It’s easy to ignore even the flabbiest, flakiest, and hairiest pair of legs when they’re covered
with pants and tights all winter. But the big reveal is right around the corner. Check out our simple steps to make your legs smooth and sexy just in time for summer. If you have more
serious leg problems, see page 21 for the latest treatments you can discuss with your doctor.
The best expert leg advice we heard came from Montclair, N.J., dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. Her tip: “Treat your legs like your face.” She recommends applying your skin-care regimen from head to toe—literally. Aesthetician Bethany Wojtech of Arcona Studio in Santa Monica, Calif., agrees: “Women don’t think about their legs until they have to show them, but that skin is just as important as your face and needs maintenance to be resilient.” Here’s a six-step plan:
STEP 1: Exfoliate. If your legs feel itchy or look chalky—even though you moisturize—the dryness won’t improve without exfoliation. “People wonder why they have !aky skin when
they use lotion,” Wojtech says, “and it’s because they overlook exfoliation and end up layering thick lotion on dead skin.” When you remove that top layer, moisturizer can actually get past the
surface to do its job. Exfoliating also helps hair stand up for a closer shave and prevents the razor from getting clogged with dead skin cells. TIP Gently buff legs with a clean washcloth or body scrub using circular motions (which are also good for decreasing water retention) or apply an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) lotion several times a week, less often if skin becomes irritated. An AHA lotion is your best bet because it exfoliates and moisturizes, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, M.D. (She likes Eucerin with alpha hydroxy, but many major brands, including Dove, offer lotions with AHAs.) What to avoid: hot water (it’s drying) and scrubbing skin with
a loofah or “pouf.” “The shower is humid, and sponges trap bacteria, which can cause more problems like folliculitis,” says Downie, who recommends a washable body brush.
STEP 2: De-fuzz. Although wax and depilatories are e#ective, Downie says a triple-edged razor with an unscented shave cream is tried and true and can spare you from skin irritation. Use a clean, sharp razor from razor burn and folliculitis, an infammation of the hair follicles, says
dermatologist Dina Strachan, M.D., an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University. To help prevent razor bumps, shave as soon as you get into the shower. Hirsch adds that shaving also helps exfoliate. And if your skin is supersensitive, a razor is all the exfoliation you need.
Epilators are another option, but they take some getting used to. We tested them and found that they’re about as painful as waxing—not fun. But they do work. Our top picks: Braun Silk-épil Xelle 5270, $75, and Emjoi Optimax AP-98R, $80.
STEP 3: Rehydrate. After exfoliation and hair removal, moisturize! “Apply a moisturizer to damp skin to lock it in,” Hirsch says. It’s a must within 10 minutes of bathing, Strachan says,
or you miss out on hydration from water left on your skin. Cream lotions with natural butters like shea or coconut are nourishing without being irritating, Wojtech says.
STEP 4: Tone. A little self-tanner will make imperfections almost vanish by evening out skin tone and giving it a glow. “No doubt about it, selftanner helps a lot to diffuse the look of leg veins, scars, and cellulite,” Hirsch says. “It’s also good for older, white stretch-mark lesions.” A
“gradual” formula—mixed with plain lotion—is more foolproof than a full-strength self-tanner. It helps build a tan over several days and might have bonuses like firming ingredients or shimmer. Our last test of sunless tanners was a few years ago, but the top products are still around: Jergens Natural Glow, $9 (its formula has changed since we last looked at it), and L’Oréal Paris
Sublime Glow, $10.50, are moisturizing creams. If you prefer a spray, try Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray, $11.
STEP 5: Protect. Sunscreen is mandatory when your legs are exposed. “It keeps skin tone even,
protects from UV damage, and prevents any dark spots from darkening,” Downie says. In our last test of sunscreens, Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50, $10.50, Walgreens Sport Continuous Spray SPF 50, $8, and Up & Up Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30 (Target), $5.25, gave the best
protection from UVA and UVB rays. STEP 6: Don’t forget the feet. Get them ready for the season’s hottest “safari chic” sandals. Pick a bright polish for your toenails and keep cuticles
in shape with a daily drop of olive or vitamin E oil.
What NOT to buy
The dermatologists we spoke to said hair-minimizing creams don’t work very well and can be
irritating. Instead, if you want smooth, low-maintenance legs,invest your time and money in
professional laser hair removal or electrolysis. (See box on next page for more info.) Some hairs
might grow back, but they’ll be thinner and lighter. If you still want to try a hair-minimizing
cream, Hirsch and Strachan say, it can’t hurt to use an inexpensive over-the-counter product in
conjunction with a professional hair-removal method. “There’s some value in hair minimizers,
but you have to keep using them,” Strachan says.
