Save our soles
health,beauty,pedicure
Pair of feet wearing high silver sandals
By Sarah Green
Sky high heels scream Christmas parties! And for this fast approaching festive season we\'re really spoilt for choice: studs, sequins, feathers, fringing and more -- and all with four or five inches of extra height. But unfortunately, while your feet may look amazing they probably won\'t feel the same way. Dr Foot explains that, "A high heel lifts the foot out of its natural position and shortens the achilles tendon." So five or six inch heels, and particularly those with an open toe, also pitch the weight of your body forward onto the ball of the foot and push the toes downwards, which can lead to sprained ankles. Talk about a party pooper! But if you\'re still a slave to those oh-so-sexy peeptoe booties you\'ve had your eye on, start smothering your soles in some soothing pre and post-party TLC now.
Home spa
beauty,pedicure,Scholl
Party Feet foot spa
This is no ordinary foot spa. It\'s your one-stop shop for soothing party feet. Before your big night out, dip your tootsies into warm water and click to the ‘bubbling\' setting to soften your skin and put the spring securely into your step. Perfect your paint job courtesy of the accompanying pedicure dividers then push the gel cushions into your dancing shoes and away you go. Next morning (when the shoes have been fiercely discarded) indulge in the ultimate foot soother - back in the foot bath with it switched onto massage mode. With three settings - rolling, accunode and acupressure - your feet will think they\'ve died and gone to heaven. And Cinders will soon be able to slip on those shoes again.
Scholl Party Feet Foot Spa, £29.99, Marksandspencer.com
Energising
foot cream,beauty,Origins,pedicure
Origins step lively products
When, on the morning after the night before, even putting one foot down on the fluffy carpet has you wincing in pain, an urgent dose of this energising foot cream is an absolute essential. The exhilarating Mentha, Piperita and Wintergreen scent alone will clear away the cobwebs in your head - just wait until your feet feel the full effect in an intensive massage. (Note to self: Try and coax someone else into doing the hard work for you so that you can lie back and reminisce about last night. Oh, and tell him to concentrate on the acupressure points of your soles. Pure bliss!)
Origins Step Lively, £16.50, Origins.co.uk
Smell wonderful!
beauty,pedicure
Butter London foot spray
OK, so it\'s something no girl worth her weight in leopard print Louboutins wants to admit to. But if you do suffer from, ahem, sticky or smelly feet then a cooling odour eliminator makes a worthwhile investment. This one comes subtly scented with menthol and just a couple of spritzes will spare any embarrassment. Oh, and should you find yourself flagging on your feet with no sign of the taxi home, spray some from your knees down for a welcome burst of energy.
Butter London Pumps, £17, Strawberryandcream.com
Soothing treat
foot cream,beauty,pedicure
Pevonia product
Your feet are your constant support (quite literally) so it pays to smother them in something that offers instant relief when the heels finally do come off. This pale blue gel, much loved by the red carpet crowd, contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ingredients to stimulate blood circulation and ease post-party foot pain. It soaks in easily, leaving no residue - just soothed, happy feet. It\'s like first aid for feet!
Pevonia Botanica Tension Relief Foot Gel, £9.50, 01449 727 000
Warm massage
beauty,pedicure
gel doctor for foots ache product
If you\'re planning a night of trying out the moves you\'ve mastered from Strictly Come Dancing, you may want to give these gel insoles a go. Feeling hot to trot? Then heat them up in the microwave first. Prefer playing it cool? Then get them out of the freezer. Choose your temperature then slip them in your shoes so that every time you move the gel inside gives your feet a mini massage to stimulate your soles. Now all you need (if you dare) is a dance partner like Brendan...
Gel Doctor Forfootsache, £9.95, Geldoctor.com
Overnight treat
beauty,pedicure
Qtica foot balm
If your feet have been in hibernation, the easiest way to get them back to flauntable is to smother them with the richest cream you can find and hit the sack. We\'ve found this amazing overnight foot fixer, blended with honey, beeswax, a multivitamin complex and salicylic acid to soften, soothe and smooth your feet. Make it even more intensive by slipping cotton socks on over the top. We guarantee you\'re one night\'s sleep away from being the proud owner of a perfect pair.
Qtica Overnight Intense Foot Repair Balm, £15.95, Zoyapolish.co.uk
Comfy cushions
health,beauty,pedicure
Kiwi foot cushions
Eww! A survey by shoe care experts Kiwi revealed that 48% of women admitted to kicking off their painful party shoes at the end of the night, preferring to walk home barefoot, no matter what lay ahead of them on the pavement. Maybe this year it\'d make sense to either a) carry a back-up pair of flip-flops for the journey home, or b) pop some clear gel cushions in your shoes for longer-lasting comfort. These little beauties promise to save the balls of your feet from that awful burning feeling you get from wearing heels. Genius.
Kiwi Smiling Feet ball of foot cushions, £3.29, Tesco.com
Quick fix
health,beauty,Crabtree & Evelyn,pedicure
Crabtree and Evelyn products
When your feet are not as touchy-feely as you\'d like, don\'t fret. Small but perfectly formed, this miracle 2-step fix-it kit will soon sort them out. Start off by buffing away any dryness with the ocean scented Revitalising Foot Smoother, featuring a peppermint and pumice mix. Then follow with a generous helping of the Extreme Foot Therapy cream, a sumptuous blend of seaweed extract, natural emollient oils and rice bran flour. Now all you need is a pair of killer heels to show off your tantalising tootsies.
Crabtree & Evelyn La Source 60 Second Fix for feet, £22.50, Crabtree-evelyn.co.uk
Toasty tootsies
health,beauty,pedicure
Slippers and products
Picture the scene. You\'re home late, you hurl your heels into the corner of your bedroom then slip your poor partied-out feet into these fluffy slippers. But hang on, these are no ordinary fluffy slippers. These beauties come with a wheat bag that you can pop in the microwave then push inside the slippers to toast your aching tootsies back to normality. Also included in the gift set is a miniature foot spray and foot lotion. Your feet will thank you.
Lloyds Pharmacy Heated Slipper Set, £7.12, Lloydspharmacy.com
Heel rescue
beauty,The Sanctuary,pedicure
The sanctuary foot cream
Before slipping on your slingbacks, spare a thought for the state of the backs of your heels. Are they up to public display? Tucked inside socks and boots since summer, chances are they\'re not. Luck has it that this fast-acting mega-moisturiser combining a cocktail of Shea Butter with Wheat Germ, Vitamin E and Rosehip Seed Oil, will do target practice on cracked, dry looking heels to restore them to their former glory. Phew!
The Sanctuary Intensive Rescue Heel Balm, £6.95, thesanctuary.co.uk
Blister fixer!
beauty,pedicure
Compeed blister plasters
Nobody puts baby in the corner - even when she\'s got a blister! As essential in your clutch bag as your lippy, if a blister has struck the backs of your heels then whack one on quick smart. These plasters are specially formulated to stop any pain straight away (so no daft hobbling) and once on, prevent any further rubbing by absorbing moisture from the skin to form a thick soft gel. You\'ll be back in those heels before you can say, "Champagne please!"
Compeed Blister Medium Plasters, £4.39 for 5, Boots nationwide
Pampering soak
beauty,pedicure,the body shop
Body shop foot soak product
Warm water feels wonderful on tired feet, even more so when it\'s laced with a handful of these effervescent salts. Packed full of zingy peppermint oil (community trade of course) any nasty niffs will be kicked into touch leaving your feet feeling cool, refreshed and ready to take on another eventful office party.
The Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Foot Soak, £7, thebodyshop.co.uk
See more must-have products from skincare to make-up to see you through the party season!
