By Sahar Yakhi
Are unsightly blemishes or veins making it difficult for you to wear shorts this summer? Does the lighting in your room hit your skin just so, turning otherwise creamy into just … kinda … pale?
We are all aware of the damages the sun can cause to your skin — namely, cancer — and lying out takes a long time, too. Also, regardless of what you may think, tanning beds, sun lamps and any other contraption that exposes you to ultraviolet rays are very dangerous. So dangerous, in fact, that federal, state and local governments in the U.S. have banned their use for specific age groups.
But summer! And glowy, tanned skin is so pretty! And if you’re anything like me, you also have varicose veins that keep coming back years after treatment. All these things make resisting the siren calls of outdoor and indoor versions of the sun difficult.
Never fear though; there’s definitely an alternative. This step-by-step guide is my go-to process for quick, sexy summer legs.
- Start with a good exfoliation in the shower. I like to use a loofah and a scrub to get my legs nice and smooth.
- This is important: While your legs are still damp, rub a good moisturizer on them. I like to use coconut oil or cocoa butter. Not too much, though! You don’t want them greasy — just moisturized.
- Wait about 15 minutes for your skin to absorb the oil. I usually do my hair or makeup in the meantime.
- Once you feel your skin is soft and not greasy, you can apply this product: Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. It will give you exactly that: airbrushed legs.
Airbrush Legs a long-lasting leg makeup that’s water resistant and, once dry, is rub-off resistant, too. It covers blemishes and imperfections and gives you an instant tan. It comes in the original spray form (six shades), as well as an easy-blend liquid body makeup formula (five shades).
I’ve been using this product for years, and there are a couple of things you can do to make it work even better.
Obviously, you can apply the color right out of the bottle, directly to your legs. You also can mix shades to get the perfect color blend you are looking for. When applying the product work quickly, because it dries fast, and make sure you have plenty of light to buff out any streaks.
Pro Tip: Apply sparingly, especially the first couple of times you use the product, until you become accustomed to what you need and like. Even though it’s technically rub-off resistant, too much can come off on clothes or furniture.
Airbrush Legs should leave you with sexy, flawless and tanned-looking legs without any harmful UV rays and without having to tan gradually through the summer. It costs about $12 and lasts for a couple of months.
#suntanscore
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Check out Sahar’s other makeup pro tips on YNOT Cam right here.
Sahar Yakhi is a 10-plus-year veteran of Hollywood’s highly competitive makeup and visual effects industry. She is a graduate of the Hollywood Makeup Academy and specializes in glamour and theatrical makeup, lending her expertise to film sets, photo shoots, special events and education. Find her on Insta at @DarlingOlive and contact her at saharyakhi@gmail.com.
