Ladies!
Summer is just around the corner so soon we’ll dig out our ankle-straps, slip-slops and suede high heels that show our feet. But do you really have something to show?
Foot Skin After Winter
Feet have a hard time during winter. They’re actually hidden most of the time because we wear warm socks and heavy shoes, and such conditions contribute to scrapes and blisters. Yet, these imperfections aren’t the only bothering thing. Foot skin concerns that appear once the winter is over include dryness, irritations, reddens and cracking. You wouldn’t be bothered by those problems if your feet weren’t sweating underneath the thick layers of materials for a few months straight.
This results in the fact that in spring the feet:
- are irritated, reddened and itchy
- have dry, thin and tight skin
- are “decorated” with bad-looking corns
- are often dehydrated and has cracking heels
- sometimes are lacerated
How To Prepare Feet for the Summer?
I’ve learnt that after winter feet need to receive the right treatments to make them ready for the upcoming warm months. But… how to do it correctly? No worries! I’ve got some tried and tested foot treatments and I truly hope you will make use, at least of some of them.
DIY FOOT SCRUB
The very first thing that should be done is exfoliation. Obviously you’ll need a scrub, best if coarse, prepared at home (combine sugar/salt with a chosen cosmetic oil). Apply it on clean feet, best if you kept them in warm water for a while first. Massage the foot scrub to get rid of dead skin cells and make the feet smoother. Alternatively, you can use enzymatic peel available in the form of super convenient exfoliating socks, but from my experience I can tell you that the effects created by exfoliating socks aren’t long-lasting, meaning that skin returns to its previous state fast.
OIL FOOT SOAK
I can’t imagine not making home SPA for my feet in spring. Most often I reach for cosmetic oils such as argan oil, almond oil, grape seed oil or this long-known olive oil. The good news is that the treatment commonly known as foot soak requires you to warm up water, warm up oil, combine both ingredients (I use 2 spoons per a bowl of water) and dip the feet, keeping them submerged for at least 15 minutes. Later, when you pull the feet out, don’t use a towel but massage the oil into the feet – help it penetrate skin.
NOURISHING FOOT MASK
My foot SPA also includes all types of foot masks. I love preparing them on my own, using for example oat flakes, honey, oil, flaxseed gel, yogurt and banana. Actually, most ingredients that you already have in your kitchen can be used to moisturize and nourish the skin. But you can also buy a foot mask in a drugstore and apply it for better-looking skin.
GOOD FOOT CREAM
On a day to day basis, leave-in foot creams work perfectly fine. All you have to do is put a portion of the cream on the feet, spread it evenly, wait until it penetrates the skin and you’re ready to go. Personally I choose oil-infused creams, or formulated with urea, alantone and obviously honey. If you keep applying foot cream daily, you’ll surely notice a difference in the way your feet look, and therefore you will be looking forward to putting on your summer footwear.
A HUGE AMOUNTS OF SHEA BUTTER
I saved my top foot product, which is shea butter, for last. I keep telling everyone how many benefits it has for the skin but nobody seems to believe me until they try it. Therefore, I’d encourage you to give shea butter a try! It’s thick but when in contact with skin, it melts immediately, enveloping feet with a super fine smoothing coating. I love this effect because it makes me feel that the skin is silky smooth and nourished like never before. And shea butter is 100% natural so you can use it without worrying about irritations because you won’t get any!