Summer time is when we all start showing a bit more skin and we want our legs to look their best.
While there was a time that women were expected to wear nylons year round now the look of bare legs is acceptable in the summer time except for perhaps the stuffiest of office situations. How do you get your legs looking their best with out doling out a lot of cash?
Here are 7 great ways to make your legs look like a million dollars with out spending any where near that amount of cash.
Leg wax - Don't pout and don't scream, it really is not as bad as you think it is to wax your legs. When you shave your legs you are stuck doing it forever, with waxing, over time, your leg hairs become sparser and weaker until you might be lucky enough just to have to do a random plucking now and again to keep them hair free. Remember that you leg technically goes all the way up to your bathing suit and that area needs to be dealt with as well. Take a mirror and check the back of your legs above the knee to see if you have to wax that area as well.
There are really good products on the market now that give you a spa quality waxing that you can do at home. Forget about the days where you had to heat wax over the stove and remove it from your legs with muslin strips there are better options. There are waxes
that you apply and remove with out using strips and there are wax strips 
that are ready to use.
If you decide this is the year you are going to use them read the literature that comes with the product well as they give great tips on how to best use it. You can't use any type of wax over cuts or abrasions as they can make them worse. Use the moisturizers that come with the kits as they will give you a nice smooth finish.
You might feel as if waxing is not a budget or quick option and that you would rather stay with a razor but over time you will spend less money and time if you wax. Look for your waxing products when they go on sale. One caveat, once you start waxing you shouldn't not ever go back to shaving as it will lead to ingrown hairs.
Buff your skin This won't cost you anything but a bit of time and will improve the look of your legs considerably. Very gently when you are in the shower using a washcloth buff your legs in a circular motion (this is actually good to do all over your body). You don't want to be rough when you are doing this, you are trying to remove any dead skin and get the circulation going. When you are out of the shower continue to buff your legs in a circular motion with your towel to dry. Don't be rough when you are doing this as it can cause soreness and irritation. Be extra gentle after you have waxed or shaved.
Moisturize Whether you wax or shave your legs they need a lot of moisturizer so you won't get any of those unsightly bumps from the new growth of hairs becoming trapped under the skin. The absolutely best moisturizers are the tried and true old fashion ones like olive oil or almond oil. Work the oil into your legs and make sure they are completely absorbed before you sit down on any furniture or get dressed. Also look for a good all purpose body moisturizer that you can slather on you legs those times you don't have time for the olive and almond oil. Moisturizer works best right out of the bath or shower as it retains the moisture that is already on your skin.
Also don't forget to moisturize the inside of yourself. With warm weather comes more chances to become dehydrated. Make sure that you are drinking enough water through out the day as dehydrated skin looks dull and does not regenerate as well.
Tanning and Self Tanners Tanned legs tend to look slimmer and healthier than pale legs. There is a raging controversy on whether all sun exposure should be avoided. On one hand dermatologist claim even small amounts of sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and on the other hand there are advocates that suggest sun exposure as a healthy natural way for the body to get Vitamin D which they now believe 40 percent of the population to be deficient in.
If you have a family history of skin cancer, you burn easily or you have very pale skin avoid the sun. If there is no medical reason you shouldn't do so consider exposing your legs to the sun for 5 minutes front and back in the low UV ray times of day (before 10am and after 4pm). Your body absorbs Vitamin D from the sun and small doses of sunshine at safe times of the day are now suggested as being beneficial.
Self-Tanning Lotions
are another option to consider. While some don't like the idea of applying chemicals to their skin they do offer a alternative to the sun. These self tanners work gradually and you have to apply them regularly to keep the look of a tan.
Exercise Everyone can use the benefits of exercise and if you have a problem area on your legs then you can concentrate on it. Don't think that you are going to have to spend hours at the gym to get your legs in shape.
Walking is the best exercise for your legs and you can do it almost any where and any time. Starting tomorrow vow to get in 20 more minutes of walking everyday, even if it is just strolling around the parking lot at lunch time or power walking through the mall. Start taking the stairs everywhere you have a chance, swear off elevators and escalators.
It is amazing how many exercises you can do while you are getting ready for the day. Work in squats while you are brushing your teeth and leg lifts as you wait for the coffee to brew.
Circulation You want to have good circulation in your legs for the blood to be pumping through them so your skin will have a healthy glow. Never sit with your legs crossed and if you are on your feet a good deal elevate your feet when ever possible. You might find it beneficial to actually put your feet in the air for 5 to 10 minutes a day. Lay on your back with your bottom against a wall and your legs up against the wall. It can be very relaxing and will make gravity work in getting the blood from your legs to your heart.
While it is often beleived that varicose veins are a circulation problem they are mostly hereditary but can be activated by hormonal problems, having to stand on your feet all day, injury and obesity. There are new treatments for varicose veins that can be done in a doctor's office and are much less invasive that the surgeries that use to be performed.
Scars, bruises and bug bites Nothing is going to spoil the look of your lovely legs faster than a scratchy bug bite or a painful bruise. If you are in buggy areas make sure that you are using insect repellent. If you do get a bug bite wash the area well and make sure that there is no stinger left in your skin. Calamine lotion is an old fashion ointment that works to settle the itchiness, the generic brands at drug stores are very inexpensive.
