by Maggie O'Leary

Created on: December 23, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Winter is perhaps the harshest season for skin. Even though our feet are usually covered during the winter, the skin can become rough, dry, and cracked. Keeping your feet soft and healthy during the winter doesn't take a lot of time or effort. With just a few minutes a week, you can keep your feet in tip-top shape! This process is not only quick and easy, but it's very inexpensive. No need for expensive pedicures. You'll simply need a foot file, your favorite lotion, and some socks.

First, pick up a foot file if you don't already have one. It's like a fingernail file, only bigger and usually has two sides (one rough, one extra-rough). You can get this at your local Wal-Mart, Target, or any drug store. The cost is usually two or three dollars, so it's not going to break the bank.

Once or twice a week, when your heels and feet are dry, sand off the dead skin that you can get to. It's best to do this when your feet are dry, as it makes removal of the dead skin a lot easier. Also, if you soak your feet before you file them, you can't get all the dead skin off. This causes you to end up with even scratchier heels than you started with because all the little pieces you DID scrape off are sticking out. I find that the best time to do this step is just before I take a shower, but a lot of people like to do this just before bedtime.

After you file your feet, rinse them and dry them very well. Cover them liberally with your favorite kind of lotion. You'll want to lotion your feet after every bath or shower, and, if your feet are really bad, before bed each night as well. I like to use BeautiControl's Herbal Serenity Foot Creme, or BeautiControl's Herbal Serenity Overnight Hand Treatment (yes, it was made for hands, but works wonders for feet, as well). Blue Goo Cracked Heel Skin Softener with Emu Oil and Bees Wax is also a great product for this.

After you apply lotion, immediately put a pair of socks on. This helps to keep the lotion from rubbing off on your sheets or floors. And that's it - beautiful feet in less than 10 minutes!

Another idea that works wonders is to soak your feet several times a week in warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil. I prefer to use BeautiControl's Herbal Serenity Show of Hands. I use this in my foot soak once a week, and apply it to my hands and feet after every bath or shower. It contains Dead Sea Salts and essential oils, and leaves my skin as soft as a baby's. It also smells delicious, which is a definite bonus.

As you can see, having beautiful feet doesn't take a lot of effort or cash, and anyone can do it. Enjoy!

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