If you’ve ever wondered why your feet give you such grief, remember that their 26 delicate bones support your entire bodyweight 24/7/365.
And whenever you walk, the weight increases – by as much as 4000% when you run.
In fact, it’s been estimated that during the average day’s walk, the pressure on your feet can be equivalent to a fully loaded cement lorry. But do we say Thank You? Do we, heck. Ingrates every one of us.
In summer, feet are under more pressure than ever. Besides being more prone to swelling, we abuse them more. For example, being uncovered, rather than in protective socks or tights, means they tend to dry out, leading to cracked heels that may split and bleed; while sweating makes them slip back and forth in your sandals, causing friction and then blisters, corns, calluses and hard skin. So how can we help them, especially in sweaty weather, when they can produce half a pint of perspiration in one day?
First, indulge them with the same kind of attention that you give the rest of your body. Chances are, your cellulite gets more attention than feet. So next time you wash them in the bath or shower, give them a good exfoliating treatment. To buff off thick hard skin, try Scholl Pedi Velvet Smooth Electronic Pedicure Foot File, £29.99 or Newton’s Chiropody Sponge, £2.35. Afterwards, whisk off residual flakiness and roughness with The Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Pumice Foot Scrub, £7 to leave them beautifully smooth.
Next, get toenails into shape at both ends. Soaking them first helps soften them for easier cutting, although clippers are often better than scissors for tough nails. At the cuticle end, massage in Margaret Dabbs Bare Feet Conditioning Nail & Cuticle Serum, £8.50 from M&S. Rub it in regularly for supple, easy-to-nudge-back cuticles.
For colour, apply nail base coat under polish to prevent staining, then as a change from one single shade on all ten toes, try two different ones on alternating nails. I love bright blue and hot pink, but other gorgeous duos include blazing orange with bold fuchsia, metallic silver and glistening gold, ritzy plum plus golden-bronze, pearlescent grey with glittering peach, or ivory pearl and shimmering nude. Follow with a generous application of Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream, £23, which contains anti-fungal arnica as well as moisturising nut oils and myrrh. Massage it in well to ease general aches, pains, tiredness and swelling, and also to bring fresh blood to the area to improve colour, tone and circulation.
Finish your summer footcare with a refreshing blast of Carnation Fresh Foot Odour Control Spray, £4.15 to help keep feet sweet, then, before putting on your shoes, sweep on Compeed Anti Blister Stick, £4.26 to reduce the rubbing that leads to blisters, corns and calluses. Stroke it over vulnerable spots, such as little toes or the ball of the foot, and you’ll stave off those burning balls, feet of flames and tootsie torments of all kinds.
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