What To Know Before You Go: It's Bathing Suit Season 

Summer is in full swing, and we bet you're looking forward to spending time soaking up the rays and enjoying yourself. Except for one small problem: the bathing suit. Every year these insignificant pieces of Lycra cause millions of us a tremendous amount of grief. Suddenly we feel self-conscious, and possibly embarrassed, to appear in public in a swimsuit. No matter that our brains know that photographs of the models in magazines go through four hours of computerized transformations—we still yearn to get our bodies to look like theirs. To make the ordeal of the bathing suit shopping—and the bathing suit season—a bit easier, here are our top 10 tips:

Uno: Try not to compare your body to anyone else's. Our genetic makeup determines our height, weight, shoe size, and eye color, yet we compare our bodies as if we were comparing luggage rolling off an assembly line. We never say, "I wish I could have a voice like hers," or "I want my ears shaped like that," probably because we know that's impossible. Yet somehow we lose our objectivity when it comes to comparing stomachs, thighs, and body weight. Suddenly we decide we can make ours look like someone else's. What an unsatisfying, fruitless waste of time, especially during bathing suit season.

Dos: If you keep talking about that particular body part that bothers you, that's what everybody ends up looking at. Those parts you consider flaws are really what make you unique. And being unique is beautiful.

Tres: Don't succumb to the belief that thin is the only way to be happy. Girls who suffer from anorexia (an eating disorder that leaves the victim terribly underweight) are thin, but far from being healthy or in many cases, happy.

Cuatro: Remember that whatever you see in the mirror when cramped into a microscopic fitting room surrounded by fluorescent lighting is NOT reality.

Cinco: If you carry your weight in your lower half, look for a suit that is a solid color from the waist down, with a print, a bold color block, or a ruffle on the top to draw the eye upward. This tip will help you have a more satisfying bathing suit season.

Seis: If you are top heavy, find a bathing suit that draws attention to the hip area. A plunging V-neck draws attention upward to your face, to your bosom and your neckline—and that's what people look at first and the most.

Siete: There is amazing technology in bathing suit construction today. If the top half of your bosom is well supported, then your whole shape looks better. Remember that your regular size is only a guideline when shopping during bathing suit season. Because it fits altogether differently from other clothing, experiment with different sizes to find the one that's right. When you find a suit you like, grab the same suit in one size smaller and one size larger than your regular size and try on all three before deciding if it's right or wrong for you.

Ocho: Think accessories. A brightly colored hat, a sweet cotton tank, a flirty camisole, a vintage slip layered over your bathing suit, and a cute wedge espadrille sandal can put together a coordinated image and help bolster your confidence for this year's bathing suit season.

Neuve: Curves are sexy. Hips and tummies look great when not crammed into a too-small suit.

Diez: Always walk tall, pay attention to your posture, and wear a smile. Drink lots of water and apply plenty of sunscreen. A happy positive facial expression radiates inner beauty, and that always outshines everything else, especially during bathing suit season!