After weeks in sandals, my feet were desperate for some TLC by April. I keep them in shape all winter with regular filing and moisturizing, but sometimes a salon visit is necessary—especially if I’ve been neglecting them.
For the best results, ask your pedicurist to use an e-file (a gentle rotating tool) on rough heels, dry cuticles, and calloused toes. I swear by this—it makes a huge difference, and the smoothness lasts much longer than with manual filing alone.
Between salon visits, I use Boots’ Hard Skin Remover (£3.59) with soap during my weekly bath, followed by Glowxie’s Glass Foot File (£16.95) for dry filing. I skip at-home electric tools—they’re nowhere near as effective and just end up being a waste of money.
I tidy up any rough cuticles around my toes (never on the nail bed) with Tweezerman’s Cuticle Nipper (£30), then apply whatever oil I have on hand—cuticle oil or even kitchen staples like avocado oil work just fine.
When it comes to summer nail colors, pastels aren’t for me—they feel too bridal and washed out against my skin (pale shades make my fingers look like slices of mortadella). Sarah Jessica Parker gets it—she’s been rocking bold shades like black, burgundy, and emerald green this summer, and she looks incredible.
I’ve been loving navy, blood red, and murky green, often mixing up my manicure and pedicure. The real showstopper? Bio Sculpture’s Thornbird (£15.50), a deep khaki green that got me more compliments than any other shade. I loved it so much, I reapplied it a month later for my pedicure.
To keep my feet soft in sandals and flip-flops, I sleep in gel heel socks (£6.99 for three pairs) a few nights a week. A dab of body cream before bed, and I wake up with pillow-soft feet—just maybe skip them on date night.
