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Beauty: Putting your feet first

By Shereen Low30 July 2006

Scorching temperatures mean your feet are definitely in the spotlight this summer, whether you're at home or lying on a beach abroad.

"We take our feet for granted until summer sun prompts us to expose our toes in Ginas, Jimmy Choos, Birkenstocks and flip-flops," says Sam Pope from Origins.

"They carry the full burden of our weight across hundreds of miles year after year, and often on spindly heels. Despite the thickening of the skin on the soles of our feet, they are quite sensitive. Little and often goes further than the occasional blitz, so daily care is essential."

Dry, cracked soles and rough skin won't make the grade in sandals or flip-flops. Here's how to take good care of your feet.

DIY PEDICURE
Celebrity nail technician Andrea Fulerton, who has tended to the toes of Keira Knightley and Charlotte Church, says you need to get tough on hard feet to help them look their best.
"Exfoliate toughened winter feet using a wooden foot file. Always use on dry skin for faster and better results. The dead skin will appear as a chalk-like white and is far easier to see than with wet skin," she says.

After that, scrub rough skin away with Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Foot Smoother, £10.50 (020 7361 0499/www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk), The Sanctuary Foot Salt Scrub, £5.95 from Boots, Barielle Foot Restoration scrub, £15.95 (020 7636 0234/www.barielle.co.uk), or Dermaglow Miracle Pedicure Sea Salt Scrub, £16.85 (0800 328 7612/www.dermaglow.co.uk).
Cuticles can build up on toe nails due to lack of attention, so soften nails with a cuticle cream such as Lush's Lemony Flutter, £4.25 or 5.95 euros, before treating your feet to a foot mask, which can work wonders for extremely dry skin.

Scaly, cracked skin will, after a few minutes, become soft and strokeable once again, with Foot Heaven Relaxing Foot Mask, £3.29 at Superdrug. Alternatively, create your own at-home foot treatment.

"Apply an intensive foot moisturiser, wrap your feet in clingfilm and cover with a towel," Andrea suggests.

After five minutes, the dead, hard skin will be loosened. Plunge feet into a hot foot bath of Champneys Instantly Reviving Foot Soak, (pictured above), £6 from Sainsbury's, Origins Foot Rest Soothing Foot Soak, £16.50, or Feet Treats Raspberry and Arnica Revitalising Soak, 99p from Asda and Superdrug, to purify and cleanse, then push back the cuticle gently with an orange stick or the pad of your thumb.

"Never attempt to cut your cuticles. Leave this to an expert as removing too much skin can result in serious, painful problems," Andrea says.

Follow up afterwards with a luxurious cream to make your feet silky smooth, such as Nailtiques Avocado Foot Creme, £14.45 (01827 280 080), Compeed Cream For Extremely Dry and Cracked Skin, £4.49, or Aveda Foot Relief, £15.50 (0870 034 2380/www.aveda.com).

FEET TREATS
"Moisturise your feet daily. Keep a tube on your bedside table," says Sam.

Cool down tired, swollen feet with Nails Inc. Sloane Street Foot Cream, £8, containing peppermint, REN Revivo-Tonic Cool Comfort Leg and Foot Gel, £18 at House of Fraser, or Bastien Gonzalez Sensitive Feet Cream, £35 at Space NK (020 8740 2085/ www.spacenk.com).
Overnight treatments to work wonders on the toughest skin include Bliss Foot Patrol, (pictured above), £20 (0808 100 4151/ www.blisslondon.co.uk), Elle Macpherson Pedicure In A Jar, £9.95 at Boots, BeneFit Sandal Scandal, £27.50 (pictured left), and Boots' Gorgeous Feet Outstanding Overnight Rescue Moisturiser, £5.99.

PRETTY AS A PICTURE
Gorgeously painted nails can help disguise a multitude of sins, so give them a coat of polish and no one will notice a thing!

Vibrant orange hues are big for summer, so go tropical with Barry M's Tangerine varnish, £2.95 from Superdrug or www.barrym.com, Boots 17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Peach Schnapps, £2.79, Revlon Nail Enamel in One Perfect Coral, £6.29 or Leighton Denny Juicy Cool nail colour, £10 (0845 004 2053).

Demure girls may prefer pastel shades like Hard Candy Vintage Nail Polish in baby blue Sky and Pussy Kat (girly pink), £5, (pictured above), Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Colour in Princess Pink, £6.95, or Nails Inc's Wimbledon Final (shimmering pink), £8.50.

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 4:45 PM