THE CONCEPT

Antonia Moforis is obsessed with the perfect pedicure.
 
It all started in New York City, where Antonia pounded the pavement as she walked the sidewalks of Manhattan keeping up with her jobs in the beauty and fashion industry. Being a personal shopper for high-profile clients was a lot of fun, but Antonia lived for the one or two times a month when she visited spas.
 
“I would save up all month for it. Manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages; these were my way to escape from the grind of working. I especially loved pedicures. I was addicted to them.”
 
Even in the best spas in Manhattan, Antonia often wasn't satisfied. The technicians couldn't tell her the ingredients in the products they were using. Even if the place looked clean, Antonia sometimes got blank stares when she asked about the measures they took to sterilize their buckets, basins, spa jets and instruments.
 
“Hey, if someone is going to take a pair of clippers and cut into my cuticles, I want to know how clean those clippers are. I need to know.” After she got a minor infection at one of these prestigious establishments, an idea that had long been growing in Antonia’s mind began to take real form.

THE PRODUCTS

Antonia’s customers were thrilled with the high standards of service and cleanliness that are the hallmarks of The Hand & Foot Company. To bring the concept full circle, one more factor was needed.

“I had to create my own product line. I wanted something that was 100% effective in changing people's skin from the neck down. The only way I could be positive about the integrity of the product was to know absolutely everything about the ingredients and methods used to make them.”

Antonia soon found that the only way to be completely sure about her products quality was to hand mix them herself. She looked for a manufacturer, but no one was able to give her the assurance she needed.

“I was afraid they would shop for a bargain instead of insisting on the highest quality. Quality was something I was just not willing to compromise. Money was never an object.”

The first thing clients usually notice about The Hand & Foot Company products is how well they are absorbed. The secret, according to Moforis, is the quality of the carrier oils she uses.  Antonia uses only small-molecule oils. Larger molecule oils, often used in popular products, cannot be as readily absorbed and may feel greasy without really moisturizing. The three oils used in all of The Hand & Foot Company products are Emu, Shea, and Olive. More information about the specific benefits of these ingredients appear in the product descriptions.

“All three of these oils are not only high-moisturizing, but anti-inflammatory as well. When your feet are tired and swollen, a pedicure with these oils makes an enormous difference. Clients with rheumatism or arthritis especially love them. One of my clients, a writer, says they make her hands feel better after typing for hours.”

Other ingredients include essential oils, honey, milk, herbs, Dead Sea salts and royal jelly.

“I’m half Greek and half Italian. Cuisine is of paramount importance in my family's life. I grew up with an appreciation for finding the right ingredients, even if you have to really search for them. Using the best makes all the difference.”

Antonia’s searches included the famous and, sometimes, ancient apothecaries of Venice and Grasse, a city in France known for its beautiful natural perfumes.

“Of course I wanted to fragrance the products naturally so they would have a beautiful aroma, but many of these essential oils have wonderful effects on the skin all on their own. I did an enormous amount of research. Some of these ingredients have been used medicinally and aesthetically for thousands of years.”

These days, Antonia doesn't have to travel to satisfy her addiction to quality manicures and pedicures, they're right in her own spa. But she's still always searching for exceptional new ideas and products. She's also satisfied that others have noticed, including national and even international magazines. Hand and Foot has been mentioned in Allure, In Style, Ocean Drive and Vogue en Español, to name a few.