Studio 5 Beauty and Style Contributor Holly Stone is also here with some of the best brands to try.
SUMMER-IZING WINTER FEET
The weather is getting warmer and now it’s time to take off the snow boots, sneakers and wool socks and slip your feet into a sexy, strappy pair of sandals. If the thought of showing off your toes is horrifying to you because your feet haven’t seen daylight in 6 months, don’t crawl into a hole. Those white cracks and thick, ugly calluses will be a thing of your wintery past. Here are some steps to get them back into shape.
Steps for a basic pedicure
1. Remove any old nail polish thoroughly.
2. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Add Epsom salts or any other commercial foot soak.
3. Clip your toenails straight across using a toenail clipper or scissors. Clipping straight across will help prevent ingrown toenails.
4. File the toenails to smooth any rough edges.
5. Push back your cuticles. Use a cuticle moisturizer if they do not push back easily after soaking.
6. Massage your feet with a moisturizing lotion. Use an exfoliating lotion if the skin is dry and/or roughened. Use a loofah or pumice stone on roughened areas. If you have an extra 10 minutes, cover feet with Vaseline and wrap with plastic wrap. Get a heating pad and set feet on top for a few minutes. Unwrap and wipe dry.
7. Separate your toes. Put cotton between your toes, or use a ready-made device for pedicures.
8. Apply a base coat and give it time to dry.
9. Apply polish, cleaning up any stray marks with a cotton swab dipped in polish remover. Add a second coat for deeper color.
10. Complete the pedicure with a top coat of clear polish. Add sass with a toe ring. (to buy great toe rings, try footcandy.com, toerings.com or Target)
FABULOUS FOOT SOAK
Fill your foot spa with comfortably warm water. Add 1/2 Cup Epsom Salts & 1/4 Cup Borax (yes, Borax!) You may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, such as sandalwood, chamomile, lavendar, or peppermint. For a truly exotic soak, float some fresh cut flower heads in the water!
What’s up with the Borax? Isn’t that for laundry?
Well, yes .BUT its ingredient (Sodium Tetraborate) is a 100% natural mineral that is found in evaporated lake beds in the Tibetan area of China, as well as Samoa and the American Southwest. Many women are surprised to learn that this mineral is a prime ingredient in many makeup and lotions! That is because cosmetic makers have long known of its softening properties when mixed with water. It truly makes your spa water feel like silk! As an added bonus, the natural cleansing ability of Borax will reach into the depths of your pores and leave your feet not only soft, but totally clean as well! The Epsom Salts simply enhance the soak.
FABULOUS FOOT SCRUB
1-2 cups Kosher salt (available at your grocery store)
2-3 squirts of baby oil
2-3 squirts baby bath or moisturizing liquid body soap
Mix together!
Soak feet in tub or, while still in the shower, apply a handful of scrub to each foot. Massage lightly, paying close attention to heels, toes, top of feet and cuticles. Let it soak in for several minutes before rinsing.
SELECTING A NAIL POLISH
The color of polish to wear this season is PURPLE.
Things to look for:
1) Quick drying
2) Long wearing (no chip)
3) Even consistency
4) Stays true to color (doesn’t stain nails)
5) Great selection of color
Tip: To keep your nail polish lid from sticking, rub it with a little Vaseline.
Top Three Nail Polishes
• Maybelline Express Finish
Dries in 60 seconds!
• Sally Hansen Diamond Strength
Won’t chip, stays true to color.
• OPI
Great selection of colors, even consistency, great shine.
Acetone vs. Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover
Non-acetone remover is best for acrylic nails because it doesn’t soften and break down the acrylic. General rule of thumb is that non-acetone nail polish removers should be used for regular polish removal from nails.
Removers with acetone work extremely well and quickly, but they make your nails dry. If you have dry or brittle nails, acetone is very bad for them. However, acetone nail polish removers do an excellent job of removing the toughest kinds of polish. For example, nail polish that contains glitter can be extremely difficult to remove, so remover with acetone is ideal in this case.
Best Summer Colors
Red: OPI/OPI Red
Pink: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength: 42 Pink Bouquet
Purple: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength: 22 Forever Lilac
Neutral: Maybelline Express Finish: 215 Spiced Latte
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