We all tend to me more active in the summer so be careful that you aren't too rough on yourself. If you do happen to get a bruise ice if for at least 10 minutes. Don't apply the ice directly to your skin but have in wrapped in a towel or cloth. The reason you see people icing bruised in the movies is because it really does work.
It doesn't take much to get your legs in fabulous shape and then once you do make sure that you show them off.
Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
There are really good products on the market now that give you a spa quality waxing that you can do at home. Forget about the days where you had to heat wax over the stove and remove it from your legs with muslin strips there are better options. There are waxes
that you apply and remove with out using strips and there are wax strips that are ready to use.If you decide this is the year you are going to use them read the literature that comes with the product well as they give great tips on how to best use it. You can't use any type of wax over cuts or abrasions as they can make them worse. Use the moisturizers that come with the kits as they will give you a nice smooth finish.
You might feel as if waxing is not a budget or quick option and that you would rather stay with a razor but over time you will spend less money and time if you wax. Look for your waxing products when they go on sale. One caveat, once you start waxing you shouldn't not ever go back to shaving as it will lead to ingrown hairs.
Buff your skin This won't cost you anything but a bit of time and will improve the look of your legs considerably. Very gently when you are in the shower using a washcloth buff your legs in a circular motion (this is actually good to do all over your body). You don't want to be rough when you are doing this, you are trying to remove any dead skin and get the circulation going. When you are out of the shower continue to buff your legs in a circular motion with your towel to dry. Don't be rough when you are doing this as it can cause soreness and irritation. Be extra gentle after you have waxed or shaved.
Moisturize Whether you wax or shave your legs they need a lot of moisturizer so you won't get any of those unsightly bumps from the new growth of hairs becoming trapped under the skin. The absolutely best moisturizers are the tried and true old fashion ones like olive oil or almond oil. Work the oil into your legs and make sure they are completely absorbed before you sit down on any furniture or get dressed. Also look for a good all purpose body moisturizer that you can slather on you legs those times you don't have time for the olive and almond oil. Moisturizer works best right out of the bath or shower as it retains the moisture that is already on your skin.
Also don't forget to moisturize the inside of yourself. With warm weather comes more chances to become dehydrated. Make sure that you are drinking enough water through out the day as dehydrated skin looks dull and does not regenerate as well.
Tanning and Self Tanners Tanned legs tend to look slimmer and healthier than pale legs. There is a raging controversy on whether all sun exposure should be avoided. On one hand dermatologist claim even small amounts of sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and on the other hand there are advocates that suggest sun exposure as a healthy natural way for the body to get Vitamin D which they now believe 40 percent of the population to be deficient in.
If you have a family history of skin cancer, you burn easily or you have very pale skin avoid the sun. If there is no medical reason you shouldn't do so consider exposing your legs to the sun for 5 minutes front and back in the low UV ray times of day (before 10am and after 4pm). Your body absorbs Vitamin D from the sun and small doses of sunshine at safe times of the day are now suggested as being beneficial.
Self-Tanning Lotions
are another option to consider. While some don't like the idea of applying chemicals to their skin they do offer a alternative to the sun. These self tanners work gradually and you have to apply them regularly to keep the look of a tan.Exercise Everyone can use the benefits of exercise and if you have a problem area on your legs then you can concentrate on it. Don't think that you are going to have to spend hours at the gym to get your legs in shape.
Walking is the best exercise for your legs and you can do it almost any where and any time. Starting tomorrow vow to get in 20 more minutes of walking everyday, even if it is just strolling around the parking lot at lunch time or power walking through the mall. Start taking the stairs everywhere you have a chance, swear off elevators and escalators.
It is amazing how many exercises you can do while you are getting ready for the day. Work in squats while you are brushing your teeth and leg lifts as you wait for the coffee to brew.
Circulation You want to have good circulation in your legs for the blood to be pumping through them so your skin will have a healthy glow. Never sit with your legs crossed and if you are on your feet a good deal elevate your feet when ever possible. You might find it beneficial to actually put your feet in the air for 5 to 10 minutes a day. Lay on your back with your bottom against a wall and your legs up against the wall. It can be very relaxing and will make gravity work in getting the blood from your legs to your heart.
While it is often beleived that varicose veins are a circulation problem they are mostly hereditary but can be activated by hormonal problems, having to stand on your feet all day, injury and obesity. There are new treatments for varicose veins that can be done in a doctor's office and are much less invasive that the surgeries that use to be performed.
Scars, bruises and bug bites Nothing is going to spoil the look of your lovely legs faster than a scratchy bug bite or a painful bruise. If you are in buggy areas make sure that you are using insect repellent. If you do get a bug bite wash the area well and make sure that there is no stinger left in your skin. Calamine lotion is an old fashion ointment that works to settle the itchiness, the generic brands at drug stores are very inexpensive.
We all tend to me more active in the summer so be careful that you aren't too rough on yourself. If you do happen to get a bruise ice if for at least 10 minutes. Don't apply the ice directly to your skin but have in wrapped in a towel or cloth. The reason you see people icing bruised in the movies is because it really does work.
It doesn't take much to get your legs in fabulous shape and then once you do make sure that you show them off.
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Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
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