Spring has sprung and before you know it, we’ll be getting ready for beach season. Get a head start on warm weather preparations by making sure your feet look fabulous for sandal season. They may have been trapped inside bulky boots and woolly socks for months, but it’s time to get your toes ready for their close-up. Follow our steps for soft, sexy, summer-ready feet.
Prep and soak
Start by removing any polish that you’re wearing on your toes. Next you’ll want to soak your feet to soften skin and nails. This will also be a nice treat for sore, tired feet – especially the ones that have been shoved into high heels all week. Prepare a small basin filled with warm water. Add a softening agent (bath oil or bath salts) or you can buy a foot soak which is formulated specifically to soften tired, rough feet.
Try Body Shop peppermint cooling foot soak ($16) which softens and revitalizes skin. Use a washcloth to thoroughly clean your feet.
Exfoliate
Use an exfoliating scrub to remove any rough patches that have accumulated over winter. For extra-rough spots (heels, balls of feet) use a pumice stone or foot file to gently smooth and buff the skin. Feet are often neglected when it comes to exfoliating, but like any other area of your body, old skin needs to be sloughed away to stimulate cell turnover and make way for newer, softer skin. And let’s face it, sexy, strappy sandals and rough, dry feet just don’t mix!
Try this homemade foot scrub.
Make it a mask
Who says masks are just for your face? Give feet the ultimate pre-summer pick-me-up with a revitalizing foot mask. Try Lush Volcano Foot Mask ($20.95), which exfoliates, softens, eliminates odor and refreshes tired skin. Simply apply the mask to clean, dry feet, relax for 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Trim and file
It’s easier to clip nails — especially toenails — when they’re damp. After soaking and exfoliating, clip your nails straight across, and then file the corners into rounded edges to smooth rough edges and prevent ingrown toenails, being sure to only file in one direction.Use a scrub brush to clean underneath the nails, and then gently buff them to prepare the nails for polish.
Get tips on giving yourself the perfect pedicure >>
Moisturize
Winter causes skin to dry out so by the time you’re ready to show off your feet in a stylish pair of sandals they’re going to need some serious post-winter hydration. Rather than just slapping some lotion on and calling it a day, this is also a good opportunity to massage feet and calves to further pamper tired, over-worked extremities. Try Carol’s Daughter Peppermint Foot Lotion ($12) to soften and nourish dry, cracked skin.
Now it’s time to polish your toes in a pretty shade of pink and show off your soft, summer-ready feet in a pair of sexy sandals!
More tips for fabulous feet
How to give a foot massage
Dos and don’ts for safe pedicures
Foot pain: How to deal with it
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