4 tips to achieve that Insta-perfect poolside shot – #nofilter
In this selfie-driven social media world, there’s suddenly a lot of pressure on your holiday snaps. It’s all about looking fabulous in an exotic location and counting up those Insta-likes – so a blurry photo of you on a plastic chair with a piña colada simply won’t cut it!
Even if you couldn’t care less about how many people ‘like’ your photo, most of us want to look our best when on holiday. So follow these tips to feel fabulous poolside – no filter needed.
1. Get your skin glowing
The number one sign of a great holiday snap is gorgeously radiant skin, so before you go on your trip, indulge in an at-home spa session to prep it. This will not only result in smoother, more radiant skin, but it will mean your tan lasts longer too.
The great news is all you need is one handy gadget: the five-in-one Braun Silk-epil 9 SkinSpa. Start by exfoliating the skin with one of the exfoliation brush attachments: there’s two available for deep or gentle exfoliation, depending on the sensitivity of your skin. This helps shed dead skin cells, leaving your legs looking and feeling refreshed, as well as helping to prevent any red bumps from ingrown hairs.
Next, use the epilator head to remove unwanted hairs at the root (even short ones), leaving you salon-smooth for up to four weeks, so you won’t have to worry about shaving while on your holibobs.
For the bikini area, you can use the shaver head and trimmer to keep things neat. Then finally, use the skin revitalising pad attachment to enjoy a luxurious massage, which will boost circulation, helping to tone and firm the skin.
And if you want to get a head-start on your tan, use a gradual tanning lotion, applying it two or three times in the week leading up to your trip. And remember to pack a high SPF. This will prevent any long-term sun damage – and not even the most followed Insta-stars can rock the pink lobster look.
2. Take a dip
Before you take your picture, go for a swim. Your face will get a natural flush from the exercise, the droplets will help your skin to glisten, and you can comb your hair back with a small drop of leave-in condition so you don’t have to worry about frizzy holiday hair. Perfect!
3. Think about your accessories
Feeling jet-lagged or puffy-eyed after your flight? Don your favourite pair of sunglasses. And if you’re feeling a little body-shy, why not accessorise your swimwear with a colourful sarong or kaftan?
Avoid metal jewellery, as it gets too hot in the sun, but a colourful string anklet can look cute by the pool – perhaps look in the local shops for one made with pretty shells, and then you can keep it as a souvenir.
Most importantly, though, accessorise with a mocktail and a great book – you are on holiday after all!
4. Strike a pose
Do you think those Insta-stars all have naturally long legs, toned stomachs and pert bottoms? Nope. A lot of it is down to their pose.
You can wear a pair of wedges to help elongate your legs and flex your calf and thigh muscles, while slightly arching your back will instantly lift your bottom and chest, as well as flatten your stomach. Rest your hands on your hips or casually play with your hair and, of course, the most important part of all – smile!
What are your secrets for taking the perfect holiday snap? Let us know in the comments section below.