How to Prepare Your Feet for Summer
Photo: Matheus Vinicius
It's important to take care of your feet ALL year round, but many of us are probably extra reminded of it when summer is around the corner and it's time to take the summer shoes out of the closet. Some probably don’t take care of their feet during winter because then we wear fluffy socks and indoor slippers = nobody sees our feet. But the reality is, If you don't take care of your feet continuously, you can get problems such as ingrown toenails, calluses, warts and skin fungus. That's why we want to share some useful tips on how to avoid getting foot problems and to prep your feet for summer.
1. Softening foot bath
Before you start, it's important to soak your feet in a softening foot bath! The key to smooth feet starts with clean feet. Start off by washing your feet with soap. But to be able to thoroughly clean your feet and remove ingrown winter dirt, the best tip is to soften them in a foot bath with a little foot salt. Tap up hot water in a tub or bucket. Sit for a while and then massage a foot scrub into the entire foot, then rinse off and dry your feet thoroughly (don't forget to dry between the toes to prevent skin fungus.
Tip: To avoid buying foot salt packaged in plastic containers, you might just make your own, it’s super simple. You need:
2 dl coarse salt
0.5 dl cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
10 drops of rosemary essential oil
3-4 sprigs of rosemary
Do like this:
1. Mix together salt and oil in a bowl.
2. Drip down the essential oil and, if necessary, stir in the rosemary sprigs.
3. Put in a nice glass jar or make small "tea bags" from thin cotton or linen fabric to put directly in the foot bath
2. File the feet carefully
When the feet are soft, clean and dry, it's time to take out the foot file to sweep away all calluses, dry areas and to cut the nails. But remember not to file your feet too hard or too often! It can have the opposite effect. Try to stick to once or twice a month, but feel free to maintain with a light scrub between filings. And remember, invest in a good file! And to prevent ingrown toenails try to cut the toenail straight across and not too short with sharp edges.
Photo: Apostolos Vamvouras
3. Moisturize!
Just like your face, your skin on your body and your hands, your feet also need moisture. A super tip is to go to bed with your feet heavily smeared in foot cream or a foot mask with some light cotton socks to prevent stains on your bed linen, then your feet will get a proper dose of moisture during the night.
And remember! Go barefoot! It is a good way to strengthen your feet. Choose the right shoes – they should breathe, fit well and be stable. Your feet will thank you.