With a little know-how and some fabulous products, you can get rid of dry feet in winter by giving yourself a pampering and easy-to-do, at-home pedicure.
Our beauty editor, Martinique Stevens’ favourite night-time indulgences are body scrubs, soaks and oils during the cold and dry winter months, to nourish and de-flake skin.
ALSO SEE: 6 Ways to make your hands look younger
Here’s how you can pamper your feet with her tips:
The best foot scrub
Freeman Lemon & Sage Foot Scrub, R82,95 for 150ml, leaves skin baby soft and buffed to perfection.
It’s ideal for softening hard heels and calluses with invigorating lemon and sage. What makes this scrub special is that it also contains texture and tone improving L-arginine- what’s not to love?
After you’ve exfoliated your tired toes, apply a moisturiser, then pop on socks before bed.
ALSO SEE: Pampering homemade body scrub recipes
The most effective callus remover
Just about the most addictive beauty tool ever, Scholl Velvet Smooth Pink Diamond Electronic Foot File, R199, works seamlessly to remove hard, callused skin on the balls of the feet and toes.
It also works wonders to smooth out dry, cracked heels.
Our favourite foot mask
Who said masks are just for the face? Skin Repubic Foot Repair Moisture Intense Foot Mask, R51,49, contains a soothing blend of plant extracts like shea butter, green tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint and gingko biloba, that help to revive tired feet and replenish lost moisture.
Put your feet up and relax for 20 minutes while the mask does its magic.
The best heel balm
Soylites Foot & Heel Balm, R145 for 125ml is great for keeping cuticles and heels soft and moisturised.
A tiny amount of this balm massaged in daily will help maintain the overall health of your feet, thanks to castor oil, peppermint and orange extract.
Gentle nail polish remover
When you remove old nail polish, opt for an acetone-free remover, as it isn’t as drying on nails, and won’t leave them with a yellow stain. This Sorbet Hydrate Nail Polish Remover, R46,99 for 250ml is super handy with its salon-style pump dispenser.
The best nail shaper
A curved emery board is so much easy to use on both fingers and toes. Go for a nail file with two granular variations, like this Essence Studio Nails Banana File, R29,95 to give your nails a polished shape.
Our favourite nail colour
Picking a colour at the nail salon is always the hardest part of any mani or pedi. When in doubt, I always end up going for a classic red hue, as it always looks great on toenails.
“Add a line of gold or silver along the tips to add a bit of glamour to a red nail,” says nail pro, Jenni Draper.
“Or even a nail jewel at the base of one or all of the nails. Or simply add a coat of glitter in the same colour as your polish.”
If you’re feeling fun and flirty, go for a bright poppy-coloured red, like Smith & Cult’s nail lacquer in the shade Kundalini Hustle, R383.
Or in a bit more of a sultry mood? Opt for a deep bordeaux-red like Smith & Cult’s nail lacquer in the shade Lovers Creep, also R383.
The long-wearing top coat
A sturdy, long-wearing top coat is all you need to give yourself a salon-grade pedi, and this Sally Hansen No Chip Top Coat, R89 does the trick!
