Ladies, exposure to the sun and hot surfaces like sand and concrete can leave your feet dry and rough. Here’s how to protect them from the elements so they stay picture-perfect and lovely all day long (because you never know when you’ll want to Instagram your pedi…)
Exfoliate At Least Once A Week
This will help you get rid of surface dry skin cells, making them look and feel smoother, For dryer skin, opt for a sugar scrub instead of a salt-based scrub; although salt detoxifies and draws out impurities, it can also be dehydrating.
Avoid Soaking Feet
Some naija babes be like “ama soak my feet to make it cuter”…Naa! Contrary to what you might think, soaking can further dehydrate already-dry feet, says Murphy. So instead of soaking your tootsies, apply a sugar scrub directly onto dry skin, and wipe it off with a moistened towel.
Do Some Heavy-Duty Moisturizing
Your heels are prone to over-use—and as a result, they tend to dry out more easily than the rest of your foot. The heel is also protected by thicker skin, which means that it’s less penetrable and it’ll take a little more effort to lock moisture in. Apply a lotion or oil immediately after you shower to retain the moisture your feet have already soaked up. For even better results, reapply a moisturizer right before bed.
Eat Foot-Friendly Foods
Believe it or not, some foods can cause your feet to swell and become bloated. Foods high in salt are the most likely culprits. To keep your feet looking great, avoid packaged foods, which are heavily salted. Sugars can also cause foot puffiness, so you’ll want to minimize your intake of that too.
Let Toes Breathe
Since nails are a living part of your anatomy, they need a break to “breathe” from time to time so they can continue healthy growth patterns and rid themselves of chemical residue, get a break from nail polish about once a month for a few days to a week. This can help prevent discoloration—particularly if you like to use dark-colored nail polishes—and keep your pedi looking pretty.
So do it right!
