Get perfect pins – with make-up!
I DREAD baring my legs for summer. I don’t even know where to start with self-tan and would prefer to use leg make-up. Can you give me some tips? I’d love to feel comfortable wearing knee-length skirts and shorts.
Marisa, 54, Southport. It CAN be daunting preparing to bare for the first time in months. But it’s June: we can’t put it off any longer!
the good news is it doesn’t take long to get skin glowing. Celebrity beautician Nathali Eleni advises: ‘skin is more susceptible to dryness and dehydration in the winter, so it’s important to exfoliate.’
try a salt scrub to remove dead cells and i ncrease circulation, instantly brightening skin.
Dr salts + 100 Per Cent Dead sea sleep therapy Bath salts (£6.99, sainsbury’s and tesco) can be used as a scrub. Or there’s UrbanVeda soothing Body scrub (£8.99, Holland & Barrett).
Body brushing is another option. try the new Mio Natural body brush (£14.50, lookfantastic.com) with boar bristles and rubber nodules to break down fatty deposits and remove toxins. Or use tan Organic’s tan Erase mitt, £ 14.99 ( Holland & Barrett) in a firm, circular motion. If you have bruises, try Nelsons Arnica Cream, £5.40 (Holland & Barrett).
SMOOTHEST SKIN It’s easier to wax at home. sweetease leg waxing kit (£4.99, superdrug) contains 20 large pre- coated wax strips and after-wax wipes, so there’s no heating or spreading wax.
Parissa Warm Wax also works well (£13.89, Boots), but needs heating in the microwave.
If you shave, try Bic soleil scent Disposable Razors (£3.69 for four, superdrug) or Gillette Venus snap women’s portable razor (£9.99, Boots). Noelle O’Connor, of tan Organic, warns: ‘If you shave your legs after tanning, moisturise well to stop tan — and skin — flaking off.’
INSTANT GLOW If You’re nervous about selftan, try leg make-up, which is less likely to streak.
Moisturise first — try Neutrogena’s new Visibly Renew Body Balm (£4.99, Boots).
some make-up artists apply powder bronzer with a large brush, but for a uniform result, smooth on with a self-tanning mitt. Bourjois Sunlight Elixir Dry Oil (£9.99, asos. com): this tinted, dry oil with a pearly s heen looks just like a premium product. Designed for face and body, it’s especially good on legs. Body Shop Honey Bronze Tinted Leg Mist (£15, The Body Shop): Gives i nstant glow without shimmer and is easy to spray on, even in tricky areas. Covermark Leg Magic Waterproof Make-Up for Legs And Body (£27.50, escentual.com): the thick waterproof formula is good for veins and stretch marks. Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Coverage Camouflage Make-Up for Face and Body (£29.50, boots.com): It’s a little more expensive, but will last for months. Skin Doctors Vein Away Plus (£21.49, Boots): this is a good treatment for spider veins. It uses a botanical complex, Phytotonine, which reduces the appearance of unsightly marks and fine lines.