It’s never too early to start thinking about flip flops. Take your tootsies
out of winter hibernation and soothe away dryness, calluses, ugly toes,
and odor with expert natural tips.
1. Add moisture.
If the cold, dry winter months left your feet parched and flaky, rich
natural butters and oils can restore lost moisture. “Shea butter—based
lotions provide some of the most effective moisturizing,” says Tara
Oolie, founder of Just Calm Down Spa in New York. For a natural
moisture boost, she recommends grape seed, sunflower, and olive oils.
Try smoothing on foot lotions rich in these ingredients every other
day, right after a shower or bath. To prevent fungal infections, wait
until feet have absorbed the lotion before putting on socks and shoes.
2. Soften calluses.
Extra pressure or friction on the foot creates these unattractive
patches of thick, hardened skin. Re-evaluating footwear and gradually
soften tough spots with regular exfoliating treatments. Try Oolie’s
easy at-home exfoliating routine: Mix 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Apply to calloused spots and gently rub in
a circular motion with a pumice stone for a few minutes. Repeat every
other day.
3. Buff nails
If you let your toe and nail routine slip over the winter and want to
eliminate excess dead skin around the cuticles, moisturize the toenail
beds, file the cuticle using a light file or a white buffer block, then
gently push back the cuticles. Cutting cuticles isn’t necessary and may
even promote more dead-skin buildup. Next, buff down thick nail ridges
with a white buffer block until smooth.
4. Eliminate odor.
It’s time for minty essential oils and a lot of fresh air—the bacteria and
fungus in sweat actually break down dead skin cells on your feet and
cause odor. To limit growth of these bad-smelling intruders, let shoes
dry out completely before slipping into them again, and avoid wearing
the same pair of shoes every day, he suggests. Oolie recommends
deodorizing your feet daily with natural products that contain
refreshing antibacterial essential oils, such as peppermint, tea tree,
and lavender.
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