Pretty Legs Ready For Summer

Summer is on its way and it is time to get pretty legs ready for summer. If you have spent the last few months hiding your legs in pants and tights, before you slip into that cute miniskirt and sandals, there are a few things your can do to put a bit of that spring back in your step and have your legs ready for the summer.

Dry Brush Massage

To bring back the luster to the skin on your legs and have pretty legs ready for summer, start out by giving yourself a little dry-brushing massage. This will jumpstart circulation and slough off those dead surface skin cells. Use a soft body brush with natural bristles, and brush in a circular motion from your feet on up your legs all the way to your hips and tush. Do this for a good ten minutes for maximum effect.

Move your treatment into the shower. Grab your favorite salt or sugar scrub (think Philosophy's Gingerbread Man or Origins Perfect World), and do a little more of that nice circular massage up and down your legs, paying special attention to the tops and back of thighs. Kneading with your hands should do the trick just fine, but if you are so inclined, pick up a special textured massager (one of those jelly plastic ones with the nubs up and down one side). The textured little prongs will help dig deeper and break up cellulite and tired tissue.

For an added anti-cellulite bonus, throw some coffee grounds into the mix. It's a little messy, but caffeine is the active ingredient in many pricey firming products. While you've got it in the shower with you, try it on your upper arms and tummy as well to tighten up that skin tone.

Hair Removal

Now that your gams are as exfoliated as can be, let's more on to hair removal. Your inner masochist may love going to the salon and having your legs waxed because of the long lasting results. Maybe pain isn't your thing and you even avoid the blade by using a depilatory product (if that's the case, be advised that you'll need a different method for the bikini line – chemical hair removal and that delicate area just do NOT mix). Wet shaving in the shower is your best bet if the razor is your method of choice.

Start out with a good-quality razor, disposable or not, and be sure to change it frequently (the sharper the razor,the less likely you are to get nicked). Some women are happy to shave with their body wash or shampoo, but you really will get a closer and more comfortable shave with an actual shaving cream or gel designed for ladies, as they are packed with moisturizers and emollients to keep things smooth.

Shave against the grain of hair growth and be careful not to apply too much pressure. Rinse thoroughly, and be sure to pat, not rub dry when you get out of the shower. Now that your legs are smooth and sloughed, you're ready to moisturize. It's best to slather on the body lotion while your skin is shower fresh and still a little bit damp, as this is when it's most ready to absorb hydration.

Sunless Tanning Products

If you're shocked by the pastiness of your winter white stems, use one of the fantastic new body lotions with a built-in buildable self-tanner (I like the Jergens Body Glow). They are an easy, sun-free way to layer on some color, and much easier to apply than other sunless tanning products and give a streak-free golden glow. Now you're ready to slip into the season's sassy knee shorts and wedge sandals and show off those pretty legs ready for summer.

Pretty Legs Ready For Summer
Updated May 28, 2011

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