How to Give Yourself a Luxurious Pedicure

Your feet are often overlooked. Not only can a pedicure make your feet more beautiful, it can also make your whole body feel better. Follow these steps for a luxurious pedicure.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fingernail polish remover
• cotton pads
• Belle's Footsie File
• Flat bottom pan
• Lotion
• Nail file
• Old toothbrush

1. Remove all polish from your toenails. Use cotton pads rather than cotton balls. Cotton balls leave fluff behind.

2. Cut and file your nails. Part of a pedicure is getting your nail shape right. Try to keep the shape fairly straight across your toes. File the edges smooth and take off the sharp corner.

3. Fill a flat bottomed pan with warm water. Add a squirt of moisturizing shower gel, a few drops of some essential oils or some bath salts. Add a quarter cup of milk to the water to help slough off dead skin. Put the pan on a towel in front of a comfy chair in case of spills. Turn the lights down low and light a candle. Have another fluffy towel handy for drying your feet.
   
   Soak your feet in the pedicure bath for at least 10 minutes. If you have a heated foot bath, the water will stay hot longer and you can leave your feet in longer.

4. Put a Belle's Footsie File in the pan of water. Push it firmly so the suctions stick to the bottom. Gently rub your softened feet against the abrasive pad on the Footsie File. Pay special attention to the backs of your heel and the side of your big toes.
   
   Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub cuticle skin away.

5. Remove your feet and gently pat dry. Massage in a thick cream lotion made especially for feet. If you aren't going to polsh your nails right away, massage a dab of olive oil into the cuticle of each nail. Use your favorite body lotion for your calves.
   
   If it feels really good, don't stop. Add more lotion and keep rubbing your feet. Pay attention to between your toes, the backs of your ankles and the arch of your feet.

6. Polish your nails and let dry at least 40 minutes. Stay put in that comfy chair.
   
   If you aren't going to polish your nails, this is the time to slip on some fuzzy socks to maintain the moisture of the lotion you applied during your pedicure.

7. Clean out the pan and rinse the Belle's Footsie File. Put all your pedicure supplies in the pan and stow it where you can get to it easily so that you can make a luxurious pedicure part of your weekly ritual.

[goodselfme]

on 3/18/2009 Great ideas. Pedicures always are a pick me up. 5*