Beauty Reporter: Beauty 101.(shaving)

beauty101

Close Shave

The secrets to smooth, stubble-free legs and underarms. By Catherine Piercy

In the Stone Age, man may have used rocks to scrape away unwanted body hair. Armed with a bar of soap and a dull blade, most twenty-first-century women haven't evolved much. "Many of us have barely changed our technique since the age of 13," says Danielle Malka, founder of e-shave. The first step is to drop the soap. "Besides drying the skin and clogging your razor, it can't provide a uniform film to protect the skin," says Clifton Sanders, a cosmetics chemist at Billy Jealousy skin care. Lather with a shaving cream or gel (body wash or hair conditioner works in a pinch). "You need a slick barrier between the skin and blade," Sanders says. And the most important aspect of shaving takes place long before the shower. Choose your weapon wisely: "A razor with three or four blades gets the job done in fewer strokes," says Malka, who recommends changing the cartridge every five shaves. "Like a well-made car, a good razor handles the bumps and curves better." Perfect for driving away those bad habits.

lather Up

Allow at least three minutes ?in the ...