All-natural pedicure: follow these 6 steps and you'll have summer-ready toes and feet in no time
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WALKING BAREFOOT on the grass, running along the beach, wearing flip-flops--these carefree summer habits can take a toll on our feet, resulting in ragged cuticles, chipped nails, dry skin, and calluses.
Pampering tired tootsies at the nail salon is a summer ritual, but if time, money, and an aversion to chemicals have you reconsidering, try an at-home pedicure. Our routine is so easy you can do it anywhere.
remove polish
1 Wipe off old polish using a cotton pad soaked in an acetone-free, biodegradable polish remover, suggests Jane Park, founder of Julep Nail Parlor in Seattle, Wash.
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TRY (above, from left): PeaceKeeper Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover ($10; iama peacekeeper.com) is vegan and scented with rosemary and spearmint.
Essie Purifying Nail Polish Remover ($16; essieshop .com) is infused with vitamins, antioxidants, glycerin, and eucalyptus oil.
Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover ($6; suncoat products.com) has no strong fumes and won't dry out nails or cuticles.
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clip & shade
2 Cut nails with a clipper or nail scissors, then shape and round off rough edges with an emery board made from glass (which doesn't dull) or a renewable material like bamboo, says Kim D'Amato of Priti Organic Spa in New York City, which uses organic creams and scrubs and non-toxic polishes.
TRY (below, from left): Earth Therapeutics Toenail Clipper with Catcher ($6; earththerapeutics.net) catches clippings for easy disposal or composting.
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EcoTools Bamboo Nail Files ($3; ecotools.com) are made of bamboo and biodegrade easily.
Sephora Glass Nail File ($8; sephora .com) won't dull. Just run it under water to clean.
soak
3 Rest feet in a warm footbath filled with healing herbs and oils (for ideas, check out "Soak & Soothe" page 33) for ten to 15 minutes to soften calluses. Remove and pat dry.
TRY (below, from left): Carol's Daughter Rosemary and Sage Herbal Foot Bath ($9; carolsdaughter.com) combines herbs, salt, and orange peel for a relaxing and detoxifying soak.
FarmHouse Fresh Blueberry Powder Milk Bath ($28; farmhousefreshgoods.com) contains sweet almond oil and pure whole-milk powder, a natural exfoliant.
Thymes Essentials Foot Soak ($6; thymes.com) relaxes feet with Italian bergamot, lavender, rosemary, and jasmine extracts.
scrub
4 Rub a small amount of sea salt, sugar, or a prepared scrub in a circular motion on your lower legs, and the tops and bottoms of your feet. Rinse, then use a pumice stone or callus remover to gently scrub away hard skin.
TRY (below, from left): Avon Foot Works Green Tea & Mint Exfoliating Scrub ($4; avon.com) stimulates soles and smooths skin.
Liz Earle Foot Scrub ($20; us.lizearle.com) gently exfoliates with natural pumice and softens with avocado oil and wheat germ oil.
Gilden Tree Terra-Cotta Pumice Foot Scrubber ($9; gildentree.com) is durable and easy to clean. Made in Pakistan, a portion of its proceeds goes to help educate children there.
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hydrate
5 Apply a super moisturizing cream while giving yourself a mini-massage. Knead your arches, then gently draw a heart on the sole of your foot. Press down into the center of the heart with the middle knuckle of your index finger. This helps relax the foot and boost blood flow. Finish the massage by rubbing your thumb gently in a circular motion on each toe.
TRY (above, from left): Ahava Dermud Enriched Intensive Foot Cream ($26; ahavaus.com) is a soothing blend of Dead Sea mud, minerals, and plant extracts that eases red, itchy, and scaling skin.
Sarah Scott Vintage Recipes Natural Foot Cream ($22; sarahscottstore.com) nourishes with avocado and jojoba oils, shea and mango butters, and vitamin E.
Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream ($25; clarins .com) helps relieve fatigue and swelling, and encourages hydration. Ingredients like cashew nut oil, shea butter, arnica, thyme, and myrrh strengthen nails.
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SOAK & SOOTHE
Enhance your footbath with these treats:
* EPSOM SALTS relieve sore and aching muscles.
* DEAD SEA SALTS revive swollen feet.
* PEPPERMINT OIL invigorates tired toes.
* TEA TREE OIL helps fight fungal infections.
* LAVENDER OIL calms inflammed skin and eases fatigue.
* CITRUS ESSENTIAL OILS and a few crushed mint leaves refresh hot feet.
paint
6 Look for polish that's free of toxic chemicals like phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde. If you're prone to smudging, put toe separators or cotton balls between your toes. Before painting, swab underneath, alongside, and on top of your nails with polish remover to clean traces of oil and lotion, says Dana Caruso, founder of the Nail & Skin Care Institute.
TRY (above, from left): Zoya Professional Lacquers ($6; artofbeauty.com)
Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquers ($14; butter london.com)
Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Plus Nourishing Nail Color ($4.50; cvs.com)
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