Do you love to make a statement by wearing short dresses or shorts? If so, you probably know that to pull it off, you need to have gorgeous gams. And one of the best ways to get those show-worthy legs is to learn how to exfoliate your legs.
And here’s the deal: anyone can make their legs beautiful by learning how to make them glow.
Here’s what you need to know to get those show-stopping legs.
What Is Exfoliation?
Exfoliation is the act of removing dead, flaky skin cells. When learning how to exfoliate your legs, you will quickly learn the benefits. For instance, when you exfoliate your legs and remove all that dead skin, you will lower the risks of developing ingrown hairs on your legs.
And leg exfoliation also boosts the circulation in your legs, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Who doesn’t love that?
In other words, exfoliating your legs makes you feel more confident when wearing those short, flirty skirts and up-to-there shorts. Or, really, anything that shows your legs the point is, confidence is priceless.
How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Legs?
If you use an epilator, you will need to exfoliate your legs before using it each time. But if you shave your legs, you can exfoliate one to two times a week.
But keep in mind that how often you should exfoliate your legs depends on your skin type. One to two times a week is fine for people with oily skin. But if you have dry skin, you should either hydrate beforehand or exfoliate your legs less often.
In other words, if your skin becomes irritated after exfoliating the second time, only do it once a week to avoid the irritation.
Mechanical vs. Chemical Exfoliation
When exfoliating your legs, you can choose between two methods. Some people prefer to use mechanical exfoliation. To perform this method, you will use a scrubber or a brush. This abrasive method may not work well for people who have sensitive skin.
On the other hand, you can use products that include enzymes or acids that will remove the layers of dead skin cells. While these products work well, many people prefer a more natural approach to leg exfoliation. For instance, you can use a sugar scrub that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals and will achieve the same results.
Some people use both mechanical and product exfoliation to achieve those gorgeous gams!
Skin Types: Which Product is Right for You?
People have different skin types, and yours will determine the best way to exfoliate your legs. Here’s a guide to choosing the best leg exfoliation product for your skin type.
Oily skin
If your skin tends toward oily, you can use almost any type of skin exfoliation product. For example, you can use products that have more abrasive properties and a higher concentration of salicylic acid. Doing so helps the product penetrate the skin more deeply.
Dry skin
If you have dry skin, you will have to be careful to choose the right product, so your skin doesn’t become irritated. You should use a product with gentle abrasion properties such as the sugar scrub we mentioned earlier. And if you decide to use a peel, find one that has a lower acid concentration. Otherwise, it could irritate your skin.
Should You Use DIY Exfoliation Products?
Some people try to make their own exfoliation products, and while it’s possible, there are some cons to it. Here are some pros and cons to making your exfoliation scrub.
Pros
Here are a couple of great reasons to make your exfoliator for your legs.
All about the green
You will save money when it comes to making your own exfoliation product. And what’s more, you probably already have the ingredients you need in your pantry.
What’s in there?
Another benefit of making your own exfoliation product is that you know exactly what’s in it. You won’t find any microbeads or other unwanted chemicals in a homemade batch of exfoliator.
Cons
Here are a couple of reasons why buying an exfoliator may be a better option.
Tick tock
Everyone is short of time these days, and unless you have extra time to spend mixing up a batch of scrub every time you want to exfoliate your legs, you may be better off buying it.
You mean I have to throw that out?
Another con about making your own exfoliator is that it doesn’t last as long. In fact, if you make a batch of exfoliator, you can count on it lasting about three days — in the refrigerator. That means you can’t mix up a big batch and use it every time you want to exfoliate your legs. Instead, you’ll have to mix a batch every time.
Homemade Leg Exfoliator
If you’ve decided to make your own exfoliation for your legs, here’s a simple recipe you can make each time you do it.
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil, liquefied
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- For scent, a couple of drop of lemon juice, essential oils, or honey
Now that you understand the whys of exfoliating your legs let’s talk about the hows.
How to Exfoliate Your Legs: A Step-by-Step Plan
In our guide to leg exfoliation, we’ve taken a comprehensive approach. We’ve included both mechanical and chemical (or natural product) exfoliation. But keep in mind that you may not have to do all of them. For instance, if you have dry skin that gets irritated easily, you might want to skip the second step.
Here’s a great plan that will have your legs looking fabulous!
Preparation is key
Your first step in the process is to gather everything you will need to exfoliate your legs. You will need a dry brush, your exfoliator product, a clean towel, and access to water.
Brush it
Next, you want to remove all of the dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin. To do so, use your dry brush and rub it in circular motions on your legs. Put gentle pressure on the brush, but you shouldn’t rub it so hard that it hurts or causes irritation.
Once you’ve used the brush on your legs, use lukewarm water to wash away the dead skin cells. Then dry your legs with a towel.
Here's a helpful tutorial about skin brushing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ANy_2xWLAo
Clean it good
Now it’s time to thoroughly clean your legs to rid them of any bacteria or germs. When you exfoliate, you remove the dead skin to reveal new skin. And that new skin is vulnerable to germs and bacteria.
To cleanse your skin, step into the shower or bath. Then use soap or body wash with a scrubber to wash away any of the dead skin cells that the dry brush didn’t remove. Doing so will open your pores and allow for a deeper cleanse.
Let’s exfoliate
Now it’s time to exfoliate your legs. Start by propping up one leg on the side of the tub so the water can’t rinse away the exfoliation product. Then, rub the product into your leg using circular motions. Apply gentle pressure to increase the circulation to your legs. Don’t forget to apply the product to every area of your leg.
Next, rinse the product off of your leg with water. Then, prop up the other leg on the side of the tub and repeat the process.
Once you’re finishing exfoliating your legs, you can dry off with a clean towel.
Maintain the look
Remember, the point of exfoliation is to remove the old, dead skin cells and allow new skin to appear. That’s what makes your legs look so terrific after exfoliation. To maintain the look, try to exfoliate your legs one to two times a week, depending on your skin type.
And to keep your legs looking great, you should moisturize your skin as often as you can with a paraben-free body butter that doesn’t contain chemicals.
Your Gams Are Gorgeous — What’s Next?
Now that you’ve exfoliated your legs and are confident enough to put on that short skirt or your favorite pair of shorts, what else will you do to make your skin glow? A facial? A foot scrub?
Taking care of your skin is important if you want to look your best. Just remember to use natural products so you can be confident that they won’t harm the environment — or your body.
Have you exfoliated your legs recently? We would love to hear about any tips and tricks you can add to the conversation. Please leave our comments below!
Featured Image: Provided by Unsplash