Day in, day out, our feet take the greatest load of any body part, yet we so tend to take them for granted. As the days get warmer and we think of bare feet in strappy sandals, it’s a good time to pay attention to those neglected but vital extremities. 

Two main concerns: health and prettiness. Firstly, health: if you have any foot or ankle problems, book in with a registered podiatrist (the modern term for chiropodist) who can first treat minor conditions such as dry, cracked heels, ingrowing toenails, corns and calluses, before advising on a course of action for problems such as athlete’s foot, fungal toenails and bunions. To find a local podiatrist, visit scpod.org.

Podiatry for long-term conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or peripheral arterial (vascular) disease should be available on the NHS, so discuss this with your GP.

Natural remedies for athlete’s foot include A Vogel Soothing Neem Cream/£6.59, for adults, and Nelsons Tea Tree Cream/£4.84, for children, advises Shabir Daya,  in house pharmacist at Victoria Health.

To avoid infection, don’t go barefoot in public places such as swimming pools, gyms or even beaches. Instead of ordinary flip-flops try foot-healthy FitFlop Iqushion Super-Ergonomic Flip Flops/from £28.

If your feet are in good shape already, buff away any hard skin with a foot file: Scholl Dual Action Foot File/£4.99; Margaret Dabbs Professional Foot File/£24 with replacement pads. Or try an electric system such as Micro Pedi with two grades of roller both containing an antibacterial agent/£39.95. Always buff on dry skin – twice weekly should be enough. After washing, dry feet thoroughly, including between toes, and be diligent about applying hydrating foot cream daily. If your feet are really hard, moisturise before bed and then put on cotton socks.

For great product ideas, do look at the Foot Treatment category in our latest Beauty Beauty Bible Awards, which has fantastic tried & tested products including three Beauty Steals.

All this will get your feet in fab shape to move on to prettification. If like me, you love to look down at tanned feet – well, it’s easy nowadays with gradual tanners, like our Beauty Bible Award winners – find them here. We’ve loved This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan for many years (a Bronze Award winner) but this year Vita Liberata Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Tan Lotion (a Silver Award winner) popped up in front of me and, like our testers, I’ve been very impressed and happy with the gorgeous, streak free, easy to apply self tan, which is also moisturising (very).

And now move on to polishing your toenails. Having a salon pedicure is real luxury and my local Somerset beauty salon - Pure Hair & Beauty in Chard - proved a boon for this. But you can DIY to gorgeous effect. Find how on The Beauty Bible Encyclopedia’s 10 Steps to Sexy Feet here.

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