50 ways to fab legs

Minis are back in fashion this summer so if you want to flash your legs it's time to start getting them back into shape. We give you 50 tips that'll make them sexy, shapely and worth shouting about. Get them out now!

Stop stubble trouble

1. Ellipse IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) can significantly reduce hair growth. A visible light targets the follicle and heat destroys the hair. Hair can only be treated in its growing phase so repeated treatments are necessary. Three to six sessions should show a permanent reduction of hair. Prices start from £60 per treatment. (020 7581 4499) Our tester said: 'Your legs are cleaned and, depending on how long the hair is, shaved. They then mark the leg into strips and apply a gel. A wand is pressed against the skin, a light goes on and they move along your leg treating patch by patch. It tingles but isn't painful. After the first session, hair grew back much finer and now, after four sessions, I hardly have any.'

2. Nad's Hair Removing Gel works like wax. It is water soluble and the ingredients, including honey, vinegar and lemon juice are entirely organic. Costs £18.95. (0870 728 0683)

3. The first generation of electric depilators nearly put women off them for ever. But designs have improved and if you don't like shaving, but can't afford waxing, it's a good alternative. Braun Easy Start Solo Epilator. Price £44.50, Argos.

Our tester said: 'I've had my Braun Silk Epil for about ten years and think it's wonderful. The more you use it, the weaker the hairs are, so the easier it is to get them out. Compared to the cost of waxing, it's saved me a fortune. It takes longer than shaving, but I probably spend a maximum of ten minutes every four to six weeks on my legs.'

4. Philips Ladyshave Skin Comfort is an electric razor with built-in Nivea
lotion dispenser. It can be used wet or dry and will give a quick shave, even if there's no time for a shower. Costs £38, Boots and Argos.

5. Surgi Hair Stop is a hair retardant made from natural-enzymes of unripened papaya fruit. The enzymes weaken the hair follicle, slowing down regrowth after waxing or shaving. Price £9.50, Boots.

6. Tend Skin lotion has mild exfoliant and emollient effects and will remove skin bumps and razor rash and help get rid of ingrown hairs. Costs £12.50 for 118ml. (020 7252 7046)

Toned and trim

7. To tone calf muscles without beefing them up: Stand with the toes of one foot on a step. Hold on to something to keep your balance. With back straight and tummy in, raise yourself on tiptoe then slowly return to the start position. Repeat 25 times and then swop to the other foot.

8. Intense Pulsed Light can also be used to treat thread veins. Light targeted at specific blood vessels is absorbed by the blood and converted into heat energy. This raises the local blood temperature and causes the vessel wall to break down and close up. CACI Polaris IPL treatments from £200 per hour. (020 8731 5678).

9. The seated squat is ideal for making legs leaner and firmer. Stand with your back flat against a wall and feet about 30cm from it. Keep arms relaxed by your sides. Slowly slide your body down the wall until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Adjust your foot position so your lower leg is completely upright, then pull your stomach towards your spine and hold the position for 60 seconds.

10. Create the illusion of muscles with St Tropez Air. The tan is applied using an airbrush and, when the first treatment has developed, a second is applied to add definition to the body. By shading the top of the inner thigh, it makes them look slimmer. From £35 (0115 983 6363)

11. Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel contains extracts of arnica, birch, camphor and menthol to revitalise tired legs. Costs £23. (020 8954 8033)

12. The Decleor Perfect Legs treatment soothes heavy or tired legs. Comprising exfoliation, massage and wrapping, it leaves legs feeling light, cool and revived. From £35 for 45 minutes. (020 7402 9474) Our tester said: 'I was really impressed - my legs looked slimmer and smoother afterwards - I would certainly have this done again.'

13. A paraffin wax bath can soothe aches and pains, hydrate skin, detoxify the
body and reduce water retention. So it's a perfect all-round treat for legs. Wax is heated and then brushed onto the body with a large house-painting brush. More wax is poured onto the body and the client is wrapped in a plastic sheet and blankets, then left for 30 minutes. Costs £60 for a one-hour treatment. Urban Retreat at Harrods (020 7893 8333)

14. Shiseido Advanced Essential Energy Body Firming Cream contains rice, green tea and cherry blossom to improve skin's elasticity and create a smoother and softer texture. Price £29.50, from department stores.

