Legs: you want to flaunt them under that flowy brunch dress or at one of those pending pool parties you've got to attend, but flaky skin, cellulite and ingrowths are coming in the way.
Vogue gives you quick and easy tips to get wow-worthy legs in four simple steps.
1. Scrub it off: Show your legs some love. Slough off dead skin with a gentle exfoliator. Not only does it even out your complexion, but it also helps eliminate ingrown hair. It's the easiest and quickest way to soft and shiny skin. If you plan on using an exfoliating brush, make sure to buff skin in a gentle circular motion—you don't want to harm your skin with harsh movements. This also helps increase blood circulation and makes your skin healthier.
For those looking for a more advanced option, chemical peels work best. However, don’t forget to apply a generous amount of sunscreen as the alpha and beta acids can make you more prone to sunburn.
2. Hydrate: Dry and scaly legs are less than chic and best avoided. To prevent this unwanted snakeskin effect, slather on a layer of moisturiser, daily. However, make sure to swap your body butters and heavy moisturizers for oil-free and gel-based products as there is nothing worse than sticky and oily creams in humid weather. These lightweight formulas not only glide on easily but also leave your skin supple and smooth sans the greasy residue.
3. Tackle cellulite: No matter how fit you are, cellulite can still affect you (even the skinniest runway models have it). The 'orange peel' effect is caused when fat deposits below the surface of the skin, inflaming connective tissue and causing the skin to appear uneven and lumpy. Cellulite creams won’t make it vanish, but will help make it less noticeable. If you decide to take the gym route, cardio and muscle training will help blast cellulite. One of the best ways to combat cellulite is to go for powerful detoxifying body treatments and massages that aid in lymphatic drainage to improve the texture of the skin.
4. Work it: Your lower body is the quickest place to build lean muscle. So make sure to get off your glutes and put your lower body to use–we're talking about lunges, calf raises and sprinting. Squats are the tried-and-trusted move for perfect legs. Start off by keeping your legs shoulder-width apart. Then allow your hips and thighs to pull your body down slowly, sitting as far back as you can so that your knees are in line with your ankles. Then rise up and down five to seven times from the original seated position.
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