Beauty

Sandal-ready: 5 Foot-care staples you need to treat your feet right

Who let the dogs out?

11.12.2023

By Redzhanna Jazmin

Image: Instagram/@nelissahilman
Sandal-ready: 5 Foot-care staples you need to treat your feet right

Get your feet in fighting shape with our foot care guide—complete with tips and shopping links!

We’ll be the first to admit that foot care has never really been at the top of our beauty priority list. After all, with hair care, skincare, and hand care to worry about, who has the time to think about anything below the shin? That said, with the return of ballet flats in full force, we’ve been faced with the consequences of our neglect head-on.

Cracked heels, peeling toes, and unsavoury smells become a lot more apparent when your feet are suffocating, eh? That’s just the beginning; there are so many reasons to get yourself on top of your foot care routine, and—lucky for you—we’re here to help you out on that front.

Dig your heels in—this one’s sobering: Find our five must-have items for foot care below.

 

Something to scrub with…

By now, we’re just going to assume that you already do wash your feet in the shower (top, sides, bottom, and in between toes). If you don’t… do better. Washing your feet regularly and thoroughly is the best way to stave away compromising smells and nasty foot fungus alike.

In fact, while you’re there and you’ve already got the skin of your foot soaked and softened, just take an exfoliator to the area, too. The bacteria on your feet feed on the sweat and dead cell buildup in the area, releasing the stink you may be familiar with. Ergo, regularly washing away sweat and scrubbing away any dead skin cells reduces the food source of said bacteria to help you solve your odourous issues. Plus, exfoliation encourages skin cell turnover, which will help to keep your feet smooth and sandal-ready.

Need help with recommendations? Find our picks for exfoliating heroes here:

SHOP: So Eco Natural Lava Pumice

TRY: Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose – Coconut Oil Body Polish

TRY: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub With 10% AHA

TRY: Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Smoothing Body Sand Scrub

 

Something for the DIY pedicures…

READ: Perfectly polished every time: The correct way to paint your nails

Can’t be bothered to head to the nail salon? No worries—anything the pros can do, you can do with varying success. On a real note, keeping your toenails spick and span is key to staving off unsavoury odours, and you’ll need a good nail kit to get the job done well. While it’s tempting to stick to the bog-standard, minimalist routine—i.e. trimming your toenails and skipping right to the polish without a second thought—we urge you to take the same care with your feet as you would with your hands.

The benefits of a thorough pedicure routine extend far beyond a pampering session. Your toenails are significantly thicker than the nails on your fingers, so soaking and softening them before trimming is necessary to ensure a smooth cut. Further, taking the time to prep your toenails for polish makes a huge difference in lasting power.

So, what do we recommend? Why, a fully-decked-out pedicure kit, of course!

SHOPCowshed Pedicure Kit

 

Something to treat with…

Masking up is a staple of self-care, that’s no secret. Here’s an idea, though: The next time you sit down for a mini-facial, include your feet too!

As there are sheet masks for the face, there are sheet masks for your feet. Whether you need a deep peel or just some hefty hydration, there’s a foot mask out there for you. Ahead, find our particular favourites!

SHOP: Starskin The Gold Mask™ Foot – Softening Foot Mask

SHOP: Nails Inc Thirsty Hands Super Hydrating Foot Mask

 

Something to soothe…

Image: Getty Images

Suffering from dry, cracked heels and peeling, irritated skin on your feet? Sounds like you’re in need of a good foot cream. Your feet get a lot of wear and tear from walking around all day (even if it is just from your couch to your fridge), and they deserve a little TLC from time to time.

In fact, slathering a little foot cream on once in a while is the absolute bare minimum of foot care—it keeps those heels from cracking and nourishes your hard-working pads. Here are our personal favourites:

SHOP: Aveda Foot Relief

SHOP: Mario Badescu Elbow & Heel Smoothing Cream

 

Something to pamper…

Ever wish you had an on-call reflexologist? Well, now you do. Allow us to introduce: The foot massager.

SHOPOGAWA Tapping Foottee Foot Massager

Alternatively, if you’d really like to turn up the pamper factor, we suggest a foot spa and massager duo. Yes, it’s not a total necessity, per se, but it is a worthwhile splurge if you’re looking to save on in-store pedicures moving forward!

SHOPRio Deluxe Foot Spa & Massager

There you have it—our guide to the absolute foot care necessities. Hope it helps!

 

Find more self-care stories like this here.

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