15. Dove Firming Lotion contains ceramides, grapeseed-extract and moisturisers that improve skin elasticity and stimulate natural cell renewal for smoother, firmer skin. Available at Boots.

A buffed bottom

16. Bottom lift. Excess skin and fat is removed through long incisions starting in the buttock crease, extending round the groin, up over the side of the abdomen and across the back. The entire area is lifted to create tighter thighs and buttocks and improved contours. However, the operation can lead to extensive scarring and consequently is often used only as a last resort by desperate women.

17. Mayaltha Better Bottom Naturopathic Lift Serum contains Australian plant ingredients for tighter, firmer buttocks with improved shape and smoother skin. Costs £20.95 (01280 707499).

18. To make buttocks more pert and round, supertrainer Matt Roberts suggests prone gluteal raises. Lie on your tummy with your forehead resting on your hands. Raise one leg so your knee forms a right angle. Squeezing your buttocks and pushing the sole of your foot up towards the ceiling, lift your leg as high as feels comfortable. Slowly lower your leg to the start position. Keep your hips flat on the floor throughout. Repeat 20 times and swop sides.

19. Bumboost tights from Pretty Polly lift, shape and smooth the buttocks for a perfectly pert bottom. Price £5 from department stores.

20. Pick knickers that flatter you. Microfibre moulds nicely across the bottom and should not show under clothes, while a style that finishes just underneath the bottom will cup the buttocks and give a round silhouette. Try Lejaby's Nuage, £22, at Rigby & Peller (020 7491 2200).

21. American Body Wraps Home Stretchmark Kit can help eliminate unsightly blemishes. Bandages soaked in a solution containing vitamins, enzymes and oxygen are wrapped around the skin and left for 30 minutes. It costs £36 for 6-8 treatments (01908 843 621).

22. Restrict the salt in your diet - too much can encourage water retention that makes your bottom look larger.

Conquering cellulite

23. Beautytek, a non-invasive alternative to liposuction, combines western technology with Chinese medicine, using an electric probe linked to a computer to deliver energy to the body.The energy forces toxins from the cells into the lymphatic pathways, which flush the waste products from the body. £150 for 90 minutes. (020 7722 1758) OUR TESTER SAID: 'A gel is applied, then a metal roller is lightly passed over and over the skin - you can't really feel anything. After 12 treatments, the backs of my legs are completely smooth.'

24.

The Electro Cellulite Massager (ECM) comprises 24 rollers that gently pummel the body, stimulating circulation to break down fatty deposits.
It costs £25 for 25 minutes. (020 8731 5678). OUR TESTER SAID: 'The therapist moved a metal roller from my ankles to my buttocks. An electrical current runs through the rollers, so you do feel electrical pricks occasionally. 'I wasn't expecting to see huge changes, but my skin felt nice and firm. It would tone you up efficiently, though I can think of more relaxing treatments.'

25. Advanced Endermologie uses hand-held rollers that combine massage and suction to lift the skin away from the subcutaneous fat, manipulate fatty tissue and boost the lymphatic system. Price £40 for 35 minutes. (020 8731 5678) OUR TESTER SAID:'Wearing a full bodysuit made from thin mesh, you lie on a bed while a roller is passed all over. It's not painful, but can be a bit uncomfortable over the cellulite. 'After four or five treatments, I started to notice a difference. I'm not sure if I'd lost fat but my body was more toned. Now, after nine treatments, my cellulite is completely gone - I'm amazed.'

26. Vichy Glucoblock Lipo Refining Gel stimulates the elimination of stored lipids in the skin and reduces orange-peel effect. Vichy claim that after 28 days skin will appear firmer and smoother, orange peel will fade and there will be a significant loss in inches. Costs £20. (0800 169 6193)

27.

Drink at least two litres of water a day to keep skin hydrated and flush out toxins.

28.

Body brushing boosts the lymphatic system and helps the body dispose of toxins more efficiently. Before showering, use a dry bristle brush to stimulate the skin with brisk sweeping movements in the direction of your heart. Do this all over for about three minutes.

