A sunny week spent rotating between strappy sandals, kitten heels and your favourite Havaianas is all well and good — or at least until you realise you’ve neglected your feet for the best part of a year (oops!). Unfortunately, not even a bright slick of polish is enough to distract from dry, cracked heels.
The good news? There’s still time to put things right. ‘If the cracks are relatively superficial, most people will notice a visible improvement in look, feel and comfort within just a few days,’ says Maggie Trevillion, podiatrist and owner at Callen Olive.
So you can put your best foot forward (sorry), we asked foot care experts for their advice on everything from pre-holiday repair to keeping your feet looking their best while you’re away.
Buff away the rough
First, you’ll need to tackle the build-up of dry skin. As podiatrist and brand founder Margaret Dabbs puts it, ‘all the foot creams and foot moisturisers in the world won’t work if you leave the hard, dry skin in place.’
It’s worth investing in a good-quality foot file to gently buff away the build-up. Margaret’s own foot file is brilliant here. ‘It removes all the hard, dead, dry skin easily, and it will also leave the skin even and smooth to the touch.’
Margaret Dobbs Professional Foot File
According to Margaret, filing should come before you step into the shower. ‘A wet foot masks the areas that need attention, and if the skin is prone to cracking, moisture weakens the tissue and makes existing cracks more likely to open,’ she explains.
When you’re after a quick fix, it can be tempting to keep filing until every last rough patch is gone — but Maggie warns that overdoing it could do more harm than good. ‘Hard skin develops naturally by the way you walk to protect areas exposed to pressure and friction, so the aim isn't to remove every trace of it, but to keep it healthy, smooth and under control,’ she says.
Once you’ve filed, a scrub will help polish things off. ‘A foot scrub will help bring dry skin back to life and reach the areas that the file can't touch,’ says Margaret.
Margaret Dabbs Natural Foot Scrub
Lock in moisture
‘Removing hard skin is only the beginning,’ says Maggie. ‘Unless the skin is regularly hydrated, cracked heels often return.’
Your regular body lotion won’t cut it here. As Margaret tells GH, the skin on your feet is thicker than anywhere else on the body. ‘Body lotion simply will not penetrate deeply enough to make a meaningful difference, a dedicated foot cream is essential.’
It pays to check the ingredients list, too. ‘Clinically respected ingredients include glycerin, which draws moisture into the skin to improve hydration, while Provitamin B5 can help soothe, replenish and support the skin's natural renewal process,’ says Maggie.
Callen Olive Foot Sole & Heel Saviour Balm
‘Consistency is far more important than applying lots of product occasionally,’ says Maggie. In other words, make foot care part of your daily routine, getting into the habit of moisturising every morning and evening. When next summer rolls around, you’ll thank yourself for keeping it up.
Don’t let your hard work go to waste
Your skincare routine doesn’t take a holiday when you do (or, at least, we hope not) — so why should your feet miss out?
‘Holiday feet actually need extra attention because sandals expose the skin to heat, dust, sand and increased drying,’ Maggie adds. ‘Just two or three minutes each evening will help keep your feet comfortable throughout your holiday.’
The priority is to keep your feet clean and hydrated. ‘Make sure to wash your feet thoroughly after the beach or pool, and apply a nourishing foot balm every evening,’ advises Maggie.
Think about your footwear
Your choice of footwear matters, too. As Maggie explains, ‘ironically, the sandals we love in summer can contribute to cracked heels because they allow the heel to expand sideways as you walk, increasing pressure on the skin. Look for footwear with support and cushioning for your feet.’
When to see an expert
It’s important to recognise the difference between feet that need a little TLC and those that need professional attention. ‘The biggest mistake is waiting until the problem becomes too thick or painful,’ says Maggie. ‘If your holiday is only a week or two away, professional treatment is by far the quickest and safest option.’
‘Where there is significant hard skin or deeper cracks, professional treatment can provide an immediate visible improvement because the excess hard skin is safely removed, allowing the skin to flex normally again,’ she says. ‘The improvement in look, feel and ease when walking is often immediate.’
Consider this your reminder not to leave your feet off the beauty to-do list.
