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Meet Kate Shapland: The Beauty Pioneer Behind Legology’s Leg Care Revolution
Legology was founded by renowned beauty journalist Kate Shapland, who sought to create a brand that addresses often-overlooked leg issues with science-backed, effective solutions. The range combines powerful ingredients like caffeine and essential oils to tackle concerns such as cellulite, water retention, and fatigue. With a focus on both function and indulgence, Legology’s products are designed to deliver visible results while offering a premium self-care experience, making leg care an essential part of a complete skincare routine.
Skindays: How did your background in journalism influence the creation of Legology?
Kate Shapland: It absolutely fed my fascination and gave me the confidence to know that the product I wanted to bring to the market was already in demand! The advantages of having a background in beauty journalism is that you’ve tried everything, you’ve met every expert and – most importantly – you have the feedback from readers that tells you what they want, what they don’t want, and what they understand. Very often in beauty, the consumer gets a bit forgotten as commercial muscle – advertising and so on – overrides the editor’s voice, and readers are given the information beauty companies and publishing houses want them to have. There was a disconnect there for me because I knew, from the insight I got from my readers, that they wanted more practical advice, not just news on the latest launches. The column I wrote for the Telegraph became iconic because it was one of the first to showcase niche brands alongside core, giving women a broader view alongside critical aspiration, so they could make educated purchases. Legology was really the upshot of this: cellulite was one category where this was very evident, which is doubly shameful because from the research I’ve done I know that cellulite can really impact on women’s self esteem. I also happen to be one of the many women who has the issue myself, so I was determined to find a new solution for it.
SD: What was the defining moment that made you decide to create Legology?
KS: There were a series of defining moments that pushed me on. Receiving a product that claimed to ‘erase cellulite in 9 minutes’ was one of them. But I suppose the ultimate defining moment was when I understood the link between the significance of the lymph on body shape and wellbeing. I met a very brilliant Californian body work massage therapist who taught me how lymph contributes to cellulite, bloat and heaviness – it’s the common denominator with all of them. And the more I understood this the more I noticed how people suffered: women in puberty, pregnancy and menopause (hormones – especially estrogen, are very much at play during these times because of the way it impacts the lymph), women post surgery, women (and men) after long haul flights.
SD: Why did you choose to focus on leg care?
KS: Because there was a glaringly obvious need for a product that offered an effective solution to cellulite and heavy, puffy legs. No one was doing it properly – and trust me I’d tried everything – so I did it myself.
SD: What sets Legology apart from other beauty brands, especially in the niche of leg care?
KS: The way we approach leg care is entirely different to every other brand. Our formulas focus on promoting the lymph with a deep drainage action that helps to decongest the fluid that gets trapped in tissues and around fat cells, causing leg heaviness and cellulite. Once waste gets trapped around the fat cells it pushes them out of alignment, and it’s this that creates the surface dimples, not actual fat. And cellulite manifests on areas like thighs and upper arms because this is where there is a density of fat cells. This is entirely logical to me because of the undemocratic way cellulite affects women: you don’t have to be overweight or unfit to have cellulite – you can be slim, fit and strong, but you can still have cellulite. It’s not about fat, it’s about flow. This is proven too by the way a really good massage therapist can move lymph to reduce puffiness and cellulite. The most intuitive therapists use their fingers to feel where the congestion is on the body and eke it out from around the cells and within the tissues; the best can shift an inch off your muffin top or thighs in one session.
SD: If you could only pick one product to take with you on vacation, what Legology product would you choose?
KS: Air-Lite. It’s my talisman – the first product I made and at the time I thought it would be the only one. It does everything you need a leg care product to do – deeply drains, hydrates, tones and lightens legs. It’s one of a kind and it represents the high standard of the entire brand.
SD: Legology leg care routine in the morning or evening?
KS: Either. Most women (including myself) find it easier to do their body brushing and Cellu-Lite oil routine in the morning; the oil absorbs really quickly so you can get dressed straight after using it, and it’s very energising. What we do recommend, however, is daily use, because frequency equals beauty.
SD: What is your current Legology routine?
KS: I always apply Cellu-Lite oil after my morning shower, then body brush over the top of it and over the rest of my body. It takes no more than 3 minutes. When it’s hot, my legs can get quite puffy with heat edema, so I’ll apply Air-Lite in the evening to help with that.
SD: How do you envision the future of leg care and wellness?
KS: I’d like to say that my aim is to see women giving their bodies, and in particular their legs, the same attention as their faces. Many of us don’t bother with what’s hidden in the winter months, but this is exactly when we should be bothering because as mentioned above, making the most of your assets is a 365 day a year commitment. That’s not to say it’s a chore – far from it.
Legology was specifically made to be a joy to use – that’s why I got the French fragrance house Robertet to make our signature scent of Amalfi lemons to remind women of holidays and happy times. I want our consumer to feel great every time she applies our products, to the point where she almost uses them in spite of what they do.
SD: What’s next for Legolgy?
KS: More of the same brilliant disruption. I can’t stop, I’m addicted to making a difference and showing people that there really is genuine support for issues like cellulite that they thought they could never get on top of.
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