How to Prep Your Skin for Beach Season
Instead of freaking out about baring your skin for your first beach trip of the season, take action. These 12 pre-beach skin care tips for every body issue will have you feeling confident in no time.
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Getty Images1/12If You Have Cellulite
No, cellulite creams won't make lumps disappear for good, but we can tell you from experience that making a ritual of massaging them into skin does make dimples less noticeable. Two we like: Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control ($69, clarinsusa.com) and Bliss FatGirlSlim Skin Firming Cream ($36, kohls.com).
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Getty Images2/12If You Have Dry Skin
Exfoliation is key. "Sloughing off dead skin cells is extremely important," says dermatologist Dennis Gross, M.D. "Not only do they make complexions dull, they can also clog pores and lead to breakouts. Exfoliating on a daily basis is a must." He prefers chemical exfoliation—try Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Pads ($16, sephora.com)—over harsh scrubs. You do need to be extra diligent about sunscreen, though, because alpha and beta hydroxy acids can increase your chances of burning.
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Getty Images3/12If You Have Breakouts
Showing more skin means more places you have to worry about breakouts. Our acne-fighting superhero? Glycolic acid. "While salicylic acid is really good as a spot treatment, glycolics are much better at preventing new breakouts," says dermatologist Neal Schultz, M.D. "Glycolic products dissolve the 'glue' that holds dead skin cells in the pores, in turn preventing breakouts and making them disappear much faster." A daily fix: BeautyRx Advanced Exfoliating Therapy Pads ($70, beautyrx.com).
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Getty Images4/12If You Have Unwanted Hair
Most doctors recommend doing any kind of laser hair removal in the winter because it takes several treatments and you'll need to stay out of the sun for a day or two after each session. But if you really want to do it, "your maximum result comes from your first treatment, so it's not technically too late to get started," says Dr. Schultz. Shaving and waxing, however, are more viable—and much less expensive—options. To avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs, "shave the night before you're in the sun, and shave in multiple directions without pressing the blade too hard against the skin," says Dr. Gross. "Also use a non-irritating product to soothe, protect, and hydrate the skin afterward." We like Shaveworks The Cool Fix ($25, anthony.com).
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Getty Images5/12If You Have Dark Spots
"Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, and when it's applied topically it can be extremely effective in fading unsightly spots," says Dr. Gross. One of our faves for all skin types is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum ($162, skinceuticals.com). Follow with a sunscreen like Dr. Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense SPF 50 ($42, sephora.com). It includes three forms of vitamins C and E, which helps protect skin while repairing the damage that's already been done.
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Getty Images6/12If You Have Scars
Sun exposure can permanently darken preexisting scars, so protect them first and foremost with sunscreen. One of our favorite products for fading scar marks, though, is Bio-Oil ($12, target.com). It's light and not greasy, and it contains calendula, chamomile, rosemary, and lavender extracts to soothe and condition skin. For a temporary solution (and we don't recommend hitting the water with this one), try Dermablend Leg and Body Cover SPF 15 ($31, ulta.com). It's a strong enough concealer to even mask tattoos.
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Getty Images7/12If You Have Stretch Marks
Not digging the #loveyourlines movement and can't afford to shell out mega bucks for professional stretch-mark removal? A self-tan will help. Try St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse ($32, sephora.com) for easy, streak-free application. Another (not water-safe) tip we've learned over the years: Strategically apply a bronzer, like Lorac Tantalizer ($33, nordstrom.com), with a cotton swab on light marks and blend.
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Getty Images8/12If You Have Dull Skin
After sunscreen, apply a hydrating body oil to make skin glow, says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery. "My favorite one is Natura Bisse C+C Dry Oil Antioxidant [$63, barneys.com] because it hydrates the skin and keeps it looking and feeling great but also protects it with vitamin C and an SPF of 30." We also like Neutrogena Fragrance-Free Body Oil ($10, ulta.com).
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9/12If You Have Bumps
"The most common skin texture complaint I receive is about keratosis pilaris, commonly referred to as chicken skin," says Dr. Gross. "It's caused by plugged pores in the hair follicles, which result in tiny bumps on the surface of the skin." Start a regimen of gentle chemical exfoliation and moisturization to help reduce it. We like the Glytone Keratosis Pilaris Kit ($68, dermstore.com), which comes with a retexturizing body wash and lotion.
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Getty Images10/12If You Have Redness
Products that contain soothing ingredients are key for combatting redness. Look for green-tea extract (Dr. Gross refers to it as nature's cortisone), hyaluronic acid, and essential fatty acids. John Masters Organics Green Tea and Rose Hydrating Face Serum ($26, beauty.com) and Alba Botanica Hawaiian Oil-Free Moisturizer ($19, drugstore.com) are good options.
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Getty Images11/12If You Have Uneven Skin Tone
A good self-tan can hide just about anything when it comes to skin tone, says Leah Melby, Glamour's senior online fashion writer. A stellar application doesn't come without prep, though. "Luckily I spent my early post-college years moonlighting as a spray-tan tech and found the best exfoliating tip from a client," she says. "She used a natural sponge loofah for classic, easy exfoliation before a self-tan. I've found that the natural scrubber does the best job of taking off any past tanner residue and prepping my skin for a fresh application."
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Getty Images12/12If You Have Spider Veins
A quick trick: Minimize the appearance of blue-green varicose veins by using a yellow or orange waterproof concealer, like NYX Concealer in orange or yellow ($5, nyxcosmetics.com). For a more permanent solution, look into sclerotherapy, a procedure in which a solution is injected into the vein. "The injection collapses the vein, which then reabsorbs back into the blood stream," says Luis Navarro, M.D., director of the Vein Treatment Center in New York City. "Veins treated will close and blood from the faulty veins will be rerouted to a healthy veins." Veins and bruising will fade within two to four weeks.
