Pic credit: Emma Hill

Get your feet set for summer now. With sandal-season only a few months away, smooth your feet into shape with these pro tips.

# 1 Start with a medical pedicure

A ‘medi-pedi’ is so much more than a pedicure. Professional podiatrists recommend this all-in treatment which allows for early detection of foot problems, such as bunions, corns and fungal infection. When identified at an early stage, their treatment is easier and less painful according to Sydney Podiatry Co. A medi-pedi usually includes treating dry skin, blisters, ingrown toenails, cracked heels, discoloured toenails, calluses, fungal toenails and corns. Your feet will look and feel better as a result.

# 2 Trim your nails correctly

‘To avoid developing ingrown toenails, trim your nails straight across’, advise the podiatrists at Melbourne Podiatrist. ‘Be careful not to trim them too short or cut into the sides of the nail, as this can increase your risk of infection. Smooth rough nail edges with an emery board or nail file. Doing this every few weeks will keep your nails well maintained.’

Once your nails are in shape, choose a gorgeous nail polish shade from our new Tandem collection with shades of mustard ‘Strasbourg’, lilac ‘Portland’, teal ‘Malmö’, berry and brown.

# 3 Deal with foot odour

Pic credit: Belfield Podiatry

When the weather’s hot, the last thing you want to worry about is foot odour. Mavala Deodorising Foot Gel quickly sinks into your skin and the “Deo-Active” agent gives long-lasting sanitisation and deodorising action. Use as needed for immediate freshness.

# 4 Protect your feet at the pool or beach shower

Belfield Podiatry insist that wearing thongs or slides in hotel or public showers, or any other shared spaces is crucial to safe guard against tinea and fungus. ‘Fungi – including the one that causes tinea, commonly known as athlete’s foot, thrive in moist and warm environments like shower floors!’. It causes discomfort, itching, redness and even painful blisters on the feet. See a podiatrist before it gets worse or spreads.

Pic credit: Havaianas

# 5 Choose your thongs to suit your feet

Slides, thongs, flip flops, whatever your summer slip-on shoe of choice is, look for the right style for your foot, advises Claremont Podiatry ‘The amount of this support people actually need can vary considerably from person to person. The very thin soles are often blamed for more serious pain and injury in the body unfairly. A well-conditioned active person may be suited just fine to this type whilst a heavier, sedentary individual may need something entirely different. We are all unique and often our footwear choices need to suit our individual needs.  There is no one size fits all approach.’

# 6 Get your feet smooth and soft

Feet get dry and scaly looking through winter and can get worse wearing thongs constantly through summer. Use Mavala Smoothing Scrub Cream For Feet to buff and smooth your skin, then follow with Mavala Conditioning Moisturiser for Feet, for moisture and nourishment.

# 7 Deal with dry heels

Hard, dry, cracked heels are next level to dry skin. They can be painful and take some time to fix. See a podiatrist first, who will get rid of some of the dry skin, then maintain moisture by nourishing your feet daily with a deep acting balm like Mavala Hydro-Repairing Foot Care.