In This Story:
After a long week of deadlines, wrapping up crucial presentations, and (necessary or unnecessary) meetings made me so worn-out and tired, that I decided to stay home, cancel all plans with my friends, and make way for ‘Self Care Saturday’ I mean, is there a better way of blowing off steam than doing a satiating face mask, sipping on a few glasses of rosé and indulging in the reruns of Keeping Up With The Kardashians? Not in my books! And, as I found myself lost in another gripping episode riddled with shenanigans, a sight made me snap out of my stupor and prompted me into action. My neglected feet were in desperate need of some TLC and were calling out to me — something that I had been conveniently putting off for days. Amidst the 10-step exhaustive AM and PM skincare regimen and oiling rituals, foot care had been consigned to the last spot and finally dropped off the list. To make up for this grave and prolonged oversight, I decided to undertake the following steps to give myself a foot makeover. A much-deserved pamper session for the now, haggard, calloused feet after they had endured the heat, the showers and the pollution. So let’s look at some simple steps to help care for your feet at home and the benefits of foot care.
Benefits Of Foot Care
Other than the aesthetic benefits, there are actually other benefits of a foot care routine as well. Here are a few benefits that can convince you to dip your toes into some self-care.
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Relieves Pain:
If you experience pain and swelling in your feet as you age, a nice, relaxing foot-care routine can heal you from within. Our feet are everything, all the pressure points that relieve our body of pain lie there, when massaged and exfoliated well, it can alleviate any discomfort from being on our feet all day.
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Improves Circulation:
When you massage and scrub your feet, it stimulates the blood vessels and improves circulation which again helps relieve pain and swelling.
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Reduces Infection:
When you clean and exfoliate your feet regularly, you reduce the chance of infections and bacterial growth. This ensures your feet smell nice and are free from foul odour.
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Reduces Trips & Falls:
Regularly massaged and exfoliated feet also have better balance, which significantly improves your centre of gravity and thus reduces the risk of tripping and falling.
Step-By-Step Foot Care Routine
Keep Them Clean
Your feet are the closest to the ground, which means more dust, dirt, and impurities clinging onto them. Make sure you cleanse, scrub, and dry your feet just like you wash the rest of your body during a shower. Make sure to get in the toe gaps and heels to ensure you reach even the most unreachable places. You can use the same cleanser or shower gel you use for your body, and for your feet as well.
Exfoliate
Have your feet become exceedingly flaky and scaly? This could be possible due to sheer negligence leading to the dermis amassing a thick layer of dead skin cells. However, lucky for us there is an easy way to counter the issue. Pour some warm water in a tub, wash your feet and apply a generous amount of your favourite foot scrub. Now rub meticulously. You may also use a pumice stone for efficiently expediting the process. Rub the scrub onto the foot in circular motions to help expel the dead skin.
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Masking
Giving your feet ample breathing space and a rich boost of hydration is of cardinal importance, to ensure it's smooth, supple and clean. This is why, after diligently scrubbing my feet, I turned to a foot mask. Not only did it help nourish my feet, but it also further helped make them squeaky clean and fresh!
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Moisturise
Finally, top this off with a layer of foot cream to lock in the moisture. If you struggle with cracked heels or particularly coarse feet — using a foot cream with antifungal properties is what we would recommend. This will ensure soft, nourished, hydrated feet over time, while also granting your soles a cooling effect.
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Clip Your Toe Nails
Your toenails can host a number of germs, bacteria, and dust particles since they are the closest to the ground. A proper foot care routine ensures you take care of your overgrown toenails as well. Especially if you wear socks and shoes every day, longer toenails can also tear and damage your footwear. Clip your toenails, cut your cuticles, and file them to avoid getting hurt or experiencing discomfort.
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Cover Them In Public Areas
If you are going to the gym, the office, or a park, and if you wear open-toed shoes, make sure to cover them with a pair of socks. Public places are a legion of impurities that can get in your toenails or cracked heels and clog them causing infections or bacterial growth. It is ideal to cover them in public areas to keep them clean and odour-free.
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Colour Them Lil Piggies
Just like we colour our fingernails to make a fashion statement or experience that spark of joy, colouring our toenails is also fun and an enjoyable part of the foot care routine. You can also opt for a nail-strengthening clear polish that improves the appearance and sturdiness of weak nails.
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Parting Thoughts
Foot care is an integral part of any self-care routine, but more often than not, we tend to skip it and only focus on our hands and faces. But healthy feet help us find the right balance and keep it away from bacterial infection and accumulation of other impurities. Indulge in a relaxing foot-care routine this weekend.
FAQs
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How to take care of your feet outside?
Wear breathable footwear to avoid foot sweats and bacteria accumulation. Cover them as much as possible with closed-toed shoes or socks. Clean your feet as soon as you enter indoors.
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What’s an ideal foot care routine?
An ideal foot care routine includes cleansing, exfoliating, massaging, moisturising, and covering them in public spaces.
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How to take care of your feet at night?
Make sure to clean and dry your feet before you go to bed. Don’t leave your feet damp as it can attract bacterial growth, you can apply a moisturiser to avoid dryness and cracked heels. Since your feet are covered the whole day, try to let them breathe at night and sleep without your socks on.
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How to soft feet and get rid of cracked heels?
You can apply petroleum jelly or any moisturising cream to soften your feet and reduce cracks on your heels.
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How to exfoliate feet at home?
You can use a stone or a feet cleaning tool that scrubs off the excess dirt and dead skin cells, occasionally you can also use a foot scrub to improve blood circulation.
