Most young girls start taking care of their faces before they’re old enough to vote.  Why? Because the first thing a young man looks at when he sees a girl is her face.   There are creams for dry skin, oily skin, pimples, rashes,  eczema—you name it, there’s a tube of something for it.   Then we move down to the hands, because red, dry hands are bothersome and unattractive. Pretty hands are a must for the beauty conscious.   But the last thing most of worry about is our feet.  Who looks at them?   Consequently, feet take a beating from the day we start walking, even though  we expect them to perform effortlessly without any attention at all.  That needs to stop.  Valentines Day is coming, and it’s time to be sweet to your feet.

Start with a foot bath. for 20 minutes, twice a week.  All you need is a plastic tub  wide enough to accommodate both feet.  Fill it up to your ankles with warm water, and maybe add some Epsom salts. .  Afterwards, use a pumice stone to remove  dead skin.   Before you put on your socks, massage the balls of your feet gently , and rub in some lotion. Did you know that a foot massage relieves stress and anxiety?  It also improves circulation, reduces irritation, and helps transport oxygen through the body.

If you want to get fancy, order a heated footbath online, or buy one at the store.  However, you shouldn’t use a heated bath if you’re a diabetic , because it can burn your feet and cause blisters.

Most of us use hand cream every day.  Why not foot cream?  Our feet get tired and itchy and sore.  They can use some loving care, too. At least twice a day , massage your feet with  lotion.    However, don’t rub the cream between your toes because you don’t want to create a moist place for fungal infections to invade.

One of the kindest  things you can give your feet is a professional pedicure  Let’s face it, pedicures are pricey. The average working woman can’t afford to spend  hundreds of dollars a year  getting her toenails painted.   But if a special occasion is coming up, or you’re simply feeling down and out, a trip to the nail salon will lift your spirits and vastly improve the appearance  of your feet.  Not to mention the soothing warmth of a foot  massage.

Be sweet to your feet this Valentine’s Day!