5 Tips for Beautiful Feet

Beautiful feet are often hard to come by. Our feet bear the brunt of our weight, and incur a lot of abuse carrying us throughout the day. Uncomfortable shoes, improper care and conditions such as athlete's foot can really affect the way your feet look. Maintaining your feet is a matter of health as well as good grooming. Check out these 5 tips for beautiful feet.

Tips for Beautiful Feet - Tip 1

Clip, Clip, Clip

The first step to getting great-looking feet is caring for your toenails. Having jagged, too long, or ingrown toenails makes feet look nasty. Start clipping regularly - some people check their toenails once a week, others look for unsightly growth after every shower. Hair and nail growth can differ from person to person or even depending on dietary changes, so at the very least make sure to spot-check every so often. Overgrown toenails can also get caught on your socks, which can turn painful.

To clip your toenails properly, first put something underneath you such as a sheet of paper - or clip directly over a wastebasket. This will catch the clippings, keeping your home sanitary and stopping you from stepping on them later! Cut straight across - toenail clippers are already gently curved, don't try to "round out" the nail edges as this is what often causes ingrown toenails. Clippers can start to get dull after a while - if you notice your toenails don't "snap" off and seem to bend when you try to clip, it may be time to replace them.

Tips for Beautiful Feet - Tip 2

Handle the Ouch

Lots of little painful things can occur on the feet. Blisters, bunions, athlete's foot...not very pleasant, especially when your shoe rubs up against them. If you're walking around on injured feet, now's the time to stop. Any injuries need to be treated - sprays such as Lamisil for athlete's foot, cushioned bandages for blisters, etc.. Check out the foot care aisle at your local pharmacy to find the right items for what ails you.

If you've got persistent issues with your feet, including frequent bunions, hardcore athlete's foot, or toenail fungus - make sure to contact your doctor. They may be able to prescribe stronger treatments to help you find relief.

Tips for Beautiful Feet - Tip 3

Check Out Your Shoes!

One of the most important ways to protect your feet from injury is by wearing the right shoes. Shoes that pinch, rub, or hurt excessively - no matter how cute or fashionable they are - need to be taken out of your rotation. If there are things you can do to improve their fit (such as adding a pair of inserts or giving up on your triple-thick tube socks), by all means do it. Don't suffer for fashion.

Are you even sure you're wearing the right size? Have your feet measured by a professional at a shoe store. They'll be able to tell you not only which size you are, but whether you have any special width needs. Ask about which brands they carry that fit your type of foot best - salesmen often know whether a particular brand runs narrow or a half-size small.

Tips for Beautiful Feet - Tip 4

Exfoliate

Another way to pretty up your feet is by exfoliating. This removes all the dry, hard, skin that can make them appear rough and ashen. In the shower, make sure to use a pumice stone on any areas prone to dryness - the heel and ball of the foot are often the roughest spots. Don't rub too hard, you don't want to scrub off your skin!

If your feet are especially rough (or you're preparing to show them during the warmer months), you might want to also use an exfoliating product on them. Some scrubs are specially designed for the feet, such as Bliss Foot Patrol. This has a yummy peppermint scent, which is common for foot products. If you're budget-conscious, standard drugstore scrubs such as St. Ives Apricot Scrub (or the store brand equivalent) will also help you slough off dead, dry skin to reveal your beautiful feet underneath.

Tips for Beautiful Feet - Tip 5

Moisturize

Last but not least, keep your feet well-moisturized. This will keep them looking and feeling fresh and healthy, working in chorus with the previous steps. Moisturizing products are best applied just out of the shower, while the skin is still damp. The shower's heat helps to open up pores, making them more able to lock in the lotion. Don't walk around on your feet until the moisturizer has set in, you might just want to sit on the edge of the tub while you wait.

Before bed is also a great time to apply moisturizer, especially if your skin is extra thirsty. Use a thick moisturizer such as Eucerin and then put on a pair of socks to keep your feat soaking in moisture all night long. Vaseline also works surprisingly well, give it a try.

Enjoy your beautiful feet!