29. Cellasene Forte is an Italian supplement containing plant extracts to increase circulation, reduce fluid build-up, stimulate metabolism and reduce fat. Costs £29.99 for 40 capsules. (01628 488006)

Slim and sexy

30. Liposuction on the knees may be for you. A narrow tube is inserted through a cut in the leg, then it is pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells before they are suctioned out.

31. Never pour big legs into a micro mini - stick to knee-length or longer skirts.

32. Those with skinny legs should also pick carefully as a voluminous skirt will make legs look even thinner.

33. Tanned legs always look thinner. The latest must-have is Fake Bake Sheer Chocolate Mousse, which has a quick-drying formula. Price £19.95. (0870 054 4455)

34. Reduce Soleil, a heat accelerated inch-loss spray from the States, is sprayed onto the body and works on exposure to the sun or a tanning lamp. The heat opens pores, allowing the collagen, amino acids and vitamins to be absorbed. These break down toxins and are drawn into the lymphatic system to be excreted. Costs £19.99. (01908 843 621)

35. To create the illusion of long legs, choose a shoe with pointy, low-cut toe to elongate the silhouette, and a high, narrow heel.

Flawless feet and ankles

36. Calf implants help create the diamond-shaped calf muscle that is apparently so desirable in a woman. In a two-hour operation, silicone implants are inserted into the calf through incisions made behind the knees.

37. Personal trainer Matt Roberts says the secret to a shapely ankle is toning and strengthening your calves, to give the illusion of slimmer ankles. Activities such as jogging build stronger 'ankle stabiliser'muscles, and losing body fat will help to slim them down.

38. Sclerotherapy treats thread veins by injecting anaesthetic solution into the vein. The solution causes the vein to collapse sealing it and stopping blood from flowing into it. Costs £150 for initial consultation and treatments. Call (0845 602 1161).

39. To disguise fat ankles, wear calf-length boots.

40. Fade Out Extra Care leg cream contains plant extracts and vitamins to reduce the redness of thread veins. Added concealer hides unsightly patches. Costs £5.50, Boots.

41. A medical pedicure with Bastien Gonzalez will make you totally re-think your feet. He explains in detail how feet work and how to stretch leg muscles and massage toes on a daily basis to avoid problems caused by pointed high heels. Trained in podiatry, Bastien begins by treating any corns or ingrowing nails, then moves on to the cuticles. He uses diamond and marble dust to remove ridges in the nails and buffs them to a high shine with a chamois leather. Finally, legs and feet are treated to a massage to help loosen muscles and increase flexibility. Costs £90 for a one-hour hour treatment. The Olympus Suite, Claridges (020 7629 8860) or www.bastiengonzalez.com.

42. Beauty and the Bees doublemint & honey foot cream is a rich moisturiser containing essential oils to cool and refresh, and bees wax, coconut oil and cocoa butter to soften skin. Price £14.95. (020 7351 2232)

43. Before you go to bed, massage a rich moisturiser, oil or even Vaseline into your feet. Wrap in plastic food bags, kept in place with socks overnight. Feet will feel baby soft.

44. A foot file quickly banishes rough skin. Use after a bath or shower and then moisturise. £3.50, The Body Shop.

45. Babyliss Care and Comfort Foot Spa has heat, massage, bubble and water jet functions, with loofahs on the cover to smooth rough skin, and soft gel pads to massage feet. Price £60, Boots.

46. Aristoc Pedicure Packs, available in lemongrass or peppermint, contain a foot soak, pumice, foot lotion and spray and a pair of cotton socks with built in moisturiser. Perfect for reviving flagging feet. Costs £8, from department stores.

47. Try Cameron Diaz's favourite treat - a footbath of orange, lemon and grapefruit juices followed by a sea salt and olive oil scrub.

48. Toenails can carry off colours that fingernails can't and a bright orange makes feet look tanned. Try Orange Trick from Christian Dior. £11.50.

49. Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula #3 is tailored to care for hard and dry nails. £15.95. (01543 480100)

50. When posing for a photograph, stand with your feet in a T-shape - the heel of your right foot pointing into the arch of your left, with feet 12 inches apart - this will make your legs seem longer.