How To Feel Confident About Your Legs At Any Age

Like your face, you want the rest of your body to look and feel your best at any age, whether you're in your 20s or your 60s. However, as you grow older, the skin on your face and body does not remain the same. From age 20, Dr. Garry Cussell says collagen production is reduced by 1% every year in a process called intrinsic aging (via Rejuvenation Clinics of Australia). From age 25, dermatologists and aestheticians recommend using topical retinoids as collagen production reduces (per Renée Rouleau). Regeneration and replacement of skin cells slow down, as Dr. Garry also confirms that the skin's natural exfoliation process decreases by 28% in your 20s. Most of these changes are the same on your legs too and can affect how you feel about them.

When you need to take a hike in shorts, wear a dress with an almost scandalous thigh-baring slit, or go out in your favorite miniskirt, here are a few ways to always feel confident about your legs, no matter how old you are.

There are things you need to do to ensure the skin on your legs stays smooth and healthy. First off is sunscreen. The sun emits UV rays that damage elastin, which is a protein that makes your skin firm and, well, elastic. These rays also cause hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and, currently on the rise, skin cancer (via Cancer.org). Applying sunscreen on your legs will not only prevent these skin conditions but it'll also keep the skin on them healthy, making you more confident about them. So, whether you're 20 or 60, do not skip sunscreen in your routine. It'll protect your skin while giving you that boost of endorphins you get when you do something nice for yourself.

Another step in your routine to get those endorphins — and that confidence boost — is exfoliating your legs. Your skin is continually replacing dead skin cells with new ones, except this process needs a little help sometimes. Exfoliation here can be physical or chemical and is just as important as exfoliating facial skin. Regular exfoliation on your legs will reveal softer, smoother skin, leading you to be more confident about your legs (via Skincare.com). You can exfoliate physically using scrubs or chemically by using leave-on creams and exfoliating body washes. Either way, your skin will look better, healthier, and firmer, giving you an amazing complexion and boosting your confidence.

Taking care of your skin is important, but so is taking care of what's underneath. Some of the definition of your legs is determined by muscle. On any side of the weight spectrum you may be on, exercising your legs will improve your self-esteem and help them feel and look even better (via Livestrong). Exercises that include cardio and engage all the muscles of your legs, like your calves and quadriceps, will help tone up your legs. What's more, according to Healthline, some of the best exercises to tone your legs include squats, lunges, box jumps, and plank leg lifts as they engage all of your lower body muscles and can be done with little space in a matter of minutes. Other exercises you can engage in include pilates, cycling, and jump rope.

At the end of the day, loving your legs is essential when you want to feel confident about them. Know that they are yours and they carry the memories of the places you've been, even as you age.