Summary: Feet are often ignored in many people’s body care regimen, especially in the dead of winter. But it’s the winter when your feet require the most hydration and exfoliation. Home spa products are great alternatives to more expensive choices for keeping your feet fit…any season.

Imagine this – you are stuffed into cramp quarters with no light and your 250,000 sweat glands have no where to weep. Now add a little odor, some bacteria, and a handful of blisters to the mix and this torture chamber becomes your aching feet. But have no fear – treat your feet as you do your face and quite a few problems can be avoided. You know the tried and true body care steps: cleanse, hydrate, and exfoliate. But watch out for the fungus monster who might grow between your toes because you didn’t thoroughly dry your feet after washing them.

So how do you soften cracked soles and prevent calluses from forming? Choose natural body care foot scrubs that will help exfoliate the dead skin on your feet and don’t forget to use a smoothing foot stone or foot file after soaking in a bath. Moisturize your feet daily. The thick layer of outer skin on the feet need it even more than other parts of your body.

Home Spa Products That Help

Natural body care products that go a long way to prevent cracking include safflower oil to seal in moisture as well as oatmeal and lactic acid. The latter assists in retaining water while at the same time acts as an exfoliating agent. Linda Bird author of Weekend Home Spa: Four Creative Escapes -- Cleansing, Energizing, Relaxing, and Pampering, believes you can get healthful advantages home spa products you make using ingredients you have in your kitchen.

According to Ms. Bird, “[A] great way to remove dead skin cells and revitalize a sluggish circulation is to exfoliate. Invest in one of the countless body scrub products offered these days or improvise with some rough sea salt and a loofah and scrub away.” Her advice is to buff gently in circles, paying particular attention to the feet, rinse off the salty mixture thoroughly, then follow with a final blast of cold water. And don’t forget any vital body care rule: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Fancy your Feet, Not Your Fancy Shoes

Try to stay away from unstable high heels with narrow pointed toes. Hammertoes and painful ingrown toe nails aren’t worth the fashion statement. Flip flops are great for the beach but certainly don’t provide needed support. Try to purchase shoes that match the natural structure of your foot. And don’t forget to do your shopping late in the day! Feet are most swollen in the evening and you won’t be hassling with returning shoes that are much too tight a few days later. When was the last time you had your foot measured? Statistics show that the average 40 year old hasn’t had her foot measured in more than 10 years, resulting in shoes that are at least one-half size too small. Instead, purchase your shoes late in the day when feet tend to be swollen; that way you'll get a pair that fits at all times.

Whether you make your own home spa products or opt for a commercial body care product of choice, remember to pamper your poor feet. Everyone knows happy feet are healthy feet!