Max Up Your Self Mettle: How To Look at Yourself Naked and Love Every Last Inch

Summer's here – and it's a cracker so far – and beach days are approaching. The quest for swimsuit confidence becomes top of mind for many of us. The secret isn't about chasing perfection – it's about celebrating your own perception of beauty and practicing self-care to feel good in your own skin.

Confidence is the new sexy! It's not about conforming to a standard – it's about enhancing what you love about yourself. True confidence radiates from owning your shape and showing up for yourself.

To help every body feel its best this summer, I've compiled the ultimate swimsuit confidence guide, with help from expert stylist friends and body-loving products that contour, smooth and energize your skin from head to toe.

The 5 Star Shape Up

Reviewed and loved, these products work hardest to help you on your way to bare body confidence. Make room for all of the following in your holiday washbag:

• Refine strategic zones: Our Cellu-Lite anti cellulite oil, so popular it's sold out three times this year already, works like magic to maximise your shape, blitzing puff, bloat and dimples. Body brush before use to prime and accelerate the lymph to shift the trapped fluid that compromises your figure.
• Whip away unwanted hairs: Flamingo Razor & Shave Gel – clean, gentle, and designed with sensitive skin in mind (always a good idea after sun exposure).
• Get a head start on tanning: Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops – customise your glow with colour-corrective actives. A day-before tan boosts confidence and enhances natural colour during your holiday.
• Nix those little niggles: Bio-Oil Skincare Oil Natural is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars. Apply after every shower and over your aftersun every evening.

Suit Up With Style

Get yourself the most flattering swimsuit you can find. Where to start? Style experts recommend:

• High-cut leg designs to elongate your silhouette
• Ruched or belted waists to define curves and sculpt your midsection
• Bold prints and vertical stripes to distract and slim
• One-shoulder styles and asymmetrical necklines to draw the eye to your collarbones – a super sexy area!

Try these designers for poolside presence:

• Hunza G – universally flattering crinkle fabric that hugs without squeezing
• Eres Paris – timeless luxury in clean, sculpting suits
• Jade Swim – minimal, modern silhouettes with maximum style

Instant Leg Enhancing Tips

Did you know that simple nail polish has the power to make legs look longer? Or that carefully applied oil slims and elongates the space between knees and ankles? Try these tricks:

• Toe polish power move: Choose a nude that matches your skin tone or a deep, dark red for your toes. Both colours create a leg-lengthening illusion, especially in sandals showing a bit of toe cleavage. My faves: Essie Gel Like Nail Polish in Get A Mauve On and Tassel Free.
• Shine lines: A line of balm or oil down the centre of your shins (and thighs) elongates and contours key areas.
• Brush with flair: Use a body brush before, during or after your morning shower. It stimulates circulation, enhances glow, and tones the skin for full-body confidence.

Pre-Sun Body Boosters

• Hydration & diet: Drink at least 2 litres of water daily and aim for a protein-rich, potassium-packed diet (bananas, spinach). This supports lymph drainage and reduces bloat and cellulite.
• Stay active: At least 8k steps a day keeps lymph moving and your shape streamlined.
• Full body massage: A deep tissue massage detoxes, energises, and supports your summer shape-up goals.

My Final Word!

Confidence in a swimsuit isn't something you find – it's something you build. It's in the rituals you honour, the choices you make to care for your body, and the mindset that beauty is personal, not prescribed.

Empower your skin, your silhouette, and your spirit. And own the sunshine.