Soothe Your Soles: Feet-Pampering Tips

Pedicure How-Tos

You run every morning but don't want your feet to show it. Soften tired tootsies with these pampering moves for active girls from Robbie Schaeffer of Rob/B Salon, an OPI concept salon in Studio City, California.

Step 1: Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water and a capful of sea salts, a natural muscle relaxer. Or try Burt's Bees Therapeutic Bath Crystals ($9.99, target.com). Soak your feet for five minutes to reduce swelling.

Step 2: Cut toenails straight across, then round the pointy edges with a file, to prevent ingrown nails.

Step 3: Using circular motions, scrub feet and calves with a skin polisher, like Sephora Body Super Foot Scrub ($10, sephora.com), to remove dead cells.

Step 4: Instead of shaving off calluses completely -- exercisers need them as protective padding -- apply a callus softener that is packed with nonabrasive chemical exfoliators, like alpha hydroxy acids, on the bottom of each foot. After a few minutes, rub soles with a file until smooth to the touch.

Step 5: Rinse feet, pat dry, and apply cuticle oil to prevent hangnails. Then layer on a moisturizer made with super-emollient petrolatum. We like Dr. Scholl's For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream ($4.99, drugstores).

Be bold. These colors are bright, versatile, and ultra-fun to wear.

Green day: Rich jewel tones, such as OPI Nail Lacquer in Jade Is the New Black ($8.50, opi.com for locations), will resist flaking if you swipe an extra thin dab of the polish on just the tips of your nails.

Orange you glad? For a low-key look, try a poppy shade, like Essie Nail Polish in Tart Deco ($8, essie.com). It has fewer pigment particles than darker hues, so it won't show chips as easily, says Jin Soon, a manicurist in New York City.

Rock star: Prevent polishes, such as stone-tinted Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Commander in Chic ($7, drugstores), from clumping by letting each coat dry for two minutes before swiping on another layer.

Purple power: Add a layer of shiny topcoat to keep vivid shades, like Revlon Nail Enamel in Grape Icy ($4.79, drugstores), looking sophisticated. Bonus: This polish is scented, so you'll get whiffs of yummy grape soda.