During winter we keep our feet firmly bundled up in woolly socks and comfy boots where they’re nice and protected from the cold weather. Then summer suddenly peeks its head around the corner, the shops fill up with irresistible sandals and we realise those sheltered tootsies will now go on display for all the world to see.
If this is a thought that fills you with horror, you needn’t despair. Beautiful-looking feet can be easily achieved by following a simple foot care regime that will banish dry skin and woeful toenails in no time.
Ditch the Dirt
The first and most important thing you can do for your feet in summer is to keep them clean. If you’re out and about in sandals, your feet are exposed to everything the outdoors can throw at them. At the end of the day, make sure to give your feet a good bath to make sure there are no lingering nasties that could lead to infections in your nails or in any cuts you might have. This is also a great way to soothe your feet and, if yours tend to feel swollen and sore in the heat, a quick cool-water bath will feel heavenly.
Give Your Feet a Facial
We tend to think of our feet as more hardy than the rest of our body, but this doesn’t mean they don’t need special treatment every so often. Good skincare starts with exfoliation so find a foot scrub that will get rid of all that hard skin (we love this Lime & Ginger Tingle Pedicure Foot Scrub from Kaeso) to make sure you don’t suffer from sore, cracked heels. If the scrub won’t cut the mustard on super-tough skin, you can also try a foot file to leave them feeling smooth and supple. Afterwards, don’t forget to moisturise with a rich, nourishing balm like Naillux’s Nourish Foot Cream. Top Tip: Slather on your foot cream just before bed then pop on some clean socks over the top for a miraculous overnight pedicure.
Toe the Line
Don’t forget your toes! Toenails need just as much care as fingernails since they suffer just as much wear in the summer, if not more. Make sure you keep them nicely filed down as long toenails can cause discomfort in shoes or tear easily in open-toed sandals (ouch!). You might find you need an emery board made of tougher stuff than the one you use on your hands; this Salon System Duraboard should do the trick. After you’ve got them looking neat, finish off your toes with a lick of paint. You’ll probably want your toenail colour to last as long as possible so choose a shade that will look good for the whole season, like the beautifully bold Juice Bar Hopping from OPI. Don’t forget to start with a long wear base coat and finish with a long wear top coat to help your toes stay chip-free all summer.
