Did you know that most of us have something negative to say about our feet?

Is it the shape or length of our toes or nails? Width of our feet? Are they too bony? Too pudgy? Too dry? Too sweaty? Do they have callouses? Cracked heels? Bunions? Ingrown toenails? The list goes on and on…

Let’s face it, we are WAY TOO HARD on our feet, figuratively and physically.

Instead, why don’t we thank them for bearing our entire weight, taking us places, and for their extreme sensitivity? After all, they have about 8,000 nerve endings, which are responsive to touch… and pain!

If we change our attitude and treat them with love and care, we can actually improve our entire well-being.

Here are a few ways you can give your feet some LOVE and GRATITUDE:

1. Avoid wearing high heels, or the same shoes 2 days in a row.

2. Move more, dance more (exercise improves circulation in the legs and feet), but avoid walking barefoot on hard surfaces (instead choose the beach or a grassy area).

3. At the end of a long day, take it easy by putting your feet up. It helps take the pressure off your veins, improves blood flow, and reduces swelling. Make sure to elevate your feet at least 6 inches above your heart.

4. Give yourself a foot massage (or better yet, ask your sweetheart to give you one). A foot massage will help relieve stress, improve your mood or the quality of your sleep, increase circulation and decrease swelling, help with headaches, and more... I recommend using our Ultimate Care Foot Balm, because it is incredibly luxurious, healing, and nourishing.

5. Rub your calluses with a pumice stone every time you’re in the bath or shower. Never use a pumice stone on dry feet. As a matter of fact, do this towards the end of your shower or bath, so the warm water has the time to soften hardened skin

6. Never cut your cuticles! Cuticles are there for preventing infections. They protect the nail bed and are delicate. It is so easy to accidentally cut the skin, or pull, while trying to cut, and cause tears. It’s definitely NOT worth the temporary pretty results.

To make matters worse, cutting your cuticles may cause them to grow back thicker (it’s your body's natural response to the healing process!).

Instead, just push them back with an orange stick or a soft cloth, after you have soaked your feet (to soften the skin) and applied a nourishing oil.

7. Once a week, soak your feet in a warm bath with Epsom salts, then apply a rich foot balm (such as Rêves de Sabine’s Ultimate Care Foot Balm), put on a pair of old socks for 30 minutes or overnight, and feel how soft and pretty they become, with shiny, healthy nails! To make it easier for you, I have actually put together the perfect restorative foot care set (including natural pumice stone, natural orange stick, cotton moisturizing socks, and Ultimate Care Foot Balm). I personally love these cotton socks because they fit perfectly on most feet (but are probably too small for a man’s foot). They are not bulky and are easy to hand wash between uses (you can also throw them in the wash with the rest of the laundry).