Our get-gorgeous guide for becoming a summer stunner.
1. Those paparazzi pics of Mischa Barton's dimpled derriere made us all feel a little bit better, but that still leaves us with lumpy-bumpy legs and bums. To get swimsuit-ready, try one of the many slimming or anti-cellulite product with tightening ingredients like caffeine, gingko, and ginseng, according to Biotherm representative Nadine Lajoie. You can never get rid of cellulite, but minimizing its appearance can be helped along by massage. Biotherm's new Celluli line includes a massage tool to improve circulation and aid absorption of the product, which will work on reducing and preventing hardening of the collagen fibers.
2. You caught a little sun - we'll forgive you (this time!) - and suddenly the foundation shade that took many an hour to match perfectly doesn't look quite ... right. Eddie Maleterre, L'Oreal's main makeup man in Canada, recommends skipping foundation altogether and using a bronzing powder instead where the sun would normally hit the skin such as the nose, cheeks, and forehead. (Give Cargo Bronzer a try.) Or, if you can't do without, says Maleterre, "have a foundation that is one shade darker than your regular one and you can mix both to achieve the right shade." (L'Oreal's True Match touts itself as muy blendable.) Girls in a hurry can check out Revlon's new Custom Creations Foundation, which comes in a container that you "click" to the right shade for you.
3. Summer can render your fave fragrance too strong, and even attract bugs. It's a good idea to switch to a lighter, alcohol-free formulations once the temperature rises. Our new faves include Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique Summer Fragrance and Calvin Klein Eternity Summer. Girls looking to double up on benefits can check out Lavanila's antioxidant-packed Vanilla Coconut, or even Shu Uemura's Deepsea Waters, which come in beautiful botanical scents and hydrates the skin with minerals.
4. Ah, tanning - all roads lead to that Lohan-like Orange Crush shade, or skin cancer. It's enough to turn a girl to self-tanners for life (here's hoping!). Where to start? "It is really important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells; it is the key to a streak-free tan," said Maleterre. "Then, after you apply your self-tanner (and make sure you've really applied it everywhere), make sure to wash your hands to avoid stained palms." He's a fan of L'Oreal's new Sublime Bronze Gradual: the lotion is easy to apply and contains AHA, which will gently exfoliate the skin while you are applying it to ensure a smooth tan. Other new user-friendly options include Marcelle's I-Bronze self-tanning cloths (they're biodegradable to boot), and Clarins Delicious Self-Tanning Cream, which is tinted to show what's been swiped already.
Get beautiful nails and smooth skin for summer on the next page...
Summer lovin': Avoid these beauty blunders
Image courtesy of Marcio Madeira
