Your legs take a lot in stride. Show your support for all the times they’ve tackled that third flight of stairs, raced to catch a train and helped you hail a cab. Give your legs a well-deserved makeover this spring.
Warmer days are here, so peel off those black tights, surrender your boots and triage your situation. If your pasty bare legs are in a state of emergency, begin transforming them into smooth, toned, tawny works of art, worthy of short skirts, cute capris and swimwear. Besides proper nutrition and lots of exercise, try these high-tech tips:
Spray on the Sunshine
If you were lucky enough to hop to a resort over the winter months, you might have a little more color than the rest of us. But if your hibernating limbs haven’t seen a swimsuit since last August, run on over to Olive Organic Tan Spa in Montclair (427 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair; 973-818-8828). Owner Monika Emad’s treatments can help you look like you just returned from a week-long getaway.
You’ll find no tanning beds or UV rays at Olive Organic Tan Spa. Emad’s exclusive formula includes only natural ingredients such as sugar, white tea and grapefruit extracts, and aloe. The formula is sprayed on with a fine mist and lasts about seven to 10 days. Emad says it’s best to have a treatment right before a vacation because the sun will enhance the effects of her spray tanning. Services are $28 for half the body or $48 for head-to-toe spraying.
Scare Away Spider Veins
Just when you started getting used to hiding your legs under winter clothes, it’s time to face the music. Those spider veins, which are actually enlarged capillaries, aren’t going to go away on their own, and they could actually worsen.
“With today’s fast and painless procedures, we can effectively treat and control spider veins with good to excellent results,” says Dr. Harry Agis of the Vein Institute of New Jersey (800-954-8346; veininstituteofnj.com) located in Morristown, Shrewsbury and Princeton.
Since several treatments could be required, start well before swimsuit season. “Tiny veins are usually treated in the office with injections or superficial laser therapy or both—and patients will notice significant improvement in about a month,” says Agis. “In the past, a concentrated salt solution was the primary method to eliminate spider veins, but today we use highly effective and affordable polidocanol injections, which are approved by the FDA and are virtually painless.” Large, protruding varicose veins, which usually run in families, are a different story. Those need to be evaluated immediately by a physician using ultrasound.
Say Good-bye to Cellulite
Heavily influenced by the European style of skincare, Dr. Aurora De Juliis, medical director of the Aurora De Juliis European Medical Spa (973-338-6300; auroradejuliismd.com) in Montclair, uses non-invasive treatments and lifestyle adjustments to combat visually unpleasant medical conditions like cellulite.
“Venus Legacy is the latest technology in cellulite treatment and skin tightening,” De Juliis says. “Radio frequency energy and magnetic pulse therapy are delivered deep into the skin to produce a dense and uniform heat. This causes collagen contraction, lipolysis and cellulite reduction. Pain-free Venus Legacy also can be used for cellulite reduction to reduce circumference for a smoother leg and to lift the buttocks for a better shape.”
De Juliis also recommends changes in diet, wardrobe and exercise to prevent cellulite from returning.
However you decide to rejuvenate your legs, all the beauty experts agree…when you’re ready to spruce up your gams, create a maintenance plan and a budget before taking your first steps.