Ordinary pumice does not always cope with peeling and keratinized skin of the feet. And sometimes you have to spend a lot of time to get them in order - steaming, trying on scrubs, etc. And if the problem cannot be solved at home, you need to go to the salon.
Among the many products for pedicure and skin care, another one has appeared, which has become in great demand among consumers of the fair half of society. Its name is “Liquid Blade”. We tell you what it is and how to use it correctly.
What is a “liquid blade” for a pedicure?
The product with the eloquent name “liquid blade” is designed to facilitate foot care. It allows you to remove both the overgrown cuticle and the coarsened layers of the epidermis from the heels without unnecessary manipulation and pain. But its main advantage is that the “blade” significantly reduces the duration of steaming and speeds up the pedicure process.
The use of a “liquid blade” prevents the growth of calluses and the formation of corns
The drug is based on an alkaline or acidic composition, which allows you to soften the skin in a short period of time. Active components gently exfoliate the epidermis. And at a certain concentration they help peel off calluses and corns. That is, relatively speaking, the effect of the “liquid blade” is similar to chemical peeling. But it is used not only for quick care. The product will become an emergency aid if you have:
- rough “crust” on the feet;
- dryness;
- predisposition to the appearance of cracks;
- ingrown nails;
- hyperkeratosis, etc.
Express products and active gels for preparing feet for pedicure existed long before “liquid blades” appeared on the market. This is another fashion trend that has allowed manufacturers to re-release products under a new name. And less conscientious ones took advantage of the trend, also increasing its value.
Video: “Liquid blade” for baths
Table: pros and cons of softening gel for pedicure
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Contraindications and possible side effects
Preparations for softening the skin of the feet are not used in the following cases:
- individual intolerance to components;
- fungal infections;
- dermatological diseases;
- pronounced, deep or painful cracks;
- any other open damage, etc.
If your feet have deep cracks or deep wounds, the active components of the “liquid blade” may worsen their condition.
Otherwise, the use of a “liquid blade” may lead to a worsening of the current condition of the feet. After all, even with a low content of active ingredients, the drug will begin to corrode the damage along with the stratum corneum. Slightly more harmless side effects include:
- dryness;
- the appearance of cracks;
- thickening or thinning of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, its rapid growth;
- weak result or its absence.
Test the product on a small area of skin in advance to make sure there is no allergy. In addition, before first use, carefully read the instructions.
Description and purpose of the tool
Visually, a machine for a classic pedicure is not much different from those used for shaving. The device of the instrument can be described briefly, dividing it into several parts:
- blade;
- nail files that polish the surface of the skin;
- the main part to which the attachments are attached.
The main difference from shaving machines is that especially sharp blades are used here, so you need to work with them very carefully. They gently capture a small part of the keratinized skin. The razor is rougher, causing deep cuts and untreated areas on the foot.
Experienced professionals call this procedure a trim pedicure. As a rule, it is included in the standard list of services.
Review of popular “liquid blades”
Most drugs have a gel consistency, and the active ingredients are citric, salicylic, fruit or lactic acid. More radical remedies contain alkali.
Express softener “Liquid Blade” Domix
Domix is designed to quickly soften rough skin. The foam softener prepares the skin for unedged (hardware) pedicure; it gained its popularity due to its frequent “flickering” in salons. Active components:
- acids;
- glycerol;
- lemon extract.
A clear advantage is the relative availability of the product, allowing professional care to be provided at home. But on the other hand, some fans of the Green Professional line complain that the manufacturer has changed the composition, causing the effectiveness of the softener to noticeably drop. But the price, apparently, has increased.
The cost of the product varies from 500 to 700 rubles. depending on the store.
Domix softener is considered one of the first "liquid blades"
Acid peeling Callus Remover PNB for pedicure
Callus Remover from PNB is a “liquid blade” based on fruit acids, which almost instantly softens corns and calluses. Unlike similar products, acid peeling requires only about a minute to act, after which it is washed off and immediately proceeds to treating the feet. Advantages:
- tidies up neglected skin;
- acids promote renewal and softening;
- weak cumulative effect;
- extremely fast action.
But even before using such a concentrated product, you will need to spend time and make a hot foot bath. This peeling is not suitable for allergy sufferers and can leave severe irritation on the skin of the hands if gloves are not used.
Pedicure peeling Callus Remover PNB costs about 450 rubles.
Callus Remover peeling is too strong for simple cuticle removal, but can be diluted with water if desired
Liquid blade Expert Pharma Faberlic
On the official website, the “blade” has a more modest name - an active gel for removing corns and calluses. The product from Faberlic affects the skin due to alkali, so it is recommended to wear gloves when using it. It is applied for 5-10 minutes; during the process, the legs should be wrapped in plastic film.
Pros:
- convenient applicator for application;
- large volume with economical use;
- low cost (between 200–300 rubles), there are often attractive discounts.
Among the disadvantages, the active component can be noted; alkali can hardly be called safe or beneficial for the skin. Well, in general, the effectiveness of the product is still inferior to its professional counterparts.
