Your Foot Care Routine for Soft Feet

As the weather starts to get warmer, it’s almost time to trade your boots and sneakers for peep toe heels and sandals. While you may be more than ready to make the switch, the same might not be true of your feet. During the winter, your heels, soles, and toes can become dry, rough, and flaky after spending months hidden out of sight. But with the right skin care routine, you can combat that unsightly dry skin and have flawless, smooth feet! Get ready to show off your soon-to-be soft feet by spending a little time prepping them with seven easy skin care steps that will have your feet ready in practically no time at all.

Skin care tip for soft feet #1: Indulge your feet in a short soak

Fill your tub or a large bowl with tepid water. You can add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil to really up the self-care factor. We’re fans of rosemary oil, which the National Center of Biotechnological Information has found to have skin hydrating properties. Let your feet soak in the warm water for five minutes before removing them.

Skin care tip for soft feet #2: Slough away dead skin cells

While your feet are still damp from your soak, apply a sugar scrub to your heels and other areas that may be rough to the touch, like your toes or the sides of your feet. Scrub your feet for about two minutes before rinsing off.

Editor’s tip: Take your exfoliating game up a notch by reading our article, How to Exfoliate from Head to Toe.

Skin care tip for soft feet #3: Treat your calluses

The American Academy of Dermatology states that calluses are hard, thickened areas of skin that form as a result of friction or pressure on the skin. To treat them, they recommend soaking your calluses in warm water for about 10 minutes, exfoliating with a pumice stone, and moisturizing daily with a lotion or cream that’s formulated with salicylic acid, ammonium lactate, or urea to help gradually soften the hard calluses.

Skin care tip for soft feet #4: Moisturize while skin is still damp

Post-soak and scrub, pat your skin dry with a soft towel and then immediately reach for a hydrating moisturizer. You may want to consider trying a product that is specifically made for your feet, even better if you can find one that’s formulated with lipo hydroxy acid (LHA). Rub the lotion or foot cream in-between your palms to slightly warm it and then massage it onto your feet until fully absorbed.

Skin care tip for soft feet #5: Seal in hydration

After you’ve moisturized your feet, consider locking in the added hydration by applying a body oil or coconut oil overtop. Then, cover them with a soft, cushiony pair of socks (with grips). This will not only help keep you from slipping but will also keep the products you’ve just applied from transferring to your floor.

Skin care tip for soft feet #6: Put your feet up

Rest and put your feet up while the moisture hydrates your heels, soles, and toes. You can watch a show, read a book, or simply turn-in with your socks still on to keep the hydrating formulas in place while you sleep.

Skin care tip for soft feet #7: repeat!

Now that you have smooth skin and soft feet, maintain their look and feel by indulging your feet in a weekly treat that includes a short soak, quick exfoliation, and regular nourishing moisture so that your skin will be sandal-ready any day of the week!

Bonus tip: Pamper yourself with a pedicure

This foot care routine may sound familiar if you’ve ever gotten a pedicure since the tips we’ve shared are all part of a good pedi. So, if you really want to make your feet look cute for your summer shoes, why not go the extra mile and paint your toes, too? A quick coat of polish in a neutral color and a few drops of cuticle oil on your toenails can make all the difference in how confident you’ll feel showing off your feet!

Your feet aren’t the only area of your body you may be neglecting in your skin care routine. Next, pamper your hands! Here are 10 Ways to Show Your Hands and Nails Some Major TLC.