the halcyon summer days are here again. Wispy clouds and blue skies... Perfect time to hit the beach, catch some waves get and get some vitamin D and A (from all them gorgeous topless hunks in the beach) and of course plenty of sun, sea and surf. And it's also the perfect time to get the sun goddess look (well, the safe way, that is...)

now, for most pinays, this would have been the most dreadful time of the year since, there is no escaping the darkening rays of the sun... Well, most of you by now are aware that fair complexion is very much valued here, what... with alot of whitening products been sold like pan cakes all over the country...

But for the rest of us sun goddess wannabes and beach bums, this couldn't have been the most perfect time of the year.... so, here are some tips toflaunt that sultry skin of of gold...

FASHION

1. dresses - from cute, mini dresses and smocked tube frocks and knee length sun dresses and to the now famous maxi dresses, dresses are the girly way to flaunt that tan. There is a wide variety of dresses to choose from, specially for every body type. Now, the maxi dress (the really long, neo hippy kinda dresses popularized by paris hilton and the like) are perfect for tall, big boned women or for those too shy to show their gams. If you happen to be petite like nicole ritchie, i would suggest something that's up to the ankles so as not swamp your little frame. If you happen to have a slender, tomboyish figure, with them slender gams to boot, well, lady luck smiles upon you. you can go for frocks and dresses of every length you can imagine, from below the knee, down to the skimpiest, mini dresses. As for the rest of us not-so-skinny, don't opt for knee length sun dresses as it makes you look short and stubby... flaunt them legs... mini dresses adds a little height and gives the illusion of slimmer, longer legs... especially if you wear it with heels... but for this summer, stilletoes are out.... go for espadrilles and wedges.... :) flats will just make your legs look a little on the stubby side... and if mini dresses are a little too daring for you, well, maxi dresses are also a great option... check macys.com, or newport-news for some fabulous fashion ideas this summer...

try this link as well...

http://www.getlippy.com/fashionandbeauty/fashion/summerdresses/?galPg=1&galIx=1

and one more thing, opt for white, or bright neons or pastels this summer... dark, neutral shades like brown, grey and black will only make your tan look ashen and blah... perfect colors for this summer are yellow, orange, lime green, aquamarine, pink, sky blue, fuschia, and white.

2. shorts

shorts are chic, versatile and easy to wear (beats your regular jeans). whether you opt for above the knee bermuda shorts or (if you dare) the really short one, shorts are a classic staple the whole year round, specially if you're in the philippines where summer is 365 days a year... :)

some tips in wearing shorts

1. lather on lotion and top off with just a drop or 2 of baby oil to make your legs look flawless. goes great with the tan too!

2. denim is a classic but it's okay to experiment with other fabric, color and patterns.... white and pin stripe is also a good substitute for the regular denim.

3. afraid to go all out in short shorts? try bermuda shorts.

4. don't go for knee length bermuda shorts if you're petite... it'll make you look shorter. go for the shortest you can dare... or if you're still not ready to show off your gams, try the bermuda shorts that's 5 inches above your knees.

5. balance off a pair of short shorts with layered cami and peasant top, 3/4's off shoulder sweat shirt, or chic off shoulder or a simple dress shirt. unless you're planning on looking like daisy duke in a costume party, don't opt for midriff baring, skimpy tops or else you'll look like a bimbo.

6. try bermuda shorts with stilleto pumps with the weirdest color you could imagine... it's great for night outs.

7. never wear platform heels with short shorts (tacky much?) try espadrilles, or ballerina flats with it.... never high heels on shorts.

8. shorts, and flipflops only go well with pedicured feet...

3. flipflops

with the advent of havianas some 2 or 3 years ago, flipflops has been everybody's favorite footwear. it's cool, comfy, casual and fuss free.... And it's as versatile as your denim shorts. wear it with sun dresses, jeans, shorts... flipflops will forever remain in style.

and by the way, some things to remember in wearing flipflops:

1. 3 of the best brands of flipflops are: havianas, lacoste and old navy. costly much? well, other options would be: toeberry, bananapeel and dupe. They're comfy, sturdy and cute well... sans the big bucks...

