Pedicure Tips For Summer

We all know that as soon as the flip-flops come out, the soles of our feet take a beating! Here are a few summertime tips to keep your feet looking fabulous in your sexy summer sandals, and extend the life of your pedicure to your next summer party!

Scrub-a-dub
Use a good abrasive scrub on your feet and legs to stimulate circulation and slough off any dead skin cells that tend to accumulate on the top of the feet and between the toes. Use an exfoliant infused with peppermint or eucalyptus essential oils; this will be ultra-stimulating for the legs and feet and leave you feeling refreshed. This will also help women who are prone to ingrown leg hairs.

Use good quality clippers
Use good quality clippers or nail scissors and cut toe nails straight across, then shape them using an extra-strong emery board to smooth away any jagged edges. Be careful not to dig into the corners, though, as this may cause ingrowing toe nails. When toe nails are wet, they are softer and easier to cut, but they are also more fragile and tear more easily.

Use a cuticle remover cream on the toe nails. Allow it to act for a minute or so and then push back the cuticles with a cloth or an orange stick. You can use the same cream on small areas of hard skin, too, as it will help eliminate the build up of dead cells.

Soak your feet in warm water
Soak your feet in warm water for ten minutes to help soften the hard skin, then use an exfoliating foot cream (thicker than a normal exfoliating cream).

Stay Polished
To maintain and prolong color, use a primer on the nails first. This step actually dehydrates the nail by bringing the natural oils out, making color grip longer. After applying color, add a top coat. Three days later, apply a top coat again to prevent color from chipping.

Smooth Things Over
Keep heels from cracking by massaging she a butter, light oil and/or Vaseline at night. Then, put socks on so the skin can absorb the formula even deeper overnight.