During the warm summer months, your feet are constantly on display. From open-toed shoes to flip flops, you will be exposed to the outdoor elements for most of the day. The constant exposure to the sun, sand and hot concrete will leave your feet dry and rough. Here is a list of seven tips to keep your feet looking soft and fresh all summer long.
- Exfoliation – Exfoliation is a great way to get rid of dry, dead skin cells that sit on the surface. Removing these dead cells makes your skin appear brighter and gives it a smooth feeling. Moisturizer is more easily absorbed through exfoliated skin. Salt scrubs are good for detoxifying and drawing out any impurities in the skin, but can be very dehydrating causing dryness. Using a sugar scrub gives you all the benefits of a salt scrub without drying your feet.
- Avoid Soaking – Contrary to popular belief, soaking your feet can actually dehydrate your already dry feet (worsening your condition.) Instead of soaking, use an exfoliating sugar scrub on dry skin and wipe off with a moist towel.
- Pumice Stone – Using a pumice stone every or every other day in the shower is ideal. The rough stone gently removes dead skin off your feet that the heat from your shower makes soft enough to remove. Apply less pressure to soft areas, and more pressure to callused spots. Run the stone in one direction rather than back and forth.
- Moisturize – After using a pumice stone or exfoliating your feet, apply moisturizer right away. The heel of your foot has the thickest skin on your foot, making it harder to retain moisture. Immediately after showering, apply a lotion or oil to your feet. This helps lock in the moisture your feet absorbed in the shower. For better results, also apply right before bed.
- Sunscreen – Most people forget to apply sunscreen to the one body part that is out all summer long. Not only can the skin on your feet burn, your nails need protection from the sun as well. The sun, wind and sand all dry out the cuticles on your nails, which is bad for nail growth. The cuticles seal in moisture and protect are nail growth as it grows from the base of the nail.
- Eating Clean – Foods that are high in salt can cause your feet to bloat and swell. Avoiding packaged foods (that contain a lot of salt as preservatives) is a great way to keep your feet looking nice. Sugars can also cause foot puffiness.
- Breath-ability – Let your nails breathe every now and again. When given time to breathe, they can continue healthy growth patterns and rid themselves of chemical residue. This can also prevent discoloration of the nails from constant nail polish use.
Thank you to Women’s Health for the original information. You can read more here.