Aug 29, 20213 min read

Kickstart Your Summer Glow-Up!

Nyla Fuller, an internationally published Canadian model/national fitness competitor based in Calgary, Alberta, shares her favourite fitness and beauty tips.

With summer arriving and pandemic restrictions lifting, many of us are thinking about social events, travel and outings again. Regardless of what events you have coming up – weddings, photoshoots, vacations, reunions – this tried and tested beauty “prep” checklist I use for photoshoots and events will help guide you to looking and feeling your best.

START WITH THE END IN MIND

Begin with a vision of how you appear on your big day. What kind of look are you creating – daytime, evening, glam, casual? Consider hair, makeup, wardrobe, and your physical body. I like to collect inspiration photos from magazines, Pinterest or Instagram, and then review them for themes as I start working through my “prep-list”.

10% OFF ALL NATURAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS WITH CODE 'CHAARMZ' PLS VISIT:

DERMANICHE.COM

When planning your wardrobe, consider any anticipated sizing changes. If you want to implement a new fitness regime, start now – and size clothes accordingly, or plan for minor alterations the week of the event. Drink lots of water each day, take supplements/vitamins to support your progress and aim for 7 hours of sleep each night. If you are not sure where to start, enlist the help of a fitness lifestyle coach to guide the process.

TWO WEEKS OUT

Hair - Make any hair style or color changes two weeks out. This allows time to get comfortable with it and make corrections and touch ups if needed. Test hairstyles and take photos for reference on event day.

Beauty – Complete cosmetic or medical spa work two weeks out. This includes Botox, filler, lasering, microneedling and other skin treatments. Two weeks’ time allows procedures to settle and any bruising, swelling or redness to subside. Book a makeup consult or artist in advance and have sample photos available to show the look you want.

ONE WEEK OUT

Skin & Nails – Exfoliate your face and body each day, followed by moisturizer. One easy trick I use when travelling, is to simply add a tablespoon of brown sugar to my usual body wash, instead of buying a sugar scrub. Avoid scrubs with oils, as they leave a film on the skin. Book manicures, pedicures and any hair removal services early in the week.

Hydrate – Drink more water than you normally do each day, to flush out toxins and hydrate skin well. If you are travelling and retain water from flying, or if you will be in photos and want to look tighter, try using a natural diuretic such as dandelion root tea/pills to drop excess water weight.

DAY BEFORE

Tan – Add a healthy glow to your look with some color! Spray tans should be applied the day before an event to set properly on skin. A light spray tan adds the appearance of body tone and skin vibrancy. For photoshoots or beach vacations, opt for a medium to dark tone to enhance body definition and hold up under bright light.

These simple tips have proved invaluable to me throughout dozens of photoshoots, fitness competitions and special events.

Cheers to your summer glow up head to toe!

IG: nyla.fitness