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Get pedi-perfect: 8 easy steps to a midsummer foot rescue


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! 

Trim Buffing Block, $4, drugstore.com

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.

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by Jane Cha | 2/1/2016
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