How to Give Yourself a Natural Manicure. Nail color may be fun, but for active women, it may be too much to expect. Many women these days have schedules that dont include keeping up a paint job on their nails, says Yan Lu, owner and founder of San Franciscos Le Creme Spa. With this in mind, Lu set out to create a natural manicure for her clients, skipping the polish and opting for treatments that strengthen nails and relieve stress. Lus manicures use ingredients like flowers, fruits, and essential oils instead of the fume laden chemicals most nail salons rely on. Weve incorporated Lus techniques into a treatment you can do in less than 2. Afterward, nails shine like theyve been polished minus the smudges and chips. Trim hangnails. Using small nail scissors, clean up any ragged skin around the nail. Do not cut cuticles the delicate area where the skin meets the nail, as they help protect the nail bed from infection. Soften rough skin. Soak hands in a basin of warm whole milk for several minutes. The lactic acid in milk helps remove dead cells and soften cuticles the natural fats help replenish dry skin. Push back cuticles. Wash with a moisturizing hand soap. Its important to keep your hands clean, but using an antibacterial hand soap can dry out your skin. Instead, wash. Helpful tips and DIY from US Board Certified Dermatologists for fast treatment of Cracked Heels. Check the Dos and Donts for a quick guide. See The Skin Centers. Cracks In Your Skin Hands' title='Cracks In Your Skin Hands' />Using an angle tipped nail stick, gently push the cuticles back toward the base of the nail, clearing the nail surface for buffing. Shape nails. Using a nail file, shape nails into squares with rounded corners, which makes them more resistant to cracks and tears. To avoid misshapen or split nails, file in one direction only no sawing back and forth. Buff nails to a shine. Using a smooth surfaced buffing block or buffing disk not a filing block, which will scuff nails, buff the entire surface of nails using a side to side motion. Moisturize and massage. As a final step, rub hands with warm almond oil, avocado oil, or light olive oil, or apply an oil rich hand and nail cream. Pay particular attention to the nail and cuticle areas. The Right Stuff. All the tools you need to give yourself a quick and easy manicure are right here. Most are available at drugstores and beauty supply stores, as well as online. Small nail scissors. Whole milk. Angled nail stick. Nail file. Buffing block. Hand and nail cream or warm oil. Home Remedies for Dry Hands and Feet. Make them minty freshi. StockLee Rogers. Podiatrist Eric Reynolds told Wed MD that he recommends using Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash to soften dry skin on your feet. Mix one part Listerine to 2 parts water and soak your feet for 1. The mouthwash contains benzoic acid to help shed dead skin and ethanol to protect feet from bacteria and fungus reducing odor. Wear socks to prevent cracksi. Stockhuman. When your foot is constantly exposed to trauma, it responds by thickening the skin on the sole of your foot. Walking around barefoot is the most common cause. This thick skin can lead to deep cracks in your heels if you dont treat it. Make sure to wear comfy socks or slippers when walking around your house. Soothe with a yogurt maski. StockAlasdair Thomson, i. Stockfotofermer. For a cheap alternative to that high end cream, try coating dry feet and hands in full fat yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt acts as a natural exfoliant to gently remove dead skin while the fats restore moisture. For an extra boost, mix a teaspoon of raw honey into the yogurt before slathering on skin its super hydrating. Leave the mask on for ten minutes before rinsing off. Spritz dryness awayi. Simple Dns Plus 5 2 Cracker. Stocknito. 10. 0, i. StockVIDOKRose, lavender, or bergamot essential oils are great for hydrating the skin. To create an herbal spritzer, mix a few drops of any or all of these essential oils with water in a four ounce spray bottle. Spritz on dry hands and feet whenever your skin needs a boost. Content continues below ad. Whip up an at home cold creami. StockMCv. 30. 0, i. Stockabramova. This one is guaranteed to soften skin. Youll need 1 oz. Melt the beeswax. Heat the oil slightly over a saucepan, then pour into the melted beeswax. Heat the water or rosewater in the saucepan, then stir it, drop by drop, into the oil and wax mixture. Remove from heat and stir until the mixture is cooled and thick. Blend in the lavender essential oil. Spoon the mixture into a jar and store in a cool, dark place. It should last about three months. Mash an avocadoi. Stockivanmateev, i. Stocktbd. The fats in avocados are extra nourishing for dry hands. Mash half of an avocado and combine with 1 tbsp olive oil and 18 cup sugar. The sugar will exfoliate dead skin away while the oils moisturize skin. Slather on vitamin Ei. Stockhudiemm, i. Stockmashabuba. Vitamin E is known to quench parched skin. Look for lotions with vitamin E already in them, or buy vitamin E capsules. Pierce 3 5 of the capsules and squeeze the contents into a small bowl. Mix with one spoonful of olive oil and massage into dry patches of skin. Olive oil is a natural source of vitamin E and will also reduce the stickiness of the capsules. Try products with vitamin B3i. Stockpialhovik. B3 is another vitamin that will work to repair damaged skin. Vitamin B3 increases the production of ceramides and fatty acids, two components of your skins outer protective barrier. As the barrier is strengthened, skin is better able to keep moisture in and irritants out, Leslie S. Baumann, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute told Prevention magazine. Content continues below ad.