1 Hair removal

It’s exciting when summer arrives, especially when all the make-my-life-easier hair removal products hit the shelves. There are so many choices but the top 4 ways of removing fuzz, go something like this:  .

1 Shaving: So quick and easy, perfect for calves and underarms. It’s now even easier if you use Veet's Touchably Smooth All Over Body Shaver, $59.99, it can be used wet or dry.

2 Cream removal: Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream, $17.99, has worked to dissolve unwanted fuzz by the time you’ve washed your hair. The special cream is designed to dissolve slowly in water, so once applied to legs you can jump in the shower and wash off in 3 minutes. Why didn’t they think of this before, technology’s a wonderful thing.

3 Waxing: Waxing strips now have contour weave technology which mean they curve to your body making them more effective. The best thing about strips? You don’t have to heat them and they’re virtually mess free. Why wax? Hair won’t grow back for up to 4 weeks.
Caption: Veet Delightful Gel Wax for Noraml Skin, $17.99

4 Laser: It’s by far the most expensive and painful yet laser really does work to minimalise hair growth. In some cases hair doesn’t grow back at all but mostly it’s severely minimised. For best results The Clinic in Bondi Junction recommends 4-6 treatments, staggered every 6 weeks. 02 93861533.. 

2 Exfoliation

Before you reach for a bottle of build-a tan to take the edge of your pasty skin, preparation is paramount. Fake tan applied over the top of dead skin means clumped, streaky results.

Step one: There are many ways to exfoliate but the most effective are: a steaming face cloth doused in moisturising body washor rich oily salt/sugar scrubs to whisk away the top flakey layer and leave skin feeling soft.

Step two: Always scrub starting at the feet, moving your hand or the washer in a circular motion towards the heart to increase circulation while your polish.

Step three: After the shower, don’t rub your skin with a towel, instead pat your skin gently to blot away the moisture, avoiding dryness.

Step four: If you’re going to fake tan immediately and you have used the face cloth and body wash combo then apply a very light moisturising milk, allow it to dry then apply the self tanning product. If you plan to tan the next day, layer on a thick body balm to nourish freshly exfoliated skin and leave over night.

Note: If you have used an oily scrub you can skip the moustuising step as skin will be nourished enough form the oil.
Expert tip: Most people don’t realise moisturiser is also an exfoliant, so smother yourself everyday for glowing skin.
Captions: Lux Luminous Touch Body Wash Shea Cream & Skin Illuminators $5.50 

3 Bronzing for body

The faux tan war has begun and we love it. Why? When the cosmetic companies start competing it means better products for us. The new spray tans have better formulations than previous years so looking like an Ibiza babe is achievable.

Neutrogena is leading the pack with their new Micromist Tanning Sunless Spray $19. The fine spray means you don’t have to rub afterwards and the quick drying formula means there’s no waiting to get dressed. The glut of new moisturiser with a hint of fake tan mean less mistakes too, plus you have the added benefit of supper supple limbs and a has-she-or-hasn’t-she faked it effect.

Check out Johnson’s Holiday Skin $7, Dove Summer Summer Glow Body Lotion normal to dark $7, L’Oreal Paris Nutrisummer $14.45  and Neutrogena Build-A-Tan $19

4 Bronzing for face

The best way to faux tan your face is using a foundation brush. For even coverage, apply your normal face moisturiser then use a foundation brush to apply the self tanner. The brush makes manouvering around eyebrows so much easier. Expert trick: The secret to looking natural is taking the tanner right up under the eyes and on the eyelids. Be sure to apply just a touch on your earlobes too and no one will guess it’s fake. Try

5 Toe Nails

The secret to perfect looking toes this summer is Bio Sculpture. If you haven’t tried it on your nails you must. Now. For the same price of a pedicure you can have liquid gel painted straight on to the nail bed . Once dry, it doesn’t chip or flake (truly) and won’t damage the nails either like acrylics. There are 71 colours in the range like naturally nude, a great colour for finger nails or tangerine for toes.

The best part? You can paint a normal nail polish over the top, when you’re sick of it, wipe it off with an acetone free polish remover and the original gel glossy colour is intact underneath. Brilliant! There are approximately 3,500 salons across Australia that stock bio sculpture. Call 02 9523 6876 or www.biosculpture.com.au 

6 Hair solutions

Keeping hair under control is summer isn’t an easy task. Here’s some simple styles to try:

1 Scrunch: Work with your existing wave using a spritz of John Frieda Beach Blonde Ocean Waves $16.95. Can’t get your hands on some? Fill a bottle with real sea water and spray on towel dried hair, the effect will be the same. Beauty Alert: This is only when you’re desperate as continually use will dry your hair out.

2 Slick with a mask: Models aren’t the only ones that can work a slicked-back ‘do’.  Make the look work for you this summer by smoothing a mask through hair before going to the beach, using product to help your hair at the same time. We like L’Oreal Professionnel Solar Nutri Protective System $xx.

3 Plait: Keep frizzy hair under control by combing mousse through towel dried hair then styling it into a plait (fish bone plaits are hot right now). Don’t take the plait out for bed, instead, sleep on it and let it out in the morning to create sexy kinks. We’re into Redken Full Frame 07 Mousse $24.50 to protect hair from humidity.

Hot tip: Remember to swap your normal shampoo to a colour protecting version this summer as sun and sea will speed up the fade factor.
Caption: Sunsilk Colour Lock Shampoo and Conditioner $4.50 each