Baring the legs is in vogue, but how to best care for them? They're a key part of Beyoncé, Lisa, Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber's outfits, but many of us don't maintain ours properly
the crown jewel of skincare – exfoliated, serumed, SPF'd within an inch of its life. Legs, on the other hand, tend to fall into the 'I'll deal with them later' category. Despite overflowing beauty shelves, our legs go about their business largely ignored, carrying us around for the whole day, yet quietly accepting a patchwork of dry skin, razor nicks and forgotten promises of body oil. For many of us, they have slipped out of the spotlight. For some though, they're stealing it.
Beyoncé has often worn outfits that bared her entire legs, such as here at the 2013 Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans. /AFP
Whether on red carpets or concert stages, legs can be statements of strength, sensuality and style. Think Sabrina Carpenter's pantless Louis Vuitton suit at the
2025 Met Gala , or Hailey Bieber's two-part lesson in leg-forward styling – first in a Saint Laurent mini blazer dress, then at the after-party in a corset minidress by designer Dilara Findikoglu.
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Sabrina Carpenter is a more recent advocate of letting her legs lead the way, as she did at the Met Gala in May. Photo: Invision/AP
But leg iconography has a long and glamorous history. Think back to Tina Turner, whose famously insured legs and high-hemmed fringe dresses became a signature as unmistakable as her voice.
Short skirts and dresses baring her legs were a signature of US rock legend Tina Turner's look. Photo: AP
Or that now-historic moment when Angelina Jolie's right leg achieved internet immortality on the 2012 Oscars' red carpet.
Pop culture has never been shy about celebrating legs, but offstage outside the spotlight, for the most part, leg care tends to be reactive, driven by the needs of weather, wardrobe or the occasional last-minute event.
Angelina Jolie strikes that much-talked-about leg-baring pose ahead of the 2012 Oscars. Photo: AP
Like the skin on our face, the skin on our legs is constantly changing. It loses hydration, elasticity and density with time, especially around the knees and thighs. 'The skin on our legs does have different needs,' says Dr Shamsa Kanwal, consultant dermatologist at myHSteam. 'It's typically thicker and drier than facial skin, and it has fewer oil glands, which means it's more prone to dryness and irritation, especially after shaving or during colder months.' She also explains that, since legs also experience more friction from clothing and shaving, they benefit from hydrating, barrier-repairing and gentle exfoliating routines.
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We've been taught to treat our face like the crown jewel of skincare – exfoliated, serumed, SPF'd within an inch of its life. Legs, on the other hand, tend to fall into the 'I'll deal with them later' category. Despite overflowing beauty shelves, our legs go about their business largely ignored, carrying us around for the whole day, yet quietly accepting a patchwork of dry skin, razor nicks and forgotten promises of body oil. For many of us, they have slipped out of the spotlight. For some though, they're stealing it. Beyoncé has often worn outfits that bared her entire legs, such as here at the 2013 Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans. /AFP Whether on red carpets or concert stages, legs can be statements of strength, sensuality and style. Think Sabrina Carpenter's pantless Louis Vuitton suit at the 2025 Met Gala , or Hailey Bieber's two-part lesson in leg-forward styling – first in a Saint Laurent mini blazer dress, then at the after-party in a corset minidress by designer Dilara Findikoglu. Advertisement Sabrina Carpenter is a more recent advocate of letting her legs lead the way, as she did at the Met Gala in May. Photo: Invision/AP But leg iconography has a long and glamorous history. Think back to Tina Turner, whose famously insured legs and high-hemmed fringe dresses became a signature as unmistakable as her voice. Short skirts and dresses baring her legs were a signature of US rock legend Tina Turner's look. Photo: AP Or that now-historic moment when Angelina Jolie's right leg achieved internet immortality on the 2012 Oscars' red carpet. Pop culture has never been shy about celebrating legs, but offstage outside the spotlight, for the most part, leg care tends to be reactive, driven by the needs of weather, wardrobe or the occasional last-minute event. Angelina Jolie strikes that much-talked-about leg-baring pose ahead of the 2012 Oscars. Photo: AP Like the skin on our face, the skin on our legs is constantly changing. It loses hydration, elasticity and density with time, especially around the knees and thighs. 'The skin on our legs does have different needs,' says Dr Shamsa Kanwal, consultant dermatologist at myHSteam. 'It's typically thicker and drier than facial skin, and it has fewer oil glands, which means it's more prone to dryness and irritation, especially after shaving or during colder months.' She also explains that, since legs also experience more friction from clothing and shaving, they benefit from hydrating, barrier-repairing and gentle exfoliating routines.
