No-fuss head-to-toe beauty: easy ways to look great despite the heat and humidity

Shape, July, 2002 by Jennifer Laing

Stash your blow-dryer, pack away your thick, creamy moisturizers and get ready for carefree summer living. While chlorine, salt water, sun and humidity can dry out skin and hair, consider this: It takes only a few simple steps to sail through summer with ease. We consulted beauty experts and female athletes and got them essential must-haves and must-dos.

Control Oil, Protection Skin

Look for products that are convenient and easy to use and offer more than one benefit Cleansing wipes like Olay Daily Facials with beta-hydroxy acid ($7; at drugstores) exfoliate and remove sweat, dirt and makeup in one step. Oil-free moisturizers with built-in sun protection are also a must. Banana Boat VitaSkin Facial Care Lotion SPF 30 ($10; at drugstores) is lightweight and nongreasy. And always carry sunscreen with you to reapply.

Expert tip Karen Smyers, 40, a professional triathlete, knows what works when it comes to sun protection. "I love Coppertone Water Babies UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 ($9; at drugstores); it's very gentle, but stays put," she says. Wende Zomnir, 35, co-founder of Urban Decay Cosmatics and a multisport athlete, swears by Bullfrog Advanced UVA/UVB Lotion SPF 25 ($10; www.bullfrogsunscreen.com).

Treat Your Feet

Sun, sand, bare feet and sexy -- but ill-fitting -- sandals all can give you calluses and blisters. Scrub away rough spots with a gritty exfoliator like Get Fresh Down n' Dirty ($14; getfresh.net) with crushed walnut shells and apricot-kernel oil. Then apply a foot cream like Andrea Foot Spa Sea Botanical Foot Lotion ($1 per one-use packet; at drugstores) each night before bed to prevent calluses from building up.

Expert tip Olympic gold medalist swimmer and part-time model Ashley Tappin, 27, coasts nails with Nailtiques Formula 3 (#17; 800-272-0054) to prevent them from getting brittle. Regular pedicures can also help keep feet and toes in prime condition. Look for bold colors on toes like Essie Cosmetics Unforget-A-ball (pictured; $7.50; 800-232-1115) and OPI Berry Tubular, a sparkling hot pink ($6; opi.com). Or opt for Sally Hansen Natural Shine Chamois Nail Buffer ($4; at drugstores). It requires zero upkeep, and the shiny finish can last for days.

Add Moisture to Hair

Suds up daily with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to control frizz and help counteract the drying effects of sun salt water and chlorine says celebrity stylist Ginger Boyle of Plapet Salon in Beverly Hills. Try Aveda All Sensitive Shampoo ($9; aveda.com) with hydrating coconut extracts and Matrix Sleek.look Conditioner ($11 matrixbeautiful.com) with shea butter. For added hydration treat your hair to a weekly deep-conditioning mask like Wella Lifetex Wellness Depth Charge (16; 866-LIFETEX) or Neutrogena Overnight. Therapy (6; at drugstores), which helps mend split ends and hydrates hair as you sleep.

Expert tip

Zomnir keeps her hair healthy with regular conditioning treatments "I wet my hair, massage some Bumble and bumble Deep Treatment ($19 bumbleandbumble.com) on the ends, then wrap it up into two little buns on the sides of my neck. I'll leave in for the rest of the day white I'm outdoors and wash it out at night."

Jennifer Laing is a free-lance beauty write in New York City; additional reprinting by Martha Schindien.