Perfect Pins
With micro minis and hot pants making a huge comeback, there'll be plenty of flesh on show this season so you'll make sure your legs are looking at their best with our 12 simple tips:
1. Ditch the fuzz in favour of smooth, silky legs
The first stop to perfect pins has to be getting rid of leg hair. Whilst there may be an excuse for fuzz in the winter months, self-respecting legs should be hair-free this summer especially given the current fashion for micro minis and barely there dresses. If you're planning to shave, take time to make it a pampering experience to avoid those in-a-rush nicks and cuts. After also shaving or waxing be sure to moisturise to keep skin silky smooth.
Top Tip: The skin on the shin is especially thin, and prone to becoming dry, wrinkled and flaky if neglected so be sure to slather on a moisturiser every morning.
2. Beat bumps and stretch marks
Skin bumps can occur because of a condition called keratosis pilaris or as a result of ingrown hairs. To avoid them, exfoliate legs with a grainy scrub in the shower.
Also get to work on reducing the appearance of stretch marks by applying a stretch mark corrector.
3. Banish razor burn
Chlorine, sun and high temperatures can make the skin on legs more prone to post-shave stinging and rashes. Use a lotion containing aloe to soothe.
Top tip: Put your lotion in the fridge for 20 minutes before use for a soothing treat that will really cool rashy skin.
4. Bronze away
What do J-Lo, Beyonce and Victoria Beckham all have in common? Perfectly polished, bronzed pins, that's what! Take a tip from the celebs and reach for the self-tan.
Not only is it the most efficient way to hide blemishes such as spider veins and stretch marks, you'll find that bronzed legs look instantly slimmer. The trick to perfectly bronzed pins is preparation.
Just follow these 4 easy steps:
1. Before you do anything else, make sure you've thoroughly cleansed and exfoliated your skin.
2. Moisturise from head to toe - sparingly! Too much moisturiser and you will create a barrier between your skin and the self-tan formula.
3. Perfect the no-streaks, natural-looking tan!
- Apply a little self-tan at a time and build up the colour with a second application a few days later.
4. Avoid give-away dark patches!
- Apply very sparingly to knees, elbows, knuckles and heels. These areas tend to be drier and pick up self-tan colour more.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after application to avoid brown palms!
For a totally celeb-tastic tan choose a liquid gold self tanner.
5. Add some flare and get skirty!
Skirts that flare a bit - think A-lines - make legs look slimmer and shapelier.
6. Desk-ercise
Sit in the office all day? Tone up your legs from the comfort of your desk! It?s easy. Simply sit up in your chair, making sure it supports your lower back, with your feel flat on the floor. Extend the right leg until it is straight and hold for two to three seconds while contracting the quadriceps muscle (that?s the front of your thigh to you and me!). Relax and slowly lower to the floor and repeat with your left leg.
7. Call time on cellulite
This summer's micro hemlines take no prisoners so your legs are going to on show big time but how can you minimise the 'orange peel' effect and its stranglehold on your self confidence? At last there's a solution that doesn't include sweating it out for hours on the treadmill. It's time to treat your problem areas to a body firmer every morning and night.
Tests prove that these wonder products, applied twice a day, can visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite leaving skin feeling firmer and looking smoother. Not only will you see the appearance of 'orange peel' skin, tests prove that the average reduction in the circumference of your thighs is 2cm! Massage in twice a day and you'll be amazed by the results after just 4 weeks...
8. Step into a pair of sexy heels
Heels work wonders for legs with even one-inch kitten heels making legs look longer and leaner.
9. Legs akimbo
Try to get your feet above your head for at least 10 minutes a day to improve the circulation and blood flow. Lie on the floor with your feet on a chair, stretch out on the sofa with your feet propped up on the arm when watching television or even sneak a nap on the bed with your feet up on a couple of pillows.
10. Get leggy with some Summer sparkle
Don't just limit make-up to your upper body. Add some sparkle to your legs for a sexy evening look. Smooth a shimmering lotion over your legs or make your own by adding gold makeup powder to your moisturiser and apply.
Top Tip: Apply a bronzer down the centre of your legs for any instant slimmer.
11. Hydrate those legs
Drink lots of water - at least eight glasses a day - to help flush waste products out of the system. As well as boosting the surface and complexion of the legs this will do wonders for your skin in general.
12. Time to take up tennis?
Feeling inspired by Wimbledon? A quick glance at the perfectly toned legs of women tennis players will confirm that tennis is one of the best sports for toning up legs. This is due to the variation of movement across the court. Cycling, swimming, walking are also great leg toning options.
