Body Care Questions

Q:What's the best way to get my bare legs to look sleek and sexy?

A:Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize—your skin will be infinitely sexier. If you suffer dry patches or ashiness you can spot treat with an intensive moisturizer like Jergens Ash Relief Moisturizer. Deal with razor burn or a bit of uneven skin tone on your legs by mixing shimmering body lotion with a little bit of tinted moisturizer. Try Nivea Silky Shimmer Lotion with Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. Self tanner solves this same problem, plus the darker color makes your legs look thinner. We love Lancôme's Flash Bronzer Instant Colour Self-Tanning Leg Gel.

Q:Which sun protection products won't upset my supersensitive skin?

A:Sunscreens made with natural physical blockers—like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide—are generally much less irritating to the skin than chemical ones. "[Chemical-based lotions] can upset sensitive skin," says Miami and New York City dermatologist Dr.Fredric Brandt. Neutrogena Sensitive Skin SPF 30 is made with titanium dioxide, goes on superlight, and is oil-free; Dr.Brandt Chem-Free SPF 15 blends zinc oxide with high-tech antioxidants.

Q:Which self-tanners look natural on pale skin? And if I get streaks, how do I remove them?

A:Lucky favorite: Neutrogena Build-a-Tan is brilliant because it works in layers, so you can tailor the intensity of color to your skin tone. With any tanner, combat streaks by gently exfoliating first. Another technique is to smooth on lotion before applying the tanner (you can also put it on spots like elbows and ankles that are drier and thus attract more color). Tinted formulas like Lancôme Flash Bronzer make mistakes much less likely. To get rid of a streak, try St. Tropez Self-Tanner Remover. It's a grainy liquid that dissolves DHA—the active ingredient—and is okay even for sensitive skin.

Q:I keep hearing about airbrush tanning, but no one I know has tried it. How does it work?

A:You're right to look into the various self-tanning options out there—after all, it's best to get your brilliant glow without the sun's harmful UV rays. While most editors here at Lucky prefer the self-tanning lotions, I recently tried airbrush tanning at a nearby salon (a place I never would have set foot in otherwise) and loved it! Here's the lowdown: After watching a brief instructional video (first timers only), you're shown to your own private booth where you undress, apply a barrier cream on your hands and feet, and put on a shower cap. The session begins with a 15-second burst of fine mist (sunless tanning solution) sprayed from several different nozzles. Then you turn around and get another 15-second spritz. Hop out, pat the extra tanner off with paper towels, and voila—you're done in less than twenty minutes flat. You'll notice some color immediately, but the beautiful bronzed (streak-free) tone sets in over the next few hours. Although many spas offer airbrush tanning for upwards of $100, there are many places (like the salon I found) that charge as little as $30 per session. Good luck!

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