Sandal season is officially here, and it means that it’s time to get your feet looking beautiful, pampered and polished. While I often stop by at the nail salon to get my pedicures done, there are so many new products out there that getting your at home pedicure is easier than ever. In case you need some foot care tips, I put together a list of tips and tricks that I use while doing my at-home pedicure.
Exfoliate Your Feet Weekly
Similar to skincare, proper exfoliation is essential for keeping your feet look and feel smooth. By scrubbing and massaging your feet with an exfoliant, you remove the dry skin cells build-up and prepare your feet for moisturizing.
While there are many scrubs dedicated to the feet area, there is no need to spend a fortune on these products. In my opinion, body scrubs work not worse than foot scrubs. The key here is consistency.
Personally, I have a two-days a week in-depth beauty routine (Wednesdays and Sundays) where I do all of my favorite treatments such as facial masks and peels. I make sure to dedicate one of those days for exfoliating my body and feet. While such routine takes just a few minutes per week, it does make a difference to the way the skin on my feet looks.
Recommended Products
This body scrub features a thick, oily consistency. And smells divine! This body polish exfoliates and hydrates your skin at the same time. You don’t need to apply lotion after that.
For a deeper calluses removal treatment, try this 60-minute treatment. Be prepared though that your feet will be peeling for a few days after using the treatment.
Use Hydrating Foot Masks
After exfoliating my feet, I love to put on a foot mask instead of applying a cream. I don’t like wearing slippers or socks at home, so it’s torture for me to sit with my feet up for 10 minutes waiting when my foot cream absorbs into the skin.
Instead, I prefer using feet masks that come in the shape of plastic socks. It’s a double-layered product that deeply hydrates your skin and also prevents you from rubbing your feet and waiting for when the cream is absorbed.
In my experience, foot masks hydrate and nourish your skin on a completely different level. I noticed that if I use a foot mask weekly, I don’t need to apply a foot cream throughout the week which is a major time-saver.
Recommended Products
Karuna Exfoliating + Foot Mask
This high-end feet mask gently exfoliates and hydrates your feet (no peeling though).
This more affordable foot mask features a minty, refreshing scent and deeply nourishes your feet.
DIY Foot Mask Recipe
1. apply a thick layer of body butter.
2. wrap your feet with a plastic wrap.
3. put socks on and leave for a few hours.
Keep a Pumice Stone in Your Shower
That’s a tip I wish I used more often myself. While I do not mind exfoliating my feet weekly, I often forget about rubbing it with a pumice stone… it just feels too ticklish for me!
One of the reasons I prefer doing a pedicure at home is because I just can’t stand other people tickling me in public. I make weird faces and creepy laughs. I feel awkward when my pedicurist is making jokes about my inability to handle the tickle!
Saying so, I lately picked this pumice stone on Amazon that features a bit less textured surface, so it doesn’t feel that ticklish while I remove dead skin from my feet with it. Perhaps, give it a try if you are experiencing the same ticklish situation as me.
Recommended Products
Tweezerman Step-Two-It Foot File
This is a double-sided pumice stone with a handle. It’s convenient to store and use.
If you are looking for a more automated tool, this best-selling electric file is the way to go.
Extra Tip
I love using a salicylic acid-based face wash while rubbing my feet with a pumice stone. That way I ensure that there is no gross bacteria build up on the pumice stone as salicylic acid has fungicidal properties to it.
Incorporate Bath Salts Into Your Feet Routine
If you are a runner or just regularly workout at the gym, this tip is for you. Usually, my feet feel super tired after a workout, especially when I do biking exercises. It also doesn’t help that I wear heels every single day.
When I feel that my feet are sore and tired, I make sure to take a salt bath for my feet only. Depending on the cause of tiredness, I will add Ultra Epsom Salt (after a workout). Or lavender-scented bath salt (relaxing after a full day of wearing high heels) to it. I try keeping the water temperature not too hot, so it doesn’t make my skin overly dry.
I also make sure to apply rich foot cream and a cuticle oil after the bath to keep my skin and nails hydrated.
Recommended Products
Bath salts by Kneipp are the industry’s standard. Their formulas that are super relaxing and high quality.
Sky Organics bath bombs made out of all-natural oils and essential oils. These smell so delightful!
Extra Tip
Add a few drops of Shea Moisture Argan Oil to your foot bath to ensure additional hydration.
Pick Your Nail Polish Wisely
This tip is more of a fashion-related. While it’s essential to use high-quality nail polish and never skip a base coat. It’s not less important to think about the shade of a nail polish you are choosing.
Personally, I’m a bit OCD about having my pedicure match my shoes. Usually, I’ll go for either barely-there shades (Essie Vanity Fairest and Go Go Geisha are my go-to). or a navy undertone black (Essie After School Blazer is my all-time favorite).
By picking a muted black and white palette for my pedicures, I ensure that the majority of my shoes will be a perfect match.
Recommended Products
This new line of gel-style nail polishes offers salon-style coverage. Also, they have so many cure shades.
If you are looking for a clean beauty nail polish brand, consider Sundays. The shade L01 is my go-to shade.
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These were my at home pedicure tips to use while getting ready for the sandal season. I hope you were able to find some of them helpful and learned a few new tricks on making your pedicures at home. Please let me know in the comments if you use any of these tips and feel free to share yours.
