Weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and sudden, sudden growth can cause stretch marks and scarring. Stretch marks come not only when you get fat, but also when you lose weight. Many women experience reddish or whitish lesions on the inner and outer thighs and calves. Skin can heal on its own over time, but many would like to hide stretch marks even if they are fading. The safest way to avoid stretch marks on your legs is, of course, to wear pants. However, if you want to wear lighter clothing, there are strategies to make stretch marks less noticeable.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using Makeup to Cover Stretch Marks
Step 1. Exfoliate the skin
When you decide to cover your stretch marks, use a body scrub the morning before. Try a caffeine-based one - it can lighten the skin and make it smoother.
Step 2. Compare some makeup products
Try a specific anti-blemish cream for the legs or body. There are numerous anti-blemish creams on the market that can cover stretch marks and other marks that affect the healthy appearance of the skin. Skin characteristics vary from person to person, so you may need to try a number of products before you find the one that's right for you.
- Choose a color that matches that of your skin. Remember that it can be lighter or darker than your face makeup.
- If you spend a lot of time in the sun, choose an anti-blemish body cream that also contains a sunscreen. Sunburn reduces skin elasticity and makes stretch marks even more visible.
- If you can't find an anti-blemish cream for your legs or body, a moisturizing primer or waterproof concealer is also fine. To cover reddish stretch marks, choose a concealer with a green shade.
Step 3. Test the effectiveness of the anti-blemish cream or concealer
Dip a flat foundation brush into the jar that contains the covering product. Gently pat the areas with stretch marks with the brush. Try to apply a very thin layer. Evaluate the coverage effect obtained with a single layer. If that's not enough, apply more thin layers until you get the desired effect. You will immediately understand for yourself if it works.
- If you want to wear a bathing suit, put it on before applying your makeup.
- Apply a layer of compact powder with a brush. Before putting on your mini skirt or shorts, wait a few minutes for the powder to stabilize.
- To further compact the cream or concealer, a makeup fixing spray may also be useful.
Part 2 of 3: Using Self Tanner to Cover Stretch Marks
Step 1. Choose a specific self-tanner for the legs
There are several brands. To avoid the risk of allergies, first do a skin test by applying the product on an area of the skin with a diameter of a few centimeters. If you have very sensitive skin or are prone to skin allergies, ask your doctor or dermatologist if they have a product to recommend.
- Choose a non-spray self-tanner. What you need is an emulsion where it is clearly indicated that it does not stain the skin.
- You might also consider booking a tanning treatment. They will spray you with a product to quickly get a homogeneous and safe tan, without resorting to sun exposure.
- Keep in mind that regular tanning - whether natural or artificial - is not effective at covering stretch marks. This is due to the fact that stretch marks are scar tissue, which does not tan. In fact, the tan could make them even more visible.
Step 2. Prepare your legs for the self tanner
Exfoliate your leg skin with a scrub in the morning before applying self-tanner. This will remove the dead skin layer. An exfoliated skin also keeps the tan longer. On the day you put your self-tanner on, don't use any other skin care products.
Step 3. Put on the self tanner
Squeeze some on a saucer or in a small bowl (the saucer will serve as your makeup palette). Dab the self-tanner with a cotton ball. Clean the wad of excess product on the edge of the saucer. Spread the product along the line of whitish stretch marks. Remove burrs with the clean end of the swab.
- For an even and natural-looking tan, then spread the self-tanner over the entire surface of the arms and legs.
- If you can't reach all the stretch marks, use a mirror or get help from a friend.
Step 4. Fix the burrs
Let the product dry before checking the result. Streaks and dark spots can be removed by rubbing the skin with a damp cloth. An exfoliating scrub can be used to erase streaks on a larger area of skin.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Skin
Step 1. Determine if your stretch marks are reddish or whitish
The reddish ones are recent and can be resized or reduced thanks to certain products. The whitish ones are older and most creams can do little to change their appearance. However, a good moisturizing routine in the long run can promote skin healing and make even whitish stretch marks less noticeable.
Step 2. Tone your legs
Exercise your inner and outer thigh muscles by doing walking, pilates, yoga, bar training, running, and other gym workouts like lunges (lunges) and squats. Contact a personal trainer to help you set up a leg routine that will strengthen the muscles around the stretch marks. If you've recently lost weight, strengthening your muscles can help reduce stretch marks. If you have gained weight, aerobic exercise can help you lose a few pounds and stretch your skin.
- A more toned muscles will not eliminate stretch marks, but it can reduce the appearance of cellulite, which often forms in conjunction with stretch marks.
- Losing even a few pounds can contribute to the healing of recent stretch marks, which in some cases may even disappear. Significant weight loss, on the other hand, can lead to the formation of excess skin in certain places on the legs.
Step 3. Get a prescription for specific creams and makeup products
Visit a dermatologist and ask for a prescription for a retinol cream, which is used to treat reddish stretch marks. The active ingredient is vitamin A, which has been shown to be effective in healing scars.
The dermatologist may also possibly prescribe steroids for topical use, to be used in combination with retinol
Step 4. Take care of your skin
Healthy, hydrated skin hides blemishes much more than dry, irritated skin. This will make the other makeup products you put on your legs less aggressive as well. Apply a moisturizer, such as cocoa butter, daily. If your stretch marks are light, this may already be enough to make them nearly invisible.
Advice
- If you can't find a good anti-blemish cream for the body or legs, you can easily find the concealer and waterproof foundation at the pharmacy.
- If you can't find a foundation or cream of a color that exactly matches your skin, buy a lighter, a darker one and mix them.
- If the color doesn't match this way either, use powder. It can be bought in perfumery or in pharmacies and gives the skin a smooth and homogeneous appearance.
