Kicking Up Your Heels for some Summer Fun with Lloyds Pharmacy

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Finally the summer sun has arrived and us girls (and guys) can't wait to get our feet out of stuffy shoes and boots and revel in the freedom of open-toed sandals.

An array of peek-a-boo styles are simply begging to be worn and we are on our way in the style stakes... until we realise that while we may be ready for the Summer, our feet are not.

But with a selection of simple to use, easy to apply solutions Lloyds Pharmacy will help you get your feet summer-ready in no time.

When it comes to skin care our feet are often left behind in our beauty regime, with many of us settling for a quick application of moisturiser before we pop our feet into winter boots and shoes. Micro Pedi

So if you find yourself suddenly in need of a quick recovery system and a trip to your local salon is not on your list then pop along to your local Lloyds Pharmacy and get your feet ready for the beach, the parties and those strappy heels.

We took a look at a selection of available products designed to remove hard, cracked and dry skin as well as moisturisers dedicated to ensuring your feet are baby soft.

If you have a small amount of hard skin and want a really quick fix then the Emjoi MicroPedi (£39.95) is a battery operated device that will 'sand' your feet in seconds. The unique micro-mineral rollers spin 360 degrees, at 30 times per second, to gently remove hard and rough skin.

It is water resistant but not waterproof so you can rinse off any dead skin particles after use - or use the special cleaning brush provided. For those of us who have looked after their feet to some degree, this would make light of buffing off any areas that were starting to harden again.

It is very gentle on the skin and is not likely to cause sore places or encourage over-use and abrasion. Price wise it is a little more than we would recommend, especially as you will need to buy replacement heads at some stage. If the rotating edge was made from something a little more resilient or permanent then it would warrant the price tag - but then again if you had a metal head on this device you would be more likely to suffer from injury from mis- or over-use. Lloyds Callous File

If your feet are more neglected and ready for some serious care then coming in at a more reasonable price is the Lloyds Pharmacy Corn & Callous File (£3.09).

Simple to use and very effective on all hard skin areas, as long as you 'feel' your way with this file you will be corn-free in no time.

Begin by using the file gently on hard areas and working slowly you will feel the file as you begin to near fresh, soft skin. As you remove more hard skin you will learn to gauge the sensation of filing live skin and become adept at hard skin removal, without over-filing 'good' skin.

Wash with warm water and dry after use - there should be no need to replace this all summer long. Out of the two products we would definitely go with the Lloyds Pharmacy Corn & Callous File - on performance, usability, endurance and cost. Scholl Cracked Heel

Aside from removing the hard skin areas it is essential to soften and protect the rest of the skin on your feet and for this we love the Scholl Cracked Heel Repair Cream - Active Repair K+ (£9.99).

Out of the many foot creams we have tried we've found that Scholl really do know feet and their repair creams soften even the roughest of skin.

If your skin is too hard to begin to file then we would recommend using the repair cream to kick-start the softening process for at least a week before you attempt to file to remove the dead skin. Easily absorbed, this is effective with cotton socks when you are not showing off your feet, or throughout the colder months to repair and prepare for the summer ahead - or as a night cream, after showering and definitely after using either the Corn & Callous File or Micro Pedi.

If you are looking for a dedicated night cream for your feet then Compeed Cracked Heel Overnight Cream (£5.49) is made for the job. Again, easily absorbed and effective on dry heels, this product will remedy the problem and with continued use make sure your feet are soft all year round.

Personally though we preferred the Scholl Cracked Heel Repair as the cream is slightly richer, with a thicker texture but still no greasy after film.

Both of these creams would be suitable for anyone with diabetes* or poor circulation** who are not advised to use the file or pedi.

*Some diabetics are at extreme risk of getting an infection due to the lack of feeling in their feet (neuropathy) and their inability to heal normally. Even a small nick can lead to gangrene, resulting in the amputation of toes, feet, or legs. As there are so many variants of diabetes, we recommend that you would check with your doctor first before trying a pedicure device.

**Poor circulation means that there's less feeling/sensitivity in the foot and the skin becomes thinner - therefore more at risk of getting nicks, cuts etc. It is recommend that you check with your doctor first if you: