'Poolside Skin' Is the Easiest Way to Look Radiant This Summer—Here's How to Get the Look

As the summer season progresses, many of us are spending part of our off-duty hours poolside. On weekends, office attire is traded in for swimwear, and soaking in the sun’s rays is at the top of our to-do list. If you get the opportunity to lounge by the pool and enjoy a dip in the crisp, cool, chlorine-filled water, your skin is usually left with a glow that radiates the sun’s light.

Inspired by that glowy look, "poolside skin" is the beauty trend of the summer. Think sleek, sun-kissed, wet-looking skin. And good news for those who can’t make it to the pool: this look is still achievable while you're indoors.

What Is the "Poolside Skin" Trend?
Poolside skin is an homage to your sun-filled memories spent by the pool. Think of the days when time moves slowly as you lie basking in the sun, preferably at a pool, perhaps with a spritz in hand. Your skin becomes a reflection of the setting, with a perfect sun-kissed glow. “It’s the magic moment when your skin is still glistening from the water, half-dried by a lazy breeze, and perfectly hydrated, catching the light in all the right places,” says James Read, founder of Self Glow by James Read.

With iterations of glowing, dewy skin becoming popular through trends seen over the last few years—like glazed donut skin or glass skin—the poolside skin trend calls for a more casual take on the hydrated, dewy look while also adding a tan, says Read.
How to Get the Look
Hydration is key to achieving the look. This can be done by applying a rich moisturizer to the face and body to ensure a luminous glow.

The next step is to use a tanning mitt to apply a tinted sunless tanning moisturizer to give warmth and shine to the skin without creating streaks. For a more gradual effect, Read recommends using a buildable tanning lotion, like his Tinted Tanning Serum, which will enhance your skin tone over time while also providing an extra boost of hydration.

Want to pass on the self-tan? You can still achieve the look by applying body glow products like Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Dry Oil or Patrick Ta’s Major Glow High Shine Skin Perfecting Body Crème to hydrated skin.

Using a body shimmer that also has SPF can provide the poolside skin look while also protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Kopari’s Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 42 and Sol de Janeiro’s Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil Sunscreen are good options for achieving the look without running the risk of getting burnt.

Tips
Keep in mind that sunless tanning products can stain your clothing, especially your white summer linens. That’s why Read has shared a few tips on how to prevent color transfer onto your clothes when using glow products and self-tanners. The first is to apply the product in thin, even layers, as thick layers increase the risk of streaking, bad fade-down, and transfer, he says. It’s also important to allow a few minutes for the product to dry fully before getting dressed. Check out the application instructions to see exactly how long to wait.