BellaSugar

A Callus Rejection: 3 Ways to Ditch Thick, Rough Skin

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:06 -0800

I wear a lot of heels, which are a surefire way to get calluses, but even if you don't, those cute ballet flats, comfy Chucks, or spiffy top-siders are putting pressure on several points on your feet, causing callus buildup. It's not like calluses are harmful - they're a natural part of life - it's just that they're ugly, and it's guaranteed you won't notice one until you're about to go out on a date wearing cute new sandals. To prevent this scenario, I've put together three inexpensive tricks to keep calluses at bay. So just keep reading.

Are You Paranoid About Your Less-Than-Perfect Pedi?

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:00:51 -0700

When you peek at your feet, what do you think? Are you dazzled by your perfectly filed toenails and softer-than-soft heels, or are you none too thrilled with their less than impeccable looks? As this article in The New York Times points out, often, women take way better care of their faces than their tootsies.

According to a recent study from the American Podiatric Medical Association, 50 percent of women surveyed were "always, frequently, or sometimes" embarrassed by the appearance of their feet. In fact, there are several Facebook groups devoted to feet bashing, and pedicurists note that customers are often apologetic for the way their feet look. See both sides of the story now.

Jimmy Choo Gives the Scoop on Caring For Feet

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:10 -0700

While he might not be a podiatrist, luxe footwear designer Jimmy Choo certainly knows his way around feet. I'll leave his fashionable stylings to Fab, but when Choo dished advice on caring for feet, I listened. Recently, while sharing his thoughts on beach vacationing (rough life), Choo told the Daily Mail that he opts out of going barefoot on the sand, choosing instead to wear sandals. He added:

You have to look after your feet, keep them clean and healthy. You should wash them every night in warm, salted water before going to bed.

Good advice, actually. Not only does salt help soften and detoxify skin, but the warm soak will help you unwind, too. Wondering what else you can do with this easy-to-find mineral? Check out some more ideas here, along with a DIY on making an aromatic salt footbath with alfalfa and mint.

Yoga For Your Toes? Believe It.

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:17 -0700

Stop - hammer toe! No, really. Stop hammer toe. This bent-toed foot condition isn't so sexy to talk about, but it's sandal season, so why not, eh? Snug shoes, high heels, and narrow kicks can force the toes to bend inward, which in turn shrinks the muscles of the foot. Over time, the toes can bend permanently.

The best way to avoid this condition is to wear sensible shoes - more on this here - but if you favor fashion over orthopedics, exercises can help prevent hammer toe, too. (For instance, try to pick up a towel using your toes.) There are also a bunch of toe-focused foot exercisers out there, including Profoot Flex-Tastic ($9.99). The idea is to stretch your toes every day, much as you'd do yoga for the rest of your body, to realign toes. Goofy gimmick or brilliant idea? For my thoughts, read more.

Flex-Tastic is similar to the widely advertised YogaToes, but at $10, it's one fifth of the price. Although I haven't tried YogaToes, I'd probably recommend Flex-Tastic simply because it stretches the toes while being more affordable. Putting them on can be a little bit tricky, because the one-size-fits-all aligners are fairly large. (I wear a size 8 shoe, and they slipped off from time to time - so if you have petite feet, these might not work for you.) Once they're on, they gently stretch your toes without you needing to do any special exercises; they need to be worn only five minutes at a time, but I like to wear them while watching old movies.

I don't see any huge cosmetic improvements, but after a long day of hoofing it, Flex-Tastic does make my feet feel better, and I've had fewer foot cramps. Even though they look pretty goofy, I don't mind wearing them, especially if the regular stretching can keep my feet looking decent and feeling limber. Insert your own "please, hammer toe, don't hurt 'em" joke as you see fit.

DIY Spa Treatment: A Quick Beach-Ready Pedicure

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:00:06 -0700

Over the years, I've noticed that the sand and sea tend to deteriorate my pedicures more quickly than just about anything else. That's why I love this easy-to-achieve quick and simple pedicure that can be done in about ten minutes flat. It's easy to master, so it can keep your feet looking groomed all summer long. Here's what you'll need:

A bowl of hot soapy water

Toe spacers to separate toes

Toenail clipper

Base coat

Sheer pinky-peach nail polish

Topcoat

For four simple step-by-step directions, read more.

Step 1: Begin by soaking your feet in the hot soapy water to soften up your skin. Then, push back or trim your cuticles and file away any hard calluses under your toes or around your heels.
Step 2: Trim and file your toenails so that the ends of your nails are slightly shorter than the end of the skin on your toes.
Step 3: Swipe your toenails twice with nail polish remover (use the non-acetone kind if possible since it's less drying) and separate your toes with toes spacers. Then, apply a base coat and one coat of pale pink or beige nail polish.
Step 4: Wait about a minute and then apply a light layer of topcoat - voila, you're finished!

