10 Steps to Perfect Legs
Beauty tips and tricks to prepare your legs for the sunny season
Spring has (just about) sprung, but do cellulite, pale skin and dry legs stop you from stepping out with confidence when the weather warms up?
You’re not alone. While cellulite does become more visible as we age, the truth is that it can and will affect most women at some point in their lives, regardless of their age, body shape or fitness levels. And those dreaded dimples can make the idea of stepping out in a summer dress seem pretty intimidating. But don’t fret – we all have the same concerns after a long winter of covering up. That’s why our beauty experts are here to help with top tips to treat cellulite, slim down and improve the overall appearance of your legs.
There’s no need for painful or invasive surgery, hardcore exercise or big changes to your diet to banish cellulite – simple tweaks and clever beauty tricks can be all that’s needed to get rid of dimpled, dry skin (or at least hide it)
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But even if cellulite isn’t a main concern (in which case, lucky you!), then there are still other tips you can steal from the experts to leave your legs looking their best. From perking up dull skin to softening and smoothing, make this the summer where your legs steal the show. We’ve also found the best treatments to remove hair permanently and new tanning wonder-products that can help tone and firm up skin while reducing the appearance of cellulite. Whatever your concern, gorgeous legs can be yours in just a few easy steps.
We?ve got ten expert tips to help you achieve that summer-ready body with enviably smooth and tanned legs. So read on and follow our expert beauty advice to banish cellulite and ensure that you feel confident whipping off those 60-deniers this weekend…
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Step 1: Reduce Cellulite
Let's face it, there is no magical cure for cellulite, but there are things you can do to reduce it's appearance, and a little bit of elbow grease can have significant results. Body brushing sounds like a bit of a slog but you can fit it in while you wait for your shower to heat up in the morning - brush dry skin in long strokes towards the heart with Liz Earle Body Brush for 60 seconds. This improves circulation, lymphatic drainage and exfoliates - ergo - smoother, less dimpled skin.
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Step 2: Detoxify
Do your legs ever feel swollen, tired or heavy? 20 minutes with these should sort you right out! Chuck a handful of Dr Salts Muscle Therapy Bath Salts, £6.99 into a bath and let the natural dead sea salts draw toxins and impurities out of your body as you soak. You'll emerge feeling refreshed and revitalised with cool, calm, light-as-a-feather limbs.
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Step 3: De-Fuzz
Sick of shaving every day? Aren't we all. So why not invest in an IPL device like Philips Lumea, from £200. You'll need to start now to see results for summertime, but 30 minutes is enough to do both legs, and if you stick with it you can see up to 90% hair reduction in as little as six weeks. Permanently.
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Step 4: Exfoliate Away Winter Skin
Have your legs been stuck in 60 deniers since September? Time to slough away the build up of dead skin cells that can make legs look dull, ashy or even cause dreaded chicken skin. Pick a fairly coarse exfoliator like Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow, £36.50, and really work it in to knees and thighs.
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Step 5: Start To Soften
Start softening and smoothing early with a super nourishing shower product, like Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash, £9, with essential oils of bergamot, lavender and geranium. This helps nourish and hydrate newly exposed skin cells, after you have scrubbed away the old ones.
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Step 6: Moisturise
The final step of prep is of course, moisturise! You've probably heard us say it before, but you still can't beat Kiehl's Creme De Corps, £45 for texture, delicious cocoa butter scent and sinking in in a flash. Moisturising really well will add a subtle sheen to legs ensuring they look healthy and glowy even if you're not a self tan fan.
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Step 7: Tan-Up
We all feel more confident with a touch of colour, but streaking, smells and the general faff of fake tan can be off-putting. Our favourites for foolproof results are St Tropez Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse, which you can wash off after an hour meaning no stained bedsheets, and Vita Liberata PHenomenal 2-3 Week Tanning Lotion, £37.50 which is practically impossible to streak and smells of nothing.
Remember to wait a 24 hours after waxing or shaving before applying self tan so you don't clog pores and get all those strange little brown bumps. Avoid body oils afterwards as they break down the DHA and make tans fade fast.
Follow our Top 10 Tanning Tips for a streak-free glow every time.
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Step 8: Conceal
If you've got bruises, spider veins or a generally uneven colour on your legs, there's no reason you can't pop a little make-up on like you would your face. MAC's amazing Face and Body Foundation, £28.50 is used in practically every fashion and beauty photoshoot going, so is super hard wearing, waterpoof and totally natural looking too.
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Step 9: Add some shimmer
Now that you've covered this bits you don't like, add in a little of what you do! This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle, £37, is a product that really lives up to it's name. A silky serum that gives legs just a hint of shimmery sheen, run it down shins for a tone-perfecting leg-legnthening effect.
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Step 10: Boost that glow
Fake tan fading fast and no time to top up? Use He-Shi's Bronzing Brush to sweep a little Laura Mercier Radiance Baked Body Bronzer, £42.50, down the centre of your shins and around thighs for an instant confidence boost.
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