I have a week to fix my manky legs and feet

[Mybobowler]

I need some beauty wisdom!

I'm going to be bridesmaid to my best friend a week on Saturday. I've just tried my dress on and have realised that my legs and feet look awful. Pasty, pimply legs (with inexplicably purple knees) and a couple of spider veins thrown in (thanks, pregnancy). My feet are even worse - ragged nails, hardened skin, cracked soles and the blueish hue of my appalling circulation. The idea of being photographed like this is already bringing me out in a cold sweat.

I am - as you have probably guessed - not brilliant at maintenance. What on earth do I do to polish up in a week? I know the easy answer is a spray tan and a pedicure but I can't afford either and I'd be way too embarrassed to drag my disgusting trotters to a beauty salon anyway.

Any tips? I need magic!

I also use Sally Hansen - I've only used the lotion myself. I use a self tanning mitt - but you must scrub them lots in advance, and rub it in really well. Be careful not to sit down anywhere whilst it sets, but once it has, it will need soapy water to come off.

It covers up veins, pimples, all sorted. Really useful because it washes off, it's not as terrifying - you can wash it off if it all goes horrible wrong.

I’d honestly consider going to a nail bar for a pedicure, preferably one with a massage chair! They can do the heavy lifting and then just keep on top of it with coconut oil every night. For your legs just give them a good exfoliate, shave and then the Dove gradual tanning moisturiser is fab and probably the most natural looking one I’ve found (I am milk bottle white!) maybe leave time to do it twice before the wedding? Good luck!

If your feet are that bad then don't get a pedicure go to a podiatrist, they will remove hard skin etc properly. Then paint your nails yourself or go and get a mini pedi.

For an at home foot soak use a mix of warm water, white vinegar and mouthwash (alcohol one), see www.familysavvy.com/listerine-vinegar-foot-soak-for-soft-feet-help-or-hype/. The use a corn remove blade/knife to scrape the skin off, or one of those cheese grater things.

This really does work!

I would suggest you go and get a proper pedicure, they honestly will not care what your feet look like and I can assure you they would have seen worse! I think if you have a good pedicure with a polish it can transform how your feet look. With regard to the legs good exfoliation and moisturising between now and the day will make a massive difference.

I know you said you can't wear tights but you can get ones you can wear with sandals - although tights might make the shoes a bit slippery.

But honestly, a good pedicure I think will make the world of difference.

www.marksandspencer.com/5-denier-bare-invisible-sheer-tights/p/clp60263678?color=NUDE

I swear by Boots own Dry and Cracked foot softener.

Use it everyday. Slather it on, pop on a pair of socks and off you go. If you do it before bed, wrap them up in your duvet to get them warm (better absorption).

They'll be different feet in a few days, I promise!

Don’t worry, I have really good legs and Still gasp in horror when they are first unleashed in the summer.
You can definitely turn this around in a week.
Once I was once walking barefoot around the house and could hear a little clicking noise following me, I looked at the bottom of my foot and I had a drawing pin stuck in my heel. Couldn’t even feel it the skin on my heel was so thick😳
You’ve had some good tips already, mine are , a chiropodists stone. Under a fiver and will actually remove cm thick cracked skin ( see above) that nothing else will touch, just follow the instructions, you have to wet it and use soap. It doesn’t hurt.
And if your not confident to use actual fake tan use leg make up/ stocking cream/ instant wash off tan. Get practising now, it’s not difficult but you probably want a dry run before the big day. It comes off with soap and water. Then trim your toenails and paint them.
You’ll look lovely, have a great day!

Another vote for the Korean Italy / exfoliating towels. They are cheap and ASTOUNDING in how much skin they remove. I have chucked all scrubs/exfoliating mitts/etc. They are easy and amazing. So recommend them.

I think the Korean Italy towels are brilliant too (though I do seem to lose them endlessly!)

Dont do a footer type thing with a week to go! They do work and are fab, however your feet look horrific around the 7-10 day mark and get worse before they get better .
Speaking from a hideous lesson learned!

