3 Foot Fails To Stop Making And 3 Steps That Actually Work

Ah, sandal season: a time of year that’s both blissfully wonderful and deeply, deeply confronting. Feet are a tricky part of your body to get looking and feeling their best, you know?

Let us hit you with a foot-centric fact – the skin on your feet is actually 20 times thicker than the rest of your body, and so it needs a routine specifically tailored to its fickle needs.

We, however, have a sneaky suspicion you may not be delivering on that. In fact, you may actually be sabotaging your own sole success by committing common foot fails that an alarming amount of us fall victim to.

Well, it’s time to set those straight. We owe our feet a lot, after all. They do the speed-walking, the ABBA-dancing, and the cute shoe-showing off for us. And they deserve to be treated like royalty in return! So in that spirit, here’s our guide to correcting foot care fails and setting your soles up for silky-smooth success…

What not to do…

Foot fail #1: Sleeping with socks on

The subject has always been a divisive one – there are even memes made alluding to the fact that those who sleep with their socks on cannot be trusted. Well, we don’t know about that, but there is some truth to the fact that it’s an iffy idea overall. Not only can it lead to poor hygiene signs such as odour (as your feet are unable to breathe or access fresh air through the night), but it can even cause swelling of the feet, especially if you prefer your socks on the tighter side. It may be a sacrifice for some, but we encourage you to choose circulation and cleanliness over cosiness.

Foot fail #2: Not drying your feet properly

Ironically, the way you dry your feet can actually have a major impact on how dry they are. When most people step out of the shower, they rely on an air-dry before throwing on socks and shoes, trapping bacteria as they go. And we get it – we’re usually down to the wire to get out of the door. But you know what will be carrying you out that door? Your feet. And so, we think the extra five seconds it takes to towel them off (taking extra care between the toes) is well within reason. Shoving still-damp feet into footwear can cause anything from dry, peeling skin to foot fungi, neither of which are things we have on our wishlists. Suddenly the towelling off task seems non-negotiable, right? We thought so…

Foot fail #3: Peeling your own skin off

‘Foot peels’ are everywhere right now, and there are some legitimately effective options out there. However, a DIY foot peel (which involves you literally picking at and peeling off dry skin that’s attempting to shed) is not the move. Aside from being just plain gross, picking at your feet is similar to picking at your face – it’s not going to fix the problem, it’s just going to leave your skin angry and in pain. Plus, it’s near impossible not to take the process too far. Long story short? Leave it to the tools and formulas that have been specifically designed for the job, and keep your fingers away from those flaky feet.

What to do instead…

Foot care step #1: Exfoliate and remove dry skin

No, foot cream should not be your first port of call. Unfortunately, no humble moisturiser is going to be able to get past the hard, cracked skin that rudely graces our soles. Exfoliation is the only right way to kick off the journey to eventually (and proudly) kicking off your shoes. After cleaning and drying your feet in preparation, get to removing rough, dry skin with Scholl’s Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot File, a fancy foot roller that harnesses the powers of dry exfoliation to shave off dead, dry skin. Its mission? To leave soles significantly smoother, softer, and silkier. As far as frequency goes, once a week will do the trick after your initial exfoliation. Now that moisture you’re craving can actually get where it needs to go.

Foot care step #2: Moisturise your feet

Speaking of moisture, let’s locate some, shall we? The Scholl ExpertCare Nourish PediMask is the perfect product to replenish your dwindling skin moisture barrier and protect your precious soles. You probably whack on a face mask multiple times a week, so why not give your feet the same TLC? These nourishing sock booties make the process seamless, mess-free, and genuinely relaxing – they make sure all the aloe vera-infused goodness is absorbed right into skin while you (fittingly) put your feet up. Our advice? Whack them onto clean, dry feet, watch one episode of your favourite 20-minute sitcom, then remove and give yourself a quick foot massage while rubbing in any remaining product.

Foot care step #3: Repair cracked skin

So you’ve exfoliated and you’ve hydrated – now you’ll want to work a heel balm into your repertoire to keep those soles silky. The Scholl Eulactol Heel Balm Gold has an array of tricks up its sleeve, improving circulation, enhancing hydration, and reducing discomfort of cracked, dry, itchy heels with every use. It’s ridiculously easy to work into your routine – a quick swipe onto clean, dry skin will work a treat. Apply twice daily while dealing with visible cracks, then once a week after exfoliation has worked some skin-shedding magic. Don’t forget to massage into the skin until all its balmy goodness has been fully absorbed – your sublimely soft and smooth future heels thank you in advance.

Are you guilty of any of these foot care faux pas?