How to Have Nice Knees

If the thought of getting your knees in shape for summer makes your legs buckle, don't despair. There are many paths to turning your neglected knees into smooth caps for the exposure that comes with hotter months. One of the quickest ways to get a leg up on your knee overhaul is to make sure you apply a daily sunscreen, with minimum SPF 25, to your exposed legs the whole year through. With this base in mind, getting your knees into kickin' shape for will be a breeze.

Enter a shower with lukewarm water. Hot water can dry out the skin on your knees even more.

Scoop a quarter-sized amount of exfoliant onto your finger tips and gently rub the product in a circular motion over your knees. Rinse well. This will slough off dry skin cells and help your knees to look smooth and healthy.

Apply a dollop of shaving cream to your fingertips and smooth the cream over your entire knee, front and back. Be sure to smooth some cream just below and above the knee, too.

Place your razor in the shaving cream below the knee. Gently glide the razor up the knee with medium pressure. Rinse the razor off under the water.

Place the razor next to the newly shaved area and repeat the shaving motion through the untouched shaving cream. Repeat all the way around your knee, front and back. Make sure to rinse the razor after each swipe.

Rinse your legs and pat dry with a clean, dry towel.

Run an ice cube over any bruises you have, or over any cuts and nicks that surfaced while shaving. The coldness helps to constrict your blood vessels and stop the bleeding on a cut. Pat dry with a towel.

Dab a pea-sized amount of vitamin K cream on any bruises. You can also apply a small, skin-colored bandage to hide the bruise while it heals.

Add a tiny amount of antibiotic ointment to cuts and scrapes. Place an appropriate-sized bandage over the cut to help keep out germs. You can also use a bandage to cover a scab that is still in the process of healing.

Cut a lemon in half. Sit with your knees bent. Place one half of the lemon face down on your knee cap and gently squeeze and move the lemon back and forth. The lemon juice is an extra exfoliant and skin brightener. Be sure to avoid rubbing the lemon over any cuts you may have.

Leave the lemon juice on your knees for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe clean with a towel.

Apply a generous amount of deeply hydrating body cream to your legs and knees. If you have very dry skin, do this twice a day.

Rub broad-spectrum sunscreen on your legs and knees. Let dry for a minute.