Lydia and Zoe have been friends for years
So girls, tell us about this new Flag It! Campaign that you're working on.
Lydia: Basically we've got involved with this Flag It! campaign, which is encouraging people to flag up and tell their friend if they see them burning in the sun, letting them know to apply suncream. We're in holiday season now and it's just about promoting sun safety, sunbathing safely and to avoid skin damage and obviously skin cancer. We wanted to get involved because we're close friends and we want people to be more aware of the dangers of skin cancer when they're on their holidays.
Zoe: Exactly. I think a lot of women forget, especially young girls forget that it can happen to them, any age. On average one women between the age of 20-29 gets diagnosed with skin cancer everyday, so it's close to both of our hearts. My family live in Africa so I've been in the sun most of my life and I'm always wearing factor 30, that's the minimum I'll ever wear and I think that Lyds got caught the other week when she was in Dubai, so we just wanted to raise awareness really.
We've seen the pictures of Lydia in Dubai with her burnt bottom, do you have any other embarrassing burnt stories?
Lydia: That disaster in Dubai was one of the reasons that I wanted to join the campaign. I went on holiday to Dubai and fell asleep in the sun and my skin was so sore when I woke up, so I just want to help promote the campaign and raise awareness about protecting yourself and your friends in the sun, especially when you see them burning.
Zoe: I did it as well when I was 15 years old and on holiday in Portugal, I just completely forgot to put suntan lotion on and fell asleep in the sun for two hours because I'd been out all night and I woke up and I was literally burnt to a crisp. I learnt the hard way as well. It's definitely all about just Flagging It up to your mates, and say, 'you're turning red'. For me I always wear Factor 50 on my face because just as I'm wary about skin cancer, I'm also wary of premature skin aging and I'll always wear a minimum of Factor 30 on my body. I think that the preconception is that you can't tan through something like that, but you absolutely can, you just don't burn.
It's all about rehydration, drinking loads of water, staying out of the sun between 12, well really 11.30 am and 3 o'clock, then just making sure that you keep on topping up and tehn when you go for a swim and you come out of the water that you put more suntan lotion on.
Were will you both be sunning yourself this summer? Have you got any holiday's planned?
Zoe: Oh, I'll be in Ibiza.
Lydia: I'll probably be in Ibiza as well, but I've just recently come back from Florida too. But, we want people to know that we're not saying to not tan at all because we obviously know that everyone wants to get a bit of a golden tan, but we're just telling people to be careful and take precautions in the sun.
Obviously as well as their tan on holiday, people are thinking about their holiday body's in the lead up. Do you both follow a strict diet in the lead up to going away and getting your bikini on?
Zoe: For me I just train really hard, I eat really well, drink loads of water. It's just about moderation really. Obviously I'm just like any other girl and have those days where I just want to eat a bar of chocolate, so I allow myself to do that. I'm just really aware of what I'm eating, exercise and keeping that balance really. It's all about looking good in your bikini isn't it?!
Lydia: I'm the same really, I always eat quite healthily, but I think that before you go away you always go that little bit healthier and more aware and try and exercise a little bit more because everyone wants to be at their best and look amazing in their bikini.
What sort of exercises do you do to stay in shape?
Zoe: I'm a big runner, so I do a lot of that.
Lydia: Yes, Zoe is a big runner and big on exercise, so you're probably best keeping those questions for her (laughs).
Zoe: Yes, so I basically do something five times a week, either a run, spinning, weights or some yoga. I really like to mix it up. I love exercising, it helps with my head.
Lydia: Yes, she's amazing. She's always exercising, she's very fit. I wish I could take a leaf out of her book.... No, I do exercise but just not as well as Zoe.
Do you still do your bike riding Lydia? Because you done the bike riding challenge with Denise Van Outen, didn't you?
Lydia: I haven't been able to get on my bike as much recently but whenever I've got a challenge like that it motivates me a lot. Before I went on the cycling challenge I obviously did a lot of training. But now that the summer weather is slowly making an appearance I think I'll get on my bike and go for a few summer cycles.
At the moment I do try and just fit the exercise into my daily routine really, so I just walk to places if I can, use the stairs intsead of a lift, small things like that. I don't do vigorous hours at the gym I just try and build it into my life.
When you're on holiday, do you still think about what you're eating or do you not really bother with that and just enjoy your time off and the food?
Zoe: I find that I think about it more because your in your bikini everyday and because it's so warm you feel that you want to eat salads, fresh fish and fresh vegetables and stuff. I think that I probably eat better when I'm away. Especially when I'm with my family in Kenya and it's all fresh delicious. When you're at home in the UK, and we're not really having the best summer, you want to just pig out and eat carbs.
Lydia: Yes, I'm exactly the same. I think when you're away it make your eat healthier because when your on holiday by the coast you eat a lot of fresh fish, a lot of fresh local food. I think there are a lot more healthier option whilst you're away.
Have you got any beauty tips to share with us for whilst you're on holiday?
Zoe: My big tip is for my hair, because my hair is out in the sun and has highlights on, I'll always put a mask on, or when I'm by the pool and my hair is wet, I'll put a mask on. Something like a Morraccon Oil Depp Intensive Mask. I always use a bit of tan maximiser as well, the Lancaster stuff is really great, especially when I go a little darker. That's always really good.
Lydia: Hairwise I use a lot of dry shampoo when I'm away, otherwise my hair can go really frizzy. I tend to spray my hair with it before I go out in the evening. There is an amazing one from Mark Hill's summer collection that's called Beach to Bar which is great. Beautywise I'd say a really nourishing aftersun is great and bronzer - you want to look lovely and sunkissed, so always take away a nice bronzer.
Do you have any fashion tips for whilst you're on holiday?
Zoe: I love a gladiator sandal on holiday. But then my favourite summer staple is bright high-waisted shorts. I just live in neons, pinks and that. I think a nice pair of wedges when you're going out in the evening too, something to dance the night away in. And I love gold jewellery, big gold cuffs or chunky necklaces.
Tell us what you've both got coming up next.
Zoe: I start work on the cycling series for Sky and then I'm working on the Olympics, doing street sport for the Olympics. Fingers crossed we'll be coming back to Take Me Out! in the Autumn too, we're still waiting to hear on that.
Lydia: I launched online with my boutique last month, which has been amazing so I'm still really focusing on that; we're trying to make the brand bigger and better. I've got a clothing collection coming out for Autumn/Winter as well, which is amazing. We're designing that at the moment. And then TOWIE again. Which starts filming soon.
Lydia, will your clothing collection be available in Bella Sorella or in a high street store?
It will be available online at BelleSorella.co.uk and instore, it will also go out to other independent boutiques and in high street retailer, but that's still being discussed at the moment.
Lydia Rose Bright and Zoe Hardman are ambassadors for `Flag it' a Department of Health suncare campaign to encourage friends to flag it if they see a friend that needs to cover up or apply some sunscreen
Femalefirst Taryn Davies