Score a Brazilian body

Brazilian women are known (and envied) the world over for their beauty, bodies, and of course – booties. You just need to turn to the latest Victoria’s Secret show, with tanned beauties like Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio strutting their stuff, to see what we’re talking about. But fear not – you don’t have to be a Latino lovely to look like them, because we’ve uncovered the secrets to getting a beach body to rival Gisele. Well, almost…

If you really want to set off your beach bod, then make a tan your top accessory – Latino ladies just don’t do pale and interesting. It’s the secret to looking even slimmer on the sand.

A tan helps conceal lumps and bumps while creating a more flattering, slimming finish. Use fake tan to contour your body and add tone and definition to leave you looking like you belong on the catwalk donning angel wings.

International top tanner to the stars, James Harknett, couldn’t agree more. “It’s often said that tanned skin is toned skin,” he says. “A golden colour visibly shades our bodies, making us feel more confident. A tan evens out skin tone, leaving a flawless finish on the arms, legs and tummy”.

That sure sounds better than a spin-class. And with James’s top tips, you can easily use these tanning tricks at home:

1. Self tan the body as usual following the golden rules of exfoliating, moisturising dry areas and preferably use a product with a tinted guide colour. Custom blend the product with moisturiser on hands and feet and leave overnight to activate.

2. The sculpting is done the following day using a tanning mousse or lotion. Apply again using a tanning mitt on the areas you wish to define.

3. Drag the product from the top of the shoulder and sweep under the arms. Then sweep from the side of the stomach into the centre of the tummy. Repeat on both sides. This accentuates the stomach muscles and has a slimming effect on the tummy. This double-dipping trick is effective at toning tums and slimming underarms. We like these fabulous fake tans:

✱ Rodial Brazilian Tan Clear, Dh210, Harvey Nichols

Doing just what it says on the label, this gradual tanner will bronze you up like a Brazilian with just one weekly application. Its clever clear formula won’t leave you streaky or smelling like biscuits (bonus) and is instantly absorbed so no awkward waiting around in your underwear for it to dry. Containing pomegranate ellagic tannins, it not only gives you a gorgeous natural-looking tan, but it helps improve skin tonicity and smoothness, creating a streamline effect. Apply a thin layer on clean, exfoliated and moisturised skin and watch that sun-kissed glow gradually develop.

✱ Benefit Hoola, Dh143, Sephora

Brazil in a box, this brilliant bronzer will leave you looking like you’ve just stepped off the beach. With no sparkle or shine, it’s a mattifying powder that gives you buildable, pure pigmented colour without an orange overtone. Dust across the face and décolletage for an all-over tan, or contour by sweeping it under cheekbones, along the jawline and down your nose for Brazilian supermodel definition.

What makes a Brazilian beach body? The booty of course! There aren’t many women who can slink around in skimpy swimsuits, but these ladies can, as there is certainly no junk in their trunk. Want to get a lifted and toned Brazilian derrière without heading to Rio? We turned to the team at NYLA Method, Dubai’s newest and hottest fitness destination (believe us, we have done the – literal – leg work for you) to help you get that lifted and beautiful booty that girls want and guys like. Shift your rear into gear and try these top tips to get into the spirit of South America!

The tabletop

Place your hands on the floor directly under shoulders, knees under hips, tops of feet flat, core active and extend your right leg back.

Full range taps

Touch toes to the floor then lift leg to hip height. Repeat 20 times.

Circles

Hold leg at hip height and draw circles with toes. Repeat 20 times on both sides of the body.

Hamstring curls

Keeping leg at hip level, flex the foot and bend your leg at the knee then return to straight. Repeat 20 times on both sides of the body.



Super squats

1. Stand with your head facing forward and your chest held up and out. Place feet just wider than shoulder width apart, extending your hands straight out in front to help you balance.

2. Sit back and down as if on to an imaginary chair, facing ahead as your upper body bends forward, your neck and spine staying straight and long.

3. Let your lower back arch slightly as you descend. Lower down so your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible with your knees over your ankles. Press your weight back into your heels. Keep your body tight, and push through your heels to bring yourself back to the starting position.

Hip lifts

1. Lie down on your back facing upwards. Make sure legs are bent at the knees and feet are flat on the ground, hip distance apart. Your hands should be flat at your sides.

2. Begin to lift your hips up, keeping your core engaged as well as your glutes. As you lift, squeeze the inner thighs. Slowly lower back down keeping abdominal flat.

If you want to turn it up a notch and try a treatment to tackle your rear, there’s a new one in town favoured by J-Lo and Kim Kardashian. The Ultimate Brazilian Butt treatment comprises of three different sessions, starting with the Viora Reaction – a system designed to promote lymphatic drainage and the breakdown of fatty tissue to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of lumpy, bumpy bums.

Then comes the Proellixe, which uses constant vibrations to cause muscles to contract 40 times per second, creating leaner muscle tissue while increasing the metabolic rate and actually burning calories while you lie still (we know!).

Finally there’s the Venus session, also known as ‘Magic Hands’, which uses advanced technology to activate muscles and promote skin lifting and tightening, leaving your behind firm and toned. Sessions start from Dh1,500 at Euromed Clinic Dubai. Call 04 394 5422 to book an appointment.