From strawberry leg fixes to Wilko hair essential – I’m beauty editor & these are top 10 solutions to summer body woes
FROM “chub rub” and hay fever to sunburn and rough skin, there are all sorts of summer body hang-ups.
Earlier this week we asked you to share your warm weather woes via Instagram — and the questions soon came flooding in.
Your most pressing problems were put to our Beauty Editor Tara Ledden and today she shares her expert advice on how to get your body holiday-ready.
Consider it your ultimate summer survival guide, come rain or shine.
DILEMMA: Struggling to control body hair
IT can feel like body hair grows faster in the summer.
No wonder so many people rejoiced when they spotted Love Island’s Samantha Kenny shaving her knees in the villa.
TARA SAYS: If you are committed to shaving, get the closest shave possible by exfoliating first.
Then use a dedicated foam, such as Estrid shave gel, £4.95 at Boots, alongside a five-blade razor, such as Gillette Venus ComfortGlide Sensitive, £14.99 at Boots.
This should make the results last longer.
If you are up for trying other methods, you will be hair-free for longer with waxing or epilating, which removes hair at the root, rather than cutting it off at the skin’s surface.
DILEMMA: Hayfever ruins my look
AROUND 10million British people suffer from hay fever.
If one of them, you will be sick of smudged mascara, puffy eyes and a nose as red as Rudolph’s.
TARA SAYS: A pair of Botanics ice rollers, £16 at Boots, can significantly reduce irritation.
Keep them in the freezer and use first thing to take down puffiness around the eyes and immediately calm itchiness.
A soothing balm, such as CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, £11 at Boots, will help sore skin around the nose.
To combat panda eyes, try a tubing mascara, such as Soap & Glory Thick & Fast, £11.99 at Boots, which will not smudge or flake.
DILEMMA: Excessive sweat is spoiling my day
SHORT of resorting to sweat-blocking Botox, there is not much you can do to reduce your perspiration levels.
That is, aside from wearing breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen to keep cool.
Luckily, there are plenty of hacks to make sweat less noticeable
TARA SAYS: For under arms, use an antiperspirant, such as Soft & Gentle Fresh Blossom, £2 at Boots, to help regulate sweat production and reduce your BO.
If you are worried about sweat on your face, a moisture-absorbing primer, such as The Ordinary high-adherence silicone primer, £6 at Look Fantastic, will help wick it away.
For hair, powder-based products such as dry shampoo help absorb moisture before it turns roots curly.
DILEMMA: Hair is dry and scalp itchy
SUN, sea water and chlorine can play havoc with hair.
As well as drying out locks, it can affect colour and texture.
TARA SAYS: Dry ends and an oily scalp are classic symptoms of summer hair.
So wash with a balancing product such as L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure 72-hour purifying shampoo, £3.50 at Boots.
A serum, such as Ameliorate Soothing Scalp Essence, £8 at Look Fantastic, will halt itching, while Monday Haircare clarify shampoo, £5 at Look Fantastic, will strip those unwanted tinges from discoloured hair.
Hair masks, such as Umberto Giannini swim-proof protecting cream, £8.95 at Look Fantastic, will help maintain the colour.
Creightons Frizz No More hair serum, £1.99 at Wilko, will preserve sleek styles.
DILEMMA: Skin is chafing in the heat
UNDER the arms, between your legs, below your bra… anywhere the skin can rub, it can chafe.
No wonder Google searches for “anti-chafing products” are up 392 per cent year on year.
TARA SAYS: There has been a huge rise in all-over body deodorants, such as Nivea Dry comfort deodorant cream, £7.39 on Amazon, and anti-chafing products such as Megababe Thigh Rescue Stick, £12 at Cult Beauty, which reduce skin friction.
The stick is very easy to apply, so you can top it up on the go.
To help repair sore areas, clean skin with an anti-bacterial spray such as Vital Baby Aquaint sanitising water, £4.99 at Boots, and follow with Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe body lotion, £3.50 at Boots, to speed up healing.
DILEMMA: My feet are not sandal-ready
BLISTERS, hard skin and brittle toenails are not a sexy summer look.
But an at-home pedi and daily TLC will transform your tootsies.
TARA SAYS: First of all, get rid of your dead skin.
You can make a 20p scrub from juice of 1 lemon, 50g sugar and 1 tbsp of olive oil.
Next, make your feet look fabulous by painting your toenails red.
Treat weak nails to lots of cuticle oil and Rimmel Nail Nurse Complete Care 7 in 1, £4.99 at Boots.
For hard skin, use a Truyu ceramic stone pedicure file, £4.50 at Sainsbury’s, a couple of times a week after showering.
Apply foot cream daily.
To treat blisters, cover them with a blister plaster. Do not pop them as it will take longer to heal.
DILEMMA: Rough skin on arms and legs
KERATOSIS pilaris, aka “chicken skin”, is a year-round problem for many.
With most of us wearing fewer clothes in summer it is more visible.
Searches for treatments are up 297 per cent at Look Fantastic and #keratosispilaris has racked up more than 764milion views on TikTok.
TARA SAYS: The bumps are caused by over- production of keratin, so the solution lies in exfoliation.
Use a chemical exfoliant, such as Q+A salicylic acid body wash, £5.60 at Holland and Barrett, in the shower, followed by Aveeno Skin Renewal smoothing cream, £14.99 at Superdrug, which contains gently exfoliating PHAs to hydrate skin without clogging pores.
For “strawberry legs” – tiny dark dots on the skin – exfoliation also helps.
Dry skin can exacerbate the condition, so keep legs hydrated with The Inkey List PHA body water cream, £13, Boots.
DILEMMA: Rosacea flares up in heat
ACCORDING to a National Rosacea Society survey, more than half of sufferers say their symptoms get worse during summer.
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes flushing or long-term redness.
TARA SAYS: Limit anything you know that causes flare-ups and avoid exposure to sun where possible.
A green primer will be your best friend when it comes to disguising redness.
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color correcting treatment, £19 at Cultbeauty.co.uk, is a miracle worker.
It has cica to soothe and a redness-reducing green pigment.
Face mists will relieve tight, dry skin and can be applied over make-up.
Try Boots DermaCare Ceramides replenishing mist, £6, Boots.
DILEMMA: I want to hide tan lines
WHETHER it is an everyday T-shirt tan, or you wore an intricate cut-out swimsuit and now have dodgy tan lines, it can be hard to make up the difference naturally.
TARA SAYS: Your best bet is to use fake tan and apply a second layer to the areas that are lighter.
Use a dense make-up brush, such as e.l.f mutli-use face brush, £3, elfcosmetics.co.uk, for precision application.
A tan with a guide colour, such as Bondi Sands mini dark foam, £11.99 at Boots, is best.
You will be able to tell exactly where you have applied it.
For an instant fix, 17 Bronze Drops, £4.50 at Boots, will even out the area.
DILEMMA: I’ve got really sore sunburn
IT is the cardinal sin of summer, but 52 per cent of us get sunburnt at least once a year.
While you cannot reverse the damage, there are ways to fast-forward the healing process.
TARA SAYS: As soon as you realise you have burned, take a cool shower (not ice cold, as that may cause blisters).
Follow with an aloe vera moisturiser to hydrate skin, such as Aloe Pura gel, £3.49 at Superdrug.
If skin is really sore, take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling.
As always, prevention is better than cure, so always apply sunscreen, such as Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 50+ sensitive advanced face and body serum, £10 at Boots.