Some things, like duct tape and ivory soap, are everyday essentials. They're the tried-and-true standards we can't live without. So it goes with certain thigh sculpting exercises. Squats, lunges, hydrants and leg lifts are the heavy artillery of thigh resizing, the go-to moves when you need to get the job done.

This workout revisits these thigh firming essentials and serves as a primer for chiseling and toning your lower half. It's also a refresher course on proper form. After all, anything worth sculpting is worth sculpting to perfection.

Do 1 to 3 sets of each exercise, 12 to 15 repetitions per set. If you do this routine faithfully at least twice a week, you should begin to see tighter, shapelier legs in about a month. And when you're ready for a change in your toning routine, try the souped up versions of these moves, the essential updates.

1. Essential Squat
Works your butt, front and back of thighs. (A) Stand tall with your feet hip width apart and your hands clasped together and held up at chest level with your elbows bent. Square your shoulders and lift your chest. (B) Bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor; don't allow your knees to move forward of your toes. Hold a moment at the bottom of the movement and then stand back up to the start, taking care not to lock your knees.

Essential Squat Update
Works your butt, front and back of thighs, inner thighs, outer thighs, calves. (A) Roll up a stretch mat and place it under the center of a step platform. Stand tall on the platform with your feet hip width apart and your hands clasped together and held up at chest level with your elbows bent. Square your shoulders and lift your chest. Work at maintaining both ends of the step balanced up off the floor. (B) Bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor all the while trying to maintain a balanced position on top of your step platform. Slowly stand back up to the start taking care not to lock your knees.