Luxury Summer Body Prep

Have you ever watched a cat preen themselves? They only really pay attention to the areas they can reach with ease and of course can see. That is pretty much how I exfoliate my body but unlike a cat, I don't do it daily - monthly at a push - and I continuously wonder why the skin on my legs and arms resembles the texture of sandpaper.

I've taken to wearing shorts and dresses to stay cool in the balmy New York heat and as such, I've had to resort to drastic measures: body scrub and self tanner. After years of self-tanning practise, I like to think I've got it down to a fine art - along with sloughing off months of dead skin *shudders* -let me talk you through the art of my summer body preparation - or as I also like to call it "oh crap, it's sunny outside".

Luxury Summer Body Prep

Sure I'm a little backwards in my approach, I scrub my body before I wash; in my mind this makes more sense, as it means my chosen body wash will help remove any dead/dry skin cells left behind. At the moment, I'm a huge fan of Aesop Redemption Body Scrub; it is gritty but not abrasive and yet it can tackle even the toughest of skin and old, forgotten about patches of self tanner. It also doesn't hurt that it smells utterly incredible thanks to a blend of natural oils such as fir, pine, sage and clove - not to mention a little goes a long way.

Luxury Summer Body Prep

I've spoken about my love for Jo Malone Shower Oil in countless posts, sure it smells good enough to eat but it's real power is how it beautifully cocoons the skin in moisture without ever being greasy. I'm pretty sure that if it wasn't for me reaching for this on an almost daily basis, the skin on my body would be beyond help. Oh and my chosen scent is Blackberry and Bay, it smells like a fruity tart!

Luxury Summer Body Prep

Like most serial fake tanners the skin on my legs is the driest area of my body - I also hold frequent shaving account for this problem - so I use a separate and specific moisturising product just for them - ThisWorks Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil. Now before I wax lyrical about why you need this, let me preface this mini review by stating that you should only use this before you apply self tanner; if used after, it can remove the tan and leave your legs a little streaky - the same rule applies for any body oil. Forget constant application of body lotions, ThisWorks Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil is a one and done solution. The nourishing oil that features no less than 19 Botanical Oils, quickly soften, soothes and deeply hydrates even the driest of skin, not to mention if combined with a quick massage it will relieve tired, achy and heavy legs. If you neglect your legs, this is the treat you deserve.
For the rest of my body, that admittedly is nowhere near as dry in texture, I more often than not use Aveeno Body Yogurt as it quickly absorbs, smells delicious and leaves no sticky residue behind.

Luxury Summer Body Prep

There is probably next to no, mainstream self-tanner out there that I haven't tried so trust me when I say that Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry Oil is one of, if not the best. If a natural, problem free, golden tan is what you crave, this is product for you As it is a dry oil it is a breeze to apply, not least thanks to the guide colour which ensures you are streak free, each and every time; it does dry quick, so you do have to apply with a little more haste than usual. I'd love to tell this is scent but rather it has a distinctively coconut fragrance that is not at all unpleasant.

I typically only fake tan once a week, teamed with body moisturiser, a scrub and a gradual tan, I find this is all I need. To keep my skin golden and never orange, I do reach for St Tropez Gradual Tan Plus, once or twice a week. I find by doing so, it prolongs the colour of the Bondi Sands Liquid Gold without turning me too dark - as a fair skinned, blonde this is always at the back of my mind. I like to look naturally sun-kissed, not perma-tanned.
And that is everything. On paper it does sound and look a lot but as it is done in stages, staggered over a few days it doesn't take too much effort at all and gives great -almost foolproof - results each and every time

Summer come at me bro.