DIY Spa Treatment: A Tropical Callus Tonic

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:00:29 -0700

Pesky calluses (aka layers of bulky dead skin cells) often appear on your feet, especially in the Summer months when you tend to be barefoot more. It's true that they help desensitize your feet from the sharp edges of pebbles and seashells, but for those of you who aren't taking extensive walks on the beach, they are unnecessary and unsightly. Calluses look dry, cracked and flaky, so it's a great idea to treat them if you're planning to flaunt your feet in sexy sandals this Summer. To create a moisturizing coconutty-pineapple tonic, you'll need:

A foot-bath (or a wide bucket)

Two and a half cups of pineapple juice

One half-cup of coconut milk

A pumice stone

Moisturizer for dry skin

A pair of cotton socks

For step-by-step instructions on how to create your own callus treatment, read more.

STEP 1: In a foot-bath, or a bucket large enough to soak your feet, pour in the pineapple juice (the fruit acids help the dead skin dissolve) and the coconut milk. Stir well.
STEP 2: Sit back, relax and let your feet soak in the tropical mixture from anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Then, rinse well with lukewarm water and begin to scrub your calluses with the pumice stone. Tip: Judge how vigorously you should scrub by how dense or thin your calluses are. You don't want to rub your feet raw, so when in doubt, use a gentle hand.
STEP 3: Dry your feet and massage a generous amount of moisturizer into your skin. Once you're all lubed up, slip into your socks. For optimal results, wear them while you sleep.

Three Ways To Soften Rough Feet

BellaSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:00:16 -0700

After watching Top Model the other night, Mr. Bella and I headed to bed early like the prematurely geriatric lovebirds we are. But right as we were going to slip under the covers, I started freaking out. "Where are my footie socks?!" I kept saying. Mr. Bella had no idea what I was talking about, but then he realized I was looking for my nighttime moisturizing socks. Without them, my feet feel not like those of a young woman, but like those of a troll with crusty hooves. (Fortunately, a crisis was averted.)

Lots of people have rough feet, but it's an easy fix. I don't recommend buying expensive overnight-treatment socks or potentially dangerous callus shavers. Instead, read on to see the best course of action for your unnecessary roughness.

If your feet aren't too bad...
If you're just dealing with a little bit of dry skin, all you need is moisture. Here's a simple lesson that I'm sure a lot of us learned from our moms: Wash your feet before bed, then slather them with lotion. Slip on a pair of thin cotton socks, and in the morning, you'll have soft feet. Lately I've been using Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil balm ($7.99). For having a relatively thin consistency, it moisturizes wonderfully. And it has a fresh, non-perfumey scent, which I love.

If your feet need a little more help than that, read more.

If your feet are feeling a bit rough...
If you're going to exfoliate with a cream or scrub, find one that's specifically for feet. In my experience, most body scrubs just aren't tough enough to take on my rough heels - they're fine for softer body skin, but powerless against calluses. Look for a scrub with small pumice granules (such as this $6.39 one from Dr. Scholl's) or one with very fine grains of salt. I'm particularly impressed by FarmHouse Fresh's version ($24) because the salt is densely packed, which results in a more vigorous exfoliation. Follow with the nighttime socks for extra-soft feet.

If your feet have thick calluses...
Exfoliating tools are your friends. These tools are the most effective way to turn hoof-like feet into healthy-looking ones. The best-known tool is the pumice stone, which can be used in the shower to buff away dead skin. They're inexpensive, long-lasting, and effective. I get better results when feet are wet rather than dry, and I also think these work best for maintaining smooth feet.

Personally, I prefer buffing my feet when they're dry. If your budget allows for it, Diamancel files are amazing; the only drawback is that they're around $50. For a more affordable option, you might like the Microplane Orb. It looks a little bit like a hand-held cheese grater from the future, but it removes built-up dead skin and makes my calluses much softer. Neat freaks will like how it holds the flakes of skin in the container; they look like finely grated Parmesan, to be honest. I used to buy a $4.99 foot file at Target every six weeks, so the Orb is a good investment that pays for itself. I like to use it before bed, then use my socks-and-lotion combo - it's my winning combination.

Source

DIY Spa Treatment: Alfalfa Mint Footbath

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:00:33 -0700

We all know how wonderful it can feel to take a long soak in a bath, but for those of you who are pressed for time but still want to indulge in a little treat for your tired feet, here's an at home, do-it-yourself recipe from all-natural beauty expert Janice Cox. She believes that “If you can cook, you can create your own beauty products." Here's what you'll need to concoct a fabulous and calming foot bath for your footsies!

