If you’re heading on holiday this summer, ensure that your body is ready for the beach, with sunscreen in hand!

Here are our top tips for redheads preparing their pale skin for sunny days…

Exfoliating

Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub: £7.25 at Lush

There’s nothing worse than having scaly skin during the summer (except maybe sun burn), so give your skin some TLC before you bare all to the world.

It’s suggested that exfoliating once a week makes for positively glowing skin, so why wouldn’t you want that on the beach? It also means that you skin will respond better when you dose it up with moisturiser creams and lotions.

DIY Body Scrub

But instead of buying a body scrub, you may wish to create your own exfoliation mixture, using salt or sugar. These are particularly appropriate for super-sensitive ginger souls, and anyone who wants to save a few extra pennies.

Our favourite recipe is this Citrus Salt or Sugar Scrub:

In a container, mix together 1/2 cup sugar or sea salt, 1/2 cup olive oil (or any kind of oil), and 1 tsp lemon/lime/grapefruit zest.

Body Brushing

Boots: £10

If you ask us, taking two minutes prior to showering to brush down your body is two minutes well-spent. Not only is it supposed to improve the function of your circulatory and lymphatic systems, but it reportedly brightens the appearance of the skin and helps to reduce cellulite.

Top tip: brush with strokes towards your heart.

Hair Removal

While redheads aren’t suitable candidates for laser hair removal treatments, there are plenty of other options at our fingertips.

If you’re a fan of the low-maintenance beauty regime while on holiday, we recommend waxing instead of shaving. Book your appointment for around one week before your vacay; that way you’ll be smooth and glowing but not at risk of showing any minor skin irritation that may occur shortly after the treatment.

Hydrating

The most natural way to give your skin a healthy glow is to stay hydrated. With the warmer weather, it’s normal to feel thirstier, so get your fill with at least 2 litres per day – your skin and body will thank you for it.

Moisturising

Soap and Glory Butter Yourself Body Cream: £10.50 at Boots

Light lotions or body butters are great ways to replace any nutrients and firmness that your body may have lost over the course of the winter months.

In the days and weeks leading up to your holiday, ensure that your body is fully prepped by moisturising every couple of days.

Self Tanning

Garnier Skin Naturals Summer Body Moisturising Lotion: £2.55 at Boots

If (and that’s a big IF) you fair redheads aren’t feeling too comfortable with baring your naturally pale pins in the light of day for fear of reflecting too much light, there are products around that can help take the edge off.

These products are shelved in the ‘self tanning’ section, but don’t be discouraged. Nowadays, the beauty industry has lovingly recognised that not everyone wants to look tangoed (except maybe in their hair), so there are much lighter shades on the market.

The above product by Garnier gives a lightly sun-kissed effect that looks totally natural, even for gingers.

But if you’re not convinced, you can always mix the lotion with a bit of regular moisturiser or sunscreen to lighten it further. Sometimes it’s nice just to have a little extra body confidence!

Gingers, enjoy your summer, and remember the SPF!

By Emma

READ: Redhead Sunscreen Review – Riemann’s P20 SPF 20 Lotion and SPF 30 Spray

READ: Hair Removal – What’s A Redhead To Do?