How to Prepare for Swimsuit Season: Read These Beauty-and-Fitness Dos & Don'ts Before You Hit the Beach

May 11, 2009

1/13

DO dehair your legs and bikini line.

One of the most nerve-racking things about hitting the beach or pool scene is worrying about pesky stray hairs turning up here, there and, well, everywhere. So before you head out into the sun, pop a few Advil and go get a wax or just shave at home. If you're DIYing, go slowly: Nicks, scabs and scrapes don't really go with any swimsuit. And avoid the ocean immediately after shaving, as salt water can irritate skin.
(c) Chris Clinton

2/13

DON'T forget to double-check your legs, pits, toes and bikini line.

The sun can be unforgiving—if a few stray hairs were skipped in the dehairing process, the bright rays will highlight them. To be 100 percent sure that you're fuzz-free, walk your swimsuit-clad bod to the brightest place in your home—ideally a room with natural light—and use a handheld mirror to check yourself out from every angle. Pay close attention to ankles, knees and the back of thighs, where it's easy to miss a follicle or two (or 20) when shaving.

3/13

DO choose bloat-free food and beverages.

Ease up on artificially sweetened stuff—it can cause big-time bloat. You should also steer clear of foods that are high in sodium, which can make you retain water.
2009 Jeff Vespa

4/13

DON'T think it's impossible to tone your arms and give your confidence a boost.

Swimsuits can do a lot of cool things these days: hide tummy troubles, perk up your breasts and even give your butt a little lift. Unfortunately, they can't do a darn thing about that underarm jiggle. There's good news, though: Your arms are one of the easiest parts of your body to get in shape. Tone up with these six moves from pros who train some of Hollywood's hottest bodies, like Jennifer Garner, Halle Berry and others. Start today and you could see results in a just few weeks. Bonus: You'll even get tips for sculpting an incredibly sexy back. Or sign up for the Body by Glamour fitness plan to firm up trouble zones, daily workout ideas and recipes for healthy meals and snacks—it's FREE!

5/13

DO flatten your abs with the "windmill."

Forget crunches. Celebrity trainer Lacey Stone swears by a move called the windmill. Try it once and you'll understand why. To do it, lie on your back with your arms out to the sides in a T shape. Lifting legs, bend knees 90 degrees so shins are parallel to the floor. Slowly lower legs to the right, return to center, then lower to the left, tapping the ground on each side. For optimal results, Stone recommends doing three sets of 20 reps three times a week. Get even more fab ab workouts when you sign up for Body by Glamour, our completely free shape-up plan!
(c) Marili Forastieri

6/13

DO exfoliate and moisturize, from head to toe.

Sloughing off dead skin cells and hydrating new ones is good to do all year round, but it's downright essential in the summer, when you keep layering on sunscreen, self-tanners and other products that can leave oils on the skin. Be sure to use different products for your face and your bod; when it comes to moisturizing, they each have totally different needs. Aveeno's facial and shower exfoliators are lightweight enough to use every day and are refreshingly fragrance-free—which is a good thing in the steamy, sticky summer. Bonus: Most of em are under $10!

7/13

DO be careful when combining intense skin-care products and serious sun time.

Many of the most powerful skin-care products—from multistep acne treatments to pigment lighteners and antiaging products—include ingredients like alpha hydroxy acid that may cause irritation when exposed to sunlight. Be sure to give the product labels a good read, always layer on the sunscreen, and to be extra careful, take a cover-up with you when you hit the beach.
8/13

DON'T use just one sunscreen.

When it comes to sunscreen, there's not a one-size-fits-all type of lotion. That fab spray-on version that you use on your legs? It's probably too oily to apply to your sensitive facial skin. So be sure to throw sunscreen for your body, face, lips and even hair into your beach bag. Warren-Tricomi Salon makes an SPF-filled Organic Hair Shield that protects your strands against damage from sun, salt and chlorine. Also, remember those sneaky spots like the bottoms of your feet and behind your ears.

(c) Rob Melnychuk

9/13

DON'T rely on your flip-flops all summer long.

While wearing flip-flops to the beach or the pool is recommended (they can prevent warts, athlete's foot and more), the American Podiatric Medical Association warns against wearing them every day. The lack of support can cause tendon strain and plantar fasciitis, an inflammation in the heel that can make walking painful. Instead, have some fun searching for the perfect summer sandal (we found a bunch of fab ones for under $50!).
10/13

DO find the perfect swimsuit for your body type.

Two good rules of thumb: If you want to minimize hips, bring the focus upward with a brightly patterned bikini top. Trying to tame a tummy pooch? Skip tankinis, which will only draw attention to the area. For more swimsuit tips for your body type, check out our swimsuit shopping guide.