Hermes Spring/Summer 2010
But whichever sort of footwear you fancy, your stressed-out feet may be paying the price of striding around in platform sandals, gladiator flats or slinky flip-flops this summer.
Combine that with the fact women strut an average of three miles more than men each day and your feet may be long overdue for some serious TLC.
"Wearing fashion sandals and going barefoot in the summer months makes us feel great but the warmer climes make it harder for our feet to retain moisture, which leads to them drying out," Scholl feet expert Claire Webber explains.
No pedicurist on speed dial? Don't worry - just give your aching feet a post-summer pick-me-up with our guide to fabulous feet.
:: GROUNDWORK
Lay the right feet foundations and you'll be ready to flaunt them again in no time. If you can't afford a regular salon pedicure, it's important to keep up a regular maintenance routine at home to keep tootsies in tip-top condition.
"Unsightly hard skin can build up very easily on the soles of the feet so regular maintenance is key," advises Boots foot model Diana Hickox.
"Start by smoothing away rough patches every week with a foot file, paying special attention to the ball of the foot and around the heel.
"To help prevent the build-up of rough hard skin use a foot scrub every time you're in the bath or shower while the skin is softened."
TRY: The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub, $16.95; Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Extreme Foot Therapy, $24.95; Bio Sculpture Pumice Stone, $3.00; Mecca Cosmetica Barefoot Beauty Polishing Foot Scrub, $40.00.
:: FEET TREATS
Once the groundwork is complete step up your feet-friendly mission with some essential TLC. Keep feet silky and soft by putting moisturising top of your tootsie to-do list.
"The key to healthy feet is hydration," says Webber.
"The skin on our feet is thicker than anywhere else on our bodies, which makes it harder to penetrate.
"Invest in a good moisturiser and ensure you are taking the time to let the cream soak in."
Moisturising with an overnight rescue cream and popping your feet into cotton socks when you go to bed is an instant intensive remedy for parched feet.
TRY: Estee Lauder Body Performance Smoothing Manicure/Pedicure Treatment, $50.00; L'Occitane Shea Foot Cream (30mL), $16.95, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic, $14.50.
:: PEDI-READY
Your feet are one small step away from looking fabulous so the finishing touches are all-important. A file and polish will ensure your feet are in their pedicure prime.
How do you shape toenails? "File the nail length down whilst dry as there is less chance of the nails bending and then peeling or splitting," recommends celebrity nail technician Andrea Fullerton.
"Always file straight across, never down the sides as this causes ingrown toenails - ouch!"
Polishing is the final glam touch to achieve a pedicure finish to be proud of.
"Before polishing, always basecoat the toenails - varnish tends to stay on the toes much longer than on finger nails so colour is more likely to penetrate and stain," Fullerton says.
"When polishing on toes that are quite wide and chubby-looking such as the big toe, I leave a gap down the sides to give the illusion of a slim, long toenail."
TRY: Manicare Manicure and Pedicure Grooming Set, $14.50; OPI Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil (7.5mL), $17.25.
