Get Sandal-Ready Feet
Katie Cleary
Photo Credit: Jordin Althaus/Wire Image
Q: How do I make my feet smoother and get rid of the dryness and calluses on and around my toes?
A: Follow these at-home pedicure tips from manicurists Mara Caskin and Tatiana Zarshevsky from the Avon Centre in New York to keep your feet looking great in your summer sandals.
1. Always start by removing old polish.
2. Soak feet in warm water with a foot soak containing vitamin A, E or D for at least five minutes to soften the skin. (Try: Avon Double Action Foot Soak.)
3. Clip nails with a toenail clipper.
4. File the nail in one direction on the top and a little bit on the sides with a nail file to make the edges smooth.
5. Using a foot file (Try: Avon Foot File or Creative Nail Design Spa Pedicure Callus Smoother), file in one direction to remove calluses. (Never use a foot razor. Making a mistake with a razor could cause an infection and damage to the skin. Files are easier and safer to use.) After filing feel the bottom of your feet to check for smoothness. You will still feel some of the callus but you should feel a difference. Do not over file, which would cause redness and irritation.
6. Using a foot cream (Try: Avon Peppermint Cream or The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Lotion), massage feet for one minute to increase circulation.
7. Apply a cuticle cream or oil (Try: Avon Cuticle Care Pen or Orly Cuticle Therapy Creme) to the cuticles and push them back with an orange stick covered with cotton.
8. Remove any excess cream from nails with remover or an antifungal spray.
9. Use a toe separator for easier polishing. Apply a base coat, then one to two coats of polish and a top coat. Fix mistakes with a corrector pen. Be sure to let nails dry thoroughly to avoid smudges.
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