Put Your Best Foot Forward

Walking around the greens all day can take a toll on your feet. And with much visiting to be done this Chinese New Year, you want to make sure your feet look their best! We share a few tips on how you can revive tiresd feet and transform them into smoother, prettier feet just in time for the New Year.

Soak Them!

Having a good soak in a foot bath can be both calming and rejuvenating. The best thing? It’s so easy and fuss-free! A warm foot bath also cleanses the feet and softens your skin and cuticles, prepping it for a nice, long foot massage, a luxurious moisturising lotion or a pampering pedicure.

Try the following warm soaks to soothe your aching feet:

• Relieve muscle aches with half a cup of Epsom salt.
• A few drops of peppermint essential oil to refresh and stimulate feet.
• A few drops of tea tree oil to deodorise and disinfect.
• Add a drop of lavender and peppermint oil and three drops of marjoram for a relaxing foot bath.
• Throw in a few stones or marbles and roll your feet over them for a soothing massage.

Combat Foot Odour

Say goodbye to stinky feet! The main reason for foot odour is bacteria digesting the sweat from your feet. So if you are prone to sweaty feet, try these remedies:

• Wash your feet with anti-bacterial soap to reduce the germ population on your feet.
• Wear only clean, cotton socks and change them everyday.
• Give your shoes a breather. Don’t wear the same pair everyday.
• Get a good antiperspirant for your feet.
• Check if you have Athlete’s Foot.
• Select well-ventilated, breathable shoes.

Relax With A Foot Massage

Release muscle tension in those tired feet with a soothing foot massage with a DIY foot massage. All you need is a comfy chair, massage oil or baby lotion and try these amazing moves:

1. Start off with a few firm squeezes to the foot. Using your thumb, get your circulation going with slow, firm strokes on the top of your foot. Do this a few times.
   
2. Loosen those stiff joints with slow ankle rotations in both directions for both feet.
   
   
3. Pull each toe firmly from the base to the tip before gently squeezing and rolling the toe between your thumb and index fingers. Complete the move by sliding your index finger between your toes for five times.
   
   
4. Cup your heel in one hand. Use the other to rub from the arch to the ball of your foot and back. Add a little pressure for a more invigorating massage. Repeat five times. Use your fist and make firm, circling movements around your sole.
   
5. End the massage by repeating the first step.

Pedicure Pampering

More than just a cosmetic procedure, pedicures are also great for removing tough, dead skin, calluses, preventing ingrown toenails and getting clean nails. If weekly pedicures are out of your budget, practice these home pedicure steps:

1. Soak your feet in a warm foot bath to prep your nails. Use a foot scrub and pumice stone to exfoliate.
   
   
2. Dry your feet and file your nails in one direction to prevent your nails from splitting. For a little shine, buff your nails lightly.
   
   
3. Apply a cuticle softener and gently push back the cuticle with an orange stick.
   
   
4. Slab on a good moisturiser and you’re done! If you like a little colour on your nails, put on some nail polish. Alternatively, you could brush on some henna paste to tint your nails a reddish colour. The longer you leave it on, the darker the colour.