Tuesday, April 7, 2009

5 Simple Steps for Smooth, Sexy Legs


Microminiskirts, shorter-than-short shorts, and dresses the size of napkin cloths are still the sexiest look when the weather heats up(to the cheers of guys everywhere). The style is daring and killer legs are the clincher. Exposing yours will be no sweat when you have buttery soft and bronzed skin, zero fuzzy areas, and the illusion of mile-long length. Here's how to get all that without spending too much or wasting any time.

1. Soften Your Skin

Scrub up. For smooth stems, wash with a gentle exfoliating body scrub. Look for one that has moisturizing oils to prevent dryness and flaking.

Polish away. To give legs a gorgeous shine rub in scrubs using brisk circular motions, spending extra time on scaly knees and ankles.

Banish bumps. Get rid of any small red bumps on your thighs with a daily dose of Lac-Hydrin cream. Its lactic acids dissolve prickly patches fast. Get one with 2.5 to 3 percent formulas over the counter and stronger ones by prescription.

Reduce jiggle. Coat your legs with a firming body lotion (it'll call this out on the package). These formulas contain ingredients like caffeine and seaweed extract that temporarily tighten the skin.

2. Go for Bare

Upgrade your razor. The best way to shave is with a four-blade razor. It cuts hairs in a single pass so you don't have to drag the blade over your skin repeatedly.

Keep it steamy. Most of us grab the razor in the shower and get right to work. For the best technique, experts say to hold skin taut and shave in the opposite direction of hair growth. When tackling sensitive areas, like the bikini line, go with the grain to avoid ingrowns.

Lather with the right stuff. Shaving creams with lubricating ingredients, like silicone, oil, and cellulosic gum, can help ward off annoying redness and irritation since they soften the hair and allow the razor to glide right over your skin. Scan product labels to find these smoothers.

Wax with less wincing. If you have the patience and the pain threshold, consider waxing your legs. (Note: Ripping off an entire stretch of hair is pure torture. Try working on small sections at a time with precoated strips)

Treat ingrowns. Despite your best efforts, ingrowns might still happen — especially if you have coarse, curly hair. Don't pick at them; just massage the area with a cotton ball soaked in a glycolic and salicylic-acid face cleanser. This sloughs the skin's top layer, opening the follicle so the hair can pass through.

3. Add Some Shimmer

Enhance your base. If your legs are crypt-keeper pale, warm them up with a gradual self-tanner. Ingredients in the cream react with the skin's amino acids to produce natural-looking brown pigments. Your tone should peak in five to seven days; afterward, apply the lotion every other day to maintain your gleam.

Get a quick glow. If you want a tanned look this second, your best bet is a bronzing oil that you can swipe on before going out at night. The effects only stick around until your next shower though. For something with more staying power, try a mousse or towelette with sunless tanner: Both stain the legs a beachy, golden tint, and the color lasts about a week. You can choose from multiple hues to match your skin tone, and the products are easier to apply evenly than sprays, which can streak all over the place, says Jim Hammer, a cosmetics chemist in Easton, Massachusetts.

Put on the gloves. Before sweeping yourself with a towelette or mousse, pull on Latex rubber gloves. That way, your hands won't soak up the color molecules meant for your legs. Just make sure your stems are not damp or greasy from any lotion, which can block the self-tanner from absorbing fully.

Use broad strokes. Spread the product from the tops of your ankles to just below your knees, with uniform swipes in all directions. Next, focus on your thighs, using a mirror to keep your backside in sight. For knees, dilute the tanner with moisturizer to ensure the dry skin there doesn't turn too dark. Also, skip spots where the sun don't shine. A tanned heel or sole is a dead giveaway.

Erase any streaks. If you end up with a few orange smudges, don't panic. A quick shower should fade them away. If not, add a cup of milk to the bath. The lactic acids should take down the color. If ankles are your only problem, buff away marks with the fine side of an emery board or lighten them up with a bit of cream bleach left on for two to three minutes.

4. Get a Flawless Finish

Outsmart dimples. There's no magic cure for cellulite, but derms agree that lotions with caffeinated ingredients (like coffee, guarana, and tea) can boost circulation and reduce puckering temporarily. Another idea: Take a natural-bristle dry body brush and, starting at your ankles, rub upward, says Chantal Sanders, director of spa and boutique development for Clarins. This stimulates lymphatic drainage, which may ease puffiness. (You can also lay off the salt.)

Lose the bruises. If you tag yourself on the edge of a coffee table, ice the area to prevent swelling. Then obscure the bluish tint by mixing in a few drops of light-reflecting makeup with your daily moisturizer, says Cilmi.

Cover up the rest. To camouflage stretch marks, birthmarks, and spider veins, Linda Rondinella-Osgood, a makeup artist for Miss Universe contestants, dabs on a heavy body concealer.

5. Make Your Toes Pretty

Trim and file. Cut toenails straight across, and file away sharp corners, being careful not to round the edges, which can cause the nail to grow into the surrounding skin.

Prime the skin. Buff away any calluses and rough spots with a pumice stone, then apply a smoothing foot scrub.

Soak it up. Push back your cuticles with a damp washcloth and rub in moisturizer and cuticle oil, letting them sink in for a minute or two. Wipe off any greasy residue that is left behind.

Paint it on. Apply a base coat and two layers of polish. The hottest spring shades bright, punchy colors like hot pink and purple.

No comments:

Post a Comment