Beauty starts with the feet. The most beautiful face will show the strain of tired, aching feet. They will also cause a loss of balance in your walk and promote tension and irritability. Never wear high heels, pointed toes, etc., as these prove harmful with difficult feet. Women usually persuade themselves to sacrifice comfort for smartness. The following simple exercises will help a great deal when the feet have been constricted in shoes all day.
(1) Sit with legs crossed. Rotate the feet six times towards each other and six times away from each other.
(2) Sit with legs stretched, straight out in front. Bend the toes up as far as possible and then down as far as possible.
(3) Put a pencil on the floor and try to pick it up with your toes. This will strengthen the feet.
(4) Sit on a chair with feet on the floor and spread out the toes as far as you can. This will tone up the feet muscles.
If you have troubled feet, consult a chiropodist. The trouble generally is caused by a fungus and is very contagious. It starts by a slight redness and itching but as it gets worse the skin flakes off in white shreds. After bathing, it is essential to dry well between the toes and to dust with a medicated talcum powder. If the condition does not clear up, it is advisable to see the doctor. It is better to go to a chiropodist for the treatment of corns and ingrown toe nails. Small corns can be treated at home by applying white iodine. Avoid pressure on the corn by covering it with a special pad from lambs wool The feet troubles never occur if you give your feet regular pedicures. Soaking the feet in warm water to which bath-salts or special foot-salts have been added can be very soothing, but the feet should be rubbed over afterwards with methylated or eau-de-cologne spirit to counteract any softening effect, When the skin is too soft the corns or blisters easily occur. The toe nails should be given as much attention as the nails of the hands.
Home Pedicure
(1) Soak the feet in warm water, adding a few drops of dettol or any other disinfectant. Scrub the toe nails with a fairly stiff nail-brush. Rub any hard skin with a pumic stone. Never try to cut hard skin as this can be dangerous. Dry the feet carefully, especially between the toes.
(2) Massage the feet with a little foot cream. (Better buy one containing menthol which is very cooling.)
(3) Apply cuticle cream around the nails.
(4) Using an orange stick, wrapped with a twist of cotton wool and dipped in cuticle remover, gently press the cuticle back. The cuticle should never be cut unless the edges are ragged.
(5) Cut the nails straight across and then smooth the edges with an emery-board. The nails should not be so short that the soft flesh at the ends of the toe is exposed,
(6) Use a little varnish remover on con cotton wool to dry off the nails and remove any cream.
(7) Cotton wool pads can now be put between the toes. This is to avoid smudging-and the varnish applied, covering the whole nail and over the tip.
Choosing Stockings and Shoes
While buying stockings, see that you buy the right size for comfort. Choose the heavier type stockings for day wear and the finer ones for social occasions. Seamless stockings are the most popular. The color of stockings should blend not only with the color of the skin but also with the color of the clothes being worn. As with stockings, you must be sure of your size while buying shoes and walk around the store before deciding on them. Avoid socks that are ribbed. Wear right-sized socks that do not constrict the toes. Wear a fresh pair each day. Avoid synthetic fibres, as they often make feet sweat, and knee-highs, as they can restrict blood circulation. Remove your boots indoors.
Women who always wears sandals and flat heels can develop fallen arches. On the other hand, continually wearing high heels can also be harmful because the weight of the body being constantly thrown on the toes. A variation in the height of the heels is, therefore, recommended. Look after your shoes, cleaning them regularly and keeping them in good repair—particularly the heels—not only for appearance’s sake but for your own comfort too. Get well-fitting shoes with sufficient space (1.5 cm) between your big toe and the tip. In winter, keep your feet warm to avoid the risk of chilblains.