THIS Is How Hollywood Gets Great Legs

We’ve all seen enough paparazzi shots of celebs at the gas station, at Target, and coming home from the gym to know that in their off hours, they’re just like us. But when the same celebs hit a public event? Poof! The similarities vanish. Skin glows, hair is perfect, and their legs glisten. (Ours, for reasons unknown, have bruises, bug bites, and a less-than-even glow most of the summer.) That’s why we asked celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles, who works with Jessica Alba, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Heidi Klum, to spill on the secret art of golden, elongated sun-kissed legs, sans sun or Photoshop.

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Brass tacks: The trick to killer legs comes down a little makeup know-how — a touch of a full-coverage product can blur imperfections and create a little light-catching illumination. “Body makeup on the legs can hide a multitude of sins,” Stiles says. “It can add color and hide veins, razor burn, bruises, and mottled skin.” (This trick can also add dimension and glow to the shoulders, too.)

Of course, striking the right balance between healthy glow and overly strobed isn’t as easy as one might think. (Cue Amy Schumer’s “Celebrity Interview” sketch, in which her legs go from gold-toned to downright metallic.) Ahead, Stiles shares Hollywood’s recipe for nailing confidence-inducing power gams in a few easy steps.

Prep With Non-Oily Exfoliation

The fastest way to a brightened overall glow? Exfoliate away dull, dead skin cells. Just be sure to pick a scrub that won’t leave an oily sheen on the skin, or the makeup won’t stick later. This one uses coffee beans and walnut shells to boost circulation and slough away debris. Plus, it makes your shower smell like you’ve died and gone to barista heaven.

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Juara Invigorating Coffee Scrub, $38, available at Juara.

To Add A Bit of Color

This lotion — which can be used alone or mixed into a moisturizer —isn’t going to give you a rich, Caribbean tan. But it is going to take legs to a healthier, more lively tone. When using liquids and creams, Stiles starts with a quarter-sized dollop of product per leg, blending down from the thighs. And don’t forget your feet and ankles.

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“If you plan on wearing open-toe shoes, get your toes and clean off your toenails with a baby wipe or damp towel,” Stiles suggests.

Votre Vu Silk Stockings, $34, available at Votre Vu.

Or Opt For More Coverage

This unassuming canister is in every Hollywood makeup artists’ kit. “For a very even coverage, this is my all-time favorite product,” says Stiles. “It has a little sheen to it so the legs never look flat or pantyhose-y.” Just as important, this formula doesn’t transfer as much as others Stiles has used. “I’ve destroyed fancy gowns and expensive suede shoes on set, because they wanted someone to look tan,” she says.

Rule of thumb when applying body makeup? Less is more. “You’ll know pretty quickly when it looks fake,” Stiles says. “After spraying on, immediately buff with your hands or a body sponge until fully blended.“ (Once it sets, it’s harder to move around.)

And one more note: If looking for a cream formulation that offers more coverage, try Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, $10.59, available at Target.

Consider A Subtle Highlight

Want to add extra kick to your newly golden gams? Forget what you know about highlighting. Instead of swiping an illuminator on the high planes of you leg (the tibia), Stiles takes a more subtle approach.

“I think it looks too obvious if you swipe highlighter down the front of a leg,” Stiles says. “I prefer a more multidimensional look to the skin, where it looks great from every angle.”

Instead, Stiles smoothes a layer of this tinted moisturizer over body makeup. “The shades never look too orange or pasty on paler skin tones,” she says. “You get a nice glow without looking greasy or wet, because there’s almost a semi-matte luminosity to it.”

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, $44, available at Laura Mercier.

By: Erika Stalder