Foot Products to Treat Your Feet

Don’t just stand around and ignore your tired toes, make them positively twinkle

By Janetta Mackay

Tuesday Aug. 16, 2016

1/7

Scholl Velvet Smooth Wet & Dry Foot File $79.99. Faster than scraping away with a conventional file or pumice stone, this dual-speed electronic foot file uses a roller to gently and easily remove hard skin. It is rechargeable, although another less-expensive model uses batteries, with both having replaceable heads. From selected pharmacies and supermarkets.

This Works Perfect Heels Rescue Balm $40. Aesthetically pleasing balm formula and fragrance that uses extracts of cotton thistle and refreshing lemon oil. This Works is an English range started by a former beauty editor. From Mecca Cosmetica, visit meccacosmetica.co.nz

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Foot Cream $9.79. Much like your feet, this is an everyday workhorse. If you really want to slather it on, put on a pair of cotton socks and take it on a sleepover. This inexpensive, effective softening cream is available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Hand Chemistry Heel Hydration Complex $39.99. Dealing to digits is what this British company specialises in, moving from hands to feet. This contains no acids, urea or peeling ingredients, the idea being its actives, including calendula and marine extracts, aim to soften the surface and deeply hydrate rather than focus on removing hard skin. From selected pharmacies.

The Herb Farm Soothe & Heal Cream $27.90. If New Zealand-made and natural is important to you, this is a soothing option containing organic flaxseed oil. Designed to help delicate skins troubled with eczema, it does double duty on irritated feet. Herb Farm also says flaxseed oil taken as a supplement will hydrate from within. Stockists visit herbfarm.co.nz

Margaret Dabbs Foot Oil $58. This spray-on dry oil has been developed as part of a range by a renowned British pedicurist. It is non-greasy and intensely hydrating for both skin and nails and unusually contains emu oil. Dabbs also looked to Australia for its zippy lemon myrtle scent. From East Day Spa, Auckland, visit eastdayspa.co.nz

Linden Leaves Foot Reviver $22.99. This spray is from a foot range with an appealing sage and lemongrass essential oil aroma and anti-bacterial properties. Spritz on to refresh feet or try the scrub and massage cream. Combining natural care and gift giving is the forte of Christchurch-based Linden Leaves, which also offers two foot care kits with travel-sized products. Stockists visit lindenleaves.com

Down at heel and trodden under — pity our poor neglected feet. Quite how they are seen as fetish objects is quite beyond me, but they do deserve some self love. In winter it is tempting just to stow them away hoping that, with a quick lick of paint, come spring they will emerge prettily shod in sandals. Yet, all too often, the previous summer’s neglect ends up being compounded by a chilly season rubbed up in sturdy boots.

Instead, use the display downtime to restore them to well moisturised softness and address any ugly issues. These range from spelling discoloured and dehydrated nails from over-lacquering, to dealing with dry and hardened edges, or nipping any in-growns or infections in the bud with over-the-counter topical treatments. (Persistent foot problems should be referred to your GP or a podiatrist).

Should you go overboard on fashion’s current flirtation with pointy shoes, you put your toes in further peril, running the risk of squeezing the sides, leading to the formation of bunions, surely one of the world’s least appealing words.

Thankfully, footwear is no longer prescriptive, so most women now mix their choices up enough to avoid the crippling injuries podiatrists of earlier eras commonly dealt with. But there is also a genetic component to your risk of developing bony enlargement on stressed areas, so be mindful not just of contorting toe-crunchers and too high heels, but even lace-ups shaped too narrowly for your foot type.

Those who exercise often should pay special attention to wearing the correct footwear for their needs and may require orthotic inners. Gym goers may wish to consider wearing Jandals in the showers and everyone should remember to dry feet thoroughly because bacteria loves to breed in warm, damp places. If you use a nail bar, keep an eye on its hygiene standards as unsterilised tools and over-vigorous cuticle trimming can cause infections.

Moving on to sweeter subjects, how about simply giving your feet a welcome soak in warm water fragranced with a few drops of tea tree, peppermint or lavender essential oil and a scoop of detoxifying Epsom salts. Push your toe cuticles back, lightly pumice any rough edges, rinse and dry then apply a cuticle oil which will also condition brittle nails. Finish by rubbing in a soothing foot cream. There are plenty to choose from, many smelling of peppermint, or for variety use an inexpensive hand or body cream instead. Then, go on, put your feet up and relax, they deserve a break.