The Pedicure  

THE PREP

• Remove any polish.
• Cut nails straight across.
• File in one direction to a rounded shape.
• Be careful not to file the sides to avoid in-grown nail hell.
• Rub a buffer board over the surface of the nail to get rid of ridges and any discoloration.

SOAK AND SOFTEN

• Massage a little cuticle remover into the nail plate.
• Soak feet for 5-10 minutes
• Exfoliate or use a foot file on wet feet, gently buff hard-skinned areas until calluses soften.

NAILING THE LOOK

• Push cuticles back with an orange stick.
• Check for any hang or split nails.
• Wipe over the nail surface with a muslin cloth soaked in remover – this gets rid of any excess cream and the fabric is non fibrous, so won't leave any annoying cotton fluff behind.
• Apply a base coat.
• Follow with two layers of your favourite polish, leaving a few minutes in between each application. Spread from the middle outwards – once polish comes into contact with base coat, it spreads.

The Body Buff  

THE PREP

• Turn dry skin to dust with a natural bristle body brush.
• Brush upwards from your feet toward your heart. Use enough pressure to stimulate circulation but not so much as to cause pain.
• Brush in circles around the knees, at the top of your legs and around your inner thighs.
• Circle your brush over the abdominal wall, in the direction of your intestines.
• From the lower right side, move upwards, across the bellybutton, then down on the left side.
• Circle around your breast and brush upwards from your shoulder joint.

MASSAGE

• Stand in your bath or shower with the water switched off.
• Using scrubs on dry skin makes it more effective because it's not being diluted with water and it doesn't end up sliding down the plughole either.
• With a handful of scrub- start from the feet again, and massage the entire body in circular motions, paying attention to your driest areas, such as elbows, heels and knees.
• Carefully wash away all product in the shower.
• When finished, pat skin dry and layer on a yummy body lotion.
• Now your skin should be as buff as a baby's bottom.

The Manicure 

THE PREP

• Nails should be a uniform length, so trim down a little at a time. Do not use clippers as they'll break the nail.
• File nails in one direction only using the softest file. Avoid the stainless versions as they are tough on nails.
• Add a little cuticle remover cream and dip your finger tips into warm water for about five minutes. Remove, then thoroughly dry.
• Massage a little cuticle cream into each nail and the surrounding skin around.
• Wash hands with a gentle soap, nothing too highly perfumed, as it will dry out the skin and nails.
• Apply a little hand cream, avoiding the nail plate.

THE ART

• Always sit at the table.
• Make sure there is a good blob at the end of the nail varnish brush. Paint one line up the middle and then spread out to each side.
• If you get any polish on the skin, take it off immediately with an orange stick dipped in nail polish remover.
• Wait five minutes and add another coat.
• Wait 10 more minutes and add another coat. It will take over an hour for the varnish to settle and take over 24 hours for it to harden completely.

The Facial  

THE PREP

• Apply your cleanser in circular motions over entire face and neck.

THE DE-PUFF MASSAGE

Using the pads of your fingers, press and hold for five seconds in the following areas……

• Behind the ears, towards the collarbone.
• Centre of the forehead from brows to hairline.
• With three fingers under each eye and palms flat to the face, work towards the jaw line.
• Above the lip, moving outwards.
• Fan fingers and place under cheekbones.
• Use your thumbs to put pressure under the chin, move towards the jaw line and back towards the ears.

CLEAN AND CLEAR

• Soak a muslin cloth in hot water hold cloth onto the face, take a deep breath through the nose and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat three times until all make-up, traces of dirt, pollution and cleanser have been removed.

SOFT AND SUPPLE

• Rinse the muslin in cold water and press onto your face to close pores. If you have oily skin a mild cleanser should leave you hydrated enough, but very dry skin may need extra moisture.

Previous Articles

GET LIPPY

ARE EXTENSIONS FOR YOU?