Poolside Skin Is Everywhere, Here's How to Get the Hydrated, Glowy Complexion This Summer

Shop a few of our favorite body oils to look like you just stepped out of the SI Swimsuit Issue.
Salma Hayek Pinault was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Alida Herbst.
Salma Hayek Pinault was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Alida Herbst. / Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, summer has unofficially begun—and the only thing we love more than swimwear here at SI Swimsuit is summer skincare. Warm weather allows us to shed layers not only where clothing is concerned, but it’s a great time to lighten up our makeup and beauty bags, too. This season, the trendiest way to get glowing is by embracing poolside skin.

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What is poolside skin?

One of the hottest skincare trends this summer, poolside skin embodies that wet, fresh from the water aesthetic you naturally achieve as you emerge from a pool or sea. Not only is it glowy, poolside skin is all about silky hydration. Naturally, we’ve been achieving the poolside skin look for years within the pages of the SI Swimsuit Issue. Below, find just a few examples, courtesy of models Alix Earle, Brooks Nader, Salma Hayek and Penny Lane.

Alix Earle was photographed by Yu Tsai in Jamaica.
Alix Earle was photographed by Yu Tsai in Jamaica. Swimsuit by Vesey. / Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated
Salma Hayek Pinault
Salma Hayek Pinault was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Alida Herbst. / Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated
Brooks Nader was photographed by Ben Watts in Bermuda.
Brooks Nader was photographed by Ben Watts in Bermuda. Swimsuit by Norma Kamali. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
Penny Lane wears a black wet-look bikini with heart-shaped charms during her SI Swimsuit rookie shoot in Portugal.
Penny Lane was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Agent Provocateur. Rings by Cleopatra’s Bling and VANESSA MOONEY. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

How to achieve poolside skin

While poolside skin is inspired by time spent by the water, the idea is to achieve the full-body aesthetic away from the pool. Think glowy, wet-looking skin for brunch, dinner after a long day at the beach or a night out with your girlfriends. One of the more important reminders for accomplishing that poolside skin glow? Let the following products dry completely before getting dressed, and since the majority of them are oil-based, try avoiding materials like silk.

6 must-have poolside skin products

Saltair Santal Bloom Shimmering Body Oil, $24 (ulta.com)

Saltair shimmering body oil
Saltair shimmering body oil / ulta.com

My personal favorite, Saltair’s shimmering body oil provides the perfect sun-kissed look, along with an incredible scent with notes of sandalwood and amber. Plus, it’s packed with ingredients like squalane and karanja oils to hydrate your skin all summer long. If you’d prefer hydration sans shimmer, try Saltair’s Nourishing Body Oil ($22).

Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil with Coconut, Vanilla & Fig, $40 (sephora.com)

Supergoop! body oil
Supergoop! body oil / sephora.com

The only thing better than a shimmery body oil that achieves the poolside skin look is one that also provides SPF protection. Supergoop! is a go-to brand for all things suncare, and that includes this silky “Sunkissed Coconut” body oil in a super summery smell. It’s also available in “Beach Flower,” a gardenia and wild orchid-forward scent.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Shimmer Body Oil, $38 (anastasiabeverlyhills.com)

Anastasia Beverly Hills body oil
Anastasia Beverly Hills body oil / anastasiabeverlyhills.com

This lightweight, hydrating body oil is available in three different sheens, including white, gold and rose gold. Plus, the product is packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients, including jojoba seed oil and sweet almond oil, which help protect your complexion from environmental damage.

Cyklar Vanilla Verve Vitamin C Body Oil, $38 (cyklar.com)

Cyklar body oil
Cyklar body oil / cyklar.com

This brand is beloved by Hailey Bieber, and for good reason. Cyklar’s vanilla-scented body oil is packed with vitamin C, and delivers the ultimate dose of glowy hydration. If you’re looking for poolside skin without added sparkle, be sure to snag this one.

Patrick Ta Major Glow High Shine Nourishing Body Oil, $44 (sephora.com)

Patrick Ta body oil
Patrick Ta body oil / sephora.com

Leave it to celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta to create a hydrating, high-shine body oil that not only looks radiant, but improves the look and feel of skin over time. Clinical results show that the product is guaranteed to boost skin hydration by 47% after just one day of use, and 96% of consumers reported that the oil provided softer skin with a noticeable shine.

Desolas Sol Oil, $36.98 (desolasmezcal.com)

Desolas oil
Desolas oil / desolasmezcal.com

Spritz on this oil, 100% derived from plants, to achieve poolside skin whether you’re lounging by the water or are getting ready for a night out.


Published
Cara O’Bleness
CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, O’Bleness loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.