Do-It-Yourself Pedicure

Your feet are good to you - they carry you everywhere and support your body - and it’s time to return the favour. Help them look and feel incredible this summer by treating them to regular mini-makeovers. If you’re cringing at the thought of expensive spa bills, worry-not. Rexall’s new Beauty Expert, Elysa Panzica, reveals how you can get a fast, pampering pedicure at home.

Must-have tools and products
A few inexpensive essentials are required to get your feet in tip-top shape. Make sure you have them on hand before you begin your pedicure.

• Nail polish remover. Try Rexall Regular Nail Polish Remover with Conditioners.
• Cuticle pusher. Try Revlon Expert Nail Groomer.
• Nail file and buff. Try Rexall Six-Way Nail Buffer.
• Nail clippers. Try Rexall Nail Clippers.
• Cuticle oil. Try Sally Hansen Vitamin E Moisturizing Nail and Cuticle Oil.
• Pumice stone or micro-fine foot file. Try Rexall Pumice Stone with Handle.
• Moisturizer or foot cream. Try Sally Hansen Healing Foot Cream.
• Quick drying clear enamel and coloured polish. Try shades from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry line or Revlon Quick Dry Base and Top Coats.

TIP: Pick up a pedicure kit to save. A kit is a great way to get your pedicure essentials and it’s more affordable than buying your tools individually. Our favourites are Rexall Pedicure Kit, Revlon Pedi-Expert (great for very callused feet) and La Cross Pedi-Perfect.

Step 1: Use polish remover
Wipe your nails with remover to get rid of old lacquer and to sanitize your toes before you start working on them. “There’s alcohol in nail polish remover, so it helps clean the area,” says Panzica.

Step 2: Soak your feet
Fill a basin with warm water. Add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil or a scoop of Rexall Lavender Scented Epsom Salts to make the experience more relaxing. Panzica recommends keeping your tender tootsies in the footbath for at least five minutes to soften your cuticles.

Next, dry your feet by patting lightly with a plush towel. “Be sure that your cuticles are still soft and damp,” she says. “It can be very uncomfortable to push back dry cuticles.”

TIP: If you’re using the Revlon Pedi-Expert kit, skip soaking. Instead, spritz your toes with water to moisten your cuticles. Or try a cuticle softening product, such as Sally Hansen Quick Care Nail Treatment Pens.

Step 3: Work on your cuticles
Clean up your nail beds and make room for polish by giving your cuticles a delicate nudge with a cuticle pusher. “Where the skin meets the nail, gently push back, moving all the way around from one side of the nail to the other,” says Panzica.

Step 4: Clip, shape and buff your nails
If you’re nails are long, trim them with clippers to minimize the amount of free edge.

With a nail file, shape your toenails, making the tips straight and sides round. Be careful not to rub the file back and forth, as it causes trauma to the nail. “You want to go in one direction (left to right),” she says. “At the end of every stroke, quickly lift and go back to the beginning and start again.” Using this motion gives the surface of your nails a speedy buff to help even out ridges.

Then, rub cuticle oil into your toenails and cuticles. “It helps keep them soft, moisturized and nourished,” says Panzica.

Step 5: Tame calluses
Smooth out calluses or rough spots with a pumice stone or micro-fine foot file using left to right strokes, as you did in Step 4. Just don’t get overzealous and remove them completely, as they help to protect your tootsies. “If you remove too much, your feet can feel a little bit sensitive,” she says. As well, avoid exfoliating areas with cracks or cuts.

Next, massage with moisturizer. The one you use on your body will suffice, says Panzica, or you can try one specifically formulated for feet.

Step 6: Brush on polish
Put spacers between your toes to avoid smudging the polish. Fold a tissue into a triangle and twist and weave it between your toes. Then, slip on your flip-flops. “If there’s oil still on your nails, clean them off with nail polish remover (leave the product on your cuticles),” Panzica says. “Residual oil will make nail polish lift.”

And now it’s time for the polish: start with a thin layer of quick-drying, clear lacquer. This basecoat primes your nails by filling in ridges for a smooth, flawless finish. Apply two to four coats of coloured lacquer (the more you put on, the more intense the hue will be), waiting a minute or two between each layer. Complete the look with another application of clear lacquer.

While quick-drying polish sets in a minute, it’s still smart to limit movement and avoid footwear that may smudge or dent the lacquer for about an hour.

TIP: If enamel gets on your toes or cuticles, dip a cotton swab or cuticle pusher into polish remover and wipe it off, taking care not to touch your polished nails.