This is a guest post by Rebecca Chopin for Vitacost.com. Thanks Rebecca!
Your sandals have seen better days—literally. Hot ones. When hitting the beach or running out for a late-night, double-dip cone required little more than a sundress and slip-ons. But with summer fading fast, out come the bulky boots, the clunky heels and those extra-thick, cold-battling wool socks. Your perfectly painted toes? They’re about to see their last light of day, until spring.
Now’s a great time to treat your tootsies to some change-of-season pampering, and to prep them for the months of confinement ahead. Here are five easy steps for happy feet this fall.
Start with a soak. Walking around barefoot all summer may have your feet feeling rough. Give them a good soak—at least 10 minutes—in a basin of warm water, with a cup of coconut milk and two tablespoons of honey swirled in. Coconut is naturally moisturizing, while honey has been used for centuries for its skin-soothing properties.
Lose the layers. You know exfoliating is important. It sweeps away dead, dry cells clinging to your skin’s surface so a fresh, new layer shines through. For your face, you’ll do anything. But most of us neglect our poor, pavement-pounding feet, locking them into stiff shoes for two straight seasons a year. To keep calluses and cracks away, try bi-weekly buff sessions using a pumice stone and a simple scrub made from equal parts olive oil and brown sugar.
Cut back. Bidding farewell to flip flops isn’t a green light for letting your toenails go. Even if you’re the only one who sees them, toenails should be kept short, straight and clean. This, of course, ensures comfort in those fashionable, toe-pinching heels; but, more importantly, it keeps sweaty-sock bacteria from building up and causing ugly yellowing or infection. Use sharp clippers and round edges with a medium-grit file.
Soften up. Scales belong on snakes—not your feet. Make moisturizing a priority after showers, applying foot cream liberally to all foot surfaces, except between toes (where fungus likes to form). For extra silky softness, squeeze the contents of a vitamin E capsule into a small bowl with an even blend of olive and almond oil. Massage the mixture into your feet before bedtime, tuck them into cozy socks and rinse clean in the morning. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a little extra “ahhhhh.”
Step safely. Those stiletto thigh-high boots might be to die for, but you don’t actually want them sending you to the E.R. Choose comfort over style whenever possible, and play Cinderella while shopping: shoes should fit perfectly—not too tight, or you’ll have pain and swelling, or too loose, which brings on blisters. Finally, to avoid really falling back this fall, stick non-slip grips pads on the bottom of all high-heeled footwear.
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