Beachwear buying guide
The beach is a glorious place, but dressing to visit one throws up several sartorial head-scratchers. So to have you always looking your best, whether you’re in Mauritius or Margate, here’s our stress-free guide to buying beachwear
Swimwear
The arrival of swimsuit season is met with joy and terror in equal parts. While it’s thrilling to be gadding about without opaque tights, we’d be delighted if the phrase ‘bikini body’ was banned from the English language. This year we’ve decided to consult the experts from our favourite high-street shops to create our comprehensive swimwear buying guide, which means tricky questions like, ‘How do I draw focus from my chest?’ or ‘Is there a way to make my stomach look sculpted?’ have mercifully been answered. Praise be.
(And don’t forget once you’ve found your optimum style of swimsuit to take a look at our 15 most figure-flattering.)
Cover-ups
A cover-up’s essential for protecting sensitive areas (like sun-attracting shoulders) as midday approaches – and great for those summoning the courage to bare all in an itsy bitsy bikini. Opt for a printed kaftan with sleeves or keep things understated in a breezy boyfriend-style shirt.
Sunglasses and bags
Protect your eyes from UV damage while you paddle in the sea by slipping on a pair of shades – all highly recommended and under £20. You’ll need a sturdy bag to tote around all your beach paraphernalia (that's besides the cooler box of wine, you understand). These will all accomodate your towel, paperback and sun cream, while leaving just enough room for a cheeky bucket and spade.
Makeup
There’s no point carefully applying makeup only to have it swim down your face as soon as you get splashed. From the best waterproof mascara to a life-saving makeup fixer, here are our desert island beauty picks.
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