THE LATEST LEG TREATMENTS
Problem: Spider veins
DOCTOR’S RX Lasers, injections, and surgery can help make these little red and purple marks vanish. But sclerotherapy (saline injections to shut down vessels) is “No. 1 for efficacy and bang for the buck,” Hirsch says, “and lasers are a good supplemental option.” It’s often e"ective on even large, painful varicose veins, Navarro says. (Navarro is the developer of an alternative nonsurgical laser treatment called Endolaser to help eliminate large varicose veins.) COST It might take more than one treatment and starts at $200 per leg, depending on the extent of your spider veins and where you live.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO Ask what solution your doctor uses for sclerotherapy, Downie advises. She uses a combination of glycerin and lidocaine because it doesn’t burn upon
injection like saline. “I strongly do not recommend atoxysclerol, which is used in Europe and isn’t FDA-approved here for anything,” she says. Also, your weight is important. “The heavier you
are, the more prone you are to spider veins.” If you have varicose veins, talk to your doctor about wearing support hose to improve circulation and avoiding hormones (like birth control
pills), which can exacerbate vein problems. Calf-strengthening exercises also help, Navarro says.
Problem: Red stretch marks, scars, or discoloration
DOCTOR’S RX Fractioned lasers work on all skin types—and body parts—to improve many texture and tone issues. “Only a fraction of the skin is treated, allowing the untreated, surrounding skin to assist in the healing process,” explains dermatologist Paul M. Friedman, M.D., author of the new book “Beautiful Skin Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Better Skin” (San dow Media Corporation, 2010). Doctors choose a laser and a specific wavelength based on your needs and skin condition. Lasers can even help build collagen to plump thin skin. “It looks
deceptively simple, but using a laser involves understanding each skin type,” he says. “It’s not ‘point and shoot,’ so it’s critical to do your homework when choosing a doctor.” Ask whether yours is board-certified and request beforeand-after photos. COST It can take three to five visits that range from $300 to $1,000 each.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO For pigment problems like marks from childhood mosquito bites or hairremoval wounds, Strachan recommends chemical peels.
Problem: Ingrown or unwanted hair
DOCTOR’S RX Laser hair removal tops every expert’s list because it damages the follicle down to the root in a series of pulses, and there are many types of lasers. Electrolysis is e"ective, but it’s tedious and might be painful on a large surface area, says Downie, who says she hasn’t shaved in five years after laser treatments. “Legs aren’t as hormonally mediated as your face, so
you’ll get great results faster,” she says. Lasers are color-sensitive and attracted to black, explains Strachan, which means “the technology isn’t as good for light hair, and people with darker skin must be careful of increased risk of burning. Even so, laser is the most effective choice for permanent hair reduction,” she says. And most people are happy because it might take only two sessions to see a difference, says dermatologist Bruce Katz, M.D.,
director of the Juva Skin and Laser Center in New York. COST It usually takes more than six
sessions ($300 to $800 each) to get lasting results.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO If you don’t want to shell out thousands for laser treatments, Strachan advises trying one of the at-home versions, such as the new $250 No! No! Hair 8800.
We did not test the device or others like it in our labs, so we can’t vouch for them, and the user reviews we saw online were mixed. So before you give anything like that a try, you might want
to check out the epilators we mention at left. Whatever you do, don’t pluck or pick ingrown hairs. That can cause scarring, dermatologists warn.
Problem: Cellulite or stubborn fat
DOCTOR’S RX In-office “smart” liposuction uses a laser to destroy fat cells and remove bulges like saddlebags or fleshy knees in one session, Katz says. But it’s most effective if you’re nearing your fitness goal and still have some stubborn areas, he says. Patients are awake and under local anesthesia. A doctor makes a tiny incision and lasers the fibers under the skin, then suctions
out the liquefied fat. “The technology has evolved, but it still has a way to go,” Friedman says.
COST It depends on the area, but approximately $2,500.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO Doctors stand by good old-fashioned healthful eating and exercise as the best way to get rid of annoying fat pockets. “I see smart lipo having a supplemental
role,” Hirsch says.
Above posted in ConsumerReports ShopSmart April 2010
