It’s the season to have some fun in the sun! Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or an extended beach holiday with your loved ones, if swimwear is at the top of your to-pack list, then it’s time to prep your skin to look its very best. Read on for a step-by-step on how to achieve smooth, swimwear ready skin!
- Exfoliate
Exfoliating takes away the layer of dead skin cells that sits on top of the skin, which makes it the perfect first step in your skin prep. Using a gentle scrub like this one from Herbivore or you could even make one at home using sugar, coconut oil and a few drops of essential oils. Massage into the skin in circular motion to reveal soft, baby smooth clean skin!
- Shave
Once the skin is squeaky clean and baby soft, take its smoothness to the next level by getting rid of any unwanted bodily hair. Exfoliating after shaving will lead to that freshly shaved skin being thinner and more sensitive. Or even worse, if you’ve had any nicks or burns from the razor, exfoliating will put it at risk to getting inflamed and irritated.
- Hydrate
After exfoliating and shaving, it’s important that any moisture that’s been stripped from the skin epidermis be restored. We love products with natural ingredients like this Kopari Body Lotion that’s packed with anti-ageing properties and easily absorbed into the skin. For a more intense moisture, go straight for the multitasking coconut oil – not only is it nutrient dense, it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties to help skin repair itself.
- Protect
This step comes as no surprise. To keep skin healthy, you’ll need to protect it from damaging UVA and UVB rays by applying SPF if you’re going to be in the sun. Apply generously and evenly before sun exposure and reapply every two hours throughout your time in the sun in order to stay protected (sun, sweat and grime tends to diminish the effectiveness of sunscreen).
- Cleanse
To prevent any build up of grime or product which can lead to the skin’s pores getting clogged, it’s important to cleanse the skin at the end of every day. Depending on the skin type, picking the right cleanser is important to address how you want your skin to look and feel. For instance if your skin is oily and prone to congestion and feeling oily, something that deeply cleanses might suit it better, whereas those with skin that feels dry should opt for cleansers that are creamy and moisturizing.