Sometimes, I feel like feet get a bad wrap.
They’re these weirdly-shaped... things at the end of your legs and while they have a very important job to do, getting most of us from place to place, people often neglect their feet health.
It’s me, I am people.
Why? There are a few reasons; I think in part, it’s because most of the time you can’t see a person’s feet, so I don’t really worry about how they look. Also, if you’re like me and wear heels, sometimes you associate your feet with negative emotions like pain after subjecting them to a night of teetering on stilettos. And side note, we're completely taken with the soothing self-care of putting all of our effort and time into our facial skincare – often neglecting other daily rituals for other body parts. But also foot upkeep can get expensive when, again like me, you have an extensive self-care regime.
How good is your foot care these days? Listen to You Beauty, where Reflexologist Lucy Stride shares why we should pay a bit more attention to our feet. Post continues below.
I am a ‘high-low maintenance’ kind of gal. I get my hair done regularly, I get my lash extensions refilled fortnightly, my brows are tattooed, threaded and tinted and my nails are always topped up. I get all of this upkeep so that I can roll out of bed and be as confident as possible with minimal day-to-day effort.
But I never really consider my feet as a part of my regime. And if I really think about it, when my feet aren’t feeling their best, then neither am I.
I am one of those people who gets cracks in their heels. I’m talking about deep cracks that hurt and sometimes bleed. It’s not pleasant. But I know I’m not alone; 34 per cent of people experience dry feet which is understandable given that the skin on your feet is a whopping 20 times (!!!) thicker than the rest of the skin on your body.
Every so often I remind myself to get a pedicure when I get my nails done, but most of the time it's an afterthought. With foot skincare (yes, that's right!) gaining popularity on TikTok, I wanted in on that self-care ritual myself to get spring-ready.
So, instead of paying someone to make my feet smoothed and sparkling once in a blue moon, I tried adopting some foot care products into my own daily routine – making an effort to develop a foot care regime rather than my feet being the afterthought. After all, they carry me around every day; they deserve a thank you.
I tried the holy trinity of foot care products from Scholl: the Velvet Smooth Express Pedi for exfoliation, the ExpertCare Nourish PediMask for moisture and hydration, and the Eulactol Heel Balm for repairing and soothing cracks. I tried them for a week to see if they're really worth the hype.
First of all, the Velvet Smooth tool? It's truly the coolest foot exfoliator. Of course, mine is pink and I love that it’s powered so I can just buff at different intensities while multi-tasking with some TV. It also has a large, ergonomic handle, so it’s more accessible than a lot of similar products. I used the Velvet Smooth every day for five minutes and the diamond crystal roller has practically swept away all the cracks.
The middle moisturising step was using the PediMask. I have size 11-12 feet and was pleasantly surprised when the PediMask boots fit over my feet comfortably, so that in itself was a complete win. The PediMask was easy enough to use; you cut off the top of the sock, slip your foot in, soak for 20 minutes, and off you go! The product left on my feet was absorbed quickly – like a creamy serum – with a quick foot rub, and they have honestly never felt smoother.
I always finished the routine with the Eulactol Heel Balm. I was a little worried that the cream would transfer onto my sheets but false alarm! It was also absorbed nice and quickly, and I didn't have any issues with transfer and pilling, like when layering facial skincare. The Eulactol is also unscented, which is great for me because I do have sensitive skin. I rubbed the Eulactol into my feet and heels every night before bed – the cream is rich and buttery but didn’t make me feel greasy as I dove between the sheets. Love it!
I walked into this week with dry, tough, cracked feet that were definitely in need of some TLC. Winter has not been kind to them. But I left with soft, lush, smooth feet (particularly my heels, what a glow-up!) that finally don't scrape on my bed sheets! I call that a win.
As far as a skin care routine for your feet goes, I give this Scholl three-step system honestly an A. I'm headed into my second week of adopting the daily routine, and it's really highlighted how I can be approaching same outlook and enjoyment I get from my facial skincare as I do with the self-care regime of my footsies.
Please hold while I pop a sheet mask on my face and my feet simultaneously. A new self-care level unlocked.
Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia/Scholl/Instagram/@laceyjadechristie