Busting Feet Myths for National Feet Week

 

Read our blog & enter the competition below, good luck!It’s National Feet Week, the time of year we cast a guilty glance downward and wonder how long it’s been since our tootsies last got given any TLC. It’s ironic really, that Feet Week falls during the depths of winter when our feet have been wilfully neglected for months. Well, it’s time to turn that around. Here are some myths (and truths) about feet, along with some of our favourite feet-friendly products.

It’s bad for you to walk barefoot - MYTH

While many of us squirm at the thought of walking around barefoot, it’s actually very good for your feet. Walking barefoot on natural surfaces strengthens muscles, helping both balance and coordination. While we don’t suggest you forego shoes altogether, taking an occasional stroll in your garden sans footwear can make a difference to your posture and muscle strength. After getting back to nature and letting your feet get dirty, give them a soak and treat them to a pedicure. It doesn’t get much easier than the Seoulista Rosy Toes Instant Pedicure!

Feet are best left alone -MYTH

While our feet are pretty self-sufficient, taking care of them should be a priority. After all, our feet ground our bodies; if they are in any way impacted, so too are our hips, back and overall posture.As well as seeing a podiatrist at the first sign of foot discomfort, basic care should include taking care of your toenails and moisturising the hardest wearing areas around the heel and ball of the foot. While it can be tempting to forget your feet altogether over Winter, pulling on socks and hoping for the best-come Spring, this is the time of year your feet need you the most. Regular moisturising with a cream designed to penetrate the thicker layers of skin will ensure you don’t have to battle with cracked heels down the line. We love this Intense Foot Balm by L’Occitane for this exact reason.

Your feet don’t change size in adulthood - MYTH

Your shoe size is the one thing that stays consistent through the ups and downs of adulthood, right? Wrong. As many as 20% of women will change shoe size during pregnancy, with many of these not returning to their previous size after birth. This is due to a hormone called relaxin, which as well as allowing a woman’s body to stretch to accommodate a baby, also allows the joints in the feet to stretch.For most women, the change is less than 5mm, so the difference isn’t noticeable, but for many others, the need for new shoes is right up there with baby grows and nappies.

Toenails shouldn’t be cut on a curve - TRUE

When it comes to trimming your nails, shape matters in more ways than one. Cutting toenails into a curved shape can cause serious damage to the nail bed, resulting in ingrown nails and infection. While the top edge of your nail may have a natural curve, the corners should never be rounded off toward the nail bed. Instead, nails should be left a little long and simply trimmed along the top to create a natural shape.Be sure to use the right nail clippers too, as the smaller clippers made for fingernails aren’t designed for the thicker structure of toenails. This twin set of clippers by Tweezerman are a great investment and will last for years.

Removing dead skin on feet keeps them healthy -TRUE

While rough, dry skin on feet isn’t going to cause you any health issues on its own, it can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. As your feet sweat, the dead skin can become moist and create the perfect environment for conditions such as athlete's foot (particularly in the warmer areas between the toes).Keep on top of your foot health with a regular exfoliation using Cowshed Revive Foot Scrub and follow with a moisturiser, such as Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream.

Stinky feet signals poor hygiene - MYTH

There are a number of reasons that people experience smelly feet, due to exercise, footwear, diet or health conditions. It’s an embarrassing problem, and one which often comes with a stigma of having poor hygiene; this simply isn’t the case. If you are battling foot odour and need a short-term fix while you find a treatment option, we have just the thing.Before starting your day, apply Dr Haushka Deoderising Foot Cream. Infused with rosemary oil, silk and rice starch, the cream absorbs moisture, softens the skin and deodorises. Then, when out and about, keep a can of Elemis Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray close at hand. With antibacterial properties, it not only smells great but keeps odours at bay and prevents bacteria from taking hold. Whether you love or loathe your feet, show them a little love this week. After all, they’ve earned it. Shop All Feet Now.Competition Time!Answer the question below for the chance to win a Seoulista 3 Pack Rosy Toes Instant Pedicure, worth £21.50!T&C's: All entries close 11:59PM 15/03/2020. 3 winners will be chosen at random from all entries received via the allbeauty blog page . The winner will receive x1 Seoulista Beauty Gifts & Sets 3 Pack Rosy Toes Instant Pedicure In the event of loss of prize in the post, we regret no alternative is available. We reserve the right to re-draw a winner if we do not hear from you within 3 working days. Please note that the winner's address may be passed on to a third party supplier of the prize for the purpose of dispatching the prize only. No details will be retained by allbeauty or the supplier.