Chiropodist or Podiatrist?

This isn't going to be a glamorous post. It seems that nowadays you have to have beautiful photos and only glam products on your blog but that's never been my way. It started for a love of and interest in beauty products, skincare and general bodily well-being (on the outside... ) and that continues. So if you are not interested in feet or are going to be grossed out at the mention of foot ailments then this probably isn't the post for you. If you are then do continue...

The Best Pedicure I've Ever Had

Do not take this statement lightly. I would love to pretend to be one of those low maintenance women who can say they once got a pedicure because they got a free voucher. I'm not. I love pedicures and I will use anything as an excuse to have one. Pregnancy is the best I've come up with so far especially awesome that I literally couldn't touch my feet or get shoes on them past 6 months so I had to wear flip-flops and it would have been rude of me to not have nicely done feet as they were on show all the time. Even if they were three times their normal size and seemingly made of dough. I love manicure's too but can live without them but the bliss of having someone else deal with and rub my feet is something I find a necessity especially since having Ned. The bliss of an hour with a cup of tea and a magazine while technically doing something. I mean I can't wander around whilst my nails are being done. That would be silly.

My love of a pedicure does not mean that I get them regularly however, no no, my mostly-stay-at-home-mum bank account doesn't stretch to such luxuries on a regular basis but my sister and I decided it would be nice to treat my mum when she came up to London on her birthday in September. We didn't have a lot of time so a pedicure seemed like the perfect thing but where in Chiswick? There were a number of options and I left it up to my sister to books it having mentioned a couple of places I thought looked good. She chose The Beauty Lounge on Turnham Green Terrace and without knowing it we walked in to the best pedicure I've ever had.

I actually think it was a fab place to choose for a birthday as it looks pretty lovely and chic but that's not what was so fantastic. What makes this place worth mentioning (let it be noted I don't review every beauty treatment I have on this blog) is that we had our nails done on September 13th and I eventually removed the nail varnish on November 8th not because it needed it - there was not even the smallest of chips - but because my nails had grown so much there were huge half moons of pink toe showing. I suppose I should have left it on to see just how long it lasted but I can't bear bare toes. I had cut them and still no chip. That is amazing longevity of polish and therefore value for money. And it wasn't just me - my mum came to stay and said 'is your toe nail polish still on?' she'd been on a beach holiday and hers was still going strong.

The pedicure itself (we had the Beauty Lounge Pedicure) wasn't the cheapest at £35 for an hour but this was properly done even without knowing how long the colour was going to last. There's a lovely range of Essie and OPI colours to choose from (I took my own from Butter London) and your feet are soaked in lovely hot water - so often it can be tepid-cold which is hardly relaxing or I would have thought very helpful at softening the skin. I am also a big fan of the use of those terrifying razor-blade things rather than a file - such is the dryness of my feet - but they used a file and got my feet completely smooth. The massage was done properly and for long enough and the colour perfect, beautiful and long lasting. 

If you are in West London and want to go somewhere were they really know what they are doing, have incredible service and long-lasting results go to the Beauty Lounge on Turnham Green Terrace.

p.s I spoke to my mother about writing this post and she said she eventually removed hers on the 18th November because the regrowth was more than the colour and there was still not a chip to be seen. She confirms it to be the best pedicure she's ever had.

Friday Video - Three Non-Glamorous Products I Wouldn't Be Without

YouTube is full of people reviewing glamorous designer make-up products so I thought... what are the three least glam things in my bathroom that I buy over and over again. And here they are...

Derma-Lac Lotion by Environ
In-Grow Go by Skin Doctors
JML Ped Egg

My original Ped Egg review is here

Ped Egg

During times of financial belt tightening pampering is usually the first thing to go. For some manicures and pedicures will be a thing of the past. When I was first told about the PedEgg I thought it was a good idea but my expectations weren't that high. There are quite a few foot files on the market so it seemed unlikely that this was going to do anything that the others didn't already have covered. But I love it. The foot file removes callouses and hard skin and the egg shape fits into the palm of your hand. It's really easy to clean and the fact that there is a grater and file means you can attack all different problem areas of your feet. The grater attachment clips into the top of the egg meaning all the gross dead skin is caught and can be just washed away when you are finished. It is small enough to fit into your washbag so great to take on holiday and means it doesn't take up too much room in your bathroom - lets face it foot files aren't that appealing to have lying around the place. It'll be available soon in Boots and Debenhams or from JML for just £10. The best way to credit crunch foot perfection.

Pretty Feet

To celebrate our birthdays Miss F and I went for a Champagne Pedicure at Savana Spa in Westbourne Park. For £60 and 60 minutes you get the works all whilst sipping on a glass of champagne - what really clinched the decision for us was that you get to sit together which is actually quite a rarity! We arrived in our flip flops filled out the massive questionnaire and tried not to get too giggly. We were sat opposite each other which although was better than not sitting together at all made us feel like we were dominating the whole of the spa and talking over the tops of the pedicurists heads. Which we were. I hate to be anything other than gushingly positive about places like this because frankly I wouldn't want to be faced with dealing with someone elses feet for an hour but although this pedicure was fine it wasn't amazing and I'm pretty sure not worth the £60.

