No time to go to a salon? No problem. Our
step-by-step DIY pedicure will get your feet fit for summer in a flash
We tend to take an ‘out of sight, out of
mind’ approach to our feet for most of the year. Then summer arrives and. all
of a sudden, the way our feet look becomes very- important indeed. Dry, cracked
heels and hard skin that have been hidden from view throughout winter are not
only unsightly but can also be uncomfortable. Luckily, with just a little carc
and attention and a few handy products, it’s easy to get your feet into
sandal-ready condition fast. A salon pedicure is a real treat if funds allow,
but doing your own at home is simple and can be just as effective. David
Barton, nail expert for Maybelline New York, shares his tips for how to do a
pedi like a pro.
David
Barton, nail expert for Maybelline New York, shares his tips for how to do a
pedi like a pro.
1. Remove old polish and clip your toenails. Then file straight across,
rather than into a rounded shape, to avoid ingrowing toenails, advises David.
An emery board is better than a solid metal or glass file, as it's more
flexible and so gentler on the nails.
2. Using a foot file, remove any hard skin. We surest The Body Shop
File A Foot, $6.7 (tbebodysbop.co.uk). David says, 'Doing this on dry feet will
help you to see the areas you need to focus on. When feet are wet, the skin
swells, so you can't see hard skin areas clearly'.
3. Soak your feet i n warm water for five minutes. For extra skin
-softening, add some Mavala Concentrated Foot Bath,$13 (beautybay.com), or use
a body scrub to remove any remaining dead skin. You could also add a few drops
of tea tree oil for its antibacterial effects, or lime or lemon juice to reduce
staining on your toenails.
4. Take your feet out of the water and dry them thorougly.
5. Gently push back the cuticles, which the water will have softened,
using your fingertips. Then use a nail buffer to polish your nails to a
naturally beautiful sheen. Buffing also helps to remove any discoloration. We
like The Body Shop Big Nail Shiner, $3 (thebodyshop.co.uk).
6. Massage in some moisturiser. Paying extra attention to areas that
are prone to dryness, such as the heels and balls of feet.
7. Wipe over the nails with polish remover to remove any oils that could
make your polish slip or go streaky.
8. For a long-lasting polish, David recommends applying a base coat and
two thin coats of colour, followed by a top coat. If you're using a dark
colour, two layers of base coat help to prevent staining. We like Orly Bonder
Rubbenzed Basecoat $7.5 for 5ml. which helps polish grip the nail surface, and
Orly Won't Chip Protective Polymer Topcoat, $14.8 (amazon.co.uk), which shields
against chipping for up to two weeks.
9. Once the polish is dry, put a drop of oil on each nail to finish off
the pedicure.The oil suffocates the polish and helps it to harden, 'says David.
We I suggest orange-scented. Orly Cuticle oil+, $16.4 (amazon.co.uk).
Feed your feet every day
Moisturize them
daily
If you do just one thing for your feet,
moisturise them daily. Either take your body lotion down to include your feet
or invest in a product with foot-specific benefits, such as Aveda Foot Relief,
$26.4 (aveda.co.uk). With herbs, plant oils and exfoliating fruit adds, it
softens and hydrates feet and, thanks to lavender and rosemary, naturally
deodorises them too. Also good is Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream, $30, which
contains arnica to perk up tired feet, shea butter and nut oil to smooth skin
and myrrh to boost nail condition. For dramatic results, apply cream liberally,
put on cotton socks and leave it on overnight. This will help to keep hard skin
at bay, especially those sandal-spoiling, dry, cracked heels.
Foot Notes
Tired,
swollen, achy feet?
Kick
off your shoes, lie down and raise your legs against a wall for five to 10
minutes to allow the fluid to drain away
Kick off your shoes, lie down and raise
your legs against a wall for five to 10 minutes to allow the fluid to drain
away. Or try a hot and cold foot soak Fill one bowl with warm water, another
with cold water and alternate between them a couple of times, allowing your
feet to soak in each for a few minutes.
Stressed?
For instant calm, try some DIV
reflexology. Based on the principle that certain areas of the feet, known as
reflex zones, correspond to other parts of the body, reflexology uses massage
to stimulate or relax these areas. Using firm pressure, massage your solar
plexus point, which is in your upper
foot at the inner edge of the ball of your big toe.
Shoe
shopping?
Shoe
shopping
During the day.your feet will swell. So if
you're trying on and buying shoes, do it in the afternoon to allow for this.
