Like opening your windows to a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day, slipping on a pair of sandals is like air-conditioning for your feet! When the weather heats up, the sunshine appears and closed-toe shoes aren’t an option, make sure you’re ready by making sure your feet are primped to perfection.
If winter has left your feet in rough shape try these pedi tips:
- Soften dry, cracked skin by applying a quality heel balm or rich foot cream regularly or for a spa-worthy trick, slather rich moisturiser on your feet each night before popping on some cotton socks and hitting the hay. In the morning any hard skin can be tackled by exfoliating with a pumice stone, body brush or foot scrub in the shower.
- Set up a warm bowl of water and soak your feet for a few minutes. Remove one foot at a time and use a sugar scrub to exfoliate and massage skin, concentrating on dry heels. Rinse in the bowl and rest on a towel before using a pumice stone or foot file to give feet an extra going-over to remove hard skin.
- Take all the effort out by investing in an electric foot file like the Velvet Smooth Express Pedi from Scholl.
L-R: Natio Spa Foot Care Set, Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi, Revlon Ultra HD Snap Nail Polish in She’s on Fire, Skin Republic Pedi Peel Max - If things are really dire, try a dedicated foot peel. The single use products involve popping on a thin disposable pair of acid-solution-soaked booties for an hour with your feet up. The acids—usually glycolic, lactic, and/or salicylic—get to work dissolving dead skin, which then sloughs off over the coming days. You’ll need to try this one at least a week before planning to bare your feet though, or risk a flaky trail in your wake. Ensure you follow up with a good nourishing moisturiser in the weeks after you undertake the peel.
- Clip, file and use a manicure buffer to smooth nail beds out, making sure not to trim too short or risk ingrown toenails.
- Apply toe separators and carefully apply polish, stroking colour first down the centre of the nail, then one swipe each side. After two coats, apply a topcoat for long lasting shine. Try a hard-wearing polish and finish with an ultra-glossy top coat
- Make the most of those sandals by choosing a punchy coral, classic red, milky pale pink or subtle nude shade.
