you don't need two weeks in the French Riviera to have a St Tropez tan these days.
The trick, though, is to get the fake-tan look right. Go overboard and you'll look like a just tangoed Jordan' panic and you'll look as streaky as the bacon they feed you on holiday.
Yes, putting it on well is the art of a professional-looking tan.
First off, you should exfoliate. Use a body brush or scrub (try Guerlain Issima's Blue Exfoliating Scrub, £23.50) then you should moisturise. Then you can apply the tan.
Some great products to try are No 7's Quick Dry Foam, £11, or No 7's Quick Dry Body Spray, £11, both from Boots. Both dry in five minutes.
Or try St Tropez's Aero Tan Spray, £25, available at major department stores.
Keeping your skin moisturised is a must over summer, so check out the Water range from Clinique.
The Water Therapy Whipped Body Cream, £20, is a real treat. Imagine whipped cream, scrumptious souffl? and silky mousse and you'll get a sense of how yummy this product is (available from Clinique counters at major department stores).
Now to the dreaded area of unwanted hair. There are brilliant products out there that are easy to use but, if you're heading for the beach, why not treat yourself to the works and get all those nagging areas dealt with by a professional?
It's not expensive and then you'll know it will be done properly. Check out the Angel Sanctuary in Clydebank (01389-875850) for a professional service.
To prepare your feet for heavenly satin flip-flops like Ruby & Ed's collection (www.rubyanded.com), try Burt's Bees Foot Care Kit, £14, which contains a natural pumice stone, Coconut Foot Creme and cotton socks, from John Lewis.
And to round off the luxury look, indulge in some wickedly coloured nail polish from Bourjois, £4.50, from Boots.
Now you have no excuse for hiding behind that sarong. Whip it off and show those little foreign fillies us Scots are just as yummy as they are.
Coffee is cellulite's best mate, so try to reduce your caffeine intake.
AmbrosiaServices.com
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 1:37 PM
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