Though their relative lack of exposure on a daily basis may see them take a backseat in the beauty stakes, when it comes to wearing sandals in summer or auditioning for a Quentin Tarantino film, feet take centre stage. With foot care in the cooler months often constituting an idle slick of nail polish or nothing at all, liberating your feet from the confines of their thick socks and heavy shoes can be an alarming experience. So, for the sake of yourself and the innocent souls who bear witness to your bare feet, please partake in some proper foot care.
To walk out with your best foot forward, we’ve put together an AR approved guide to foot care.
1. Assess the situation
While most foot woes can be solved at home, if your feet are looking particularly gnarly, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a professional. Rough or dry skin, hardened heels, and unclipped nails can be tackled solo (or by a pedicurist), while feet sporting nasty nails (think yellow, overly thickened varieties), cracked skin, and sore or itchy patches may require a trip to the podiatrist.
2. Soak
If your feet sit firmly in the DIY category, start off with a good foot soak using warm water and soap or body wash. This will soften your feet and make foot care easier. If your nails prove difficult to cut, a foot soak will also make this easier, so trim them after soaking your feet for 15-20minutes.
3. Trim your toenails
If you don’t already regularly trim your toenails, start now. Use nail clippers rather than scissors, and cut straight across, not at an angle. Also, avoid cutting down the sides of your toenails, as this can lead to ingrown toenails.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliants for feet can come in three forms; chemical exfoliation, physical or manual exfoliation, and skin softeners. Chemical exfoliants include acids like AHAs and BHA, physical exfoliation can come in the form of a scrub or manual device like a pumice stone, while skin softeners provide a less intense option in the form of ingredients like urea which works to break down protein keratin in the outer layer of your skin, reducing dead skin buildup and eliminating dry, scaly skin.
For an intense (and strangely satisfying) treatment, try an exfoliant like Milky Foot which contains exfoliating enzymes derived from milk; one application of this treatment removes hardened skin for around a week after use (the dead skin literally just falls off). Alternatively, use an exfoliating cream daily, like the DU’IT Foot & Heel Balm Plus which combines AHAs with 25% urea to slough off dead skin cells while moisturising.
5. Moisturise daily
Once you’ve successfully exfoliated your feet, stay on the right path by moisturising them every day, which helps keep your newly exposed skin healthy while preventing your feet from getting dry (and cracked) again. While you can use your normal body moisturiser on your feet in a pinch, it’s best to use a dedicated foot cream as these are typically richer and thicker, providing your feet with much-needed nourishment.
Our favourite is the DU’IT Roll On Heel Balm which houses an AHA and 10% urea formula in easy-to-apply roll-on packaging, making it the ideal on-the-go option (or simply for people who don’t enjoy touching their feet on a daily basis). Or, for a luxury option, opt for the Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm, a rich formula that uses macadamia nut and sandalwood oil to tackle dry areas.
6. Massage
Ok, this one isn’t strictly necessary, but it feels pretty damn good. So, go ahead and treat yourself to a DIY foot and leg massage. Or, take it one step further and indulge in a pedicure for this one.
Words by AR Staff
Feature image courtesy of Charlotte Wales