2. don't go for the fake ones... chances are, they're not as sturdy as the real thing. plus, you don't wanna look like a cheapskate now do you?

3. Flipflops are good only with clean, pedicured feet. a pair of havianas will look like a cheap rip off with unclean toes and uncut and uncolored toenails. better yet, get a foot spa.

4. accessories

must haves for this summer:

1. wooden bangles, bead necklaces and any accessories made from natural materials are a must have this summer, 2008.... goes well with your tan and a white tube top. :)

2. ostentatious sun glasses-huge sun glasses are still in!!

3. multi-hued bags are a hit! just remember to pair it with something less colorful like a solid colored top or dress... :)

4. skinny belts

5. jelly shoes... :)

6. espadrilles

7. gladiator sandals in metallic tones

8. your very own ipod.... wouldn't it be nice to listen to your fave summer tunes while basking in the sun? :)

1. SET YOUR HAIR FREE!

avoid hair products that weigh your hair down.... give your hair some time to breathe.... :)

got curly hair? well, opt for light leave on conditioner like cream silk protect dark blue. leaves your hair manageable and smelling good too! :)

or try this one: get some unflavored virgin coconut oil (you can find one in supermarkets) and lather on damp hair and scalp. sprinkle with hot water and leave on for 15-30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. shampoo hair to get rid of the smell and lather some conditioner. pronto! you got yourself an instant hot oil without spending dough in the parlor. plus, it's all natural. :)

2. ditch the hair dryer and hair straightener

the sun has cooked your hair enough so don't add insult to injury by using the hair blower. it'll dry your hair even more. plus, it's summer! bed head and surfer girl curls are in this season.... :)

3. curl your hair

bring out the sun goddess in you.... tan skin looks sexier with luscious curls ala Kate Hudson. want an easy way to get those sexy waves? here's how:

1. apply a pea sized setting lotion or mouse on damp hair

2. curl it into a bun and secure with a scrunchie or hair pins.

3. leave it on for about 30 minutes to one hour.

4. un tie your hair... and presto! goddess like waves! of course, this works best with long, straight hair and semi curly hair. if you got thick hair, 2 buns will do the trick.

a luscious tan wouldn't be perfect without a well toned body. and besides, how else can you be able to wear that bikini with beer belly?

here's some no brainer tips:

1. excercise

i'm not exactly a gym rat but i get a regular work out with some of my daily routine like, walking all the way to the jeepney stop which is like, 2 blocks away from my house... i do that every day... :) at work, i do leg lifts on my chair: 20 reps, for 15 minutes... :) or try this trick with a swivel chair shed some of those love handles: get a swivel chair, kneel on it, twist 180 deg. from left to right, with your hips, like your doing the "twist" kneeling down... do that for 10 minutes every other day. :)

2. eat right

eating right doesn't really mean eating less.... It's all about picking the right food. ditch the white bread, white rice, carbonated drinks, fatty foods and junk food and go for something more organic like, whole wheat bread, veggies and fruits. eat less pork and beef and go for more chicken and fish. (ditch the chicken skin as well...)

here's my personal recipe for my spicy tuna burger (this was passed on to me by my health conscious guy best bud)

ingredients:

1 loaf of whole wheat bread

1 can spicy Century Tuna (the red one)

cheese (the ones that come in sheets like Bega)

2 tomatoes, sliced

half a cabbage

drain oil from the spicy tuna. spread a layer of tuna flakes on a slice of whole wheat bread. Top it off with 3 slices of tomatoes. Finally, put a layer of cheese on top of the tuna and tomatoes and top it with another slice of whole wheat bread. pop it in the oven. heat for 5 minutes. make 2 sandwiches.

