Summer Ready Legs

Happy Fri-Yay, babes!!! I’m off to Palm Springs this weekend for Splash House. If you haven’t heard of Splash House, it’s a music festival + pool party in the desert that takes place two weekends over the  summer (June 10-12 and August 12-14 – it’s not too late to make plans for August, just saying). I went both weekends last summer and it’s safe to say I might have enjoyed it wayyy more than I enjoyed Coachella. The vibes are way more chill, and who doesn’t love a good pool party? BUT for now I want to talk about getting summer ready (we’ve already talked about shopping for one piece suits here), specifically, how to get summer ready legs.

Summer Ready Legs

Chances are you’re showing off those stems this summer – it’s about time, after being covered up all winter! Whether you feel like you did enough squats and lunges (is that ever possible?), there are a few easy things you can do to ensure that no matter what, you’re putting your best foot forward when wearing those short shorts and miniskirts.

Exfoliate

Such a crucial step but often forgotten! Exfoliating is so, so important – it helps your pores open up, allowing for a closer shave, by removing all of the built up dead skin that has accumulated. If you’re ever gone to a Korean Spa and gotten a body scrub… you know what I mean. The amount of dead skin on our bodies is seriously gross.

Use a pre bought scrub or make your own (the most basic version is just sugar and oil!).

Smooth

After exfoliating your skin, it’s time to de-fuzz! When it comes to hair removal, it’s not always clear what the best option is. I’ve tried practically every method of hair removal out there – I’m currently doing laser hair removal on my lower legs and still shave occasionally, but have also waxed in the past. Here’s my take:

If you’re going to shave, use a men’s razor. I steal my boyfriend’s – I’m convinced the blade is better. Pros of shaving: it’s fast, cheap, and you can do it yourself. Cons: shaving can lead to painful ingrown hairs, itchy skin, and hair grows back quickly. You also run the risk of nicking yourself and bleeding everywhere if you’re not careful. Ow.

Waxing is a great option

By removing the hair from the root, hair will grow back more smoothly and finer. I’ve never found waxing to be terribly painful, but everyone’s tolerance for pain is slightly different, so keep that in mind if you’re considering waxing. Other cons: waxing can be pretty expensive and you need to wait for hair to grow a certain length before you can wax again (the hair needs to be long enough so that the wax can stick).

Currently I am loving laser hair removal because I am lazy and hate shaving. It can be expensive, but I found a great deal through Lifebooker that made the price much more reasonable (be sure to look up reviews before purchasing any sessions). The laser shoots highly concentrated light onto your hair follicle, effectively “killing” that hair. I will say the pain level is probably equivalent to if not less than waxing. Laser hair removal won’t remove your hair permanently (after the initial sessions, which are performed 4-6 weeks apart, you will still likely have to go for touchups every few months or so), but it is the closest thing I’ve tried. Highly, highly recommend – feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Moisturize

Summer weather + the sun can definitely lead to drier skin, especially if you’re shaving. If you have delicate skin, the razor can leave your legs dry and itchy. Obsessively moisturizing helps. I like coconut oil because it’s cheap and smells amazing, but any lotion will work. And remember to wear sunscreen!

Tan

If you can’t tone it, tan it. Almost everyone looks better with a tan. I prefer to get my color artificially from a spray or bottle as opposed to the sun – custom airbrush tans are amazing, but if you’re in a rush your local drugstore or Sephora carry products that will do an amazing job mimicking a spray tan.

My skin bruises easily and I have scars from falling a LOT as a child, as well as from super pesky bug bites that don’t seem to go away (insert crying emoji here). Spray tans and tanning lotions are a godsend as they really help minimize the appearance of any imperfections and help you achieve that airbrushed look you see in magazines.

Some of my favorite products to fake that perfectly smooth and glowing appearance:

Say Hello to Sexy Legs

Apparently, contouring isn’t just for your face (which I still have yet to master), you can do it on your legs as well! They were kind enough to send me their 3 step system and I have to admit I’m pretty impressed. Even I (a contouring novice) was able to apply the products flawlessly.

Here’s a handy YouTube video that shows exactly where to apply the products – you can buy their products at Sephora. I like the tinted glow gel best, but the body contour stick is pretty fun to play with as well.

St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse

My favorite at home tanning product, and it is absolutely worth the price. A bottle lasts forever, and this stuff does not streak (!!) – PLUS it actually gives you glow that screams “I just spent a week sunbathing in St. Tropez.”

Also, I know every tanning product out there claims to not leave you orange, but this stuff is the real deal. Oh, and if you’re having issues applying, this mitt helps a lot, if you’re having trouble.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Tan

This stuff is advertised as pantyhose in a can, LOL. But in all seriousness, my girlfriends and I swear by this product. It’s easy to apply and leaves you with flawless legs.

Hopefully this was helpful –  I’m off to do all of the steps outlined above now before lots one glass of rosé by the pool this evening. Happy (fake) tanning, and have an amazing weekend, everyone!

xx, Amy