Preserving Style: Beauty At Any Age (Legs)

The following "Beauty At Any Age" advice comes from the March 2013 Issue of InStyle Magazine

How to Score Amazing Legs

Whether or not a mini in your 40s is advised, there’s plenty you can do right now to feel better about your thighs, knees, and calves.

20s – Commit to sunscreen to have the legs of a 25-year-old at 40. Using sunblock can even help prevent spider veins by protecting capillaries. To ensure that legs look their best, choose a moisturizer with SPF, then follow with a self-tanning lotion for safely bronzed skin. And keep on jogging, says dermatologist Jeanine B. Downie. “Exercise in your 20s sets the shape of your legs as you age.” TRY THESE Eucerin with SPF, $10; drugstore.com. Victoria’s Secret self-tanning lotion, $15; victoriassecret.com.

30s – Skin cells are starting to turn over more slowly, so stay smooth by upgrading your moisturizer to one with lactic or glycolic acid says dermatologist Anne Chapas. Pregnant? Wear compression tights from morning until night , beginning at four months. “They increase circulation to ward off spider veins.” (Wear the hose after age 40 for the same reason.) TRY THESE Rejuvahealth sheer black-dot pantyhose, $70; rejuvahealth.com. Amlactin moisturizing body lotion, $16; cvs.com.

40s – For most women, the uncutest of dimples have arrived by now, whether they appeared at 30 or were brought on later by a sedentary lifestyle. Weight-train to build muscle, and for smoothing in the short term, seek out firming treatments with caffeine or antioxidants (like Nivea’s Q10). For a more permanent solution, check out the sidebar for in-office procedures. TRY THESE Nivea Skin-Firming Cellulire Serum, $16.; drugstore.com. Bliss Fat Girl Slim Lean Machine with cream, $145; blissworld.com.

50s and Over - If sag has become a drag, look for a tightening serum or cream with hyaluronic acid to help temporarily firm the outer layer of skin, says Dr. Chapas. (The one pictured contains peptides to improve elasticity.) Do lifts and squats for toned muscles, and never underestimate the power of cosmetic camouflage. The spray-on leg makeup below helps hide veins and cellulite. TRY THESE Skinceuticals Body Tightening Concentrate, $75; skinceuticals.com. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs , $13; at drugstores.

Bigger Fixes: WHAT THE DOC CAN DO FOR…

CELLULITE: The most effective remedy, says Dr. Downie, is Cellulaze. Doctors use an optic laser to cut through fibrous bands that trap pockets of fat under the skin. Plan on $3,500 to $7,000 per procedure (for results that last two years), with downtime from four days to a week. 

CANKLES: Exilis, a radio-frequency device, actually melts fat and tightens skin around the ankles. Plan on six $350 sessions, with results that last several years.

VEINS: The gold standard for treating spider veins is sclerotherapy, says Luis Navarro, director of the Vein Treatment Center. Docs inject a chemical compound that irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to collapse and disappear. You’ll need two to four injections, costing about $500 each. For larger varicose veins, you may need endogenous laser ablation, in which a laser fiber is inserted to destroy the vein. The price tag can be as much as $5,000 for both legs, but it may be covered by your insurance.