Care For Your Hands and Feet

Pamper your hands and feet with these simple beauty aids.

The face may be the window to our soul and thus, deserving of all the special care that we lavish on it but our hands do a lot for us and those around us and our feet do the important task of carrying our weight to all places imaginable and sometimes, unimaginable. Considering that, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we don't always give them the kind of care and attention that they deserve. Anyway, it's still not too late to make amends. There are loads of things that you can do to pamper your hands and feet without going to a salon.

Taking care of your hands and nails

As far as your hands are concerned, taking care of your nails are a must. For starters, you can rub petroleum jelly, coconut oil or even castor oil on your nails and then buff with a soft cloth. That should render an amazing shine and look of health to them. Massaging them every two days will help those with soft nails that break easily.

Another way to harden soft nails would be to soak them in warm olive for 20 minutes every second day.

There's stuff you can do even during your regular chores. Making the dough for rotis? Don't just wash off the atta - just mix some milk and a drop or two of lemon and leave it on your hands for a few minutes. The kind of cleansing and softening this can do for your hands can be rather hard to beat by a lot of cosmetics.

To soften coarse and dry hands, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of sugar and water. Rinse hands after a minute or so. You can also mix 1/3 of a cup of glycerine and 2/3 of a cup of rosewater, mix them well in a bottle by shaking them. Store in a cool place and massage into your hands regularly.

For exfoliation, mix two tablespoons of oil (baby, safflower, vegetable, olive) with three tablespoons of sugar, preferably coarse. Make a paste out of it and gently rub it into your hands. Rinse with warm water.

For cuticle care, you can use a teaspoon of warmed olive oil or two drops of eucalyptus essential oil and a teaspoon of Jojoba oil and push back your cuticles and massage the oil into it.

Besides, always keep a moisturizer handy at work. Using some moisturizer once in a while is a good idea.

Foot care

For starters, while you are doing your washing chores, you can let the soap stay on your foot and brush it off once your chores are over. You could try the milk and atta (whole wheat flour) combination on your feet as well. Believe it or not, toothpaste is known to be great for cleaning and softening the feet. You can round off with a short massage with a cream or a moisturizer.

You can also mix half a bowl of water with half a bowl of lemon juice. Then gently dip paper towels into the mixture and apply to your feet. This should soften, smoothen and even help remove odors from your feet.

You can make your own foot lotion if you don't want to invest in any of the lotions available across the counter. You will require a tablespoon of almond oil, a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of of wheat germ oil and 12 drops of eucalyptus essential or fragrance oil. Mix all the ingredients well, store in a dark colored bottle and rub into your feet. Store it in a cool place.

Need some exfoliation for the hardened skin on your feet and soles? You could take some warm water; mix one of your favorite shampoos or that which you are trying very hard to finish off. Use a foot file to clean and soften the skin and finish off with a moisturizer. You could also use foot scrubs that are available in the market, for effective exfoliation.

Or else, you could make your own strawberry exfoliant. Mix eight strawberries with two tablespoons of olive oil (or sun flower oil) and a teaspoon of kosher salt. You could also add half a teaspoon of finely chopped almonds if you wish. Make a paste of all the ingredients but be careful not to over blend it. Or else the paste will not be very consistent since strawberries have a lot of water in them anyway. Massage it on to your feet, leave it on for a while and then wash off, preferably with warm water.

Hand and Foot Wash

Hand and Foot Wash

1/2 cup dried Lavender Flowers

1/2 cup finely chopped Fresh Sage

2 cups of water

8 drops of Lavender Oil 

In a saucepan, combine lavender flowers, sage and water. Simmer, covered, on low heat for 20 minutes. Strain mixture through cheesecloth and let cool. Discard the solids, retain the liquid. Add Lavender Oil, shake to emulsify, and then apply to hands and feet with a soft wash cloth or cotton pads. Repeat as necessary, or desired.  So refreshing in summer when your feet are hot, and in winter, when they've been cooped up in boots.

