STEP INTO SPRING

Our feet take a battering, so they deserve to be pampered. Here are our top tips to get soft, summer-ready soles

- LEILA PETERSEN

OUR feet work hard for us every day, carrying us through long walks, workouts and busy schedules. Yet when it comes to beauty routines, they are often overlooked. Especially in winter, after months tucked away in socks and boots, they can emerge in spring looking dry, cracked and in need of some love.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. The good news is that with a few simple steps you can restore softness, keep your nails healthy and enjoy smooth, sandal-ready soles all summer long.

SMOOTH MOVE

After soaking, exfoliation is your shortcut to softer, smoother feet. Use a pumice stone or granular scrub to gently buff away dead skin, focusing on the heels and balls of the feet where buildup is most common. Keep motions light and circular, as too much pressure can cause irritation or small cracks.

A scrub enriched with vitamin E, avocado oil or bamboo extract offers both smoothing and hydrating benefits, while a simple sugar-and-petroleum jelly blend makes a great DIY polish. Even walking barefoot on sand can act as a natural scrub. Exfoliating just once a week leaves feet renewed and better able to absorb moisturisers.

ON FILE

When it comes to tackling hard skin and cracked heels, a foot file is your best friend. Unlike regular exfoliators, it's designed to buff away thickened patches that build up over time, especially on weight-bearing spots like the heels and balls of the feet. The key is to always use your file on dry skin.