Summertime means a change in weather, clothing, and activities. Shoes come off and are replaced by sandals, with feet on full display. Year round foot maintenance is recommended, but if feet have been neglected during the winter months, now is the time to get them in shape. Here are some foot care tips to keep them looking sexy all summer!
Keep Feet Clean During Summertime
The first rule of summertime is to keep feet clean! Dirty feet are unhealthy and repulsive. Walking around the mall or the kids ballgame in sandals sabotages the morning shower. Wash feet regularly to remove the dirt and grime.
Additionally, summertime usually means bare feet around the house. Instead, find comfortable flip flops that can be kicked off and slipped on easily and wear them. Make it a habit to get at least one new pair at the start of every summer. Walgreens is a bargain for flip flops with cute designs for $3.00 to $8.00, depending on how fancy you want to get. Use last year’s pair for yard work or cleaning the garage, and get rid of the ratty ones.
Attend to Dry Feet, Cracked Heels and Discolored Toenails
Wearing closed shoes during the winter can create calluses, dry skin, athlete’s foot and foot fungus. Summertime is a good time to make an extra effort to get the feet healthy again and start a maintenance routine.
- Soak feet - Feet should be soaked for 10-15 minutes as often as possible in a pedicure tub. For extra moisture and theraputic healing, add 1 cup of honey, ¼ cup olive oil or a medicated solution to the water. Honey is a natural antiseptic and can help cracked heels.
- Exfoliate feet regularly - Twice a week use a pumice stone and foot scrub containing granules (sea salt, sugar or oatmeal) to remove dead skin and calluses from the feet. Spirit of the Spa’s foot scrub contains marine extracts and sea kelp. Sally Hansen's Just Feet line has a scrub, “Spa Sugar Scrub” that contains sugar crystals, a variety of vitamins, and Olive and Tea Oils. Most scrubs can be massaged onto wet or dry feet depending on treatment required.
- Repair cracked heels - There are many products on the market to help repair cracked heels, Dr. Scholls and Sally Hansen's to name a few. Sally Hansen's Just Feet line has a “Cracked Heel Repair Crème” that can be used in conjunction with their “NightTime Heel Wrap”, which is a form fitting fabric wrap that holds the creme against the heel during the night. Cracked heels might be a symtom of a serious medical condition, so if the condition persists, a doctor should be consulted.
- Treat toenail fungus - The Mayo Clinic describes nail fungus as follows, “A nail fungal infection may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges." It is important to clear up this condition to achieve healthy nails. A physician can prescribe an oral antifungal medication, or topical medications and antifungal lacquers are available.
- Moisturize feet daily - Keep moisturizing lotion on feet during the day. Olive Oil or Merino Lanolin Skin Crème (a thick, heavy skin crème) can be used to moisturize at night, covered by socks to keep the oils on the feet.
Keep Toes Hairless!
Don't think those stubby hairs aren't noticed just because they are close to the ground! During the summer, regular shaving or waxing toes will keep the entire foot looking groomed and more feminine.
Get a Professional Pedicure or Do it Yourself
Pedicures are a must, and can be done at home if going to a salon is not in the budget. The basic steps of a pedicure include:
- Soaking feet
- Trimming the toenails and filing edges smooth
- Removal of old polish
- Exfoliating entire foot with a foot scrub
- Moisturizing the cuticle and feet
- Polishing the toenails
Olive oil is a good moisturizer for the cuticle. Be sure to apply a base coat of polish to toenails before applying colored polish, finishing with a top coat.
By keeping her feet healthy and pampering herself regularly during the summer months, a woman can achieve smooth, sexy feet worthy of the most expensive Manolo Blahnik sandals!
Resources:
Mayoclinic.com - Nail Fungus
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