Embarrassing question

[mamashark]

How do you get your legs to look nice? I'm not always the best one for getting all girly, but I have noticed that my legs never have that smooth, feminine look to them. It bothers me more when I go out freshly shaven and notice how silky other women's legs seem compared to mine. So what am I missing? I feel like I grew out of all the gangly teenage stuff except the weird legs! and this 33 year old is ready to fix that, if it's something that I can fix! 

[Katy]

Put lotion or baby oil on your legs after you shave them, and consider using those scrubby gloves, a loofah, or a body scrub to get off old skin before shaving.

[Isabella]

:bigear: I'm listening for answers, too.  I admire other women's legs more than I should!  I've never had super smooth legs myself, and I feel a teeny bit jealous of them!

[bolt.]

I've always assumed that I'm just sitting much closer to my legs than to other women's. I'm not exactly touch-comparing them either.

 

I think other women's legs are probably exactly as medium-smooth as mine are... I just have a more detailed view of my own.

Edited May 26, 2016 by bolt.

[Katy]

Seriously, exfoliation and moisture.  A body shimmer lotion makes all the difference in appearing smooth & soft, and exfoliation makes them feel soft.

[ondreeuh]

Ha, well, I have really pale skin, really dark hair, and manage to have 2-3 hairs per pore, so I just gave up on girly smooth legs a long time ago. I waxed my legs at one point, but the pores were still noticeable. It's not worth it to me. I just hope no one looks too closely.

[Laura Corin]

My legs are much more toned than they used to be, but I have varicose veins, so I'm not expecting them to look wildly attractive.

[Sun]

How do you get your legs to look nice? I'm not always the best one for getting all girly, but I have noticed that my legs never have that smooth, feminine look to them. It bothers me more when I go out freshly shaven and notice how silky other women's legs seem compared to mine. So what am I missing? I feel like I grew out of all the gangly teenage stuff except the weird legs! and this 33 year old is ready to fix that, if it's something that I can fix! 

 

Can you be more specific about what is bothering you about your legs? For example, I get ingrown hairs and have keratosis pilaris. Certain lotions have made a huge difference in my legs' appearance and texture, but your issues could be completely different.

 

[mamashark]

Can you be more specific about what is bothering you about your legs? For example, I get ingrown hairs and have keratosis pilaris. Certain lotions have made a huge difference in my legs' appearance and texture, but your issues could be completely different.

 

So I have pale skin, which I don't even usually put sunscreen on my legs so my legs just rarely tan much. But the hair comes in dark and I feel like you can see the hair follicles even when I'm freshly clean shaven. I get ingrown hairs sometimes, but it's not a huge problem.

[Guest]

Scrub them once a week and oil them every single day!

 

Can't do anything about paleness, besides the obvious, but when they are as smooth as possible, the dots under the skin from hair that hasn't sprouted yet will be less noticable.

 

Of course, waxing would help even further but that's an ordeal that you need to be WORTH it to you to go through.

[Sun]

Have you tried something like Nair or Veet? I find that they generally dissolve the hair a smidgen down in the follicle "hole," so maybe that would help?

 

I also have very pale skin, and I've become a fan of self-tanning lotions, and I find that having slightly "tanned" legs helps blur the dark hairs against the pale skin. I also shave with the shower door slightly ajar because it makes me have goose bumps, which leads to me getting a closer shave. I've found that the expensive, 5-blade razors really do work better, at least for me and my naturally bumpy and goose-bumpy skin. They seem to glide much more smoothly over any imperfections. I was resistant for years, thinking it was just a gimmick, but a friend gave me one once when I was visiting and had forgotten my own razor. I couldn't believe the difference.

[mamashark]

I've tired Nair before, or Veet, one of the two, I reacted badly to them - I have sensitive skin on my legs in particular so I have to be really careful how I shave or I end up with terrible razor burn. I even have to wear swim shorts because no matter what option I try for shaving my bikini area, I end up with razor burn. 

[Peach]

Body oil! As Okbud said, just about every day. My favorite, believe it or not, is Hawaiian Tropic's regular tanning oil. I never lay out in the sun to tan, but this oil is amazing for the skin on my legs. It smells good too. I also use the original Alpha Keri bath oil just out of the bottle on my legs and it's really good too. It has a lilac smell. 

Edited May 26, 2016 by Peach

[Kassia]

My legs are much more toned than they used to be, but I have varicose veins, so I'm not expecting them to look wildly attractive.

 

I have terrible varicose veins that make me look like an old lady.  I keep them covered as much as possible.  :(

 

Erica

[ikslo]

I don't get it.  I hear this all the time - use lotion or oil right after shaving.   When I do that I end up with nasty rashes that take weeks to go away. 

[gypsymama]

You might want to check which hair removal cream you've tried and try Veet. I break out BADLY from Nair but Veet is fine. You could have a different reaction but I think it's worth checking. You might could even request a sample from their website so you can test a patch of skin without buying an entire bottle.

 

Otherwise... use warm water to open the pores. Exfoliate with body sugar. Shave with good razor and shaving cream/soap. Rinse with cool water to close the pores. Moisturize with coconut oil or lotion.

