With summer just around the corner, many of us will be urgently buffing, waxing, shaving and polishing our bodily bits in preparation for bearing all, but with so much emphasis on that coveted 'beach bod', some parts can still get left behind.
Take our extremities for example; when was the last time you looked at your feet? And I mean, really looked at them. You might cut your toenails on the regular, but what about your heels? Your soles? After spending every day literally carrying the team, our humble hoofs deserve a little more appreciation.
As we relegate the slippers to the back of the closet and bring out the sandals and slip-ons, Jo McCardle - the global podiatrist at footcare brand Scholl - is urging everyone to spend a little time tending to their tootsies. I don't know who needs to hear this, but no one wants to see your cracked, crusty trotters out and about this summer.
"Healthy feet are the foundation of wellbeing, fitness and enjoying life. With our feet playing such a big part day-to-day, it's vital we look after them properly," McCardle said.
"Dry skin is like a poorly constructed wall - it's not nice to look at, feels rough and doesn't provide a good barrier to protect it from harm. But the good news is it can be repaired. Regular exfoliation and moisturisation are essential to keeping the skin on our feet soft and healthy."
Fun fact: the skin on our feet is 20 times thicker than that on the rest of the body, so a bog-standard moisturiser just won't cut it. Instead, McCardle recommends opting for specialised footcare products that are designed to tackle dry, hardened and thickened skin, and the foot's unique needs.
To encourage Kiwis to put an extra spring in their step this summer, Scholl has put together a simple, two-step routine to achieve healthier-looking feet. If Scholl is a little out of your budget, other footcare brands offer similar products for cheaper; just do a little research online.
Step 1: Exfoliate and remove hard/dry skin
Firstly, McCardle recommends removing the hard skin with an electronic device such as the Scholl Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot Care System, which is designed to tackle even the toughest, hardened skin. Then, maintain your new smooth soles by exfoliating once a week to help keep them soft and healthy.
"[Regular exfoliation] helps to bring healthy new skin to the surface, reduce bacteria, and provide a direct path to deliver the nutrients your skin needs when moisturising," McCardle said.
"Our feet support the entire weight of our body resulting in ageing with layers of dry and dead skin. Exfoliation not only helps many skin problems, but it also increases blood circulation, which promotes healthy, glowing skin."
While the Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot Care System can retail at up to $55, there are plenty of other electric foot files and callus removers available to suit all budgets.
Step 2: Repair cracked skin
To help heal any cracks or rough patches, McCardle then recommends using a heel balm to soften and hydrate the skin and maintain smooth feet throughout the sunny season.
"As the thick skin on the heel becomes dry and hard, it is more prone to cracking. Repairing cracked skin will improve circulation and provide smoother, softer and hydrated feet all year round," she said.
McCardle recommends applying the Scholl Eulactol Heel Balm Gold - a cream with 25 percent urea - twice daily for a week to soften and hydrate cracked, dry or rough heels. Urea cream, or Eulactol, is used for excessively dry or thick skin such as the heels of the foot, and is often recommended by dermatologists for the treatment of dry and cracked areas.
Although the Scholl Eulactol Heel Balm Gold retails for around $35, there are other alternatives on the market; for example, the DU'IT Foot & Heel Balm Plus with 25 percent urea is available at The Warehouse for $14.
To maintain your new fab feet, apply a moisturising balm or oil regularly to keep the skin soft and hydrated - the Weleda Foot Balm with soothing calendula, organic olive oil and essential oils is a good bet.
Now go out there and put your best foot forward!
