With wintertime comes the holidays, lots of visits with family and friends (maybe not quite so much this year), leaves changing around us, and those colder temperatures that tend to keep us indoors. This shift in the weather causes us great joy but can also cause some pain. Dry, tough feet are something that happens year-round, but this problem can become exaggerated in the winter.
With nail places mostly closed up now, a professional pedicure is not an option for many. However, there are things that you can do at home to remedy your sad feet. While there is no best way to get smooth feet at home; here is a list of some great options that might work for you.
The first solution that comes to most people's minds to remedy dry, cracked feet is to simply remove this layer of unhealthy skin. There are tons of exfoliators on the market today that are recommended to bring that baby smooth feel back. Make sure you don’t overdo it as you may damage your skin by being too abrasive.
Using a homemade mix can also save you some money in the process, some ingredients you probably have already that will work great are:
Using a pumice stone is another great way to exfoliate your feet. After soaking your feet to soften the skin, a pumice stone can be used to remove calluses and dry areas. Make sure that you clean your pumice stone every couple of weeks with bleach or another cleaner as they can breed bacteria.
Adding a hydrating layer to your damaged skin is the second solution that most think about when trying to repair their skin. When choosing a moisturizer for your skin or specifically your feet it is important to note that there are a few different types of moisturizers.
The main types of moisturizers are emollient, humectant, and occlusive. Emollient moisturizers penetrate the skin and reduce water loss. Humectant moisturizers also penetrate the skin but actually attract water from the air and maintain moisture, in dry conditions they draw water from the inner layers of the skin which may actually cause further drying. Adding an occlusive moisturizer as a second layer might be the best way to get smooth feet. Occlusive moisturizers coat the skin in a layer of film that prevents water from evaporating.
After you’ve exfoliated and moisturized keeping that moisture in is key. Wearing socks to bed after your foot routine could make all the difference and be the best way to get smooth feet. By wearing 100% cotton socks to sleep you keep moisture in but also allow the skin to breathe. Wearing socks will also keep your moisturizers on your feet and out of your sheets. Adding this step should soften heels especially after multiple treatments.
If you're experiencing incredibly dry and cracking skin on your feet the best way to get smooth feet might be by applying a bandaid, specifically a liquid bandaid. Liquid, gel, or spray bandages can be used to cover cracked skin and provide a more durable barrier to lock in moisture and facilitate healing. Bandaids can also reduce pain, accelerate healing and protect against dirt and germs.
We know that diet impacts basically every aspect of our lives but we might forget that this extends to our feet. Possibly the best way to get smooth feet from a biological standpoint is to improve the quality of your overall skin. Changes in your diet can not only make you feel better but can also have evident effects on your appearance.
Making sure you have the proper vitamins from a variety of foods will definitely help. Also staying hydrated is crucial to having soft skin. Drink as much water as possible, if water isn’t your drink of choice, try supplementing with tea or coffee without sugar.
While there might not be a universal best way to get smooth feet these are all great suggestions of simple things you could do to achieve this goal. Like most things, consistency is key. Regularly exfoliate, moisturize and hydrate to keep all of your skin looking its best. When it comes to your feet there are a few specific tricks like cotton socks and liquid bandages that might give you that added moisture you’re searching for. Trial and error is important as no two feet are exactly alike. Try out different products and routines so that you can figure out what works best for you. Best of luck!
Written by Kiana St. Onge
