Now that it’s summer you can’t wait to slip your feet into those sexy sandals but are your feet ready to be seen? Here’s your guide to feet as fabulous as your footwear.

Soak feet first in warm, soapy water. If you have very dry and cracked feet, use a little bath oil in the water. Soaking will also make nails easier to clip and shape. After toweling off your feet, clip your toenails evenly and straight. Next, use a pumice stone to smooth out rough areas from heels and the ball of the foot. Follow this with a foot massage using a moisturizing lotion. For a tingly, fresh feel, try a lotion with peppermint. You can rub the lotion into your cuticles and push them back gently if you like.

You’re now ready to polish those nails up pretty. Choose a color that will get attention, but nothing garish. Unnatural colors such as green or blue will not look fashionable on your toenails. Coral, pink, rose, peach, bright red or even a french manicure will make your feet look feminine and begging to be shown off. Add a toe ring as an added attention-grabber.

Now slide those sexy feet into a pair of great sandals and take them out for a walk!

Avon’s new Dry Nail Enamel Strips promise a fast and perfect manicure that lasts 14 days. I tried this product and was pleased with the ease of application. It was quicker than speed-dry nail polishes and you can’t make a mistake or smudge the color; just choose the strip that fits your nail size and apply. Finishing off the edges was simple and required no special tools, the excess came away cleanly.

I was surprised that you get enough nail strips for just one application and decided they were worth the price only if they really lasted for 14 days. I can report that the color has remained shiny and there has been only a slight wearing away of the enamel at the ends of the nail. Taking into consideration that I have engaged in all my usual activities and housework, that’s not too shabby. The one problem is that in this time my nails have grown. There are ever-widening strips of unpolished nail near the cuticle and the sides of my fingernails, otherwise, I would not need to refresh my manicure as the polish itself still looks good. The nice thing is that none of my nails has split, torn or broken since I applied the dry nail enamel strips.

For ease and speed of application, I give these a high rating. They come in a variety of colors and there should be a shade to suit just about anyone. The regular price is $8.00 but look for sales. Available through Avon representatives or buy direct online.

For centuries the pale-skinned woman was considered to be the ultimate in beauty. How many poems refer to skin like “alabaster”? Before the 20th century, a suntan meant a woman worked outdoors and was therefore of a lower class and station. Women used parasols and wide brimmed hats to ensure that no part of their bodies was exposed to the sun.

But in the 1920’s, Coco Chanel changed all that by popularizing the bronze look. Suddenly a tan meant that you had leisure time to spend by the sea, which meant you had money. Suddenly, tans were “in”. Soon a suntan became associated with looking healthy.

Of course, that was before we learned the relationship between premature aging of the skin and skin cancer with repeated sun exposure. Still, the image persists - tan skin is healthy skin. A tan also helps to hide imperfections and makes you look thinner. So, what’s the answer?

Self-tanners go back a long way. In the early days they were mostly dyes that stained the skin and were very orange. Nowadays self-tanners have advanced and are available for every skin type and color and come in the form of lotions, sprays and even towelettes. You can get good color with even a lower-priced drugstore product. The best thing is that you can get a tan with a sunless tanning product even if you can’t get a tan from the sun!

The key is application. Here are some tips to help you get the results you want from your sunless tanning product.

* Take time to apply it evenly. Don’t use too much or you will end up with a streaky, orange tan.

* Wear gloves to apply the sunless tanning product. Trying to wash it off your palms before it “tans” them is almost impossible and you will also end up with dark orange knuckles.

* Self-tanners adhere to the top layer of dead skin cells. Taking a shower and exfoliating prior to use will prevent uneven color. Use a light moisturizer over knees, elbows and ankles to prevent dry skin in those areas from soaking up too much tanner.

* Apply the self-tanner to hands last. Apply lotion using a sponge for an even look. Even if you use the towelettes or a spray, going lightly over the back of the hand with a cloth will help to avoid a patchy tan. This method also works well for the tops of the feet. After applying to hands, use a Q-tip soaked in nail polish remover to go around nails and between fingers.

* Wait at least 15 minutes before getting dressed as sunless tanners will stain clothes. Keep cool as humidity and perspiration will cause the product to streak.

Lastly, enjoy your safe tan!

Remember those ads in the back of the magazine, the ones for creams that promised to increase your bust size? They were usually found in tabloids and some of the less..ummm… literary publications.

Well Avon now has a product called “Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream” which promises to firm and sculpt breasts while providing support. Sounds too good to be true? I thought so too, at first.

Surprisingly, after just a week of application this product did make a difference. Definitely, the skin felt firmer and tighter. I did a little research and found nearly all reviews available on the net for this product were positive, so mine was not an isolated or imagined result.

The cream is white and easily absorbed with a pleasant but light fragrance. Results are said to be noticeable in four weeks of routine application but some users have seen results sooner than that. Avon instructs you to apply the cream in an upward motion, maximizing the firming and lifting effect.

Avon states that after four weeks of use 83% of women who tried the cream saw overall improvement in the appearance of the bust area, 75% saw and felt their breasts were more toned, 77% felt tighter skin in the breast area and 75% saw a visible reduction in stretch marks.

Bust-Sculpt sells for $16.00 for a 5 fl oz tube but look for sales. I got it on a two-for-one sale from my local Avon representative.