Brits’ beach body fears
The UK’s obsession with body image is alive and kicking as research from Mira Showers reveals that almost half of us (46%) feel under pressure to look good on the beach, and a further 24% of people spend a considerable amount of time fretting about how they will look before jetting off on holiday.
Over a third (38%) of Brits spend £150 on beauty treatments before going on holiday, an additional 15% of people would need to spend more than £150 to feel 100% confident on the beach. The findings show it’s not just money that’s being invested in looking good, nearly a third (29%) of people are spending longer than ever on beauty treatments, for 31% this means up to a whole day just to feel ready to brave the beach.
Although nearly half of those in the UK are spending a fortune on holiday beauty treatments, the majority (82%) are embarrassed about it. Shockingly over a third (31%) say they would go to the extreme length of actually denying having anything done.
However, as we get older it’s apparent body image is less important to us, a mere 9% of those aged over 65 say they care how they look on the beach compared with 60% of 18 – 24 year olds. Similarly men don’t seem to be particularly bothered about love handles and hairy backs, only 15% are concerned about how they look in their swimming trunks, however a haircut an absolute must have before getting on the plane.
Beauty expert Tricia Welch said “It’s really interesting to see nearly half of people (45%) say they would go to a professional to get all their beauty treatments done and a further 18% don’t feel confident enough to do it themselves. In fact it’s really simple to do all the beauty preparation needed before going on holiday in the comfort of your own home and you certainly won’t need to spend £150 to achieve the perfect beach look. You can also minimise the amount of beauty booty you need to pack by prepping your body before you go, using your shower as the base for your home spa.”
Roger Crabb, marketing manager at Mira Showers said “With purse strings still tight for most an extra £150 on top of the cost of a summer holiday can really break the bank. Achieve the same result at home for a fraction of the cost with Mira’s Savvy Spenders Guide to Holiday Beauty.”
Tricia Welch’s tips for holiday beauty
Pre-holiday beauty
• Smooth skin is a beach body must so treat yourself to in shower body scrubs twice a week in the pre-holiday run-up. Use an oil based salt or sugar scrub to nourish skin as you buff for professional results for a fraction of the salon price. Make your own by mixing a cup of vegetable oil and a cup of sea salt with 10-15 drops of zesty essential oil like lemon, grapefruit or ginger.
• Tackle cellulite on legs, thighs and bottom with a body brushing blitz to stimulate the circulation helping to eliminate toxins through the skin and break up fatty deposits. Use a body brush on dry skin, brushing with a firm hand upwards from the feet with long, gentle strokes.
• Remove body hair 48 hours before you go to give fuzz-free skin time to calm down. Minimise mess by using your shower or bath – perfect for shaving, waxing or cream or lotion depilation – just rinse down the plughole when you’re done!
• Apply a light self-tan the night before you fly and shower off in the morning, or if you’re using a gradual tanner, use daily in the week’s run-up to your holiday. Always exfoliate and moisturise first, to ensure a streak free finish. This will give you a sun kissed look from day one – as your natural tan builds up gradually, your ‘fake’ tan will slowly fade. Remember to moisturise every day to prevent patchiness.
• You don’t need to spend a fortune to flaunt fabulous feet. A teaspoon of vegetable oil rubbed into shins and ankles ensures they’ll look super sleek. A mix of coarse sea salt and veg or olive oil makes a great DIY foot scrub too.
Whilst on holiday
• Travel size products can be costly – instead decant your favourite products into inexpensive plastic refillable containers.
• Pack multi-tasking makeup products: Use rosy lipstick or dewy gloss on cheeks; a dark eye shadow pencil on brows, bronzing powder for eye definition and to enhance your décolleté. Home dye lashes and brows before you go reduce your holiday makeup musts and to avoid panda eyes when emerging from the pool or sea.
• Always use a high factor sunscreen with balanced UVA and UVB protection, this ensures a ‘safer’ tan which lasts longer. Burn first and you’ll peel fast. Supermarket and chemist own-brands often offer a better balanced, broad spectrum protection, excellent value for money compared to designer brands.
• Avoid chlorine damage with a liberal coating of leave-in conditioner, then plait or tie it up before you head for the pool. For short hair, apply a non-water soluble hair wax – both will act as a protective barrier. Use a gentle daily shampoo and rinse hair well in the shower after your dip. Protect colour treated/highlighted hair from fade and damage with products containing sunscreens.
• It might be old fashioned, but calamine lotion is still one of the best and cheapest remedies for calming sunburn. Well diluted lavender oil can also be applied directly to sun reddened skin as a soother.
Post-holiday
• To prolong your tan take quick showers, rather than longer baths which will dry out the skin, sapping essential oils as you soak. Avoid using harsh exfoliators once you’re tanned (naturally or fake, the trick to maintaining your tan is to slather on rich body moisturiser every day, to prevent peeling and rough, dry patches appearing.
• Skin looking dull and lifeless due to late nights, partying and a long flight home? Give yourself an inner cleanse – cut out the caffeine, red meat and alcohol for a few days as soon as you return.
For more information, visit: mirashoweringperfection.co.uk
