You kept your toes pretty and polished all summer long, but once the sun sets on sandal season it’s only natural to let the pampering slide a little. That said; regardless of the month, no one wants to be walking around with hobbit feet. And if you’ve seen the latest fall colors, you know you won’t want to leave a single nail unpolished, so save your pennies for some new fall sweaters and DIY your pedicure this season. (Psst, did we mention our at-home pedi only takes 10 minutes?)

1 Minute: Hop into the Shower

This is when skin is at its softest, so it’s the perfect time to buff and scrub your feet.

2 Minutes: Exfoliate

Use your favorite gentle foot or body scrub to massage your feet, focusing on the heels and other dry, rough areas. You can also use a washcloth to bump up the exfoliation, or for maximum skin-sloughing use the new Clarisonic Pedi Sonic Foot Transformation. The Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head is made up of a combination of short stiff bristles and longer flexible fibers for optimum exfoliation.

1 Minute: Seal in Softness

Immediately after you hop out of the shower, towel off and use a softening balm to seal in surface moisture. Use something rich that also absorbs quickly. The Clarisonic Pedi-Balm Sonic Foot Softening Treatment is an excellent choice. We also love Kiehl’s Whipped Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter and L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream.

2 Minute: Clip and Shape Nails

Trim any nails that need trimming while they’re still soft from the shower and run a nail file across the edges to smooth uneven corners.

1 Minute: Base Coat

For the toes especially, a smoothing base coat is key. Skip buffing the nails and use a thicker base coat that will help conceal nail imperfections, like essie Ridge Filling Base Coat or Butter London Nail Foundation Flawless Base Coat, to create an even surface for polish application.

2-3 Minutes: Polish and Top Coat

Find a comfy chair and a flat surface nearby that you can perch your toes up against and polish away. Work pinky toe in to avoid smudging completed nails with your hand. Finish with a swipe of quick-dry top coat.

 

Do you DIY or go pro for your pedicures? Let us know in the comments.

Photos: Thinkstock