Grooming your feet is the kind of task that many of us put off or avoid until the last possible moment—i.e. the first sandal encounter of spring. Confronting callouses, cracked heels and sad, neglected toes is not exactly fun. But, with the right tools (and some patience), the process is surprisingly easy. Once you take care of the basic, non-complicated skincare steps—buffing, smoothing, softening—your feet actually do look remarkably refreshed. Polish is extra credit at that point.
With the help of Olive & June's 'The Poppy' grip, you can achieve a salon-worthy pedicure in the ... [+]
During the pandemic when there was no other option but to DIY, I embraced foot-care. Interestingly, a lot of the so-called “spa” pedicure steps are not essential: Soaking your feet in water, for example, makes your nails swell and subsequently shrink when dry, which can weaken your polish and create chips. Also, the pricier polishes don’t always come with the easiest-to-use brushes—avoid those with rounded bristles and long handles, which can be hard to control and lead to smudges. Lastly, if you’re tempted to blast your toes with a hairdryer to speed up the dry time, don’t do it: The hot air can melt your polish, creating indentations in the surface. A regular fan that blows cold air works, as does simply letting your toes air dry.
Here, the easiest (stress-free) ways to get your feet in shape for summer.
Don’t Scrub, Cut or File Your Callouses—Use This Foot Peel Instead
This cult-favorite Japanese mask peels all the dead skin off your feet—with deeply satisfying results. Simply slide your feet into the booties, which are coated in potent exfoliators, including lactic and glycolic acid (don’t worry, there’s no stinging), sit with them on for an hour, then remove and rinse your feet. At first, nothing happens. Five to seven days later, though, your skin starts to shed and flake (again, painless), which continues for a week (be prepared to wear socks during this time for everyone’s sake). It’s a little gross but incredibly effective, as the 35,000 Amazon reviewers can attest (many of whom posted “before” pictures of their dead skin—brace yourself).
Heal Cracked Heels with a Cream That Works Like None Other
This super-efficient cream is the sister to Hand Chemistry—which devotees rub on their faces since it works so well at firming and moisturizing skin. The foot formula is equally miraculous (but more of an insiders’ secret) and packed with marine mud, calendula and glycerin—think of it as La Mer for your feet, at a much more affordable price.
Keep Feet Pristine with a Toner at Night
Similar to a rejuvenating toner for your face, these newly launched pads come soaked in beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic and L-lactic acids) to clear away dead skin build-up and the dirt. Just swipe the pad over your feet at the end of the day (no need to rinse off.)
Clean Feet in the Shower with a Soft Bristled Brush
This brush is technically designed for full-body exfoliation but it’s especially perfect for cleaning your feet, with soft bristles that can get in between your toes. The handy strap makes it easy to grip in the shower and afterward you can hang it to dry. Handcrafted in oak and only produced in limited quantities, this relaxing brush is so popular that it often sells out (a backup: Bathing Culture’s Mini Face Brush also does the trick.)
Get a Cuticle Clipper with a Smaller Jaw
The advice to never cut your cuticles is only partially true—you should push back this skin gently with an orange stick—but you can snip the excess bits with cuticle clippers. Manicurists love this Tweezerman pick with a ¼ jaw, which is smaller than the traditional ½ but easier to control, so you don’t accidently massacre your cuticles.
Rethink the Traditional Nail Polish Remover
Unlike your typical nail polish bottle that you have to tip and pour from, this genius pick stays upright—just push your cotton pad down on the pump to saturate it with the non-toxic remover that also, conveniently, helps condition and prep your enamel for polish. As one reviewer put it, it’s the “coolest and best working nail polish remover out there.”
Make Every Polish Application Look Better with this Prep Set
If your color often goes on streaky and uneven, it’s likely due to your base coat. This one fills in the gaps and ridges in your nails so your polish is nearly impossible to mess up. To prolong the result, this companion glossy top coat somehow blurs imperfections, and if you brush a little extra on and under the free edge of your nail, it prevents chips.
Perfect Your Strokes with a Brush Hack
No standard nail polish brush can match this easy-to-grip option—just pop it on top of any Olive + June bottle (p.s. testers say it works with other brands, too) and you have a wide surface to hold onto, which gives you so much more dexterity. Save it for your manicures as well, since it makes painting with your non-dominant hand a breeze.
Set Yourself Up for Success with Expertly-Designed Polishes
Both of these polishes have brushes that are compact and easy to control. Essie’s Gel Couture is regular polish that mimics the long-lasting, chip-free effects of gel (and, importantly, can be easily taken off with ordinary remover.) JINsoon’s high-shine colors are sought out for their fashionable appeal and versatility of shades—the seasonal collections are consistently favored among manicurists and nail-art bloggers.
Prevent Smudges with Nail-Art Tools that Work for Toes, Too
The difference between a pro manicure and not-as-perfect DIY job is often the little smudges on your skin. Nail art aficionados swear by Magique’s latex solution, which dries like glue around the perimeter of your nails to catch the excess polish and act as a buffer. When you’re done, it peels off without removing your polish. Or dip the tip of Orly’s well-designed clean-up brush in remover dab over your slip-ups to make them disappear.
If You Can’t Fix It, Cover It Up
No one has perfect toes—especially if you’re even a casual runner or enjoy shoes that force your feet in unnatural positions. To quickly disguise bruised and banged-up toenails, consider realistic-looking faux options. These “nails” adhere easily (and stay put when subjected to chlorine and salt water) and can be filed and painted with polish.