3. water

you don't necessarily chug down bottle after bottle of water. Eight glasses a day will do. Plus, you can get water in fruits like, watermelon, coconut and oranges. enjoy it cold. :) and one more thing, never down a cold drink during meal time. opt for tea or luke warm water during meal time as cold water solidifies fat particles in your stomach and it slows down digestion in your body, thus, contributing to the slow burning of fats in your body. drink cold water 30 minutes to an hour after meal time.

4. go crazy with tea.

tea contains some antioxidants and alot of other good stuff that flush out toxins out of your body.... plus, it's also good with taking off those nasty eye bags by soaking them in cold water and putting them on your eyes as you would with cucumber... :)

now, you got the clothes, the blings, the hair and the bod... but tan skin is only perfect when your skin is flawless.... :) There's no need to spend gazillions over treatments and expensive facials to achieve this. It only takes a change of lifestyle and beaty regimen:

1. hydrate yourself, inside and out

moisturizing is not limited to putting on lotion and the like. Dry skin is also attributed to less fluid intake so go crazy with liquids. I swear by eight glasses of water a day. water flushes out toxins and impurities through urine and the more water you drink, the more toxins you flush out... the clearer your complexion will be. and don't forget the lotion. I swear by vaseline intensive care lotion and Nivea body milk.

2. Wash salt water off your skin right away

After a long day of sun, surf and sea, wash off the salt water off your body as it dries your skin up, leaving your tan looking old and leathery. Use Dove moisturizing cream bar as it not only leaves your skin moisturized, it also makes your tan glow.

3. Exfoliate

exfoliate before and after sun exposure. It's just as simple as using body scrub or loofah to take off dead skin cells and impurities off your skin. Try this trick: lather Dove cream body wash on loofah and scrub your entire body. Pat dry and lather on some lotion. Your skin will be clean and radiant as ever.

4. what to do with post sunbathing break outs

I'm naturally prone to acne and pimple breakouts after a day in the beach. What i do is i wash my face right away with Sulphur soap. Leave on soap for a minute or two then rinse with cold water.(Try Dr. Kauffman's Sulphur oxide soap. Goes well with acne prone skin too.)Smooth on some ice all over your face and pat dry. Apply light moisturizer afterwards. Go for Clean and Clear moisturizer or St. Ive's.

5. Eat healthy

Eat food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin D and vitamin E. go for fruits and veggies. I got a friend who has a rosy tan complexion. Her secret: Tomatoes. She eats an average of 5 tomatoes every day. Tomatoes work well when they're raw and ripe so go crazy with tomatoes... They taste great with vinegar. I also recommend eating raw cucumbers with vinegar. You don't have to become a vegan or a vegetarian to get good skin... Just increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

6. change your lifestyle

avoid (or minimize) the booze, smoking and getting less sleep. smoking is a nasty habit so, quit while you still can. and sleep atleast 6-8 hours a day. anything lesser will take it's toll on your health and the best indicator of good health is great skin. avoid stress as it makes you look old as well... take a breather once in a while... that's why we have vacation leaves right?

7. make up

i wouldn't really advice foundations this summer unless they're in liquid or gel form. foundation's too heavy and hot this season... go for tinted moisturizers and a dab of loose powder to even out skin tone. Check Ebay results at the bottom for some affordable picks. :)

Bronzers are hot this season as well. Perfect for that sun kissed look, especially if you're the type who doesn't tan that easily. Try Bodyshop's Brush on beads for that perfect sun goddess look. Just swirl it on your forehead, cheeks and shoulders. I would also recommend Revlon New Complexion Bronzing Powder in Sun 01 for that sheer sun kissed bronze glow... :) i might suggest you uze a big blush or bronzer brush instead of the sponge applicator and apply on cheeks, chin, nose and forehead... :)

for cheek and lip tint, i do recommend colors with coral or brownish undertones. Try Lorac's sheer wash in Luck or Emotion. available in amazon.com for $19.00.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!