DIY PERFECT PEDICURE

Summertime means sandals - and that means your toes are showing! Myjellybean.com helps you put your best foot forward this summer, with these tips for a pampering and beautifying at-home pedicure.

What You'll Need:

• A fluffy towel
• Your favorite CD
• Aromatherapeutic oil in any scent (available at beauty and health-food stores)
• Pumice stone (available at drugstores)
• Moisturizing body lotion
• Orange stick for cuticles (available at drugstores)
• Cuticle cream (available at drugstores)
• Nail clipper
• Nail polish remover
• Your favorite nail polish, any color
• Top coat

And Now for the Pedicure...

Step 1: Prepare your pedicure area.

Set up your stuff in the bathroom, or spread a towel on your bed or the floor (to prevent stains) and get comfy on some pillows. Gather all your stuff around you so you won't have to hop around on wet feet. Make sure you've got some uninterrupted time to yourself so you can take your time and really enjoy your home pedicure.

Step 2: Set the mood.

Put on some mellow or upbeat music (whatever tempo makes you feel happy), or turn on your favorite radio station. It's a day for taking time and pampering yourself, so make the atmosphere perfect! (Just remember, keep any radios or plugged-in items far away from water to prevent electric shock).

Step 3: Start fresh.

Use nail-polish remover to take off any existing polish you have on your toe nails.

Step 4: Prep for soaking.

Fill a small tub with warm water. Or just fill your bathtub 1/2 of the way and perch yourself on the edge. (Bring your stuff with you!)

Step 5: Scent it up.

Put a couple of drops of aromatherapeutic oil (like lavender, mmm!) in the warm water. Keep the bathroom door closed to keep the steam inside. You'll benefit doubly by inhaling the vapors and letting them absorb into your skin.

Step 6: Ahhhh, relax.

Soak your feet for at least 10 minutes, or longer if you'd like. There really isn't any hurry.

Step 7: Smooth moves.

Use a pumice stone to wear down that thick, dry skin on the bottom of your feet. After today, try to make a habit of using the pumice stone a little each day when you shower, and your feet will be smooth and silky in a week.

Step 8: Towel dry.

Thoroughly dry your feet with the fresh towel that you have handy.

Step 9: Rub a dub.

Massage body lotion into your feet one foot at a time, using your hands. Knead the soles of your feet with your thumb. Rub the balls of your feet in circular motions. Spread, bend and wiggle your toes all around. Use both hands to massage your ankles. Take your time, enjoying the way it feels. There's no hurry. Give those feet the royal treatment!

Step 10: Moisture infusion.

Spread cuticle oil or cream on your toe-nail cuticles (the skin the runs across the bottom of toe nails).

Step 11: Cuticle time.

With a wooden orange stick, gently push your cuticles back. It's always better to push your cuticles instead of cutting them. Be VERY gentle. A little is enough.

Step 12: Snippity snip.

With a nail clipper, clip your toenails straight across. Don't go too low, just take a little bit off the top of the nail. Then clip the corners to round off the sides.

Step 13: Prep toes for polish.

Wrap two tissues or long pieces of toilet paper into a rope and weave in and out of toes to keep them separated. (This is to keep toes from rubbing into each other while you are putting polish on.)

Step 14: Color up.

Apply two coats of nail polish. Be sure to let the polish dry completely after the first coat before applying the second.

Step 15: Final touch.

Apply a top coat to toe nails to make the polish last a long time.