Budget depending, Holly Hanson (sp?) airbrush legs, cheap, cheerful instant and does the job, just don't get it wet!
Otherwise, shave/wax use an old facecloth and rub them like no tomorrow then slather with whatever moisturiser you fancy.

Feet, they do an epic "cheese grater" type thing in boots which works wonders at transforming hooves pretty much instantly.

@Mybobowler you can buy tights which your toes poke out of, then just the toe nails to paint

Sally Hansen leg stuff is amazing and super easy to use. I think it’s like magic! I hope you have a really wonderful time at the wedding.

For the legs: any oil (olive, coconut, vegetable, etc) mixed with salt or sugar (depending on how rough your skin in). Then rub until the bumps have gone. You can try on dry or wet skin

For your toes: a good file and polish at home

For your heels: either a handheld foot file (very cheap) and lots of elbow grease, or one of those battery operated ones (I have one - I love it).

You'll be able to make a huge difference in a week.

www.marksandspencer.com/5-denier-open-toe-bare-invisible-sheer-tights/p/clp60159769?color=NUDE#&gid=1&pid=1

These are the open toe ones!

Sally Hansen airbrush is great and super easy to use. It covers thread veins and even makes my varicose veins look okay.
If you can get for a pedicure, do. They are like magic for feet!

Seriously - a pedicure and gel toes for one hour, done! And if you can afford a load of shite off Amazon, you can affors that!!

Scrub legs, shave, moisturise then buy decent high shine tanned tights. Fake tan underneath, voila.

Sugar is a good body scrub
Dove moisturiser with fake tan is pretty good and try and sit in the sun abit
Paint your nails

My trick for not being great at nails is to do toes two days before, then in the shower the next day the polish not on the nail softens up and you can rub it off.

If you use a couple of coats of nail varnish any ridges should fill in.

@Mybobowler

Right, ok. I'm filling up a basket on Amazon now. Wish me luck!

What's your total so far? Only I go for a file and polish for my feet and it's only £12. You'd probably have to do the cheese-grating yourself or at the very minimum slather your feet in moisturiser every night. Ditto with legs.

Buy tights without toes? I think they are called sandal tights. I buy them in boots.

I'd steer clear of a spray tan - Palmers gradual tanner is fab or last minute job I go for the tinted St Tropez in the bronze tube.

You can do a pedicure at home but honestly I think I'd just pay someone professional to get them in tip top shape, then you can maintain that. Yours will not be the worst feet they have seen.

I love this board, thanks so much everyone!

@Capricornandproud you make an excellent point, but one of the reasons I don't want to go and get a pedicure done properly is that I'm so embarrassed about my feet. I have terrible bunions so I hide them in trainers 99% of the time, which is part of the reason they're in such a state. I have visions of walking into a salon and having them take one look at my feet and telling me to leave. Oh, the shame! (To be clear, they're perfectly clean and hygienic. I don't have trench foot or anything. They're just... leathery and neglected).

As soon as the toddler is asleep, I'm in front of the TV with my feet in a bucket of warm water and a nail brush. Scrub scrub.

For your feet this O'Keeffe's® Healthy Feet Jar 91g https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0002QB9NE?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare and kuou 3 Pairs Soft Moisturizing Socks，Gel Lining Infused with Essential Oils and Vitamins for Dry Hard Cracked Skin Moisturizing Day Night Care Skin (Gray Blue Pink) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W53XC6R/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabc1GB1RNF3D8V28QS1K4PZ??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Really good and definitely Sally Hansen for legs.

If you have a smaller budget get to home bargains or b&m and pick up a couple of foot masks, you can wear them around the house with slippers on.
Avoid coconut oil, you want a really rich body butter for your legs and moisturise twice a day. Exfoliate, but don't buy anything too harsh as this can damage the skin.
Get a foot file, just a cheap one will do
Finally get some fake tan if you can be bothered as this will cover any marks and even out your skin tone.

You'll be glowing!

If you do your nails yourself as well as a base coat to even them out, I find a top coat of shinny hard clear varnish makes them look much tidier.