Use a piece of cheesecloth and wrap four tablespoons dried alfalfa leaves, two tablespoons dried mint leaves and two tablespoons dried thyme leaves inside.
Fill a basin with two gallons of hot water, and pour in four tablespoons of Epsom salts.
Stir the bath until the salts dissolve, then float the herbal bundle in the water to steep until the temperature cools.
Finally, soak your feet in the fragrant water anywhere from fifteen to twenty minutes. When you are finished, pat your body dry and massage a thick foot cream or grape seed oil into your skin.

Source and Source

Treat Your Feet!

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:00:51 -0700

In the summertime heat your feet take a serious beating pounding the pavement every day. The temperature makes them swell, and shoes that were once the right size, now feel constricting. At the end of the day, treat your tootsies to a soothing, calming and cooling refreshment. Here are three super-rich foot creams to help heal your tired heels.

Bliss Foot Patrol ($26) is a silky cream that contains a blend of peppermint and salicylic acid to help soften, exfoliate and soothe even the roughest and most calloused areas of your feet. Apply liberally morning and night for best results.

For two more foot treatments, read more

June Jacobs Tea Treat Foot Rescue ($48) is a therapeutic cream made from tea tree oil (to cool) and capsicum (for improved circulation). Suddenly your stiff feet will feel refreshed and relaxed. With continued use, it will also soften foot skin and toe cuticles.

Savannah Bee Orange Mint Overnight Foot Treatment ($12) is a four-ounce jar of an environmentally conscious cream that leaves feet feeling supple, revitalized and smelling fresh. Simply slather it on and then slip on a pair of socks and sleep peacefully while your feet soften overnight. This product is currently sold out, but is expected to be back in stock over the next two weeks.

Bella Interview: Dr. Carolyn Siegal, Beverly Hills Podiatrist

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:00:00 -0700

Dr. Carolyn Siegal takes care of the well-heeled-literally. She's a podiatrist in Beverly Hills, where she's also launched her own collection of foot care products. After seeing patients who picked up infections from unclean nail salons, she launched the Dr. Carolyn Collection, a line of nail supplies meant to provide a safer pedicure. The smartest product is the savvy nail kit, which contains buffers, a nail clipper, a cuticle pusher, a disposable tub liner and other essential nail implements that you can tote to your nail salon.

Yesterday I spoke with Dr. Siegal about how to keep your feet healthy and safe. She's passionate about her work, and she also knows the value of a good pedicure! Read on for the interview.

What's the sign of healthy feet?
Clean and normal colors-like what you'd see on a baby. There shouldn't be any yellowing or thickening, or signs of lesions or warts. Healthy feet have clean, well-hydrated skin with no cracks in the heels. And, of course, no pain.

For the entire interview, including information on the pedicure tool you should avoid at all costs, read more

How can you tell if a spa or salon is safe and clean?
Well, my kits were developed because I was seeing so many patients who had infections. You can imagine that the corner nail shops-they're cheap, they have neon signs, the staff doesn't speak English-are not necessarily so clean. There are those salons that obviously don't seem up to code, but there's a risk with all salons when tools aren't cleaned-and by the way, those blue UV light boxes don't necessarily sterilize the tools. It's not the way the medical community cleans its tools.

Aren't Jacuzzi tubs more dangerous than stainless steel bowls?
Yes; most Jacuzzi-type tubs are not supported by the medical community. First, you have to understand how fungus grows. It thrives in moist, warm places: showers at the gym, poolsides and tubs. So if someone with athlete's foot or a fungus uses a tub, once that happens, you have a problem because a lot of tubs with Jacuzzi jets have water that gets recycled. The tub gets refilled with water, and the next person can get nail fungus. You need a free-standing bowl made of stainless steel or glass, and a liner.

For those of us who do our pedicures at home, how can we get soft feet?
Don't use sharp blades on rough heels. I recommend that you don't use credo blades-they're illegal in 22 states. Instead, use a pumice bar or a foot scrub. I developed a foot scrub with pumice in it; you can put it on a washcloth. Follow it with a cream. My Velvet Crème is really ultra-moisturizing. It has urea, which doctors use; I lowered the concentration to an over-the-counter level. Follow this routine three or four times a week and you'll have softer feet.

Are nail ridges normal, or are they a bad sign?
The nails tell a lot about your systemic health. You can get ridging if you've had a shock to the system. But it can also mean nothing, especially if you're young and healthy. If you've had significant changes in your nails, go to your doctor.

Can nail polish stain your nails?
Yes, certain nail polishes have dyes that can stain. A good base coat is important. There are nail polishes that are free of dyes. OPI is a good brand, as is Rescue Nail Lounge.

And is it bad for your nails to always have polish on them?
I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's often good to take a break every few months to let the nails "breathe."