Hard working FEET

I spent many years, 25+, as a professional singer, working 5-6 days a week performing in lounges, bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc. High heels and energetic dancing and moving for 4-5 hours per night kept my body and legs in great shape...but ruined my feet! Any part of the body that is constantly involved in friction...like hands and fingers, heels and soles of feet...defends itself by developing thickened skin, or calluses. Now, if you play guitar or any stringed instrument, you want callouses on your fingers to pad them and prevent pain. But with feet, you end up with leathery, dried out, unsightly skin,  thick calluses, cracked heels, corns, etc.

In recent years I have tried to undo the damage of all that friction with regular professional pedicures as well as maintenance at home. I can really only make a temporary difference; it seems after a short time they just get awful again. I've tried so many foot products that promise soft, lovely feet but just don't deliver results. But here are a few insights into making your feet, which are probably a lot nicer than mine, as soft as smooth as possible, and keeping those calluses at bay.

Make a paste of 6 crushed aspirin (they contain salicylic acid, which helps melt callouses) and 1/2 tsp of lemon juice, soak feet in hot water for 10 minutes, apply and cover with warm towels or warm sweat sox, let sit for 10 minutes. That should soften the calluses enough to allow removal with a pumice stone or pumice scrubber. The Swissco Pumice Sponge Block works well for this job.

They do sell liquids with salicylic acid that work too, like the Mosco or Dr. Scholl's brand.

I also love a foot file...there are many of them out there but my favorite is Diamancel #11.

For regular maintenance of calluses, the Ped Egg works well, though do it over a towel as it can be messy. I have this version and I like it...

They came out with a new one that has a handle, which I'm dying to try, might make the job a bit easier.

 

Don't bother with the Pedi Spin, an automated version of this device...the reviews are terrible and I believe them. Good old manual effort is way more effective than a tiny motor that stops when you apply any real pressure. You NEED to apply pressure when filing dead skin off of your feet!

After your calluses have softened and you've pumiced or filed them away, the next and very important step is moisturizing with a heavy duty treatment cream or ointment. I am loving one
from Soap and Glory called Heel Genius that I found at Sephora.

I also LOVE two ointments that really sink in, soften and smooth. One is available online and at health food stores, Herbal Authority Tea Tree Oil Ointment.

The BEST-discovered at a spa that used it on my pedicure and recommended it for overnight use with a pair of socks. Woodsprite Overnight Sensation...contains Shea and Cocoa Butters, Sweet Almod Oil, Sesame and Avocado Oils, Tea Tree and Sweet Birch Oils, Vitamin E...all organic.