One problem with feet is that they’re so far from our faces, we tend to forget – and neglect – them.
Then, after being hidden in socks, boots and closed-in shoes during colder weather, the ugly, hobbity truth is revealed: cracked heels, overgrown cuticles, blisters and beyond.
- Blisters result from friction. Boots Anti Blister Stick, £3.79, applied before walking, helps prevent them, while Compeed Blister Plasters, £4.39, relieve and heal existing blisters. Above all, wear well-fitting shoes. Feet spread with age, but few of us get measured after age 20, so get yours remeasured occasionally.
- Burning balls need cushioned insole accessories (from pharmacies and selected shoe shops) because the natural padding under your feet thins with age. For pain relief, Homedics MySpa Luxury Bubble Foot Spa, £39.99, has raised nodes for a gentle massage, plus 4 rollers for a more personalised treatment.
- Cracked heels can lead to splits, pain, even infection. Treat them with a foot file or try one that’s battery-powered, such as Scholl’s cordless, rechargeable Velvet Smooth Wet & Dry Foot File, £59.99, to remove hard skin build-up, followed by a scrub cream for smoothness. Alternatively, Footner Daily Repair Cream, £8.49, promises to hydrate and repair in three days.
- Heel and arch pain can result from overstraining the thick band of tissue that runs along the underside of the foot (the plantar fascia), often as a result of wearing super-flat flipflops, pumps and Uggs. Orthotic insoles (by Scholl or Carnation Footcare, from pharmacies) will help your foot alignment, while daily foot exercises will strengthen foot muscles to ease pain that way instead. Do ten foot circles in each direction, or try picking up a pencil with your toes.
- Ingrown toenails occur when you cut and curve their corners instead of clipping straight across. Leave your nails square, but smooth the corners slightly with an emery board.
- Swollen feet result from circulation issues. Put them up for 10 minutes, or roll them over Carnation Footcare’s PediRoller, which also comes with a deliciously soothing Foot Gel, £11.79.
- Ugly, neglected nails can be improved by pushing back overgrown cuticles for neater looking nails. Too posh to push? Mavala Lightening Nails Scrub Mask, £11.70, exfoliates and smooths the nail plate before you apply base coat and colour. Better still, Foot Heaven treatments, £49 from Champneys Spas exfoliate hard skin, treat cracked heels, massage muscles, tidy cuticles, shape nails, soften with hydrating paraffin wax, then nail-paint as well. It’s bliss for feet.
Do you treat your feet?
[su_button url=”http://www.sosensational.co.uk/shop/beauty/” target=”blank” background=”#6c20b1″ size=”7″ center=”yes” radius=”0″ icon=”icon: arrow-right”]Shop Beauty[/su_button]
Leave A Reply