Natural ways to take care of your feet

Most of us take care of our face but the feet is the most ignored part of the body. In fact the legs bear the whole weight of the body. So we should include foot care in our daily routine. Here are some ways, we can take care of our feet naturally.
1.  Soak feet in a large basin or bowl to which warm water and mineral salt is added for about 10 minutes. You can even place pebbles in the large bowl and roll your feet back and forth giving slight pressure as it gives a massaging effect. Scrub using pumice stone to remove dead skin. Wash your feet well, then pat it dry and massage with a moisturizing cream.
You can even add juice of one lemon and a few neem leaves to the water as neem has antiseptic qualities.
Rose petals can be added to the water.
You can even add 2 drops of lavender essential oil to the water to have a spa effect at home.

2.  Natural remedy for treating cracked feet:
Wash your feet well and apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly at night and slip a pair of cotton socks and go to sleep. In a few weeks, your feet will become soft.
Mix lime juice, castor oil, rose water and apply it after cleaning your feet.
Olive oil can be applied regularly to have a soft feet.
Neem paste mixed with turmeric powder can be used to treat cracked feet, though it is very messy.
Lemon rind can be rubbed daily .Wash it off after 15 minutes.

3.  Walking is best exercise for your legs. Go for brisk walk at least 5 days a week.

4.  Another exercise for your feet: Hold your ankles with your hand and rotate clockwise and anticlockwise. Do this for both the legs.
Also rotate each toes with your fingers.
Bend the toes forward and backwards.
Point your toes downwards as far as possible then flex them as high as possible. Do this for both the legs.
Exercise will improve blood circulation to your feet.

5.  Hot (bearable) and cold treatment also improves blood circulation. Soak feet in hot water first, and then in cold water. Do this for 5-10 minutes. End with cold water .

6.  Avoid heels as far as possible.

7.  Buy good fitting shoes which is comfortable for you.

8.  Waxing your legs is a better option than shaving. But if you have to shave, use lot of moisturizer to avoid razor rashes.

9.  Take a few minutes to massage your legs with coconut oil or olive oil everyday before bath.

10. Natural Homemade scrub for lovely legs: Squeeze juice of one fresh lemon and mix it with a little sugar and scrub gently.

Pedicure Tips

Just like the hands need to be cured and cared for, the feet need it all the more. This is because the feet are all the more exposed to the dirt and grime of the ground, especially if one is used to wearing open-footwear like slippers and sandals. And according to experts from the medical field, maintaining clean and hygienic feet helps maintaining a healthy body. Another secret is all acupressure points of the body are situated on the sole, so along with a regular pedicure one can also give the self-acupressure.

Given here are at-home pedicure tips:

1. One first needs to remove the old nail polish with a nail polish remover. Avoiding using acetone, as it can be rather harsh on the nails. Also one needs to remove the nail polish using circular motions
2. After this the nails should be cut to the required length
3. Then the toenails need to be filed for smooth edges
4. The feet should then be dipped for ten minutes in warm soapy water
5. After ten minutes the feet should be removed from the water and dried with a soft towel
6. The cuticle remover should be used following the instructions. Then a cuticle clipper needs to be used in order to clip away the dead cuticles. This needs to be done gently
7. Using a foot scrubber or pumice stone one needs to gently scrub their feet so that all the dead skin is removed
8. Then dip the feet into the soapy water for five minutes
9. After this remove the feet and dry them with the towel. Then with a foot cream massage each foot, up to the knee for five to ten minutes, each
10. Finally, wipe the feet and apply a coat of nail polish, preferably just a topcoat

The Basics - Foot Care Tips

Let's make it short and sweet. These basic foot care tips are pretty easy to remember. Even easier to do. Best of all, your feet will love you for following them.

