YOUR BIKINI SOS!

Help! I've got stretch marks

Between 75 and 90 per cent of women will get stretch marks at some point*. They happen when the skin stretches quickly, such as during rapid weight gain, and loses collagen - a natural protein that keeps it smooth. They start as angry red lines, then fade to a shimmery white.

Bikini buy: The Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub, £4.99, buffs and refines skin to minimise the appearance of marks - use in the shower, two to three times a week. Biotherm Biovergetures Stretchmark Prevention and Reduction Cream-Gel, £22.50, contains shea and soy oil to improve the skin's elasticity when used daily.

Help! I've got cellulite

The dreaded 'orange-peel' effect is caused by fatty deposits that become trapped under the surface of the skin. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn't just affect your thighs - it can also turn up on your bottom and stomach, too.

Bikini buy: Massaged into cellulite-prone areas daily, Soap & Glory Slimwear, £9, uses the same peptides that reduce the puffiness of under-eye bags to reduce the lumpy, swollen effect effect of orange-peel thighs. Clever, eh?

Help! I've got ingrown hairs

The more you aggravate hair follicles by shaving and waxing, the more likely you are to get ingrown hairs. They're caused by a build-up of dead skin and the hair getting trapped underneath, so regular exfoliation will help.

Bikini buy: A fab bikini-line trick is to use products high in salicylic acid - a natural acid found in plants that's brilliant at unblocking pores. Designed to zap spots, new Garnier Pure Active Spot-On Roll-On, £7.49, is great as you can roll it over the affected area until the hair is released.

Help! I've got dry skin
In summer, our bodies are more exposed to the elements so skin can become dehydrated more quickly. We also tend to wash more, which can strip skin's natural protective oils.

Bikini buy: Apply a body oil to damp skin after a shower, like the new, super-hydrating Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalising Gel Body Oil, £4.99. Its gel formula is mess-free.

Help! I've got spider veins

According to Stewart Long, Boots Skincare scientific advisor, the main reason spider veins develop is due to sun exposure, wind and cold. "Extreme weather conditions cause the vessels to dilate and become damaged," he warns. Eek! Time to take action.

Bikini buy: Skin Doctors Vein Away Plus, £19.53, uses vitamin K to mend broken capillaries, while arnica helps to disperse any build-up of blood cells. An anti-redness product like No7 Calmskin Redness-Relief Gel, £17.10, will minimise blotchiness, or for a quick pin-fix, Virgin Vie Pin Perfection, £11.50, airbrushes away imperfections to leave skin flawless.

THE TAN COMMANDMENTS
Get golden the sensible way with our guide

Thou shalt prepare your skin three weeks before your trip
Get skin ready for tanning by boosting melanin production - the more you have, the browner you will go. Try the innovative Jeanne Piaubert Anti-Ageing Tanning Activator Patches, £38 for 28 - apply one to your body every night for three weeks.

Thou shalt fake it first
You'll look better in your bikini with a light pre-holiday tan. New Dior Bronze Self-Tanner Gelée de Monoï Tan Activator & Extender, £23.50, gives a gorgeous glow. It has a pH level of 4.5, which according to Dior is the perfect acidity level to create a natural tan.

Thou shalt use sunscreen for your skin type
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try an oil-free, mattifying sunscreen, like Vichy Capital Soleil Micro-Fluid Mat SPF30, £14. For dry skin, Garnier Ambre Solaire Light & Silky Sun Protection Milk, £11.99, keeps skin moisturised for up to 24 hours, and for sensitive skin, we heart Liz Earle Sun Shade SPF15 Body Protector, £17.25.

Thou shalt exfoliate as you tan
Noella Gabriel, director of Elemis, says: "If dead skin cells build up they can shed your tan more quickly. Try to exfoliate every few days while you're away." Try Elemis Exotic Lime And Ginger Salt Glow, £35, or Primark's Strawberry Splendidly Juicy & Succulent Body Scrub, £1.50.

Thou shalt heal your skin
Repair any post-sun UV damage by applying Vichy After Sun SOS Repair Balm, £10, over red areas. Every time you apply sunscreen use an egg-cup full to cover your whole body

PHOTOGRAPHY: SCOPE, PIXELEYESPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK. STOCKISTS: BIOTHERM (BOOTS.COM ), DIOR (020 7216 0216), ELEMIS (TIMETOSPA.CO.UK ), GARNIER (NATIONWIDE), JEANNE PIAUBERT (020 7893 8333), LIZ EARLE (UK.LIZEARLE.COM ), NO7 (BOOTS.COM ), SKIN DOCTORS(SKINDOCTORS.CO.UK ), SOAP & GLORY (BOOTS.COM ), THE SANCTUARY (THESANCTUARY.CO.UK ), VASELINE (NATIONWIDE), VICHY (0800 169 6193), VIRGIN VIE (0845 300 8022) *HEALTHYWOMANBLOG.COM **SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COM

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