feet

Check out this sole-soothing guide from OnSugar blog Older Girl Beauty:

I hate wearing shoes. Seriously. If I could be barefoot all the time, I would be a happy girl. Heck, I could be the Barefoot Bandit's girlfriend if it wasn't for the whole "stealing" thing he had going on. Of course, running around barefoot doesn't make for the prettiest of tootsies. In fact, it makes my heels pretty dang callusy and hard.

Since it's Summer, and I have to leave my house sometimes, I tend to throw on some flip-flops, which doesn't hide the heel horror that I sport. So I need some heavy-duty help to make them presentable. After trying many things, I have narrowed it down to two things that help a lot.

To see her picks for smooth feet, just keep reading. Have your own magic combo of products? Why not create your own OnSugar blog to share it? You might just get featured here on Bella!

If you've ever suffered from pain in your arches, here's a little treat for your feet. It's simple to do, but feels so good, and is sure to bring some relief whether you're in high heels all day or just went on a long run.

Just fill a reusable water bottle halfway with ice cubes. Then fill the bottle with cold water. Place the bottle on a towel to collect condensation, and place the arch of your bare foot on the middle of the bottle. Rock your foot forward and back, rolling the bottle underneath. Apply as much pressure as you want, and continue this for a few minutes.

Another way to ease achy arches is to stretch your feet and calves every day, especially after a run. I like to do toe breaker and the wall calf stretch.

Ah, holiday high heels, the most seductive and excruciatingly painful shoes you'll wear all year. Many a brave woman has spent four hours at the office holiday party trying desperately to stand in some only semi-painful position, blinking back tears through sheer strength of will and a conviction that her butt and legs look fierce. This year, though, you don't have to be that girl who's too distracted by her blisters to work it. I've put together five ways to blister and pain-proof your feet before you go out, so no matter how unnatural the angle your foot is pitched at, you can glide around as comfortably armored as a Sherman tank. Just read more

I wear a lot of heels, which are a surefire way to get calluses, but even if you don't, those cute ballet flats, comfy Chucks, or spiffy top-siders are putting pressure on several points on your feet, causing callus buildup. It's not like calluses are harmful — they're a natural part of life — it's just that they're ugly, and it's guaranteed you won't notice one until you're about to go out on a date wearing cute new sandals. To prevent this scenario, I've put together three inexpensive tricks to keep calluses at bay. So just keep reading.

When you peek at your feet, what do you think? Are you dazzled by your perfectly filed toenails and softer-than-soft heels, or are you none too thrilled with their less than impeccable looks? As this article in The New York Times points out, often, women take way better care of their faces than their tootsies.

According to a recent study from the American Podiatric Medical Association, 50 percent of women surveyed were "always, frequently, or sometimes" embarrassed by the appearance of their feet. In fact, there are several Facebook groups devoted to feet bashing, and pedicurists note that customers are often apologetic for the way their feet look. See both sides of the story now.

While he might not be a podiatrist, luxe footwear designer Jimmy Choo certainly knows his way around feet. I'll leave his fashionable stylings to Fab, but when Choo dished advice on caring for feet, I listened. Recently, while sharing his thoughts on beach vacationing (rough life), Choo told the Daily Mail that he opts out of going barefoot on the sand, choosing instead to wear sandals. He added:

You have to look after your feet, keep them clean and healthy. You should wash them every night in warm, salted water before going to bed.

Good advice, actually. Not only does salt help soften and detoxify skin, but the warm soak will help you unwind, too. Wondering what else you can do with this easy-to-find mineral? Check out some more ideas here, along with a DIY on making an aromatic salt footbath with alfalfa and mint.