Pamper Your Own Feet

For the holidays, we're revisiting some of our favorite festive articles from the Beautylish archive. Enjoy!

I was on the bus the other morning and I saw a lovely woman in the cutest peep toe heels. Unfortunately, I also noticed her claw-like toe nails sticking out. I wouldn't say anything because I know I'm guilty of showing off my undone toes every so often, but Beauties, I saw toe lint. Toe lint! Now, if that isn't your cup of tea, we suggest heading to your nearest salon for a pedicure or if your schedule is too hectic and you barely have any me-time, here are our tips on how to pamper and beautify your feet in the comfort of your own home.

How To Pamper Your Own Feet

Bye bye old polish

Remove all traces of old polish on your toe nails with nail polish remover.

Relax and soak your feet

Fill a bowl with warm water and include any foot soak mix or bath salts. Let your feet soak for 5 - 10 minutes.

Get a scrubbing

Use 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 calluses

If 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 shaping

If 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 smooth the edges with the file. To prevent ingrown nails, give them a bit of a round shape.

Moisturize

Use 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 time

Make 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 time

Let 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.

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.

This article was originally published on March 31, 2011