Six Steps to Perfect Feet

Open sandals have taken over the streets, and we all know what that means: it is essential to prepare and groom your feet to be as beautiful as your favorite footwear. The winter months and closed shoes have made many complacent, and foot care has fallen by the wayside. The fashion industry has already released a plethora of modern sandals and open-toed shoes to the market, and no one wants to horrify their friends and colleagues with neglected, cracked feet.

But you don’t have to worry; here’s what you need to do:

1. After being closed in socks, shoes, and boots for months, everyone’s feet have at least a few patches of dry skin. If this condition lasts too long, the skin can crack or a fungal infection may occur. The first step in foot care is a soak. Make it by dissolving 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 25 drops of lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil in warm water. Keep your feet in the water for 15 to 20 minutes. This softens hard skin and nails. After that, carefully dry the skin between your toes and the rest of your foot. It is important to keep your feet dry at all times.
2. Some parts of the feet may be more calloused than others, so soak your feet again and get to work on peeling away the hard and thickened skin. There are numerous tools on the market to remove dead skin, but one of the most natural is scraping with a pumice stone, which gently removes flaky skin. You can also use appropriate brushes that will additionally stimulate circulation in your legs.
3. Like the rest of your body, your legs have important muscles that need to be strengthened to improve the condition and support of your entire body. For example, take a small towel or sock, place it on the floor, and lift it off the ground with your toes, holding it for 10 seconds before releasing. Repeat the exercise five times with each leg. Then spread your toes for five seconds and repeat the exercise five times with each leg. For the next exercise, do it while standing; lean against the back of a chair or dresser, balance on one leg while standing on your toes for about 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times with each leg.
4. When trimming your nails, be careful to cut them straight and not too short to avoid ingrown nails. Professionals recommend cutting nails with clippers or nail scissors rather than regular scissors. Then file the nail so that the edges are smooth. If necessary, polish the nail with gentle files that often have varying degrees of coarseness, from rough to fine for a finishing shine. Do not cut the cuticles around the nails; just gently push them back, as you would with fingernails.
5. Get a moisturizer in a lotion designed to improve circulation in the feet, such as rosemary or peppermint, and take some time to thoroughly massage it into your feet. You will enjoy this ritual, especially during the summer heat. Apply a thin layer of lotion to your palms, lift your legs, and gently wrap your hands from one side of the leg to the other, as if wringing out a towel. Gently massage your feet with both thumbs, starting from the toes to the heel. It would be good for this little massage to become a daily habit while you watch your favorite TV show, for example.
6. Pamper your feet with special moisturizing creams that will soften and smooth your feet. If the skin on your feet is extremely dry, use a cream that contains urea as it helps bind water in the deeper layers of the skin or one based on keratin. And in the evening before bed, apply petroleum jelly to your legs to soften the skin.

As for more significant issues like bunions, calluses, or corns, it is better to consult a doctor or podiatrist. If you have mild fungal issues, you can resolve them with numerous products from the pharmacy, and if the problem persists, do consult a doctor.

And finally, all that’s left is to paint your nails with one of the many modern nail polish shades, and then you can carefree show off your legs in new sandals.