Get your bikini body

For many women, before they put on their bikinis, they want to make sure their bodies are bikini ready.
Below are some tips for getting your body bikini ready.
The condition of your skin suffers just as much during winter as it does in summer, and for the same reason, dryness.
Heaters, piling on layers of clothes and indulging in hot showers to “warm up” can all lead to dry, dehydrated skin, especially if you’re using the wrong body cleanser and not moisturising daily.
Dead skin cells, poor circulation and a starch based diet all contribute to dull skin tone. One of the best ways to start a new body-care regime is to dry brush your body; this will help your skin soak up the hydrating effects of body cleansers and moisturisers.
Using a natural bristle brush, gently buff your body from bottom to top. Start with the soles of the feet to stimulate circulation and nerve endings, then work upwards to buff your legs, front and back.
Be careful not to irritate the skin, but pay extra attention to more well-fleshed areas such as the backs of the thighs, upper arms and hips. A few minutes a day is all you will need to get smoother, brighter-looking skin.
Using a moisturising soap or body wash is also very important. Many regular soaps are alkaline based and dry out the skin, leaving a “tight” feeling.
Water loss from the skin is associated with a decrease in skin oils between cell layers. It is not enough for a moisturiser to simply contain a barrier ingredient such as lanolin, or a water-holding ingredient like collagen; it must rebalance and restore skin oils as well.
Most products we use, from shampoos to face and body creams, contain high tech ingredients like vitamins A, C and E, and enzymes which penetrate the skin more effectively because of their advanced delivery systems.
But it is up to us to pinpoint the neglected areas of our bodies which require extra moisturising. Two examples of routinely neglected areas are your shins and the sides of your torso.
The best way to achieve smoother, softer skin, is by layering body creams and moisturisers. Apply a thin coat to damp skin, and then reapply five minutes later.
The thicker the skin, the more likely it will crack and dry. Body creams and moisturisers help keep rough, callused skin supple, so use them generously.
Friction-prone areas, such as your waist, lower legs, thighs and ribs, get itchier and drier as thicker winter clothing rubs away protective skin oils.
A humidifier also helps skin to absorb moisture. Position one close to the floor, as it is better to disperse moisture throughout the room than to aim it directly at your face.

Leg exercises
Single-leg squats. These target your hamstrings, quads and buttocks. This is the perfect exercise to not only tone, but to really work on the body’s balance.
Bend slightly into a squat position, keeping knees together, lift one foot off of the ground and extend forward making sure that the heel does not touch the floor and toes are pointed upward. Squat into position and hold for 20 to 30 seconds then switch sides and repeat three sets.
Lunges: Take a big step forward with the right foot and lower into a lunge, then place the left foot next to the right and into a lunge on the left side. Continue for at least 10 paces before repeating. Repeat this 10 times.
Side lunges target your inner thighs, quads, hamstrings and buttocks. Using the same technique as the lunges, with hands on hips from a standing position, take one long step out to the side into a squat position. Return to standing and repeat on the opposite leg. Repeat 10 times on each leg.