Bikini prep for summer: Your ultimate guide

We recently stopped by to chat with Jeanine Giot, owner and skincare therapist at Jentl Health & Skin Care, to find out how we should be preparing our skins for bikini season. Here are her top tips to get your skin ready for its moment in the limelight.

Summer skin that glows from the inside out

That enviable summer glow starts from the inside out. “Things like cellulite are aggravated by lots of caffeine, sugar, starch and dairy. Try to introduce a healthier take on nutrition while you're still wrapped up for winter - reduce your caffeine intake, and cut down on the processed foods you eat; focus on enjoying good, clean whole foods with a high nutrient density. Apart from helping to reduce the appearance of cellulite, it will also help boost your skin’s glow.

BONUS TIP: Stay hydrated! A hydrated skin just looks better. Drink your 2 litres of water every single day.

Up your exfoliation game

“Regular exfoliation improves your lymphatic drainage, which in turn improves circulation and the overall condition of your skin because you're helping your body to remove toxins naturally,” explains Jeanine. “It really doesn't need to be difficult; one of the easiest ways to exfoliate is to use one a textured washing mitten in the shower. I prefer this over a loofah because it doesn't collect bacteria and its simple to pop in the wash for a clean. However, whenever you exfoliate, remember that you are removing dead skin cells, which results in a slightly compromised moisture barrier. This is why it is so important to moisturise your skin daily to lock it its natural moisture.”
 
BONUS TIP: If you suffer from severe dryness of the skin, it can help to swop a shower gel for a shower cream or oil that provides moisture without altering the pH of your skin. 

Be careful about the way you get colour

“We all become quite pale in winter, and then want to get a little colour as quickly as possible in summer,” says Jeanine. “I am not an advocate of sun beds at all – it uses UVA, which is the ray that penetrates the dermis, destroys skin cells and causes aging and skin diseases like cancer. Spending time in natural sunlight is actually better than lying on a sunbed. Natural light contains UVB rays that cause a tingling sensation on your skin, signalling that you are being overexposed and cautioning you to seek shelter. You don't get that with a sun bed.” 

“Self-tan is even safer, of course. If you're afraid of getting a streaky effect, use a gradual daily self-tanning product. Just be careful not to use too much of the product around the ankles or the knees, where there are a lot of dead skin cells, which means it can go darker than you intended.”

Don’t change your hair-removal tune too abruptly

“The biggest mistake you can make in terms of hair removal is to shave your entire life and then decide to go for a wax just before going on a trip or before summer starts,” cautions Jeanine. “Your first wax will always be a rather unsuccessful wax, especially if you were a lifelong shaver up until this point. The hair will be really coarse and hard. There may be some ingrown hairs and small infections after the fact.”

“In short, if you want to start waxing, do so in winter and get in a pattern of doing so every three to four weeks so your hair growth will start to decrease. This way, when summer rolls around, you won't have any issues. If you want to continue shaving and have a problem with rashes, it helps to invest in a good shaving cream that will help with ingrown hairs. Another option is lasering with the assistance of a trained skin therapist.”

Check out your products before you go into the sun

“Check in with your therapist before summer to find out whether the products you're using could cause skin reactions when you go into the sun,” advises Jeanine. “If you use an alpha hydroxide-based salon product as a part of your skincare regime, be careful when you go into the sun. It can cause pigmentation in the long run. The same goes for products that contain natural essential oils like bergamot.”

IMAGE CREDIT: shutterstock.com