Why your trotters deserve more than a footnote

While our hands may receive daily washing and moisturizing, feet and leg care tends to be an afterthought.

This is especially true in the cold-weather months when thick socks and heavy shoes are the rule and keep the feet and legs well concealed. But once winter is over, legs and feet are exposed for all to see.

Short skirts and open shoes expose the dry patches, bothersome cellulite and fungus skin. When these conditions occur, it's high time for a special beauty treatment to tackle the problem, and aesthetics is not the only reason to do so.

Britta John of Germany's Beauty Alliance, an association of perfumeries, says foot care should occur on a weekly basis and it should include trimming the nails and cuticles, removal of calluses and an application of moisturizer.

Beginning the regiment with the first rays of spring sunshine guarantees that open shoes can be worn on the first day of summer.

"Our feet do a lot for us and not only deserve to be spoiled, they also need to be spoiled," says Petra Mommert-Jauch, a German author of a book about healthy feet and legs.

Weekly foot care comprises many stages. "Optimally, one begins with a relaxing foot bath," says Geismann. Afterward, calluses that have been softened up while soaking should be rubbed with a pumice stone or a file.

If desired, a peel can be used prior to applying a special foot cream.

Essential oils leave the feet smelling pleasant. John recommends applying cream daily "so the skin is made supple continually". To finish it off, apply a fresh coat of chic polish on the trimmed toe-nails.

Legs need a tailored program. They should first have a peeling, then be shaved or epilated. When spider veins or uneven skin tone appear, they can be concealed with the help of a self-tanning cream.

Special leg make-up that is sprayed on can do away with small blemishes and replace hose, says John. They can't make cellulite disappear, though - no lotion can do that.

"A combination of special care and exercise can be successful at reducing cellulite," she says. The special care includes hot and cold showers, massages and special creams that are designed to inhibit the storage of fat. Regularly exercising the leg muscles also helps.

On warm days, open shoes are indispensable. However, this doesn't necessarily mean high heels, Espadrillos or flip-flops, says Mommert-Jauch.

But that doesn't mean that these trendy examples must be banned from the shoe closet. Provided that correctly fitting shoes are worn predominantly during the day and the same shoes are not worn every day, then a high-heeled shoe can be worn in the evening.

DPA

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page19)