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This grapefruit-vodka foot treatment from the Tribeca-based natural nail spa sounds good enough to drink, but we suggest you whip up a second batch for your drinking pleasure.

1 gallon grapefruit juice (no pulp)
1 sliced grapefruit (pink or yellow)
2 limes (1 sliced in wheels, the other halved)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 shot glass of vodka

Pour 1/4 cup sugar into small bowl and place lime half on top.  Heat grapefruit juice on stove or in microwave until warm (not hot).  Pour heated juice into a large basin, add shot of vodka, and garnish with sliced grapefruit and lime. Soak feet for a few minutes.  Then, dip a lime half into the sugar and squeeze out a bit of the juice.  Use lime to gently apply sugar to feet in a circular motion to exfoliate rough skin.  Repeat with remaining sugar and the other lime half.  Rinse well.  Follow with foot lotion and polish.

Now that summer’s here it’s important to have [and keep] smooth and beautiful feet.  This is the season our feet get to shine.  I know– for most that’s wishful thinking, but here’s an easy at-home way to turn those feet from dull and dry to smooth and sexy.  These simple ingredients make the perfect at-home foot bath:

First, mix 1 cup lemon juice, a dash cinnamon (for smell), and 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large bowl.  Then, add 1/4 cup of milk, and water– mix well (the amount of water depends on how potent you’d like your wash, more water–less potent).  Soak your feet [or body] for 15 minutes.  This bath will leave the skin refreshed and fragrant.

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With summer around the corner, our feet need to be ready for strapy sandals and flip flops.  Athlete’s foot can be very painful and very annoying and it doesn’t look good in thongs!  As you may or may not know, it’s a fungal inflection of the epidermis (top layer of skin) of the foot.  Athlete’s foot usually occurs between the toes but in sever cases it does spread to the bottoms and sides of the foot, it commonly affects men more than women.  The infection causes the skin of the affected area to become dry, flakey and itchy.  Athlete’s foot can also cause blisters or cracked skin which lead to exposed raw tissue, pain and sever inflammation.  In order to prevent, or if you think you may have Athlete’s foot, here are some suggested treatments from Medical News Today:

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If you’re a cosmetic junkie, you own a fair share of nail polish, but the question you should ask yourself – are they safe?  Michelle at All Lacquered Up recently wrote a very informative article, The Big 3 (toxic chemical that is) in nail polish.  She paints a very clear picture of the chemicals in nail polish which have stirred some question.  She gives an honest perspective, and links to further information, allowing you to decide.  She says, "there has been a lot of talk about toxic chemicals in nail polish.  Established brands have changed their formulas to be free of these chemicals which raises a lot of questions.  What are they?  What do they do?  Why are they so bad?  Are polishes just as good without them?  Who makes polishes free of the Big 3?"  If you are interested in the answers to any of these questions check out this article.  Let me know what you think as a comment below.

Read entire article here

Does your salon disinfect the foot baths after every use?  Do you know how many other patrons use the same equipment?  A pedicure may seem relaxing and fun but the oozing boils that may result are not.  A dermatologist’s report shows salon pedicures can be, leg threatening.  The study shows 110 women developed severe boils all over their legs after salon pedicures.  The boils found on the legs of the pedicure victims were the result of a skin disease known as, mycobacterium furunculosis.  This disease can not be passed from person to person.  Rather, humans become infected through their environment and in this case, nail salon foot baths happen to the environmental breeding ground for this harmful bacteria.

You probably assume you’re safe because you go to an “up-scale” salon with “throne-like” pedicure chairs, but watch out, that makes you an accessible target for this hideous infection.  The throne-like chairs are the most difficult to clean, and portable foot baths are easier to clean in a sink.  If not cleaned properly, your legs (and other parts) run the risk of contracting this infectious disease.  When you’ve been waiting 20 minutes, it’s probably the last thing on your mind but make sure your foot bath is clean, or ask for a plain foot bath!

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Protecting your face from the sun is crucial but it’s not the only thing you should protect!  To keep you looking your best, make sure you apply sunscreen to the backs of your hands everyday.  The skin on our hands is very thin and delicate, it’s also one of the first places that show signs of aging.  It’s important to care for all of your skin, not just your face.

Keeping up with routine pedicures isn’t always easy, and wearing heels means seriously callused feet!  Made with women in mind, this sexy gadget will eliminate [basically sand off] all signs of wear and tear in seconds!

The Artemis Woman Heel Smoother Pro is a personal pedicure appliance that will smooth callused and dry skin on heels and toes in seconds, leaving them soft and sexy! The Heel Smoother is battery operated and allows you to control the pressure for safe use; it includes an extra tip and Topaz Foot Butter, a rich nourishing shea butter cream to be applied after use.  This is a quick and easy way to those feet ready for strapy sandal weather!

Complete product review via Beauty Brains

Heelsmoother.com    [ Via BeautyBrains.com ]