By Joely Walker

With millions of eyes around the world all glued to the Olympics it would take a very confident person to enter the arena without a little extra help in the beauty department (or so we here at BND like to think). We believe though, when taking part in competitive sport it’s best to steer clear of heavy make-up and opt for subtle touches – little is most definitely best. Read on for our top Olympian tips on how the athletes keep glam whilst going for gold…

Over at beach volleyball we hear that Zara Dampney swears by Nelsons products to beat dry skin after hours in the sun – try their Balancing Moisturiser (£8.49) which contains nourishing shea butter to maintain a healthy glow.

Tonia Couch, British synchronised diver hopeful, is one of many athletes we've spied so far with a penchant for nail art. She insists her nails look the part for the cameras by keeping up a manicure regime consisting of either Minx or Shellac. We love her twist on patriotic nail art, opting for pale blue with a Union Jack on one nail (almost as much as we love this one by fellow athlete Alison Williamson).

And finally, an Olympic diver’s number one beauty enemy? Mascara that smudges and leaves tell-tale black smears around the eyes. Couch’s quick-fix solution? Her trusted Urban Decay Ultra Waterproof Mascara. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for us too.

So there you go – just a couple of Olympian top tips to help you feel just that little bit more confident when doing your work-out – whatever that may be (much more achievable than those beach volleyball players' abs as far as we're concerned).

For more Olympic nail art go to: http://www.elleuk.com/beauty/news/nail-art-fit-for-olympians