The nail painting was and is beautifully done. Nearly a week later having been barefoot through sand and be-flip flopped for most of the time not only is there not a chip in sight but they are still really shiny. For me the important thing is the massage of which there was barely a rub. I looked on enviously at Miss F's 1 minute massage and wished I could ask for longer but I'm British, and she'd already started applying the varnish.

The file was not vigorous enough either - both of us had dry skin left over afterwards although the hot foot soak with oats was lovely and really did soften our feet up. However, I can paint and soak my feet myself but rubbing and filing are not so easy. Miss F did manage to finally track down the most orange of orange nail varnishes - you can now see her feet coming from miles away. I really loved the experience but we'll be trying Miss F's usual place in the months to come to see how their £20 one compares. A little too favourably I think... xx

Business as Usual

I'm sorry there's been another hiatus with the old blogging. I was rather shocked about the murder of a teenager near where I live. At the risk of sounding a bit like everyone's grandparents, what is the world coming to.

But whilst I was ruminating on the state of the world, and this country, the celebs continued their lives in a delightfully typical and outrageous fashion. Britney is out of rehab, getting primary custody of the boys but joint custody with K-Fed, with whom she is now getting along! Bloody typical. They are pretty hormonal as couples go. Naomi Campbell not only turned up for her community service but was nice to the people she was working with. And Angelina Jolie has adopted another child. This time Pax from Vietnam. I'm sure that it is better to give an orphan the opportunity to have a good life. However, with the hectic schedules of major celebrities, it must be hard to have time to pay enough attention to their own children. Let alone integrating a family of adopted children into a totally different country, culture, language and lifestyle.

Now I know this is gross but something has to be said. For all of you who have maybe a little bit of a shoe problem and go for looks over comfort be warned. I love shoes, the pointier and higher the better. For years I have spent more money on shoes than anyone of a sane disposition but I can't help it. But oh boy am I paying for it now. It's official - I have a bunion, and it hurts. I am now relegated to the faithful ugg boots (which I resisted for so long) and a toe separator in a vain attempt at stopping it getting worse. So here are some ways to prevent being doomed to a life of lumpy feet (I'd like to point out that my feet are the best part of me. I wouldn't change them and now...)

Most large pharmacies have whole sections of weird and wonderful things dedicated to feet. There are literally hundreds of foot soaks, scrubs, moisturisers and 'accessories' out there so really the best thing to do is go and have a look. But where to start? Here are a few products I like and suggestions on how to keep your feet fancy free (because we call know we aren't going to give up the shoes) But before I start if you wear pointy high heels you can get toe separators from Boots which you can wear in trainers and stops your big toe moving.

Before you can do any proper foot maintainance remove your nail varnish, your nails need help too. Then, and believe me this is good, get a bowl and fill it full with hot water and foot soak, plonk it in front of your favourite chair, insert feet and say 'ahhhh!'. Seriously, unless you splash out on a foot spa, not many things can be better than this. Boots Soothing Foot Bath which is medicated with witch hazel and mint and is a really great deal at £2.99. The Sanctury do a Relaxing Foot Soak with Lavender, Tea Tree and Green Seaweed which smells great and again amazing for £4.00 (also available in sachets). For something a bit more special Origins Foot Rest is no snip at £16.50 but this well last you a while and worth treating yourself with.

Once your feet are all soaked and smooth you can do your nails and the skin around your nails (it'll be easier now they are softened). If you have dry skin investing in a foot file is gross but necessary and now would be the time to get filing. Scholl's Dual Action Foot File is a good choice. For something with a little less elbow grease why not use a foot scrub? The Sanctuary's Foot Salt Scrub not only exfoliates but contains essential oils so its not too abraisive and only £5.95 for a big pot. But, as always, Origins have something a little more pricey up their sleeves, and its a goodie. Sole Searcher is a soothing foot scrub with Lava Rock (!) and worth its £16.50.

Now when it comes to moisturisers even I don't know where to begin. For me there is only one thing for really, really dry cracked skin. Flextol Heel Balm doesn't look special but my god it's a miracle worker. For £5.50 its a real must for those be-flip-flopped feet. Scholl's Deep Moisturising Cream is a permanant fixture in my bathroom and its only £3.99. This not only works a treat it smells amazing. For a more intensive treatment they do an Intensive Night Treatment, this comes with socks so you don't even have to walk like a tipsy penguin after application!

Best value for money for a non-intensive moisturiser is Badger Foot balm 21g is £3.89 for a big pot. Or Garnier's Body Cocoon Foot Cream is just 10p more. But I for one am never likely to do things by half so for something a little more fancy (again with the Origins...) Reinventing the Heel is a thick cream with tingling Menthol and Shea Butter to smooth the cracks. But the be all and end all in footcare for me, is L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream 150ml. Its cheaper than Origins and oh my goodness its pretty unbeatable. For £14 its thick, soothing and smells incredible. I really recommend this for any feet!

So ladies, remember you can have the aesthetic pleasure without the pain, but you have to look after your feet because there's no glamour in hobbling. xx