Beauty Tips: How To Pamper Your Own Feet

If you do your nails, you should also put some work in on those toes. Pedicures do tend to last longer than manicures which make for a good return on your investment. However, if you enjoy those extra spa treatments where they use those special oils and lotions, you might want to try doing it at home. The purchase of a foot bath alone can save you many trips to the nail spa — and leave money in your pocket.
Bye bye old polish Remove all traces of old polish on your toe nails with nail polish remover.
• Relax and soak your feetFill a bowl with warm water and include any foot soak mix or bath salts. Let your feet soak for 5- 10 minutes.
• Get a scrubbingUse grainy exfoliants to slough off rough spots on your feet. For an inexpensive alternative, you can add some granulated sugar to your favorite thick moisturizer and use that a scrub. Wash off your feet and pat dry.
• Banish callusesIf you have calluses, use a diamond file to gently scrape the bottoms of your feet and toes in back-and-forth motion. Do not grate your feet like cheese--be gentle and don't file it raw!
• Nail shapingIf you just need a touch up, file your nails straight across in one direction with a glass file to even the shape. If a trim is needed, trim them straight across and smooththe edges with the file. To prevent ingrown nails, give them a bit of a round shape.
• MoisturizeUse a hydrating foot cream to massage the top and bottom of your feet. After your feet as nearly dry, apply a vitamin-rich cuticle oil on your toes to soften the skin around your nails. Use a wooden stick to gently push back your cuticles.
• Polish timeMake sure to get rid of the excess oils on your nails by swiping an acetone remover over them first. Apply a thin base coat, then two coats of nail polish followed by a top coat to seal in the color.
• Drying timeLet your toes dry for 15 minutes before attempting to wear open-toed shoes. If you're on the go, use quick-dry drops to speed up the process.
Beauty Tip:To quickly fix a polish mistake, wet your finger with some nail polish remover and lightly drag it over the polish to smooth it out. Wait 10 - 15 seconds before applying a top coat.