20 look-slim holiday secrets

Your beach holiday is only days away - if only you'd put as much energy into your workout as you did buying all that shopping. Luckily Calire Coleman comes to the rescue with her 20 look-slim holiday secrets.

Hair

Use your coiffure to disguise a plump face. Bea Watson, at Aveda's London Hair Academy, suggests some soft layering around the face. 'Don't scrape long hair back into a tight ponytail, as this exposes the whole face. Instead, tie it loosely so that wisps fall around the face.'

Eyes

To slim a round face, Suzanne Clarkson of Dollond & Aitchison suggests dark, angular-framed sunglasses. 'An angular frame gives definition to the face. And go for frames that have the arms attached at the top, as this will add length to the face.'

Expression

Smile. Research shows people psychologically connect happiness with success, sexual attractiveness and a desirable body.

Skin

You look slimmer when you have a tan, so treat yourself to a salon treatment before you go. St Tropez now offers St Tropez Air, which, by shading different areas of the body, gives you the illusion of thinner thighs and a smaller stomach. (Tel: 0115 983 6363)

Towel

Make sure your beach towel is as wide as possible. In the same way that serving food on bigger plates makes it seem as if there is less to eat than there actually is, so the more beach towel that people can see, then the smaller you appear.

Sunbathing

Lying flat on your back is the most flattering position for most people. Stretch out your body. White lines in folds of skin that haven't caught the sun are a giveaway.

Thighs

Before you lay your towel on the sand, dig out hollows for your bottom and thighs. When you are lying down, your body will 'sit' in these dips rather than being squashed.

Position

Take care when picking your position on the beach. If you're next to the snack bar, you'll not only be scrutinised by everyone who walks past, but they'll make a connection between you and food, and are more likely to notice your size. Choose somewhere not too far from the sea, so you don't have to walk a long way to your towel. And try to ensure you're sitting near somebody fatter than you.

Pace

Don't dash out of the sea and hurry to cover yourself with a towel. This will not only draw attention, but cause any excess flesh to wobble. Try to walk with poise, concentrating on your posture. This will give the impression of selfconfidence - and this will be noticed rather than your size.

Beach bag

A bold bag will detract from the bits you want to hide. Choose one that will hold everything without bulging at the sides. That way, you'll create as sleek an outline as possible.

Pose

Body language expert Robert Phipps says that psychologically, for men, it's not so much the size of a woman as her proportions that are important. A 70 per cent waist-to-hip ratio is most appealing, so adopt a stance that gives the impression of this. Put all your weight on one leg, extend the other, and place your hand on the hip of the extended leg.

Stomach

Jo Jeffery of figleaves.com suggests wearing a tankini (a vest top with bikini bottoms) to cover up your stomach. Choose one with underwiring as this will give you a good cleavage and separate your chest from your stomach so that it doesn't look like a solid wall of flesh.

Bottom

To slim your bottom, wear plain bikini bottoms with a patterned top, or a costume with detail around the chest. This draws the eye to the top half of the body.

Sarong

Tied strategically, a sarong can hide problem areas. Ceril Campbell, stylist to Cat Deeley, explains: 'If your waist is good but not your bottom, then wear a sarong lowslung with the knot tied off-centre to reveal tummy and flashes of leg.'

Posture

Improving your posture can make you look instantly slimmer. Hold your head high, put your shoulders back and pull in your stomach towards your spine.

Body

Choose a sun lotion that will improve the condition of your body. Lancaster's Sun Active Body Refiner (SPF 8) claims to fight the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite

Use body make-up on the beach to help hide cellulite and stretch marks. Ruby Hammer of Ruby & Millie suggests mixing two parts of your favourite moisturiser to one part of a foundation, such as Ruby & Millie Base Enhance Orange, then applying it by hand to any problem areas.

Shoes

Sandals with straps that cut horizontally across the foot will make your legs look shorter. With flip-flops, the v-shaped straps will help to elongate the leg.

Feet

Invest in a Biosculpture gel pedicure (01923 289766) that will last for the duration of your holiday without chipping. If you look like someone who takes care of your body, it is easier to create the illusion that you are slimmer.

Scent

Research shows that women wearing certain combinations of scent were perceived to be, on average, one stone lighter than women wearing any other fragrance. To make your own slimming scent, mix in a carrier oil: 60 per cent essence of rose with 40 per cent essence of cinnamon.