TEMPUS – HARPERS BAZARR BEAUTY SUMMER LEGS V3
TEMPUS – HARPERS BAZARR BEAUTY SUMMER LEGS V3
The lure of summer has always meant two things to me: the sweet promise of a sundrenched holiday sometime between June and September, and a perilous season of shorter hemlines and two shy legs coming out of hiding. In years gone by, I have managed with long silk skirts and airy cotton culottes – just the ticket for warm days in the city and my annual jaunt. But then along came S/S 20, with its delicious pastel palette of shorts suits from Max Mara, Saint Laurent and Dior. I immediately went online and began searching the phrase ‘leg-smoothing treatments’. At 42, of course I have cellulite that is more visible than it was in the past; although the main issue I face is not one of weight but of skin quality. This is not unusual: for most women, the oestrogen and progesterone hormones, which keep tissue firm, begin to decline around the age of 35, allowing pockets of fat below to show through the surface. Addressing this can be confusing. There is no point throwing away money on toning caffeinated creams and smoothing niacin lotions, which do little but warm and redden the skin. Similarly, many anticellulite treatments are expensive and ineffective. Instead, the focus should be on toning, tightening and smoothing, starting with body brushing and lymphatic massages designed to increase circulation and drain any water from the tissue. So, I booked myself in for a course of 10 sessions at Martine de Richeville’s Kensington clinic, which specializes in noninvasive treatments that aim to reshape the silhouette by going beneath the skin. Although having a therapist knead out your lumps and bumps can be eye-wateringly painful, these all-over body massages are particularly satisfying if your cellulite goes hand in hand with water retention and leaden-feeling legs. There is nothing better than exercise to boost slow circulation. Cardio and weights are ideal for toning muscle, shrinking fat cells, raising metabolism and tightening the skin’s connective tissue, and Pilates or yoga will help if your limbs feel particularly tight or puffy. Personally, I’m determined to become a regular at the Workshop Gymnasium in Knightsbridge, where work-outs offer a mix of weights, stretching and short blasts of cardio. For those who don’t have time to spend in the gym, one of my favourite quick tricks for combating water retention in the ankles is to stretch my legs up in the air for 60 seconds and shake them. ‘When you bring them down, they will feel light and energised,’ says the yoga teacher Nadia Narain. ‘Any forward bend will keep tight, heavy legs toned and long.’ Finally, when the sun comes out and the time for bare legs beckons, self-tan is a fast way to smooth out the appearance of your skin and take the edge off those first few weeks of pastiness (try Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Heavenly Bronzing Mist for a light and fragrant golden glow). Be sure you apply it on moisturised legs, as any aridity can make even the best lotion go patchy. Raising my confidence has been key to raising my hemlines. While I’ve relinquished the race to find a miracle machine that might blur every blemish, a little mood-boosting maintenance goes a long way when I’m daring to bare.
THE LIGHT-LEGS TREATMENT
After six sessions, you can expect a marked improvement in the appearance of your thighs. Replacing human touch with a handheld device, this deep-tissue massage encourages blood flow while softening fatty tissue. The suction can be uncomfortable, but the results are encouraging. From £900 for a course of 12 treatments
THE ELECTRIC MASSAGE
Indiba Deep Care Cellulite Buster Akin to having a hot-stone massage on your upper legs and bottom, this treatment is carried out using an electrode device to generate heat and stimulate collagen production. Results are immediate, with legs looking smoother after just one session. From £100 for 45 minutes, at Harvey Nichols’ Beyond MediSpa
THE POST-FLIGHT FIX
Prager Body Balance Inflated compression garments are used to massage the skin, boosting the circulation to reduce puffiness. This is ideal after a long-haul trip if you suffer from water retention. From £70 for 45 minutes
THE RADIO-FREQUENCY METHOD
Onda Body Contouring Coolwaves radio frequency targets fat cells and stimulates connective tissue. The area is massaged with a wand, which feels cold and tingly, but is pain-free. Four treatments are recommended, but impressive results are seen after just one. From £400 for 30 minutes