Fancy Footwork
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Assuming that the weather behaves itself this summer (and I’m well aware that there is no guarantee of that in the UK), most of us will be revealing our feet to the world in an array of sandals and flip-flops over the coming months. And if you have been neglecting your tootsies, there’s still time to get them back into top condition before you present them to the world. Read on for my five-step plan to foot perfection…
1 – SOAK
The first – and most appealing – step is to prepare a warm footbath and relax for 10 minutes to soften the hard skin. You don’t need fancy equipment – I simply run warm water into a washing-up bowl, adding a few drops of essential oil depending on my mood. If I want to relax, it’s Tisserand Lavender Oil, £5.35, to refresh it’s Tisserand Peppermint Oil, £5.50, and to boost energy levels, it’s Tisserand Bergamot Oil, £7.85. These are pure essential oils, so you really do only need 2-3 drops. For a luxurious treat, I also love Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Sea Foam Foot Soak, £9.60, which fizzes as it dissolves and helps to soften skin with marine extracts of laminaria and algae.
2 – SCRUB
After 10 minutes in the tub, use a coarse scrub to smooth away rough skin, paying particular attention to heels. Any thick body scrub will do, but if you want to invest in something new, I’d recommend Crabtree & Evelyn’s La Source Warming Foot Smoother, £15.35, which combines Tahitian sands salts, and fine pumice to remove dead skin in a matter of minutes (if you’ve had a hard day on your feet, the warming formula also feels amazing!)
3 – MOISTURISE
After washing and drying feet, it’s time to give them an intensive shot of moisture! For feet, where the skin is thicker than the rest of our bodies, the thicker the formula, the more effective it will be at hydrating skin – look for ingredients like Shea Butter, Almond Oil, or Cocoa Butter, which will leave soles feeling silky smooth. I’m yet to find a product that is as effective as L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream, £18.50 – it’s thick, intensive, and a little goes a very long way.
4 – TIDY
If your nail cuticles are looking a little rough round the edges, it’s time to tidy them up – and Nailtiques Cuticle & Skin Gel, from £13.60, is the product for the job. Follow by cutting or clipping nails, taking care to cut across the nail (cutting curved sides will lead to ingrown toenails, which is not a good look for summer). Finish this stage by filing the edges to round them off.
5 – PAINT
The final step to foot perfection is to paint your nails. Start with a base coat, such as Dior Base Coat, £15.70, which strengthens nails and promotes growth, whilst protecting from discolouration. Follow with your chosen colour – and this summer, you can’t be more on trend than picking a bright coral (Dior Vernis Long-Wearing Nail Lacquer in Psychedelic Orange, £17.15) or an ocean blue (Dior Vernis Gloss Sorbet-Like Colour Glossy Nail Lacquer in Lagoon, £17.15). And finally, add a coat of glossy top-coat for shine and longevity – I love Dior Top Coat, £13.80.
Now treat yourself to an amazing new pair of sandals and show them off!