With the skincare industry booming in health and beauty,  suppliers continue to incorporate new effective ingredients in their products, backed by scientific research.  But what goes into the care of your feet and skin can be based on your preference of WHAT goes into your product.

There has been significant progress made when it comes to science and technology around skincare.  New, safe uses for synthetically derived ingredients are examined regularly, and many of these types of materials help improve our lives and are backed by a track record of glowing history.  An example of one such type of material is hyaluronic acid, which helps contribute to cell growth and proliferation--aka, new skin growth.

There is an abundance of articles and blogs, educating the public about differences between what ‘natural’, ‘organic’, or ‘synthetic/chemical’ means in terms of ingredients for skincare.  Many times, advertising can sway perspective on what these terms actually imply, and digging into how a product is made can usually help answer our questions. Keep in mind, that most ingredients in skincare products undergo some sort of processing step, whether it’s to isolate an oil, mineral, or salt that is part of the product's formula.

Although the terms may confuse you, the best way to sort out what type of product could be best for you and your skin needs is to read the ingredient label and test it on your skin before using it as a skin care regime.

Exfoliants are usually materials included in the product that help to gently remove excess dead, hardened, or tough skin cells.  This removal helps to leave your skin and feet feeling smoother and more supple. They range also in their textures or properties, depending on how sensitive the skin area is that needs treatment.

Our feet usually have thicker skin that an area such as the face, so most exfoliants in foot products tend to lean toward the coarser side. Exfoliants can either be included in the product or if they are not, require a manual type of scrubbing or surface to help facilitate the process, usually something like a pumice stone or coarse brush or sponge.

Some products previously used plastic microbeads to help exfoliate the skin, but recently these have been restricted. In December 2015- US FDA issued The Microbead-Free Waters Act to eliminate the harmful side effects they have on the environment, once they are washed back down the drain and back into our water supply. Nowadays, most exfoliants include ingredients such as sugars, oatmeal, baking soda, salts, charcoal or volcanic rock, almonds, or coffee.

So now you have exfoliated, smooth baby feet, how do you take care of that new layer of skin in an area of the body that’s treated harshly every day?  Keep it elastic and pliable with the right sort of moisturizing ingredients. When the skin on the foot loses its elasticity, it tends to crack when we walk, causing painful fissures that take weeks to heal.  

Classes of moisturizers:

Any product that can combine a variety of these classes of moisturizers will help benefit the effectiveness of the product to help keep skin cells healthy, pliable, and viable.  Just note that ‘more’ is not necessarily better, depending on your skin’s needs, and any skin sensitivities. Just like exfoliants, the moisturizers in the product should be tested on your skin first before incorporating it into your daily foot care routine.

It is important to read, carefully, the usage protocols of every product. Some will do different things than others. Take, for instance, a product that will exfoliate and rejuvenate but doesn’t have anti-fungal properties. Or how about a product that has anti-fungal properties but cannot cleanse the pores as you need? There may, also, be reactions when using too many varying options combined. In other words, two all-natural products do not mean that is safe to combine those two into one treatment. Likewise, it doesn’t mean you will be harmed by doing so, either. This is why we stress the importance of both reading the usage capabilities of each product with the added guidance of a medical care professional. In this, you can be certain of your safety and the correct treatment for your needs.

With the aforementioned stated, the first question you must ask yourself is, “What is it exactly that I need to better my foot health?” If the answer is, “warding off dirty pores,” then the obvious solution is an option which exfoliates and deep cleanses the pores. If the answer is, “fighting athlete’s foot,” then although a deep pore cleanser can be helpful, if it does not contain anti-fungal properties, then it is the wrong solution for you. Take the time to really think about what it is that you need. Just because a friend swears by a specific product, doesn’t mean that it is the correct answer to the specific problem you may be facing.

At the end of the day, it is all about your health and well-being; along with the safety of your body. Reading a little bit can go a long way in better understanding the correct approach.

When you are suffering from foot problems, you'll do anything to make them annoying or painful blisters, corns or rashes go away! Of course, as with anything medical-related such as fungal infections, eczema, and so on, your first priority should be to visit a dermatologist to gain a complete and honest assessment of what your body needs. After this, it is all about what pleases you. Will it be the aroma of green tea and jasmine or the delicious flavorings of passion fruit? That is, this is when shopping becomes fun on a more personal level.

When we consider the variety of options on the market, we ranked them based on several criteria, including their aroma. A pleasant aroma of a foot care product makes using it much more fun and rewarding and you are more likely to continue with the routine if you derive a positive sensory experience from it.

In addition to being effective, we brought you products that smell and feel good when they go on. From the smells of African coffee to those of the Himalayan mountaintops, there is a product on this list for you! Don't suffer from dry skin, blisters or corns any longer, when a sensory-uplifting experience is right around the corner!