Beautiful feet - how to have young feet for summer holidays 2012

Ladies, how are your feet? Do you have celebrity feet or are you fet just the pits? Time to book vacations in the sun and you better be ready to show off your tootsies!

Here's how to get those beach feet starting with a pedicure, a foot massage and a foot health check because healthy feet are happy feet, So wy don't you just step into pretty feet? Get out the strappy sandals, pamper your pedal extremities and make sure that your feet are beach feet this summer.

Read more .... Everything you wanted to know about feet and shoes

Here's how you get those beautiful feet in seven easy steps:

1. Appraise: what state are your feet in now?
2. Diagnose: are your feet in good health?
3. Soften and smooth
4. Cleanse and Moisurise
5. Tidy those toe nails
6. Varnish and decorate
7. Sock, stocking and shoe

You will need some or all of the following

• Acetone
• Cotton wool
• Foot bath, foot spa or basin
• Towels
• Moisturiser
• Pumice stone or foot file
• Paper towels or toe separaters
• Scented oils
• Toenail clippers
• Nail file
• Buffer
• Cuticle cream
• Cuticle remover
• Cuticle pusher or orange stick
• Nail polish
• Orangewood sticks

Appraisal. Are they in good shape right now. What do you need to do before you can bare all on the beach?

Are your feet in good health?

• Do you have fungal infections in between your toes, (athlete's foot)
• Do you have fungal infections in the nails (which will appear yellow and rough)?
• Do you have plantar warts, (verrucas)?

If the answer to these questions is yes, you should see your doctor who will be able to prescribe medication that will quickly, easily and efficiently deal with the problem. And remember that all three of these conditions are highly contagious, and you risk passing them onto those around you.

• Do you have a lot of thickened, hard skin?
• Do you have corns?
• Do you have bunions?

If you answer yes to any of these then see your podiatrist (chiropodist) who will be able to help.

Steps to silky smooth feet

• Remove any old enamel from your toenails with cotton wool and enamel remover
• Fill a bowl or foot spa with warm water and soak your feet well, at least ten minutes
• Gently pat dry
• Remove the hard skin using the following:

1. If you have a little hard skin, then a hard skin removing cream will be sufficient. Apply the cream and gently massage into the affected areas.
2. If you need more friction, a pumice stone will do
3. If you have a lot of hard skin, use a foot file to gently remove the hard skin from the toes, the ball of the foot and the heels.
4. Then follow up with the cream or stone to smooth the skin

• Add some aromatic oil to the water and soak again. Dry carefully, taking care to dry between the toes

Note: Some people advise that you use the foot file on hard skin while your feet are dry. I don't find this very effective but try filing before soaking the feet and see if it works for you.

The next step is to moisturise those beautiful feets! Young feet are soft and supple so to keep yours young apply a good moisturiser all over your foot and ankle take the time to gently rub it in.

Why not treat yourself to a relaxing foot massage?

• Use your nail clippers to cut your nails, but make sure that you cut straight across to avoid ingrowing toe nails.
• File your toenails to take off any rough edges.
• Put cuticle cream on each toe nail, massage it into the cuticles in circular movements
• Re-soak your feet for a couple of minutes.
• Using a tipped orange stick apply cuticle remover to the cuticles.
• Gently lift and push back the cuticle with an orange stick. This must be done with care or the nail bed could be damaged.
• Buff the nails gently.
• Re-soak again and then dry thoroughly.

Apply your base coat and wait for it to dry. Then apply two coats of your chosen nail polish. Don't forget the topcoat for coloured enamels which will protect the varnish and it will last much longer.

Messy varnish is worse than no varnish so use your orange stick and enamel remover to remove all traces of varnish left on the skin to make a really neat job.

Use clear varnish for a healthy, natural look, or match the colour of your shoes.

• Wear cotton socks to absorb moisture from your feet.
• Buy correct fitting shoes making sure there is enough space to spread out your toes
• Save high heels for special occasions
• Alternate your footwear. If possible wear shoes that will let your feet breath - either a sandal or leather shoes.

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