The 5 best beauty products for gradual results: From straightening to smoothing

Looking slim and feeling confident in the summer is the result of healthy decisions throughout the year

Skinesis the Bodylift, £28, sarahchapman.net ( )

I hate to have to wait. Perhaps the instant gratification of internet-based life these days is to blame, or maybe a dwindling attention span is just a feature of my personality. But even I know not to expect immediate results from every single thing I try.

Take exercising. It took me a long time to realise that there is no quick fix, and that looking slim and feeling confident in the summer is the result of healthy decisions throughout the year. If you've spent the last month sweating in the gym and being inventive with kale, you're probably only just seeing the benefits.

Keep at it, rather than drift back to your old ways. It's a lifestyle change, but it means no longer frantically Google-searching "How to drop a dress size" the week before a beach holiday. A summer holiday is still a daydream at this point, but by working on the areas that I feel most self-conscious about I know that when the occasion arises, I'll be ready to hit the beach at the drop of a sombrero.

Panasonic hair removal machine

£349.99, boots.com

Cordless and quick, this chargeable system provides a great alternative to expensive courses of salon IPL, with long-lasting results.

Smooth infusion naturally straight

£22.50, aveda.co.uk

Continued use of this styling crème helps straighten hair, taming curls into soft waves and flattening annoying kinks.

Shrink-to-fit Cellulite smoother

£35, mioskincare.co.uk

This takes a month of daily application, and regular use to maintain its effects, but over time it really can help minimise the appearance of cellulite.

Skin smoothing body mitt

£12.50, Ameliorate, spacenk.com

This handy mitt will scrub away dead skin, unblock pores and follicles, free ingrown hairs, and gently polish skin ready for the warm weather.

Skinesis the Bodylift

£28, sarahchapman.net

If your skin feels too fragile for body brushing, this will increase lymphatic drainage and get blood to the surface.