How to get your feet ready for sandal weather this summer
As the warmer weather approaches, it is time to get your body ready for summer. During the winter period, we tend to neglect our feet and toes, usually by suffocating them in soaks and boots. There are a variety of ways to get your feet 'summer ready' from medical pedicures to an at-home treatment. Here is everything you need to know...
How should you get your feet in tiptop condition for Spring? It might seem more convenient to drop into local nail salon to give your feet some love and attention. However, to make sure your feet are in the best condition you are better off going to a specialist such as a chiropodist where they can offer a range of treatments to suit your specific needs.
Book in for a medical pedicure
A medical pedicure goes beyond your average high street file and polish. This treatment tends to take around an hour and includes a footbath, cutting and filing nails, removal of corns and callouses, a cuticle treatment and removing dry/dead skin. The Beauchamp Foot Clinic in London has been around for over 25 years and offers a range of treatments carried out by chiropodists and podiatrists including a medical pedicure (that costs ￡95).
Vicky Wilson, specialist at the Beauchamp Foot Clinic says, 'podiatrists, like myself are trained to help you manage, and improve foot problems, the simplest of these being cracked heels or a bit of dry skin, but we will also deal with more complex needs like verrucae or ingrown toenails during our medical pedicure.' As a results your feet will look and feel 10 years younger. Margaret Dabbs, with several locations, also offers a 45 minute medical pedicure using the latest innovative equipment ensuring long-lasting results (priced at ￡85 for 45mins).
A regular pedicure
If you're rushed for time, there’s a plethora of exciting nail bars and salons that will clean up your feat, jazz up your nails and have you out the door in a matter of minutes. To relax and unwind head to one of the Cowshed spas, their Ultimate Cowshed Pedicure includes a classic pedicure (￡70) plus a hydrating foot mask follow by a deeply relaxing scalp and shoulder massage to relieve any tension.
Fancy some nail art? For something funky head to Sharmadean Reid’s WAH nails or Polish'd, that recently opened in Holland Park. If you prefer something more understated go to DryBy where they have an amazing selection of simple designs that are perfect for everyday. For a quick gel pedicure, NailsInc have a few nail bars in a number of House of Fraser's nationwide where you have over 100 colours to chose from which lasts up to three weeks.
At-home foot treatments
Looking after your feet and getting them ready for summer doesn't mean you have to splash out on weekly pedicures. There are some amazing products and treatments that you can do at home. Specialist Margaret Dabbs says that 'what people often don't understand is that the correct products used in the right way can really make a big difference. For example, it is important that feet are always filed when the skin is dry - that is before you have showered.'
The reasons why this is essential is because 'a foot that has been bathed masks the areas that need to be treated - you simply cannot see the dry skin or callus in the same way,' says Dabbs. Vicky Wilson also explains that, 'all foot creams should contain a small amount of Urea, usually 10%. This is what our bodies produce naturally, to moisturise our skin, so it is what we need to replenish our dry or damaged skin on the feet.'
Four of the best foot creams
CCS Foot Care Cream is incredibly effective in controlling dry and rough skin. It works by softening hard, dry skin helping to keep it soft and supple whist preventing further problems developing.
This heel balm is clinically proven to control the most severe cases of rough, dry skin and cracked heel. It contains 25% Urea, that is naturally found in the body to help break down hard skin.
The Chemistry Brand Heel Hydration Complex, ￡11.90
This cream is designed specifically to hydrate cracked skin whilst hydrating from below the surface to prevent traditional hard skin cycle.
Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish, ￡34
This exfoliating polish can be used on your legs or feet and is designed to leave you skin energised and delicately fragranced.