The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining and summer will be here sooner than you can say Pina Colada.  This is when the panic sets in!  I can’t do much in terms of getting you (or myself for that matter) in the perfect bikini shape, but I will share a few tricks I use to get ready for summer.

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irst, let’s talk self- tanner.  I don’t know how you, but I feel tan skin is more forgiving to the stretch marks and cellulite dimples than pale skin.  Starting April, I stock up on my favorite sunless tanners.  I have two favorites.  One is the Beauty by Earth Self Tanner .  This is for the all-natural, not tested on animals,  BPA/CFC/Paraben/Sulfate/Trictosan/GMO  free health aware women.  This sunless tanner gets high ratings by   EWG  (Environmental Work Group)  and is sold on Amazon .

If you prefer more inexpensive version of self-tanner, I have personally tried and love Summer Color by Banana Boat. You can also purchase it at Amazon.  Just be aware that the EWG rating for this product is not as impressive as my first suggestion.

 

Both of these self-tanners will give you brown, not orange, self-tan.  They don’t leave streaks when applied properly, and they last about 5-7 days.  My friends asked me how to achieve the nice brown color and the answer is simple.  Before I plan on applying the tanner, I exfoliate with my exfoliation gloves which you can purchase as a packaged deal with your first order of the Beauty by Earth self-tanner at Amazon . I also like Earth Therapeutic Hydro Gloves sold by Amazon. Once I exfoliate, I apply body lotion on my elbows, knees, and around the ankle area to prevent discoloration. Finally, apply the self tanner either using the gloves or your hands. Just make sure to wash your hands immediately following the application.  After the application I wait for about 10 minutes before putting on one of my old, dark PJ’s and I recommend using dark sheets and pillow cover that night.  Some companies recommend leaving the self-tanner on during the day and wash it off before bed, but I noticed that I achieve my desired color much faster if “I sleep on it”.  In the morning I just shower and apply a nice smelling body lotion (just so I don’t smell the remains of the self-tanner).  I do this twice the first week and once I achieve the color I like, I only apply once a week throughout the whole summer. 

My second trick to get ready for summer is teeth whitening.  I’ve heard somewhere that nothing ages you as yellow teeth and since we tend to take more pictures while we are on vacation, I like to get my teeth a little polish.  I have friends who spent hundreds of dollars doing salon whitening.  I prefer to safe my money for vacation and instead use the Crest Whitestrips. I’ve been using them for about ten years and have tried all the different versions.  You can purchase them at Amazon. The options for the strips are endless and they all run in between $29-$60/14-30 day treatment.  All you have to do is put these whitening strips on for 30 minutes per day for 14 days.  It’s very simple; they have really evolved since 10 years ago.  Now the strips stay firmly attached to your teeth and are very easy to put on and peel off.  You can put them on while you are watching your favorite show (Bachelor, Game of Thrones anyone?) or while you are driving.  Once the 30 minutes is up, just peel off the strips and toss them.  I recommend not brushing directly after, as that increases teeth sensitivity.  I usually just wipe my teeth with a napkin and then brush them a few hours later.  The strips are colorless and odorless so no problem there!  I promise you, your friends will notice your pearly whites and you will thank me! Can you say cheese?

My third summer hack is elegant Panama Hat. Because ladies, let’s face it, by forty we know (and probably can see) the damage sun rays have done to our skin.  And right now, hats are so in so you won’t only be smart, you’ll also be fashionable!  I own several hats, but my favorites are a white fedora hat from Amazon or ZARA Panama Hat.

Fourth, I step it up on my pedicure. I do my own pedicures every two weeks but I do treat myself to a professional pedicure about four times a year.   After going with the red and wine hues for Fall and Winter, I always switch to a lighter, pearly color for summer.  Why?  Because after spending a day on the beach, even a small chip with a dark polish is hard to miss.  Dark polish shows every imperfection but light hues are more forgiving and they last longer.  My favorite nail polish for summer is You Glow Girl by Sally Hansen sold or The World Is My Oyster, both by Amazon.

I also use heal softener and foot file because who enjoys rough-looking, cracked heel in beautiful summer sandals?  I scrub my heels every Sunday after my bath, when my heels are soft from soaking. First, I exfoliate them with foot file.  My favorite foot file is by Sally Hansen and you can find it at Walmart for $3.78.  Once you are done, you will apply a foot lotion.  Two of my favorites are Moisturizing Foot Lotion by Sally Hansen or Tea Tree’s  Oil Foot Repair Balm by Earth Therapeutics which you can find at Ulta Beauty.  I generously apply the lotion on my feet and then leave my socks on overnight.  In the morning, you’ve got yourself soft and beautiful looking feet.

Hope you’ll give these summer hacks a try and make sure to let me know what you think ladies!