Spring Ready Feet

It’s been a long, cold winter that finally seems to be on its way out. After a season of being locked in boots and sneakers, your feet need a little pampering before you step out in your new strappy footwear like these Shaded Palms sandals from Reef.com. These steps are here to help!

To begin a little spring cleaning for your feet, kick it off with a warm water soak. Fill a foot-sized tub with tepid water and add one cup of Epsom salts and one cup of baking soda; this will soothe tired feet and provide some softening and soothing action. If you like, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. The foot soak will soften your calluses and help to slough off dead skin cells, preparing your feet for the next step, buffing. Apply a foot file or a pumice stone to all parts of your feet, starting where the calluses are the thickest and moving back and forth gently. Rinse again, and pat dry gently. Filing or buffing your feet should not hurt; if it does, stop immediately. You should never press hard enough to break the skin. When your feet are dry, you should clip and buff your toenails and trim your cuticles. If your toenails are discolored, try an application of lemon juice to the nails.

Your newly soft and smooth feet will need some added moisture and protection from the elements, so proceed immediately after with lotion, or even better an oil based cream, such as shea or cocoa butter creams. If you desire even more moisture for your feet, moisturize thoroughly and then wear a clean pair of natural fiber socks overnight. This will perk up even the weariest of tootsies, and is a good stopping point, but a bright nail polish will help blast away the last of the winter blues, and looks just as great with a pair of cute and strappy sandals as it does with your go-to flipflops. If you don’t feel like colored polish, consider a clear polish base coat to protect your at home pedicure. Enjoy your new spring ready feet!