beauty
words by Gemma Elwin Harris
steps for spring
If your feet have been neglected through winter, ’tis the season to get them pretty for the beach. Treat yourself to a luxury home pedicure by following these simple steps…
Firstly, remove any nail varnish using a non-acetone remover (acetone dries and damages nails and skin) and give rough areas a light scrub while your feet are still dry.Champneys’ foot file [1] is easier to grip than a pumice stone and has a handy nail file hidden inside the handle. Take on tough spots with Nails Inc’s girlie-pink sugar crystal exfoliator [2]. Next, soak your feet in warm water, gently cleaning under the nails. Tracy Stern, of the high-end tea salons, sells a blissful vanilla tea soak with ginseng, hibiscus and rose petals in her new beauty line [3].
Lastly, pat your feet dry and finish by softening the skin with a deep moisturiser. Lush’s minty lotion [4] softens with arnica, almond oil and cocoa butter, or try Philosophy’s Soul Owner [5] with eucalyptus oil, a natural exfoliator. For tired city feet, Aveda’s relaxing Foot Relief cream with jojoba and lavender [6] is particularly good. The ultimate weekly softening treatment, though, comes from New York spa, Bliss [7]. Slather on the eucalyptus oil salve then pull on socks lined with polymer gel and relax for 20 minutes while soles turn butter-soft. No time for a full pedi? Give tired legs and feet a quick lift with a cooling chamomile spritz of Champneys Foot Reviver [8].
1. Champneys Soft-Touch Smoothing Foot File
€16.75, www.champneys.com
2. Nails Inc Eaton Exfoliator €16, www.nailsinc.com
3. Tracy Stern The Society Hostess Foot Tea Duo Pack
€26, www.tracystern.com
4. Lush Fair Trade Foot Lotion €12.75, www.lush.com
5. Philosophy Soul Owner Exfoliating Foot Cream
£14 (approx. €18.80), www.philosophy.com
6. Aveda Foot Relief €24.50, www.aveda.com
7. Bliss Softening Sock Salve and Socks
Salve €25, socks, €50, www.blissworld.com
8. Champneys Crackling Foot Reviver Gel
€8.05, www.champneys.com
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