 

I prefer natural products as much as possible so I do this with dry brushing, then a homemade body sugar, shave with natural all in one body/shampoo/shave bar, moisturize with coconut oil (other oils could be used) or organic lotion. Waxing or body sugaring is a good alternative too but I haven't done either of those for a while now just because of laziness LOL

 

*Witch hazel can be used to improve discoloration from varicose veins, bruises, etc. I usually check my legs for marks and dab with witch hazel before I moisturize. I also prefer to keep some tan as the darker color hides any hint of my dark hair.

[Katy]

If you hate waxing you can also get an epilator.  It's like waxing but it's a machine that rips out the hair instead of hot, sticky, messy, burn-inducing substances.  Also you can epilate at much shorter hair lengths so you don't get the messy grow-out period.

 

If you get a rash from using lotion after shaving something is wrong.  Either you're using a cheap razor or the lotion is contaminated with either bacteria or something you're allergic to, or you have bacteria growing on the razor.  Try a more expensive brand, and sterilize it with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol first.

[ikslo]

If you get a rash from using lotion after shaving something is wrong.  Either you're using a cheap razor or the lotion is contaminated with either bacteria or something you're allergic to, or you have bacteria growing on the razor.  Try a more expensive brand, and sterilize it with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol first.

 

Well, it's not the razor, since as long as I don't use lotion, I am fine.  And unless I am allergic to every single lotion/oil out there, I don't see how it is an allergic reaction.  I have smooth legs after shaving as long as I do not moisture right away.  This includes sunscreen.  I have to wait at least a few hours before applying any lotion.

 

I think making blanket statements about what people should do, or what they are doing wrong, is not helpful to people who do not have skin that reacts the way yours does.  Making suggestions such as "have you tried..?" is helpful.  Telling someone they are cheap or dirty - wow.  Just wow.  But that is just my opinion.  Carry on!

[Guest]

I fake tan my legs. Not enough to be actually tan but enough to get rid of my glow-in-the-dark issue. I love Jergins BB Body cream and Jergens Instant Sun sunless tanning mouse in deep bronze (the lighter shade is too orange). One application every three days or so helps me look healthy but not tan.

[Guest]

Well, it's not the razor, since as long as I don't use lotion, I am fine. And unless I am allergic to every single lotion/oil out there, I don't see how it is an allergic reaction. I have smooth legs after shaving as long as I do not moisture right away. This includes sunscreen. I have to wait at least a few hours before applying any lotion.

 

I think making blanket statements about what people should do, or what they are doing wrong, is not helpful to people who do not have skin that reacts the way yours does. Making suggestions such as "have you tried..?" is helpful. Telling someone they are cheap or dirty - wow. Just wow. But that is just my opinion. Carry on!

Goodness. You and I read that post very differently.

[Meadowlark]

I fake tan my legs. Not enough to be actually tan but enough to get rid of my glow-in-the-dark issue. I love Jergins BB Body cream and Jergens Instant Sun sunless tanning mouse in deep bronze (the lighter shade is too orange). One application every three days or so helps me look healthy but not tan.

Are you really pale? I ask because I am white as white can be, and always worried about getting that orange thing if I tried a self-tanner. I just might try the Jergins.

[regentrude]

I can tell you what NOT to do: hike and climb.

My legs are currently spotting numerous scratches and bruises, because that's what happens when you hike through brush and climb up rocks.

I shall never have smooth silky legs unless I give up my favorite activities. (Not worth it to me)

[ocelotmom]

If you hate waxing you can also get an epilator.  It's like waxing but it's a machine that rips out the hair instead of hot, sticky, messy, burn-inducing substances.  Also you can epilate at much shorter hair lengths so you don't get the messy grow-out period.

 

I have a hard time imagining epilating working for someone who doesn't like waxing, unless the messiness specifically was the problem. Totally unpleasant. I've heard it gets less painful with time, but I really tried because I like the idea of it lasting for longer, and never got to that point.

 

I do use it on my face. I drink first. That's not adequate for legs, since there's so much more surface area. I can't even imagine using it in a more sensitive area.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

Well, it's not the razor, since as long as I don't use lotion, I am fine. And unless I am allergic to every single lotion/oil out there, I don't see how it is an allergic reaction. I have smooth legs after shaving as long as I do not moisture right away. This includes sunscreen. I have to wait at least a few hours before applying any lotion.

 

I think making blanket statements about what people should do, or what they are doing wrong, is not helpful to people who do not have skin that reacts the way yours does. Making suggestions such as "have you tried..?" is helpful. Telling someone they are cheap or dirty - wow. Just wow. But that is just my opinion. Carry on!

You can be allergic to the razors.

 

You can be allergic to a common ingredient in all the lotions etc you've tried.

 

Bacteria in razors is common, it's not about being dirty.

[Guest]

Are you really pale? I ask because I am white as white can be, and always worried about getting that orange thing if I tried a self-tanner. I just might try the Jergins.

