It’s around this time of year, when the sun finally decides it really does exist, that we start to remember we once wore footwear that wasn’t boots – shocking, I know.
Now that the overly dramatic opening has set the scene, imagine this; the sun is out, those 50% off watermelon coloured sandals you bought on a whim are audibly moaning to be worn. You put them on, begin to marvel in how utterly summery you look when, bam, you notice the state of your feet.
Cracked heels, peeling skin around the nail bed, an all over greyish tinge normally reserved for those being stored in a morgue and soles harder than the sidewalk and you’ve got yourself some pretty scraggy looking tootsies.
I certainly did at least. I say did, because my now baby-soft feet barely remember their ‘winter life’, one of rejection and neglect.
Want to join me on the other side? Take these DIY pedicure steps for sandal-pretty feet:
1. I used Milky Foot ($29.95) as a pre-treatment soak about 5 days before my DIY pedicure. Milky Foot requires you to slip your feet into two plastic ‘shoes’ that have a wet fabric lining on the inside, for one hour. Promising an ‘intense peeling effect’ over the next week, I was slightly apprehensive about the strength of the exfoliating liquid in the shoe. The only thing I had to worry about though was the ticklish, squelchy feeling as I tried to hobble along in my liquid filled shoes – hilarious to watch. 5 days later and I had some light flaking, making it a great pre-treatment as it also softened all the hard skin around my heel, ready for soaking!
2. After filling a large dish with hot water and adding Op Therapy’s Foot Bliss Pedi Soak ($19.95) crystals, I prepared to relax. The aroma of the essential oils in the sea and mineral salt crystals was the perfect accompaniment to the sensation of the rubber massage balls that are included. My feet could have rolled along them in the hot water all night.
3. Dragging myself out of a relaxed stupor, I got to work with scrubbing away months of built up skin hidden inside those knee-length boots. First up was fun beauty brand Lush’s Stepping Stone Foot Scrub ($5.95), a refreshingly scented dissolvable brick. With just the right amount of ‘roughness’ it did its job before finally crumbling into the water, turning it into a bright blue bath. I soaked there for a few minutes longer, as the added jojoba oil continued to soften.
Remember to work up your legs as well, as I did with OP Therapy’s Summer Glow Pineapple and Papaya Sea Salt Scrub ($22.95). If this doesn’t get you excited for summer, I don’t know what will. Not only does the salt physically exfoliate, but the fruit enzymes in the pineapple and papaya extracts will too. The amazing scent made me feel like I was drinking cocktails on a tropical beach and the consistency of the scrub was perfect. Summer Glow is great for removing dodgy fake tan too, so take it right up to your knees (the culprit of many a bad tan).
In the sprit of all things beauty testing, I went over my hard-to-budge rough patches again with Endota Spa Organic Mimosa & Ginseng Body Polish ($42). All-organic ingredients, 100% recycled packaging and a 1% donation to the Bush Heritage Australia funds means your doing more than just exfoliating when you use this product. Ginseng’s job is to get your blow flow going and aloe vera and jojoba moisturised my scrubbed skin.
4. It’s time to replenish some moisture, first off with a generous helping of the luxurious Sodashi Mint Soother Foot Treatment ($63.60). Contained in their trademark sexy blue-black glass bottle, the all-natural Mint Soother Foot Treatment absorbed rapidly into my thirsty skin. The mint scent was quite subtle, which was to my liking and the formula cooling, which felt divine when massaged into tired calves.
As I did my DIY pedicure at night, I loaded on scoop after scoop of Lush’s Fair Trade Foot Lotion, ($25.95) which looks like melted pink marshmallow yet smells of spearmint, then put on some cotton socks for the night to intensify the effect. Lush not only has adorably fun products, but is dedicated to ethical practices, such as saying a big NO to palm oil and sourcing fair trade cocoa butter, just like in this Foot Lotion.
5. I woke up to feet that I would actually let someone look at for more than a second – it’s a miracle. Time to bring some attention to these babies with a bright, summery nail polish. Be on trend with a pale ‘Tiffany’ blue hue, thanks to the budget-friendly Australis Paint The Town range ($8.95) in Sky High, exclusive to Target. The new ‘monster brush’ is flat and wide; the perfect size for those big toes and girls in a rush. Who isn’t?
Or, for a shade that screams summer, you can’t go past the classic coral. Endota’s Nail Paint ($20) in Mornington is spot on. Ultra glossy yet free from formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, plus the added extra satisfaction of a 1% donation to the Australian Bush Heritage Fund. Winner.
Now, sit back and admire feet your watermelon sandals can be proud to enclose.
