How To Get Your Feet Summer-Ready
Top makeup artist Kim Brown shares her tips for getting your feet Summer-ready
Finally the sun is out and it’s time for your feet to come out too. It’s very nearly sandal season, which means it’s time to pay your feet some (probably) much-needed attention. After hiding away in socks and shoes all winter, here’s how to get them ready in a few simple steps.
STEP 1: START WITH A GOOD SOAK
Start with a 10-20 minute soak in some warm water with Epsom salts and a few drops of tea tree or peppermint essential oil. You can introduce a nice foot scrub here, but save tough, hard skin removal for when your skin is dry. After soaking, rub them gently with a cloth or flannel. Get in amongst your toes and make your skin feel energised and revitalised. My favourite products are…
Now it’s time for your nails. Start by paying attention to the length of your toenails. You can instantly make toenails look professionally groomed by filing nails straight across (this also prevents ingrown toenails). If it is necessary to trim first use a nipper or clipper. Trim straight across, then file. Crystal nail files are great as they’re hygienic and last forever. Plus, they also help to promote healthy growth of the nail.
Then push the cuticles back (I personally don’t believe in cutting them, but if you feel that it’s totally necessary, go to a professional for this.) Your skin should still be soft from your soak, so you can gently push back your cuticles in a circular motion using a cuticle pusher. You can find my favourite tools below.
Foot filing is the best way to rid your feet of dry skin. Always do this once the skin is dry. This insures the skin is removed effectively as wet skin can mask the areas to be treated and can also break the skin. These are my favourite foot files…
The fun bit! Colour totally transforms the look of our toenails. Simply apply a fresh coat of polish. Always use a base coat to protect nails from discolouration and to make the colour last longer. Brighter, lighter colours are great for summer (I personally love a classic red finish with a glossy top coat and cuticle oil for glowing skin). If you make a mistake while painting, apply nail varnish remover to a Q-tip to polish up the edges.
The best base coats