Yes, very pale. My foundation is Estée Lauder Double Wear in shade 1C1--so, very pale!! I always avoided tanners until I read the tip to use the deep shades vs the lighter ones and it really does work! The deeper shade doesn't turn me orange. It can be streaky but practice helps. I moisturize my knees, ankles and feet before putting on the tanner and I only swipe over those areas one time because they suck up more tanner. If your worried, the Jergens BB body is very mild and shouldn't cause issues but it does have tanner in it so wash your hands with soap after applying. And, if you use a tanner and get a streak, a paste of baking soda rubbed on the area will help.

 

Ah, to be a man!! They don't even have to shave!!

[gypsymama]

Well, it's not the razor, since as long as I don't use lotion, I am fine.  And unless I am allergic to every single lotion/oil out there, I don't see how it is an allergic reaction.  I have smooth legs after shaving as long as I do not moisture right away.  This includes sunscreen.  I have to wait at least a few hours before applying any lotion.

 

I think making blanket statements about what people should do, or what they are doing wrong, is not helpful to people who do not have skin that reacts the way yours does.  Making suggestions such as "have you tried..?" is helpful.  Telling someone they are cheap or dirty - wow.  Just wow.  But that is just my opinion.  Carry on!

 

I think you misread her intentions. She wasn't saying you are dirty or cheap. If a cheaper razor is used it "could" be the issue. Even more expensive razors could be the issue. Trying a new/different type of razor is a good suggestion you may or may not have already tried. Sometimes a different type in the number of blades, with or w/o a guide strip, etc could make a difference. 

 

And the lotion thing... a lot of lotions have common ingredients so you could very well be having a reaction to a common ingredient within them. I have super sensitive skin and have reactions to all sorts of crazy things most people don't even think of. There's a good reason I started using organic/natural products... :( 

[Arcadia]

Stockings :lol:

 

I live in jeans and stockings is just convenient for me to pair with formal wear.

 

I am bow legged anyway so people would notice that faster than whether my legs are smooth.

 

As for actually keeping legs smooth, I need moisturing hypoallergenic soap for bathing and I use face moisturiser even for my legs because most products give me rashes.

[ikslo]

I think you misread her intentions. She wasn't saying you are dirty or cheap. If a cheaper razor is used it "could" be the issue. Even more expensive razors could be the issue. Trying a new/different type of razor is a good suggestion you may or may not have already tried. Sometimes a different type in the number of blades, with or w/o a guide strip, etc could make a difference.

 

And the lotion thing... a lot of lotions have common ingredients so you could very well be having a reaction to a common ingredient within them. I have super sensitive skin and have reactions to all sorts of crazy things most people don't even think of. There's a good reason I started using organic/natural products... :(

Well, again, I only have a problem with the lotions immediately after shaving. I do not react to them a few hours later. I do not react to the razor alone.

 

She could have worded her response differently, maybe. Or maybe I am overly sensitive to people who think that what works for them is the answer for others.

 

Just want the OP to know that if lotion right away doesn't work for her, she is not alone.

[hornblower]

Well, again, I only have a problem with the lotions immediately after shaving. I do not react to them a few hours later. I do not react to the razor alone.

 

 

 

I think when you shave you remove a bit of skin from the surface so the skin is more sensitive.

 

 I have skin sensitivities that vary - so I can use some products on my legs but not my arms, Some products I can use on my arms but not my neck. And there are only a handful of products I can use on my face.  I think the skin is just more sensitive after shaving. After that stupid surgical procedure I told you about ikslo, I couldn't apply most things to my neck, even things that were previously ok. Once the skin was irritated, it just couldn't handle the products that it previously was ok with. 

 

Perhaps a really boring lotion that is scent free (something like the basic cetaphil) might not trigger the same reaction? 

 

I'd also consider changing whatever you're using as shaving gel in case that's adding to the irritation. 

[mamashark]

Thanks ladies! After a long day I'm really tired and feel a little silly for starting this in the first place because really, who cares what my legs look like? If I want to look really nice for something I wear a long dress or skirt anyway because they are my nicer clothes. If I'm wearing shorts, it's because I'm being relaxed and casual with my family and then people will spend more time looking at my kids than my legs!

 

I did appreciate all the interesting ideas regarding ways to manage shaving though! :)

[Katy]

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be insulting.  I used to get bumps from shaving too, when I was a teenager.  I had a doctor diagnose them at a physical when I wasn't aware they were a problem.  They were a minor infection.  The doctor told me to use alcohol, but I noticed I never had a problem when I wasn't using cheap razors that caused razor burn.  That's why I suggested it.

[MrsRobinson]

Thanks ladies! After a long day I'm really tired and feel a little silly for starting this in the first place because really, who cares what my legs look like? If I want to look really nice for something I wear a long dress or skirt anyway because they are my nicer clothes. If I'm wearing shorts, it's because I'm being relaxed and casual with my family and then people will spend more time looking at my kids than my legs!

 

I did appreciate all the interesting ideas regarding ways to manage shaving though! :)

Aww, sorry you feel silly. I'm glad you posted the question. Ive been reading answers all day and enjoying this thread. :)

 

My legs could be one of my best features if I put some effort in. After reading this, I plan on getting an exfoliating... cream? is it? and the jergens bb body.

 

Off to hop in the shower and shave my legs!