Quick tips for getting sunshine ready

A last minute getaway to warmer climates or the surprise appearance from the sun in England (especially on a bank holiday weekend!) brings much excitement which is often followed by the realisation that your body isn’t quite ready for its public availing. Don’t fear, even if you don’t have much time there are still plenty of quick steps you can follow to feel like your best self.

When time is not on your side focus on areas that are going to be exposed such as your feet and hands. After months hidden in boots or ballet flats treat yourself to a pedicure to ensure that your feet are presentable and sandal ready. A manicure and pedicure not only helps you to feel more polished but also has therapeutic purposes, helping to relieve stress leaving you feeling calmer and relaxed.

Summertime usually means baring a little more skin (assuming that the British weather cooperates) so giving your skin a healthy looking glow is sure to also boost your confidence. One option to achieve this is through sunless tanning or, alternatively, take a few extra minutes pampering your skin to leave it looking in tip top condition.

Whichever you choose make sure you kick off your shower routine with a detoxing dry body brushing using Giving It The Brush Off; it increases circulation, improves skin tone and texture, aids the body's natural detoxification process and leaves you feeling revived and radiant. Follow with Sugar Buff, a Mediterranean inspired sugar exfoliator that removes dead dull skin cells, encourages cell renewal and hydrates skin with an anti-ageing blend of olive seed oil, pomegranate, grape seed oil and Vitamin E. It treats your body from top and toe leaving you with silky smooth skin that radiates with a healthy glow. Finish with lashings of moisturiser such as Body Truffle, a sumptuous body crème designed to give you soft-touch, radiant, smooth and toned skin. It combines advanced with luxurious ingredients to deeply nourish and even imperfections. It harnesses the special light illuminating effects of rose quartz to give your skin an instant soft focus glow and lustre.

If you need some extra confidence poolside and you want to say goodbye to any bumps or wobbly bits then add an anti-cellulite or firming cream to your routine. Go Figure contains a skin-firming Iso-slim complex plus pink grapefruit, green tea, guarana, ginseng and ginger to tone, tighten and smooth the look and feel of skin. The high-tech serum-gel stimulates circulation and works on cellulite for a smoother, firmer and slimmer looking bum, tum and thighs.

If you opt for an at home tanning session or a spray tan, make sure that you prep your skin with the above steps to ensure that you are left with an even colour and to enhance the longevity of your tan. Create a smooth base for your tan by thoroughly exfoliating, focusing on dry patches such as elbows, knees and ankles. After exfoliating apply lashings of moisturiser all over your body to provide a smooth base on which to apply your tan. Regular moisturisation after tanning also helps to prolong your tan. Duvet is formulated with hydrating and toning ingredients leaving skin smooth, soft, supple and intensely moisturised.

A good spray-tan can help to hide imperfections (yes all those lumps and bumps), bruises and marks and give you a more defined and contoured appearance. It also has the added benefit of reducing the temptation to go suntanning as you already have a healthy glow but remember that spray-tans don’t provide any sun protection so make sure that you use sunscreen.

For last minute trips there’s no time for long term diets so focus on reducing bloating. One of the greatest offenders is sodium which causes water retention. It may seem counterintuitive but drinking water helps to flush out excess salt. You can also add lemon or ginger to your water as they have detoxifying benefits. Eating potassium also helps to reduce sodium levels so reach for potassium rich fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, avocados, potatoes, bananas, strawberries, melon and citrus fruits.

A trip to a spa is the perfect place for some relaxing me-time but it isn’t only a great way to unwind, studies have proven the emotional and physical benefits of massage even after one treatment. Massage has been shown to help the body enter a relaxing rest and repair mode, an effect that lingers long after the massage has finished. It can also aid your body’s detoxification process, improve blood circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system. It has also been proven that massages encourage the body to release serotonin the feel good hormone.

Body polish treatments help to smooth skin and promote cellular regeneration while body wraps can help to detoxify, intensively moisturise and cause temporary weight loss.

Whether you are in need of an energising massage, a hot stone treatment, a radiance boosting polish, skin conditioning and detoxifying or a quick tone and tighten there’s a TEMPLESPA treatment for you.

You’ll have heard this said many a time but this instant and free pep me up shouldn’t be overlooked. When you feel good about yourself it’s apparent and people respond positively to inner self-assuredness and confidence. So the next time you look in the mirror or look down and slowly pick yourself apart, stop and instead focus on the things that you do like about yourself.