Summer can give skin a sun-kissed glow and locks a lovely
lightness. But it doesn’t do our feet any special favors. Athlete’s foot, dirty
nails, calloused heels, and yellow toenails are only a handful of a pile of
pedi problems.
Before summer comes to an end, take some time to treat your
tired feet—those trusty friends that take you from here to there to pretty much
everywhere. There’s no need to spend tons of money at a salon. Transform ugly
tootsies into sandal-ready beauties at home with this easy-said-easy-done spa
pedicure!
Step One:
Soak your feet for at least 15
minutes in warm water. Try adding 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into a pan of warm water.
Why Epsom salts? Epsom salts soothe foot aches, remove odors, and soften rough
skin. Find ‘em in any grocery store!
Step Two:
Dig out dirt with the pointed
end of a pedicure stick. Don’t use a toothpick! You might end up damaging the
tissue connecting the nail to the finger if you accidentally use the toothpick
on your nail bed. Ouch.
Step Three:
Buff away with a buffing block.
A buffing block helps remove yellow stains and smoothes out the nail surface.
Beware: This part can be a little ticklish!
Step Four:
Exfoliate feet with a foot
scrub. It’s easy to make your own with a mixture of olive oil and raw sugar.
For ladies looking for a luxe scrub in stores, try The Body Shop’s Peppermint
Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub. Not only does it smell like candy, but it cools as
it scrubs with peppermint and menthol! Ahhhhh.
The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub, $14,
thebodyshop-usa.com
Step Five:
Moisturize feet with a rich foot
cream, focusing your attention on the back of heels and around cuticles. We’ve
been la-la-loving Dermelect’s Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment. This stuff
works in a cinch!
Dermelect Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment, $25, dermstore.com
Step Six:
Trim and file nails straight
across to even out toenails. The toenails should be short to look fabulous.
However, don’t cut the corners of your nails as this can cause serious ingrown
nails (which eventually may need to be fixed with minor surgery!).
Step Seven:
Remove oils on the nails with a
nail polish remover. Afterwards, apply a base
coat to prevent toenails from yellowing before applying your favorite polish.
We recommend Essie’s Cute as a Button (because this color is truly cute as a button!) If you don’t like colorful pedis,
just put on a top coat for a kick of shine.
GL Trick: If
your polish turns matte after a day at the beach, apply a clear top coat to
make dulled colors shine like new!
Essie Cute as a Button, $8, walmart.com
Step Eight:
At the end of the day, give yourself a fantastic
foot rub with a golf or tennis ball. Rub the ball from your heels to
your toes. Then soak your feet in ice water for 15
minutes to bring down any swelling.
BY JANE CHA ON 7/12/2012 12:00:00 PM
POSTED IN body, skin problems, beauty, how to, tips, skin, nails, summer, best products, saver, pamper perfection