Thick socks, boots, hot baths and a lack of motivation for grooming are the major reasons our feet look worse for wear as soon as winter comes to an end. But don’t despair – a little bit of grooming goes a long way. Try some of these easy steps to get your feet looking their best this summer.
Cleanse and soak
Before you can start getting rid of dry skin or moisturising your feet, you need to soak them to soften the (sometimes) hard skin. We love Sally Hansen Revitalizing Foot Soak, R119.95. Filled with soothing lavender, it helps cleanse and soften the feet. Add a capful to your basin filled with warm (not hot) water and soak your feet for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse well before drying them.
Give ‘em a scrub
It’s important to exfoliate your feet regularly, as it’s the only way of really getting rid of dry and dead skin cells. Find a good scrub that isn’t too harsh and that still nourishes the skin in some way, and be sure to apply it in gentle circular motions. We love Greenland Foot Scrub in Mint-Lavender, R40. It leaves skin feeling fresh and revitalized, and has a softening effect too.
Moisturise and hydrate
After all that soaking and scrubbing, your feet will be more than ready for their dose of moisturisation. If you’re about to go to bed, rub in some moisturizer and put cotton socks on – your skin will feel amazing by the time the morning comes! If you have sensitive skin, try Epi-Max Foot Cream Nourishing Foot Therapy, R40. It contains no artificial colourants or fragrances. Very dry or rough feet? Then Eucerin Intensive Foot Cream 10% Urea with Lactate, R114.99, is for you. The oil-in-water emulsion helps prevent moisture loss and reduces calluses, cracks and pressure marks.
Polish it
Soft, pretty feet are taken to a whole new level when you apply a little bit of polish. This summer, choose a bright pop of tangerine, coral or hot pink. Fun and funky colours brighten up your outfit and look super cute in pretty summer sandals.
Want the pampering but don’t have the energy? Book yourself a pedicure as a special treat – you won’t regret it!
Other articles you may be interested in:
How to create a spa day at home
Do your own pedi
On the subject of toenails
Trimming your toenails
Salon nail treatments
17 Responses
my feet are terrible, after the long year I need to do all of the above. I am going to use the Sally Hansen Revitalizing Foot Soak, I think that if your feet look good you will feel good too
Love the Eucerin range. I loving doing my feet, so relaxing.
I wouldn’t mind a foot massage over and above all this.
A great scrub & soak does wonders. I love Avon & Oh So Heavenly products. Works well, smells great & not so pricey!
This is some really great tips!! Nothing makes a pair of sandals look as good as some feet taken well care of!
Nothing says summer has arrived more than a pretty pair of well manicured feet in open sandals!
A good scrub to start off gosh I do get ticklish under my feet so I should do it myself
What about dry exfoliation? Like rubbing away dry skin with a foot file or pumice stone. Is that effective or is it better to soak feet first?
I usually start with the foot file, then the soaking and last the moisturising
There’s nothing that ruins a pair of beautiful sandals quite as fast as a pair of dry, cracked heels. I find that my feet are generally more beautiful by the end of winter, because they’ve been protected in socks all year round. It’s the summer sandals that cause those dreaded dry heels. There are excellent tips in this article. I will be sure to implement them in my ‘footsie’ routine. A pair of sexy feet is an under-appreciated asset!