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Feet don’t get particularly good press and are often accordingly ignored when it comes to looking after ourselves. But while you can get away with jagged nails and cracked heels in winter when your tootsies are safely tucked up in boots and thick socks, there’s no place to hide in your summer sandals.
From the basics like a decent nail file and refreshing foot cream to the must-haves for a salon-worthy pedicure, we’ve put foot-care ranges to the test to find the best for doing it yourself at home. Girls – and boys – it’s time to give your feet some much needed R&R. After all, they do a very tiring job.
Click on the gallery to see the IndyBest buys
Show all 10 1 /10The 10 best pedicure products The 10 best pedicure products Elle Macpherson Heel Smoother A battery-powered machine with two speeds for your heels may sound scary, but it’s genius. With abrasive and buffing discs, it files away tough skin on your heels, toes and the balls of your feet without the tiring workout of a traditional foot file.
£19.99, argos.co.uk
The 10 best pedicure products Nails Inc Eaton Dry Skin Exfoliator This gentle, sugar-based exfoliator is great for smoothing out rough, dry skin and getting rid of dirt. Try putting the plug in while you have a shower for a while-you-wash feet soak before rubbing this into your soles and heels with a flannel or sponge.
£10, feelunique.com
The 10 best pedicure products Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover This loosens and breaks down the dead skin that builds up at the bottom of your nails. Leave it on for three to four minutes before gently pushing back the cuticles to make your pedicure much quicker and easier.
£6.45, boots.com
The 10 best pedicure products Leighton Denny Totally Groomed Kit If you’ve never done anything to your feet before except clip your nails (boys, we’re looking at you), this kit is a sound first buy. There’s a crystal nail file, which will last a lifetime, a hoof stick to push back cuticles, a buffer to smooth out ridges and create shine, and a few other treats, too.
£25, marksandspencer.com
The 10 best pedicure products Champneys Cracked Heel Balm If you spend all day on your feet but don’t have time to give them TLC, this thick, luxurious moisturiser is your one-product saviour. Try applying liberally before bed and sleeping in a pair of socks.
£8, champneys.com
The 10 best pedicure products Soigne nail polishes Soigné’s range of highly pigmented and non-streaky shades are a fail-safe place to start when choosing a polish. Plus, they’re formaldehyde-, toluene-, dibutyl phthalate- and camphor-free (read: contain much less nasties than most).
£11, soignenails.com, available from August
The 10 best pedicure products Butter London Nail Foundation This goes on like a nude pink nail polish, but dries matte and textured to help your colour to stay put. It’s also a great barrier between nail and polish, so that you can go as strong and dark as you like with colours without staining your nail beds.
£13, butterlondon.co.uk
The 10 best pedicure products Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter Massage this into your cuticles as the last step in your pedicure (after your nails are dry) or, if you’re short for time, rub into dry and flaky nails after a quick file and buff for a healthy shine. It works wonders for dry skin on knees, elbows and heels, too.
£6.50, lush.co.uk
The 10 best pedicure products Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat One of beauty’s best-kept secrets, this top coat goes on thick and glossy, smoothing out any dents or streaks, and dries with a gel-like shine. It also has UV protection to stop your colour fading in the sun and dries in under two minutes.
£8.36, beautybay.com
The 10 best pedicure products Mavala Refreshing Foot Gel Here’s a gel that delivers a dose of menthol freshness to cool hot and swollen feet and proves to be equally good for use after a long day in walking boots or an agonising night in heels. Try it between your toes where your flip-flops rub.
£11.50, lookfantastic.com
Verdict:
If you’ve been staunchly ignoring your feet since the year 2000, then Leighton Denny’s Totally Groomed Kit and Champneys’ Cracked Heel Balm are good foundational products to start with. But if you’re a fairly-regular toenail painter wanting to get a more professional finish at home, Seche Vite’s Dry Fast Top Coat is the best tenner you’ll ever spend.
Buy now:
1. Elle Macpherson Heel Smoother, £19.99
2. Nails Inc Eaton Dry Skin Exfoliator, £10
3. Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover, £6.45
4. Leighton Denny Totally Groomed Kit, £25
5. Champneys Cracked Heel Balm, £8
6. Soigne nail polishes, £11
7. Butter London Nail Foundation, £13
8. Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, £6.50
9. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, £8.36
10. Mavala Refreshing Foot Gel, £11.50