Despite the alkali in its composition, Faberlic gel has a delicate effect
I purchased Faberlic gel from the Expert Pharma series in 2022. Reviews on the website were rave, and the label included the warning “Caution, Lye!” I understand that the skin and its reaction to any product is individual for each person... the Faberlic “blade” seemed weak to me. I used it several times: following the instructions, increasing the exposure time (as many people do), and covering my entire foot with cuticle instead of just one heel. I wasn’t impressed, well, it’s not at all. True, I don’t have any particular problems, except for one “harmful” corn – I try to constantly take care of my feet. It is quite possible that there was simply nothing to exfoliate there.
Advantages and disadvantages
Trim pedicure has a number of advantages and disadvantages. You should familiarize yourself with them in advance so as not to become a victim of unpleasant surprises in the future.
The advantages include:
- the opportunity to save on the services of a master by purchasing a machine for personal use at home;
- high efficiency;
- low risk of injury;
- long-term preservation of the effect after the procedure;
- small investment of time.
The list of disadvantages includes:
- the chance of injury is low, but still present;
- the need for sterility of the machine itself and the surrounding conditions;
- preliminary steaming of the legs;
- mandatory use of moisturizing creams to maintain the effect.
Tips and Cautions
Many people try to completely treat all their skin at once, putting too much effort into it. The result of this is injury and discomfort when walking. This is one of the main mistakes among beginners.
It must be remembered that the soles of the feet, covered with deep cracks and large growths of hardened skin, can be cleaned in several sessions, without haste or self-abuse.
Another tip for using the machine would be a reminder to timely treat the blade and other components of the tool with disinfectants. They try to remind people of this as often as possible, since the consequences of neglect lead to a visit to the doctor and long-term treatment.
Contraindication to the procedure
A pedicure machine or knife are the ultimate solutions that are relevant in cases where nothing else helps. Light roughness of the skin can be easily removed with the help of special creams, pumice and other means.
Trying to treat skin that is too delicate, a person will inevitably damage it and then have difficulty moving for several days.
Brief list of brands
Tools from the Staleks brand are widely used. This is due to the convenient design of the handle and the use of stainless steel for individual parts of the machine. A universal solution that effectively removes rough skin not only after steaming, but also “dry”.
Titania is a European manufacturer that supplies us with fairly cheap machines with blades that do not require replacement. As in the previous case, there is a stainless steel head and blade, and the handle is made of plastic.
The list can be completed with another European brand – Beter. Its advantage is the availability of replaceable blades, purchased immediately as part of the kit. In all other respects, it is not much different from other quality instruments.
We recommend visiting our Manicurist Forum , where you can ask questions or chat about interesting topics!
Methods of performing a professional pedicure in a salon
If you have one of the above problems, you should visit a specialist and do not delay treatment. Leaving the disease without intervention is fraught with the development of complications, for example, an ingrown toenail may eventually need to be restored only with a laser, or with prosthetics using capolin.
Chemical treatment of feet when visiting a beauty salon is carried out within 1-1.5 hours. Initially, the specialist treats the feet with liquid soap with fruit acids, then peels with the application of a product containing plant extracts and enzymes. This helps clean the surface, moisturize, get rid of dead cells, also perfectly massages the legs and improves blood circulation. A concentrated peeling gel with aloe and urea is additionally applied to problem areas.
After this, the nails and feet are disinfected to prevent the appearance of fungus. At the final stage of the procedure, the feet are covered with a nourishing aromatic cream with vitamins and essential oils, and all you have to do is enjoy the health and beauty of the updated pedicure.
Tips for choosing a machine
There are several recommendations to help you choose a pedicure machine with a blade.
First of all, you need to pay attention to the material that is used to secure the blade and head to the handle. Ideally, it would be stainless steel. The remaining options are either not reliable enough or are susceptible to corrosion.
Cheap machines become rusty over time and their fastenings become loose. All this leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of the tool and also increases the risk of injury. Therefore, you need to try not to save too much, and even better, choose a popular model.
Care to prolong the effect
Of course, once you see results, you'll want them to last as long as possible. In order not to repeat the procedure too often and not make your health worse, you can use simple ways to prolong the effect of smooth legs. To do this, just adhere to the following rules:
- Foot care with creams and scrubs . Use foot cream morning and evening. Scrub the skin of your legs 2-3 times a week and then the effect will last for many months to come.
- Massage . Don't forget to massage your legs to improve blood circulation. You can massage at night when you apply the cream or when you scrub your skin.
- Comfortable shoes . Don't forget that all problems come from your feet, or rather, from the shoes you wear. Make sure that it is really comfortable for you to walk - a soft insole, a wide toe box and a comfortable last if we are talking about heels. Basically, all corns are formed from the fact that you wear shoes with thin soles. If possible, replace such items of clothing with more comfortable ones or insert orthopedic insoles to achieve maximum comfort for your feet.
Preparatory stage
The liquid blade for pedicure, reviews of which can be found on the Internet, has a different preparation scheme for peeling at home and in the salon. It is enough to wash your feet well with soap, thoroughly rinse off the foam and dry. Additionally, it is recommended to examine the feet for wounds.
Preparatory stage
If even the smallest scratches are detected, the procedure should be postponed, or the product should be applied, avoiding the injured area. In a salon setting, the master cleanses the skin of the feet with a special product that additionally contains fruit acids. This makes the subsequent process more efficient.
You should also remember to test for an allergic reaction. Before the procedure, you need to apply a small amount of the product to the most delicate area of the feet and rinse after a few minutes. You should then observe this area. If no redness is detected, then you can proceed with the procedure.
