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Out of sight is out of mind and with the onset of winter winds, sub zero temperatures, icy roads and eternal rain there are no toes to display in sandals, no midriffs to be bared on the beach and no legs to flash in short skirts. Instead, winter signals the return of the black polo neck, woollen coat and knee high boots making it ever so easy to forget that there's actually a 'body' beneath the clothes – and it needs to be taken care of.
Even the stringent waxing and shaving routines of summer get forgotten– after all, if legs are hidden in black opaques all day long, what's the point of depilation? Well, for a start, it will make you feel far better about your body. You may be wearing a thick layer of lamb's wool, but if your skin feels like silk, you'll act differently and feel far more confident. Call it 'Model Etiquette' – models know that they have to look after their bodies or they'll lose out on work, so they always schedule in time for manicures and pedicures alongside rolling appointments for waxing and exfoliation. You'll feel much sexier – if there's nothing to hide, you're more willing to show off your body and will act more flirtatiously!
Getting body beautiful needn't be time-consuming. If you're suffering from dry skin – common if you shave regularly and work or live in a central-heated or air-conditioned environment – make simple changes to your routine. Start exfoliating three times a week. Garnier Bodytonic Sugar Scrub, £5.49 garnierbeautybar.co.uk, is a great choice and has a fruity, uplifting smell. If skin needs extra hydration, apply a body oil to wet skin as soon as you step out of the shower and once it's absorbed, follow with a layer of cream, such as Garnier Body Repair Lotion, £5.99.
Unfortunately, even though most of us eat more in winter, the tendency is to exercise less (who wants to jog up an icy hill when it's all warm and cosy at home with Eastenders on the telly?!), so it's worth investing in firming and toning products which will sort you out. L'Orיal Body Expertise Nutrilift Moisturiser www.lorealparis.co.uk, £7.49, and L'Orיal Body Expertise Sculpt Up, £10.99, are bestsellers for a reason.
Another winter essential is the use of a subtle self-tanning product. Nothing looks worse than a pair of stark white legs poking out from beneath a black skirt – and in winter, when the light is bluer, you'll actually look more washed out than normal. Help your body to a dose of Ambre Solaire Instant Shimmer Body Bronzer, £8.99, once a week – you can see where you've applied it which will stop you overdoing it, and a small amount is just enough to give your skin a natural glow. Always exfoliate and moisturise the body first, but if you're tanning your legs, shave and moisturise first, as this gets rid of dry skin and any short hairs that will cause the tanning product to develop unevenly.
The world may not get to see it, but you'll know just how good your body's looking, which'll give you the perfect excuse to make the most of those winter nights too (!).
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