10 SIMPLE STEPS TO TWINKLE TOES

1 BUFF away hard skin twice a week using a foot file. ‘Do this before having a bath as it is easier to remove when the skin is dry,’ says nail technician Lucy Tucker. ‘And a zinc supplement will help prevent infection.’

2 CUT toenails with nail clippers and shape with an emery board every three to four weeks.

3 APPLY four coats of polish — a base coat to prevent staining, two layers of polish and a topcoat to seal the colour. Wait two minutes for each layer to dry in between coats. When it starts to chip, take off varnish with a cotton-wool pad and a non-acetone polish remover.

4 INVEST in Emu oil — it is known as an effective moisturiser for cracked foot skin. The oil is removed from under the bird’s feathers and is used by marathon runner Paula Radcliffe. Try Emu Foot Oil from spacenk.com

5 BORROW your baby’s products. Sudocrem — worn overnight under socks — works wonders at moisturising cracked heals.

6 TEA tree oil is a natural fungicide and contains antiseptic that will help prevent nail infection. Apply it to the beds of your nails with an eyedropper.

7 RAID your fruit bowl — and your garden. Toenails become thicker and drier with age and develop a yellow tinge. Lemon juice squeezed onto a toothbrush and brushed over the nail works as a natural bleach to restore lightness. Mint leaves have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, and when placed in a warm bowl of water will revive tired feet and improve circulation.

8 GIVE your toes a workout. Picking up a tea towel with your toes for a few minutes daily will help prevent against muscle loss.

9 MAKE a DIY foot scrub. Mix together a quarter of a cup of sugar, an eighth of a cup of olive oil and a teaspoon of honey, and massage into feet.

10 FEELING FLASH? Give your toenails a French manicure with the Rio UV professional nail extensions kit that includes a step by step DVD for salonquality results and UV gel for a lasting finish (£69.99 from argos.co.uk).