1. Wash your feet daily. Use lukewarm water, a mild soap or antibacterial soap. Rinse off all the soap and dry thoroughly. Make sure you get between the toes too! You can do this while bathing or sitting down. You may even try a long handled brush like a shower back brush.We don't recommend you sit on the edge of the bathtub. Be safe! You might also want to have a look at Foot Baths for some more ideas here.
2. Keep your toe nails trimmed. Make sure you trim your nails straight across and not too short. Don't go cutting or digging them into the corners either. That's just asking for trouble. Ingrown toe nails are really not fun. Trimming will be a lot easier too if you do this just after you've finished bathing or washing your feet.
3. Dry Skin? You can use a moisturizing lotion to help with this. This can be helpful in dry climates or different times of year that are drier than others. A small amount of generic lotion applied a few times a day can help you.
4. Inspect your feet regularly. You may want to get a friend to help you look at those 'harder to see' parts. Funny how there's more of those as we get a little more 'mature'! Let your health care professional know if any unusual signs persist. Catching them early is important.
5. No self treatment that includes trying to trim, shave or dissolve corns or calluses. See your doctor and get the proper remedies.
6. Wear clean socks. Change your socks or stockings daily. Make sure they are not too tight or too short. 
7. Wear shoes that fit! Seems so simple but just making sure of this makes a world of difference to your foot health. 
8. Walk daily!. Yup. Another really simple foot care tip. The mere act of walking gives your feet exercise. That exercise goes a real long way in keeping your feet healthy. 

• Bario Electric Callus Remover
• Miracle of Aloe Miracle Foot Repair Cream
• Burt's Bees Foot Care Kit

Make your Feet More Beautiful-Give yourself a Pedicure

You will need:

1. Nail paint remover
2. Some cotton balls
3. Warm water
4. Big Bowl in which you can soak your feet
5. Cuticle cream
6. Shampoo or Mild liquid soap
7. Nail cutter
8. Nail filer
9. Cuticle pusher(Orange Stick)
10. Cuticle cutter
11. Pumice stone (or foot scrubber, i personally prefer pumice stone )
12. Scrub (home made or any branded)
13. Pack to apply
14. Nail Paint, if u dont want to apply nail paint get a buffer to buff your nails
15. Moisturizer
16. 2 Small towels

Procedure

Dip cotton balls in nail paint remover and clean your nails properly. There should be no traces of nail paint on your nails.

Cut your nails and shape themto your desire.(many people cutand shape their nails after soaking them. But thats wrong, your nails become soft after dipping in water. I agree cutting becomes easy because of softness, but never shape them after a bath or after being in water for sometime, your nails will break like Hell.)

Take some cuticle cream and apply on your cuticles and massage gently for a minute or two.
Add some shampoo or liquid soap to warm water and dip your feet in water. Let them soak for 5-10 minutes.

Now push your cuticles back using an orange stick or cuticle pusher. If your cuticles still remain attached cut them with a cuticle cutter, but be careful with your cuticles. Do not injure yourself.
Using orange stick take out any dirt remaining in nails.

Take the pumice stone and rub the sole of foot properly, you can use foot scrubber instead of pumice stone.Now take small amount of scrub in your hands and apply the scrub on top of feet. Rub gently on your feet.Wash your feet and pat dry with towel.

Take the pack prepared (if your feet are tanned, use any pack mentioned specially for tan) and apply on top side of feet. Let the pack dry and wash off with water. Dry your feet with towel.

Apply nail paint or just buff your nails and voila, your feet look so beautiful.

Cracked Feet

Foot is the most neglected part of the body.Foot is also most important part of the body mostly womens can not take care of their feet ,sometimes womens care their face but did not care about hands & feet and the result is they are dry .
Dry cracked feet are due to lack of moisture. When the feet are not getting enough moisture, then cracks develop on the feet. If there is excessive dryness sit will lead to itching sensation and many times it starts bleeding as well.

There are many ways to avoid cracked feet:
1-You can apply hydrogenated oil after bathing the foot and then drying it fully.

2-You can also apply a pulp of a dry banana and then wash and dry the area properly.

3- You can avoid dry cracked feet if you can soak you feet in lemon juice regularly about twice a day and it also helps heal the cracked feet.

4-One of the easiest and most common ways is first soak the feet in water for about 10 minutes, dry it and on the cracked surfaces put moisturizing cream and then let it dry,You can do this for around 10 days and the result will be fine feet in front of you. Especially during cold weather you should do it as it dries the skin and feet are the first part of the body that are affected by dry skin


To keep your feel perfectly..
Those who have very dry skin and their feet get cracked very easily should take some tough measures to keep the feet smooth and fine. One such method is to liquefy paraffin wax and then mix it with little amount of mustard oil, put it on the cracked surface and then wash it off later in the day. If this process is repeated for 10 to 15 days it, you will find your feet soft and smooth. Proper nutrition and diet is also necessary to keep your feet in perfect condition.