It's sundress season (almost bikini season... eek!), which means it's time to shed your tights and show off your legs! While I can't wait I also have some work to do and have a feeling you may too. My biggest problem is that I'm so pale I'm practically see through! Then, of course there's always spider veins, scars and whatever else we'd like to rid (do I need to mention cellulite?). So here you have it, five steps to air-brush quality stems.
1. Rid Dead Skin
While it may seem obvious to exfoliate, if you don't do it right, the whole step is pointless. "To get the most out of the process, go up and down your leg in two sections, from your hip to your knee and then your knee to your ankle, in circular motions," Jamie Ahn, the President of the Town House Spa explains. The Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish is one of my all time favorite exfoliants.
2. Remove Unwanted Hair
I've tried several hair removal tactics, but usually shave. To get the closest shave, the best time to shave your legs is at the end of your shower when your skin is softened and hair follicles are relaxed. A good shaving cream and razor make all the difference. Invest in a razor that pivots with the contours of your body. I like the Schick Hydro Silk, because it has four blades and releases a moisturizing serum when it gets wet. For shaving cream, EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shaving Cream is my go-to. It stays put and feels more like I'm lathering up in moisturizer than applying shaving gel.
3. Banish Cellulite
“The key to ridding cellulite is all in circulation,” spilled Ahn. Your butt, and thighs normally receive no circulation on their own so you have to work them yourself. Do squats and lunges to get the blood flowing in that area and massage it in a circular motion. You’ll see in a short period of time that the cellulite is not as noticeable. You can also try using a product like L'Occitane Almond Beautiful Shape that stimulates micro-exfoliation, has draining ingredients as well as caffeine, which helps to decrease the appearance of cellulite over time.
4. Achieve A Golden Glow
After exfoliating and removing all unwanted hair it's time to self tan. First apply a thin coat of moisturizer around your toes and any dry areas that may pick up too much color. For the perfect self tan you're going to need two types of tanner: a mousse and a spray. If you only want to use one opt for the mousse, but be careful around you knees and ankles. Apply the mousse like a body lotion up and down your legs skipping your knees and ankles, then spritz your knees and ankles with the can. Since those areas tend to be drier, then pick up more pigment and spray applicators distribute a bit lighter. I've been using the St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse and Guerlain Terracotta Self Tanning Spray. (I also think they're both great for the whole body depending on your self-tan style).
5. Cover Spider Veins and Bruises
While you can't make them vanish in a flash, you can cover them up for a night out, but the concealor you use on your face won't cut it. Try body makeup that's known for covering tattoos like DermaBlend Leg & Body Cover or Cover Fx Camouflage Concealor. I've tried both on my legs and on the tattoo on my wrist for filming certain segments and they work like a charm. Pick a color that matches your skin tone and then set it with a powder. The formulas last for hours and don't rub off on clothes as long as you don't put too much on. A little bit goes a long way.
With one more month left of summer you better believe I'll be getting the most out of my new bikini's and sporting my minis all over NYC. Make sure you enjoy the last few days too! I spoke with Dr. Ellen Gendler to get some tips on how to get sexy summer skin so you can feel confident showing off your legs, back and everything in between.
Rid Hair: Even though I try and test every form of hair removal out there I still steal my boyfriends razor from time to time. I really do think I get a great shave from them, but Dr. Gendler made me put an end to it! "You’ll get the same close shave with a woman’s razor, except you’ll be able to reach those curvy areas that tend to get missed with a razor that doesn’t pivot." I can second that.
While studying abroad in India, my fellow classmates all lined up to get their eyebrows threaded. I thought they were all crazy, why would they do that? It just seemed painful, and a little strange. I told Jeannine, I let my eyebrows grow out a little so I could reshape them, and she suggested getting them threaded as she already swears by it. I was a bit hesitant at first, but after getting my eyebrows threaded at 
