Natalie Zea in Bathing Suit Shares Photos Poolside

Water Skiing

Sydney has been water skiing since she was a toddler. “The moment I could walk, my mom put me on what’s called a U-board to learn how to ski,” she told Women’s Health. “I remember that whenever we would go by the docks of my grandma’s or my cousin’s house, I’d wave. I felt so cool because I could take off one hand. That’s my earliest memory of skiing, but I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember. It’s my favorite.” How does it help her achieve her amazing body? “It’s a lot of upper body strength, it’s balance, it’s core, it’s legs—you get tired really fast,” she says. “I see such a change in my body after an entire summer of [skiing]. My arms are stronger, more sculpted. My abs are rock solid. But I never look at it as a workout because it is so much fun,” she said.

Morning Workouts

Sydney mixes up her exercise routine, but likes to get workouts over with early in the day. “I like to work out in the morning, so I’ll either go for a run or I’ll go to Solidcore,” says Sydney. The high-intensity, low-impact Pilates-inspired workout “makes me feel so strong, but also elongated,” Sydney said about her sweat sessions. “I feel so good afterwards.”

Self-Care

Sydney engages in self-care activities. “I love to paint, and I love to read,” she said. “Those are the activities that are just for me.” One Harvard study published in Social Science & Medicine found that people who read books regularly had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years than those who weren't readers or who read periodicals.

She Walks and Hikes

One of the ways she treats her anxiety is by spending time outdoors with her dog, Tank. She takes him on walks or hikes. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day reduced the risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia, and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.

Syd

She’s Consistent

Last year, Culpo was preparing for her wedding. She told E! News that she made sure to be consistent with her wellness in order to prepare. “Really trying to dial in [on] what I eat, how I workout, the workouts that I do. Trying to get them in consistently because you only get married once and I want to feel my best. But this past season it was just hard being so far away from my normal routine and where I typically live."

She Keeps Her Skin Healthy While Traveling

Culpo has amazing skin, and she makes sure to take care of it, even while traveling. “I don't wear any makeup when traveling," she says to Travel + Leisure. "That's one rule because I do feel like you will have a higher chance of breaking out if you are wearing a full face of makeup. A few things I always have with me is some sort of a spray. I love Dr. Barbara Sturm or Caudalie or La Mer. I also absolutely love traveling with a makeup wipe, the Neutrogena wipes are great. Something to just take off the sweat you build up.”

She Keeps Her Skincare Simple

Culpo shared her skincare routines with Byrdie. She says that she keeps her morning and night routine simple. “I am always trying out new products, so what I gravitate toward is often changing. At night, I usually use an oil and a serum. Right now, I love the Clarins Double Serum. In the morning, I use a Vitamin C serum and an SPF, and, typically, I just rinse my skin with warm water instead of using a cleanser. It is something I swear by—it allows for the oils on my skin from sleeping to absorb naturally.”

She Uses Products With Vitamins

Culpo shared some of her favorite skincare products with Byrdie. She says that she uses ones that have vitamins in them. “I have noticed a huge difference in my skin with vitamin C and E. I love the Good Janes H2OMyGod Moisturizer—it's sort of an all-in-one moisturizer that has vitamin C and collagen peptides. As for vitamin E, I actually just purchase the oil from the drugstore. It is super cheap and great to put on any red marks I may get from an occasional breakout. The healing process is so much quicker when I am using Vitamin E oil.”

She Packs Healthy Snacks

Culpo makes sure to eat healthy. She shared some of the snacks she packs with her with Travel + Leisure. "I love the Kind bars. I love any sort of nuts, to be honest with you. They are a go-to snack for me. I would say Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% and some almonds would be perfect! Also, electrolytes to stay hydrated or some sort of collagen beauty powder or something."