Beauty Goodies

Glammed-Up Gams

July 11, 2010 Beauty

It’s that time of the year to unearth the daisy dukes, shorten the skirts, and get leggy!  Here are beautiful ways to get your sexy pins up and running.

You’re So Vein!

Genetics definitely plays a big part in the appearance and size of spider veins and varicose veins.  To remove these creepy crawlers,  you may want to consider asking a dermatologist about sclerotherapy. According to NYC dermatologist,  Amy B. Lewis,  sclerotherapy is a procedure in which a sclerosing agent such as Sotradecol,  is injected to specific sites to permanently dissolve capillaries.  “The number of sessions varies with each person,  but the procedure gets rid of visible clusters on the legs,” Lewis says.  Is the procedure permanent?  According to Dr. Lewis, “treated areas don’t come back,  but if  the ‘feeder vein’ is not taken care of,  other smaller vessels may appear in the future.”

Scrub Up & Moisturize.

Nothing is sexier than glowing bare skin. Exfoliation tackles many skin ills by sloughing away dryness, scaly texture, and uneven skin tone.  Exfoliation also allows for better penetration of  moisturizing agents. While skin is still damp, apply body oils and ultra-rich lotions to give legs that super-model sheen.  Here are some drug-store faves that won’t break the bank:

Olay Body Wash Plus Spa Exfoliating Ribbons ($6, Walgreens).  Round beads in this body wash-and-exfoliator combo polishes skin, while its “sudsy foam” leaves it refreshingly cleansed.

St. Ives Body Polish with Collagen & Elastin ($8.29, Drugstore.com).  It has an invigorating, woodsy scent and is formulated with sugar crystals that melt away after it polishes and scrubs.  So it begins like a scrub, and ends like a wash, with no particle residue.

Neutrogena Body Oil Light Sesame ($9.99, CVS). This product is wonderful for the skin and it does not leave the skin oily or greasy.  Use it after the bath or shower to make skin look soft and silky. Works equally well as a massage oil. 

Fake a Glow.

It’s a well-known fact that legs look more sleek  on sun-kissed legs.  Here are some great ways to get your glow on:

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs ($13.79, Walgreens).   This easy-to-use spray gives a natural-looking tan,  minus the orangey color! Plus it contains Vitamin K and plant extracts to help conceal skin imperfections.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gelee ($10.79, Duane Reade).

This is a great, economical gradual tanner. Best to apply product over the course of a couple days so the tan could gradually grow darker.

Pedi-Perfect Crash Course.

I have to admit that when summertime starts I can’t help but get a little bit excited: So many sandals,  and so many polishes!   Here are 3 easy steps to the perfect DIY pedicure.

1.  Soak your feet in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the skin.  Clip the nails straight across and use a nail file to smooth rough edges.

2.  Exfoliate by using a sugar scrub and apply to the feet using a pumice stone.  Rinse, dry, and apply a moisturizer to soften rough patches.

3.  Color! Prep toenails by wiping with nail polish remover to remove any residue.  Apply polish,  starting with a base coat, 2 coats of color, and finish with a top coat.  Allow nails to dry at least 20 minutes,  and apply a drop of cuticle oil to each nailbed to prevent smudging.

How do you get Summer-Perfect Stems?