FASHION + BEAUTY
SHOW OFF THOSE LEGS
RIGHT (* CROSSES FINGERS AND TOES *), NOW THAT THE SUN IS FINALLY SHINING , IT ’ S TIME TO EMBRACE YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE , WHICH GENERALLY MEANS DONNING SHORTS AND SKIRTS . WHILE WE MAY ALL WANT SCULPTED SUPERMODEL LEGS THAT TRAVEL FROM ANKLE TO APPARENTLY ARMPIT WITH NOTHING BUT A MUSCULAR SHIMMER EN ROUTE , NOT ALL OF US HAVE THEM . AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE . THERE ARE WAYS AND MEANS OF PREPPING YOUR LEGS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON , SO THAT WHEN YOU DO PUT THAT PAIR OF SHORTS ON , YOU TURN TO THE MIRROR AND THINK : ‘ DO YOU KNOW WHAT ? THOSE WILL DO NICELY .’ WE ’ VE PUT TOGETHER A FAILSAFE BEAUTY ROUTINE FOR YOUR LEGS THAT ’ S EASY TO FOLLOW AND WILL LEAVE YOU PROUD TO SHOW OFF YOUR PINS . by Polly Humphris
Step 1 : Hair removal
Firstly , if it ’ s been a while since you bared your legs , take a deep breath before you reveal them in all of their ‘ winter / spring / summer-coat ’ glory and accept that hair removal is a must . Shaving is a cheap , quick , and , if you ’ re handy with a razor and can avoid unsightly nicks , pain-free option here . There ’ s all manner of razors out there in today ’ s market – silver ones , multiple-bladed ones , old-school Bic disposables ( lethal : not recommended ), even pretty pink ones – and a great call is the Gillette Venus Swirl . The first Gillette women ’ s model to include ‘ FlexiBall ’ technology , it offers a really close shave and adjusts to the body ’ s contours well too .
If you prefer the depilatory cream route ( they ’ ve come on a long way since the unforgettable chemical stench of Veet ( née Immac ) made us all feel as though we were somehow perming our leg hairs off ), try a Skin Doctors ‘ hair no more ’ hair removal pack . An easy two-step system that finishes with an inhibitor spray to saturate the hair bulb , preventing hair from growing back fast , it ’ s easypeasy , effective and doesn ’ t smell like burning flesh either .
Step 2 : Exfoliation
Once the hair ’ s gone , it ’ s time to think tanning , but not before you exfoliate , a stage that ’ s essential for getting rid of dry skin and paving the way for that smooth and shiny leg look that we all want to achieve . An oldie but a goodie , Clinique ’ s Sparkle Skin is the bodyexfoliating equivalent of an icecold plunge pool . Best used on dry skin , it ’ s got a sturdy , non-sticky consistency , which won ’ t melt from your hands before you get a chance to rub it in , and its gel-like formula contains botanical ingredients and lots of menthol , so it ’ s seriously invigorating and cools the skin as it exfoliates leaving your legs glossy and glowing .
Step 3 : Moisturise
Dry , scaly legs are never a good look , and the key to them a ) looking lovely and b ) receiving a helping hand in the form of a hint of self tan , is to moisturise . In our opinion , everything that Emma Hardie touches turns to gold ; a leading pioneer in skin rejuvenation , what she doesn ’ t know about anti-ageing isn ’ t worth knowing and now , hallelujah , she ’ s developed the ultimate body moisturiser too : Emma Hardie Natural Life and Sculpt Body Butter . Fragranced with zingy citrus and softer , floral notes , it ’ s an intense , nourishing treatment that ’ s perfect for hydrating legs that have been left undercover for a while . Thick and really luxurious feeling , it ’ s packed to the rafters with everything tired skin could possibly need including Omega 3 , 6 , and 9 fatty acids , marine actives , Vitamin E , shea butter , and even Inca oils from Peru , for that added air of indulgence .
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