Winters - Tough for Feet !!

Harsh, dry weather can have your feet screaming for help. Sure, you have those uber chic boots and roman sandals to cover them up but cracked heels and flaky skin can turn awfully painful if not fixed in time.

Soft and pretty feet will be yours to keep with these simple precautions and home remedies.

Tuck them in before you sleep
The skin on your feet is thicker than other parts of your body which is why it needs intense moisturizing and nourishment to stay soft and supple. Wash your feet at night and slather them with a generous dollop of petroleum jelly, coconut oil or foot cream and pull on a pair of thick cotton socks to seal in the goodies. This is probably the best anti-crack and crack-prevention home remedy known to mankind.

If the thought of sleeping with socks on seems a tad uncomfy, consider going about the rig earlier in the evening and take off the socks just before hitting the sack.

Scrub ‘em pretty
Banish dull, scaly skin forever by using this simple homemade exfoliating scrub - mix a handful of granulated sugar (the less fine, the better) with a teaspoon of lemon juice and glycerine. Massage you feet with this grainy mix for about 5-10 minutes, wash off and moisturise while your feet are still damp. You will be surprised at how smooth, pink and shiny your feet look after this.

If you want to give the messy routine a pass, keep a commercially available foot scrub handy (the ones containing sea salt and sea weed extracts work wonders).

DIY pedicure in 15 minutes
If your pedicure is long overdue and you still can’t find time to hit the salon, consider doing it at home. Soak your feet in a bucketful of warm water with a few bath salts or foot frizzies added in. Give it a few minutes to do its job and then slough of the dead, thickened skin on your soles with a foot file or pumice. Pay special attention to every nook and cranny including areas like the back of your feet and the top of your toes. Use a greasy cream, body oil or Shea Butter to lock in the moisture and finish off with a coat of your favourite nail polish.

Hema Singh, Manager and Spa Consultant at Coco Salon & Spa, Noida, lets out a little DIY secret - “Though it is always advisable to get a foot massage done professionally, one can massage the feet with therapeutic essential oils like Lavender and Jasmine mixed in a carrier oil to relieve stress off the feet and soften the skin.”

Keep odours at bay
Feet that are squished into closed shoes and boots all day tend to get smelly. Use socks and pantyhose made from ‘breathable’ fabrics and use a foot deodorant if the problem gets overwhelming. Take care to clean the insides of your nails and use refreshing foot sprays and creams with anti-microbial properties to combat foot odours.

Clip away those nails
Winter may not be the best time to maintain long toe nails. Packed feet can result in ingrown nails and cause dirt to settle in difficult-to-clean corners. Long nails can also make your toes hurt when you walk around in closed shoes for too long. Clip them short until the sun shines again. And yes, don’t forget to use a transparent base coat before swiping on nail paint to prevent yellow and discoloured nails.


This winter I'll surely try to follow this...