Hot Summer Slimmers

In the season of body-baring looks, a Spartan regimen isn't the only way to looks and feel lighter. These simple diet and beauty tricks will help you get your sleek on.

Just Say No To Artificial Sweeteners

It's tempting to spike your iced tea with it in an effort to save calories--but don't. "The chemical substances in fake sugars are too difficult for the liver to process, so they end up undigested in your lower intestine, which puffs your belly out," says Los Angeles nutritionist Haylie Pomroy, founder of East West Essentials. Try a natural calorie-free sweetener like Stevia instead.

Get A Faux Tan

A tan instantly makes you appear more trim and toned -- and a spray tan that's a touch darker on the outer portion of yours arms, stomach and legs creates a subtle optical illusion. "Adding a bit more shading to these areas highlights muscles and draws the eye in so you look thinner," says Ona Spa esthetician Golee Kheshti, who spray thans Cameron Diaz. Ask your pro to do the same or try this trick with self-tanning wipes at home. The first night apply as usual, the following night use another wipe on the sides of your torso, inner and outer thighs, blending as you go. Try L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-tanning Towelettes ($8, drugstore.com).

Sweat It Out

Sure topical caffeine creams can temporarily tighten, but what if you want to shimmy into a form-fitting dress tonight? A circulation-boosting capsaicin cream will step up the water loss thanks to warming cayenne pepper. "Apply the cream to your abdomen, hips and bottom and then wear neoprene shorts and do a work out," says Pomroy. "The shorts creat compression and the cream makes you sweat out excess water, so you end up looking and feeling leaner," Try Capzasin HP Arthritis Pain Relief Creme ($14, drugstore.com) and GoFit Neoprene Shorts ($16, Amazon.com).

Accent Your Angles

Creating a highlight in certain spots will enhance the effect above, says Kheshti. Her recommendation: Rub a touch of dry oil or shimmer lotion between your palms and stroke it along the top of your collarbone, your shoulders and down the center of thighs and shin bones to give these bones a reflective shimmer. Try Votre Vu Amore D'ore Multi-Vitamin Dry Oil ($49, votrevu.com).