Nobody wants unsightly rough, dry skin on your heels and a chipped pedicure, but it’s not feasible to have weekly pedicures especially as the cost of living rises. With this in mind, instead of expensive salon trips, use the tips below to look after your feet for smooth soles whatever the weather.
1. CLEAN AND DRY YOUR FEET PROPERLY
Perhaps the most important step to taking care of your feet is cleaning them properly. Daily showers will usually do the trick as far as washing your feet is concerned, but you should pamper them with more dedicated care about three times a week.
Soaking the feet every day can dry them out, so a dedicated treatment with a foot scrub and moisturiser can help you soften the skin. A homemade one will do!
2. REMOVE DEAD SKIN AND CALLUSES
Dry skin, cracked heels and calluses are not only aesthetically unappealing, but can be painful.
The easiest way to get rid of these issues is with an electric foot file or callus remover, such as the rechargeable PediVac.
Simply glide the Pedi Vac over hard skin and allow it to gently work its magic. Plus, its built-in vacuum sucks up shavings and powdered dead skin, meaning it’s much less messy than using other foot files!
Once finished, don’t forget to use moisturiser plus an oil to lock in moisture.
The Finishing Touch Flawless Pedi is another excellent tool to erase calluses and dead skin to painlessly soften and smooth feet.
Use your Flawless Pedi to remove calluses, dry skin and rough patches on your soles, toes and heels. With two interchangeable heads, for tough, hard calluses and skin use the Coarse Roller. For smooth, shiny soles use the Fine Roller.
If using a foot scrub, rub it onto your feet taking care to slough off dead skin. Leave for about five minutes to soak up moisture, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use a fluffy towel to pat your feet dry, paying particular attention to the area between your toes. Leaving it damp can cause fungal infections, such as Athlete’s Foot.
3. KEEP THE FEET MOISTURISED
Unlike dedicated cleaning that is only necessary about three times a week, moisturising your feet every day after you’ve showered is crucial.
As mentioned above, the skin on your feet is naturally dry. Daily activities can dry them out even more.
There are lots of foot lotions and creams you can choose from. Apply a moisturising cream on your clean and dry skin, and use a circular motion to rub it in. Once you’re done, you should use oil to lock in the moisture.
The oil you choose can also help soothe your skin, prevent irritation (lavender oil), help you fight a fungal infection (tea tree oil), or ease foot pain (eucalyptus or peppermint oil).
4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUTICLES
A proper pedicure is essential especially on those days when you want to wear sandals. Like a DIY manicure, an at-home pedicure should NOT involve completely cutting your cuticles, because they help protect your nail beds from germs and bacteria. Instead, push back your cuticles to elongate the nail.
Once you’ve pushed back the cuticles, apply a few drops of cuticle oil and rub them into the skin.
5. FILE, BUFF, SHINE AND PAINT YOUR NAILS
The Finishing Touch Flawless Salon Nails is an excellent choice for foot care. More than just a nail file, Salon Nails is a versatile tool you can also use to take care of cuticles, and shape, buff and shine toenails before applying nail polish.
Apply a thin layer of nourishing base coat, and then you can proceed with a coloured nail polish of your choice. Don’t forget to finish with a layer of top coat to maintain your colour for longer. And if painting your own toenails gives you backache, a pedi station such as the Salon Step can make it so much easier, and give you that at-home salon feeling!
6. TREAT YOURSELF TO A HOME FOOT SPA
To look after your feet , you need a routine but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. On the contrary, a foot spa can help you soften calluses and blisters whilst also boosting your spirits.
You don’t have to invest in fancy products. A foot wash basin and essential oils will do – we love peppermint oil as it helps freshen up our feet. Fill the basin with warm water and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Pour yourself a glass of something nice (tea, wine, we’re not judging!) and treat yourself to a moment of relaxation, whilst letting your feet soak for about 15 minutes. Repeat once a week or every fortnight.
7. BE CAREFUL OF BLISTERS
We’ve all had a blister at least once, but did you know that the bubble of fluid can interfere with your efforts to keep your feet smooth and soft? If you’re wearing the wrong size shoes or footwear that rubs your heels, recurrent blister can turn into calluses.
Remember to always wash your hands and the skin around the blister before touching a blister, and cover blisters with a soft plaster or padded dressing to protect them.
The best way to look after your feet when it comes to blisters is wear the right type and size of shoes. Avoiding them is easier than treating them; however, if your new footwear caused a blister or two, do not pop them yourself and avoid peeling skin off a burst blister.
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Keeping the skin on your feet smooth may require harder work compared to other areas of your body, but the effort is well worth it. Making at effort to look after your feet will not only help you keep them happy, but they will make you feel good each time you have to step out of your shoes.
Now it’s down to you. Would you establish a foot care routine, or would you rather have a pedicure at a salon? Before you go, don’t forget to check out our beauty tips for smooth, flawless skin all over.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
- The Ped Egg foot file gently removes dead skin and calluses from feet. Available in pink and white.
- Our protein-packed Pink Armour nail gel helps strengthen and protect both fingernails and toenails.