The Daily Mail published an article today - rather ridiculous, as their articles all too often are - calling attention to what they called "ninkles": that would be wrinkle-afflicted knees and unsightly knees in general.
The article may be ridiculous, but it is a very real aesthetic problem that in the opinion of many of the women I meet (and the odd man now and then) really does impact - negatively - the beauty of their legs, or at least their perception of it.
One thing is true. The knees are what often (if you'll forgive the pun) makes or breaks the beauty of legs. Very few people have truly beautiful knees, and there is not much anyone can do about that. You cannot - not yet, at any rate - reposition and reshape the knees.
However, there is a lot you can do against these "ninkles" (I promise, this is the last time I have used this ghastly neologism).
First of all, you wouldn't believe how effective simple leg exercises can be against those pouches above the knees. My favourite is to lift my legs - one at a time - in front of me, as high as I can, while sitting. It is a deceptively simple and "comfortable" exercise, but done correctly (extend your legs well and sit with your back straight) you can really feel - and even see - the upper leg muscles working. Best of all, you can do this exercise at any time, while watching TV - even in the toilet, if you wish. :)
You can also do this exercise while standing up, very straight. It is considerably more strenuous, and it engages other groups of leg and buttocks muscles. I also lift the the legs sideways and backwards. (When I started, years ago, I could not do this without some sort of support because my balance and muscular strength left much to be desired. Very soon, however, I could do these exercises without any support.)
These simple exercises are marvellous for muscle strength AND flexibility, but they also contribute greatly to the balance of the individual. And physical balance, in its turn, has a surprisingly profound effect on mental and emotional balance. (More on this some other time, I promise. It really is worth a separate posting.)
The trick is to incorporate these exercises into your daily routine so that they don't feel like a "chore". Which in many cases means doing just a few of them - perhaps one or two repetitions - at a time, possibly during other activities (such as watching TV, vacuuming, gardening... you name it). Or you can make them into a dance.
Whatever and whenever you choose to do, do it EVERY DAY. That is the trick, and that is why truly tiny "baby steps" really do work long-term, whereas "campaign" exercising does not. (It may work great, of course, but sooner or later the pouches will come crawling back if you don't keep it up.)
Now for the skin problems associated with knees, such as wrinkles and patches of rough skin.
This is even easier than the exercise part.
What you need to do is exfoliate and nourish.
Of course there are very many creams and lotions promising fabulous skin. And some of them do work, at least up to a point.
This is even easier than the exercise part.
What you need to do is exfoliate and nourish.
Of course there are very many creams and lotions promising fabulous skin. And some of them do work, at least up to a point.
My favourite - by far! -, however, is a simple procedure involving brown sugar and argan oil (a wonderful anti-sagging and anti-wrinkle substance).
Take a table spoon of unrefined sugar (the glucose in it works as a very good exfoliant) and mix it with a tablespoon of unrefined, cold-pressed argan oil. Massage your knees with this mixture and leave it on for about 15 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water.
Take a table spoon of unrefined sugar (the glucose in it works as a very good exfoliant) and mix it with a tablespoon of unrefined, cold-pressed argan oil. Massage your knees with this mixture and leave it on for about 15 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water.
(You can also use corn meal instead of the sugar. It doesn't work as deeply as the brown sugar, but it does work well as a superficial abrasive.)
Do this once or twice a week.
You can also alternate the procedure above with rubbing your knees with a mixture of turmeric (a natural anti-wrinkle agent) and brown sugar.
Make a paste with a few teaspoons of turmeric powder and an equal amount of brown sugar, adding just a few drops of water or argan oil (or any other oil, but argan is my favourite) and rub it well into your knees. Leave it on for 15 - 20 minutes, then wash well. You can follow with an application of argan oil, or the oil - or lotion - of your choice. (If so, apply it while the skin is still wet.)
BEWARE: Turmeric is a very potent natural pigment. Your knees will have the appearance of a yellow Easter egg if you don't wash them properly afterwards. It does NOT stain the skin permanently. It DOES stain everything else permanently, so be sure you do not get it onto your clothes or linen!
Rest assured: if you suffer from... what the Daily Mail said, the regime above will bring those pouches and wrinkles to their knees. :-)
Make a paste with a few teaspoons of turmeric powder and an equal amount of brown sugar, adding just a few drops of water or argan oil (or any other oil, but argan is my favourite) and rub it well into your knees. Leave it on for 15 - 20 minutes, then wash well. You can follow with an application of argan oil, or the oil - or lotion - of your choice. (If so, apply it while the skin is still wet.)
BEWARE: Turmeric is a very potent natural pigment. Your knees will have the appearance of a yellow Easter egg if you don't wash them properly afterwards. It does NOT stain the skin permanently. It DOES stain everything else permanently, so be sure you do not get it onto your clothes or linen!
Rest assured: if you suffer from... what the Daily Mail said, the regime above will bring those pouches and wrinkles to their knees. :-)
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