Well-groomed feet say a lot about personal hygiene. Everyone wants to have beautiful feet! So how easy is it to keep them in tip-top condition?

Caring for your feet is not only important from a hygiene and grooming point of view but also for staying active and comfortable throughout your life. If your feet are not healthy, walking can become painful. They take a lot of pounding from walking, running, dancing and exercise, as they support your weight while you move your body around.    

If you want to keep your feet looking their best, you should take steps to preserve and maintain them. Here are some ways to keep your feet looking healthy and beautiful all year round.

Wear shoes that fit

Make sure you wear comfortable and well-fitting shoes. The wrong shoes will ruin your feet pretty quickly. Shoes that are too small or just rub your feet the wrong way can cause unsightly blisters and corns. You should be especially careful when bringing home a new pair. Most shoes take awhile to wear in. So don’t wear new high heels three days in a row!

Soak your feet

Everyone at some point will have rough or dry skin. To keep them soft and clean, you should regularly soak your feet in a foot bowl of warm water and add some coconut oil with a few drops of rose essential oil. Coconut oil is the perfect ingredient for foot health as it’s anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties fight fungal and bacterial infections.

If you have cracked feet try Epsom salts to facilitate the healing process and promote circulation. The magnesium in Epsom salt promotes skin health and draws out toxins. The salts are the perfect remedy to dispel foot sweat, bacteria and door’s. Repeat the ritual below daily for two or three days.

• Add one-half cup of Epsom salt in a foot tub filled with warm water.
• Soak your feet in it for 10 minutes.
• Gently rub your feet with a pumice stone for a few minutes.
• Put your feet back in the Epsom salt soak for another 10 minutes.
• Finally, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a moisturizer.

Scrub your feet regularly

After you’ve soaked your feet for a while, it’s important to give them a good scrub to smooth away rough or dry areas. You can use a foot or facial scrub or you can take your feet out of the water and use a pumice stone to massage the rough areas. Remember a pumice stone is more effective when your feet are still damp and you should always go with the grain of your feet.

Moisturise the skin

If you want your feet to feel baby soft, you need to invest in a good foot cream or use natural oils. In general, your feet need a thicker cream than the rest of your body, as the skin on your feet is also thicker. Choose a cream with Vitamin E and coconut oil to keep your feet at their smoothest. Coconut oil foot massage is another simple way to soothe and hydrate tired feet. If you have some serious dry skin issues on your feet, try an overnight moisturizing treatment: simply massage your feet with cocoa butter and then, put on your favorite pair of cotton socks. Your feet will feel much softer when you wake up in the morning.

Let Your Feet Breathe

It’s a good habit to take your shoes off after you get home, so that you can let your feet breathe. Otherwise, the sweat that builds up in your shoes during the day will continue to wear on your feet after hours. If you allow dirt and sweat to stay on your feet longer than necessary, you’re creating a breeding ground for athlete’s foot and other diseases.

Regular Pedicures

Why not start now to give your feet some rest and recovery. Treat yourself to some preening and pampering over the next few months, to make sure they are perfectly healthy and handsome for summer 2015. You can be assured it will be a delight to step into flip-flops with beautiful, good-looking feet!

Annie Moore ITEC,TChA,ITHMA clinical aromatherapist, massage, yoga teacher and owner of Vidatherapy Spa, Teddington, Middlesex. E info@vidatherapy.co.uk. FB wwwfacebook.com/vidatherapyspa.