CONTINUE SHOPPING
loading..

021
legs for days
Date: 18 August 2016

Show your pillars of strength some support and love with these quick tips for a leggy beauty boost - By Parizaad Khan Sethi

This might sound insane, but I have major respect and admiration for legs. They take us places. Because of them we get to wear nice shoes. And they’re my favourite body part to work out at the gym cause they burn the most calories. Seriously, legs are the bomb. Here’s how you can give back to the two pillars in your life that have supported you basically forever.

Give ‘em a good brushing down

To shed dull skin, flakes and dryness, some sort of exfoliation is key. If you can get a body moisturizer with glycolic or lactic acids, grab it quicker than you would Ryan Gosling. Otherwise, physical exfoliation with scrubs or dry brushing is the way to go. I would prefer to eat gravel before physically exfoliating my face, but happily take the scrub route for limbs, as the skin is not so sensitive. Forest Essentials Body Polisher Sandalwood & Turmeric is a delightful spa-y product; work it in in circular motions. The gentle graininess of Kiehl's Creme De Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish make it another favourite. Dry brushing is another fantastic exfoliator, and also helps diminish cellulite and aids lymphatic drainage. Before you shower, use a dry body brush and start from your toes, brushing upward in short strokes (always brush upward, moving towards the heart).
If you want to outsource the trouble, get your hands on the Braun Silk Epil 9-961 Epilator and plug in the sonic exfoliation brush for a thorough scrub-down with basically zero effort.

Give them glow

Moisturize legs when they’re slightly damp, so the lotion can seal in some water. L'Occitane Verbena Body Lotion and Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Body Moisturiser are both lightweight moisturizers that are perfect for sweltering summer or sticky monsoon months. In times of need (winters, flights) you can start with these, give them a minute to sink in, and then top off with Forest Essentials Beauty Body Oil Soundarya for added hydration.

Make them shine bright

While beaching around, your legs (and arms) need some sun shield, so go prepared with a body sunscreen like Avene Very High Protection Spray SPF 50+. If you’re rolling your eyes at the thought of sunscreen everywhere, here’s a benefit: sunscreen will give your limbs a gorgeous J-Lo glow.
Another way to cheat J-Lo legs is with a leg shimmer (NARS and Michael Kors make fantastic ones) or you can DIY one. Get a pot of bronze or gold pigment (powder eyeshadow will also do) and mix some into your favourite lotion or a bottle of coconut oil. Slather it on and hit the beach or the club.
PS: In case you’re wondering, the best all-round workout for legs is the humble squat. Get the technique right (this is where YouTube videos come handy) and do a few sets every day to get the thighs, glutes and gams of um...a person who has shapely thighs, glutes and gams.

legs for days
Parizaad Khan Sethi

is a beauty and wellness editor based in New York. She was the former beauty editor at Vogue India and now serves as a contributing editor for the magazine. At age 5, Parizaad fell in love with an old cream blush she found in the back of her mother’s drawer, and has been in awe of the transformative power of beauty ever since. When she’s not writing about beauty, she researches advances in skincare as a hobby, and is constantly guinea-pigging herself in the name of beauty.

Back