How To Keep Your Feet, Hands And Nails In Perfect Condition by Bastien Gonzalez

Bastien Gonzalez

– Look for a hand or foot cream that has a high ingredient level (first or second mentioned on the ingredients list) being water. Water is the most important ingredient to keep the skin hydrated and supple. Apply a water based cream daily to the hands and feet using light massage techniques focusing on the dry skin areas.

– Use Bastien’s Black Diamond scrub 1-2 times a week to remove any dead skin from the feet and legs. This mineral foaming scrub contains black diamonds, particles of mother of pearl and black volcanic rock sand to help exfoliate the dead skin cells. Essential oils of Thyme and Sage, well known for their purifying properties contribute to maintaining healthy elegant feet.

– Stretch or relax your feet after a long day on your feet or in high heels. During the day, the feet are trapped in shoes and restricted in their movement. Bastien has developed his ‘Foot Fitness’ which are gel toe separators and mini revitalisers! The toe revitalisers also ease the problems of tired feet, hammer toes, bunions, plantar fasciitis, crossed toes and poor circulation.

– Elevate your feet each day for 10-15 minutes, especially for people who spend the majority of their day standing up.

– Use a nail oil daily to soften the skin and cuticles. By keeping the skin around the nails and cuticles soft you will avoid cracking and hardening of the skin.

– If you suffer from sweaty feet or friction from shoes, try using Bastien’s Talc. It acts like an invisible sock that prevents rubbing or aggressions from shoes plus it will help to control perspiration keeping your feet clean and fresh.

– When cutting the nails on the hands and feet, always try to keep the nail in a square shape with smooth corners. Avoid cutting the nail down at the sides which may cause the nail to become ingrown. If you suffer from ingrown toe nails you should see a doctor or podiatrist for assistance.

– Treat yourself to a Bastien manicure and pedicure once a month. If you care for your hands, feet and nails daily at home you will only need to visit our studios for your professional treatment once every month. That sounds like the perfect prescription!

– Push the cuticle of your nails down. The cuticle is there to protect against bacteria that can affect the nails and as we push it down we can damage the matrix where the nails bed grows from. Damaged cuticles can cause the nails to grow with small waves or ripples in the nails or event lines and dents. Cutting the cuticles will encourage the cuticle to grow back quicker and stronger as its natural mechanism is protection.

– Cut the nail too short or tear the nail off. When the nail is too short the tip of the finger or the toe can become sensitive to friction. Always cut the nails in a square shape using nail cutters.

– Over use the pumice stone on the feet. As you scrub away at the hard skin areas you are actually activating the cells to grow again. Use Bastien Black Diamond scrub for exfoliation between your pedicures or a light scrub for a gentle buff.

– Do not keep your nail polish for more than 5 days on the nails. 3-5 is the length you should keep your vanish on to allow the nail to pass oxygen through to the nail bed. Leaving your polish on for longer may discolor and cause them to dry out and always choose polishes which are free from formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor which are the best ‘healthy’ option for varnish.

– Wear high heels for long extended periods of time. High heels cause pressure on the toes and ball of the foot which flattens the natural cushion of the sole. They also minimize the mobility and flexibility of the calf muscle and make the muscles of the feet work extra hard to support the feet’s stability whilst in the shoes, this is why our feet are exhausted after a long day or evening in heels. Try to minimize your ‘heel time’ and wear flat shoes to and from the office with your heels on at the necessary times during the day.

– Wear flip flops for long extended periods of time as the heel is not supported. This can cause cracking or splitting of the heel as the skin is compressed or squashed with no supporting barrier. Wearing flip flops can also lead to the toes curling slightly and becoming like claws, this is due to the shoes being an open back with little to hold them on to the feet so the toes have to ‘claw’ the shoes to keep them on. This causes strain on the feet and toe muscles which can lead to aching and cramps in the feet and legs.