Summer time will soon be gone and with the warm air came sandals and flip-flops. To go along with this style of footwear came the dreaded cracked heels. This is a malady that is both preventable and readily treatable. We will first look at how to prevent the problem, and then if you’re reading this too late, we’ll help you treat the problem.

Preventing Cracked Heels

1. Try to avoid open heeled shoes (sandals, flip-flops)
2. Daily preventative moisturizing with a moisturizing cream or for more intensive moisturizing use pure Shea Butter)
3. Exfoliate (pumice stones on wet skin, foot files and Ped-Eggs on dry skin)
4. Limit hot showers and sauna or hot tubs (hot hot water is your enemy)
5. Protect your feet in public swimming areas (wear water shoes or aqua socks)

Treating Cracked Heels

Moisture, Moisture, Moisture
The main cause of dry, cracked heels is the loss of moisture.

Here are the steps to take to relieve your discomfort:

1. Soak your feet in warm water (never HOT water as this will dry your skin further)
   Soak your feet for at least 10 minutes each day in plain water or with a foot soak solution
2. After soaking, towel dry your feet
3. While feet are still damp, use a natural pumice stone on the cracked areas, only going in one direction. Do this over a towel to catch falling dry skin.
4. Moisturize with a pure Shea Butter liberally all over the affected area and pop on some cotton socks for a few hours.
5. Daily treatments may be required for several days.
6. Once the skin is back to normal, a daily application of moisturizing cream should be used.
7. A once a week treatment of the heels in the shower using a pumice stone will help maintain your touchably soft feet.

NOTE- If your heels are flaky, burning, itchy and not just dry and cracked, this may be a sign of a fungal infection. See a doctor for treatment.

Source: sudsmuffin.blogspot.com

Chances are, if you’re over 30, you’ve started to notice that your skin is becoming drier, particularly on the face. While this is a natural development in the aging process, there’s no reason to not take steps to ward off those wrinkles, for as long as possible. Our first 1-ingredient natural skin care recipes is probably sitting in a jar in your frig right now. Mayonnaise is a remarkably effective recipe for smoother skin. Take just a single tablespoon in your hand and gently rub it over your face and neck. Allow it to remain for a half hour before rinsing it off with a soft wash cloth drenched in warm water. Wring the cloth out and pat your skin dry. You’ll notice a difference the very next day, with a decided increase in suppleness within a week.

The avocado is used as a natural skin care treatment on a daily basis by women in the South Pacific islands, who are renowned for their youthful skin, well into their old age. The oils of the avocado fruit are soothing, packed with vitamin E and, used regularly, can easily result in you looking 40 when you’re 60! This is not really a surprising outcome, since vitamin E is an essential nutrient in maintaining a soft, smooth complexion. You can mash up an avocado and apply directly to your skin, or, alternatively, purchase avocado oil at the health food store. If using the mashed fruit, follow the directions for mayonnaise.

Teens usually suffer from too much oil in their skin. An astringent helps reduce the excess oil, while tightening pores. Back to the frig for another ultra-easy natural skin care recipe! Mash up a couple of ripe strawberries and apply directly to your clean skin. Use the mayonnaise regimen outlined above.

Another boon to teens afflicted with pimples may be found in your kitchen cupboard. Rolled oats are good for something besides oatmeal and cookies. Put 2 tablespoons of oats in a cup and add enough warm water to make a paste. Apply the oatmeal paste evenly over your face, with particular attention to trouble areas. Allow the oatmeal to dry and then rinse off with a soft washcloth and warm water. Use this treatment 2-3 times each week. You’ll notice that you’ll suffer fewer pimples and eliminate blackheads within just a couple of weeks. Don’t overdo this remedy – you may end up with dry skin! Aren’t natural skin care recipes wonderful? Yes!

If you’re plagued with acne, try this: buy a vial of propolis tincture from the health food store. Apply directly to trouble spots, several times daily. Propolis tincture induces fast healing, while protecting against new infections.

Of all our natural skin care recipes, this seems most unlikely, but it works wonderfully: Boysenberry juice, applied directly to an outbreak of poison oak, almost immediately relieves itching and inflammation, as well as making a quick job of healing rapidly. It’s equally effective in cases of diaper rash, impetigo and dermatitis.

Yet another amazing 1-ingredient natural skin care recipe for diaper rash is lecithin oil, available at any health food store. With a sterilized needle, puncture a 1200mg lecithin capsule and squeeze on to the rash. Even a bad case will clear up in a few days.

If you’re troubled by athlete’s foot, wash your feet thoroughly and pat dry. Apply apple cider vinegar directly to affected areas, with a cotton ball and allow to dry. Repeat daily. It’s a good idea to add garlic to your diet in generous amounts, which has been demonstrated to be effective against the athlete’s foot fungus.

You’ll surely agree that each of these natural skin care recipes are easy. Even better, once you give them a try, you’ll want to share these recipes for good health and great skin!

Source: www.thehealthguide.org

By: idhamathur

Pamper your feet regularly and get elegant looking shapely soft lotus feet and flash them with pride. Have a look at these simple home made remedies to protect your feet.

Remedies for foot care-

1) Choose a right kind of shoe for your feet. Make sure that there is no shoe bite, pinching and soreness. Walking in them before actually buying and feeling comfortable in them is sensible.

2) Avoid high and pencil heels, these are harmful for the spine. Use flats and slip- on’s that are comfortable and easy to wear.

3) Prefer cottons over nylon socks. Wear a pair of washed socks every single day.

4) Proper cleaning while bathing, massaging and exercise do well for your feet. At the end of the day, apply cream on your feet from the ankle, press the toes, move them up down, this relaxes the feet and improves blood circulation.

5) For pedicure at home, take a tub of mildly hot to lukewarm water, add in some salt and any shampoo, and put the feet in, this gives great instant relief to your feet.

6) Rose water and glycerin mixed together and applied to feet, heals cracks. Use the pumice stone regularly to remove dead skin from time to time.

7) Crushed strawberries with a teaspoon of olive oil and sea salt mixed together can be used as a natural scrub to remove your dead skin.

Rubbing olive oil regularly before going to bed makes feet soft and also makes toe nails stronger and healthy.

9) Mix in a tsp of turmeric powder to a handful of crushed neem leaves and apply to cracked feet.

10) Teaspoon of honey with sesame oil applied on cracked feet is another way of treating them.

11) Do not neglect any sort of pain in the feet, if home remedies do not work, consult your physician immediately.

Try out these amazing and easy steps that would take care of your foot for sure.

Source: beautyandfashiontrends.wordpress.com

When we expose our feet to extreme weather; either cold or hot we put them at risk of cracking and getting tanned. Attending to them for a few minutes daily will help to get your feet back in shape and youthful looking.

The best way to relax your feet is to soak them in a footbath for 15 to 20 minutes daily. The warm water helps to relax tired muscles and eases the distress in your feet. Soaking your feet also ensures that you get rid of all the dirt on your feet. Add a few essential oils to your foot bath; choose an aroma that pleases you. Lavender and chamomile are known to reduce stress but you may use any oil that helps you to relax.

After you complete the soak then with the help of a pumice stone; scrub the dead skin from your feet. Use this on the bottom of your foot, around the ankle and on the ball of the foot. Scrub each foot gently and then rinse your feet to get rid of the dead skin.

After you have taken care of the dead skin then you need to massage your foot. A good massage helps to ease the tension in your feet and also helps to relax the muscles further. Massage your feet in circular motions making sure that you pay attention to the ankle and sole of the foot. This must be done in order to soften the skin in the area. You may use either oil or a cream of your choice to massage your feet. Coconut and olive oil are the best moisturizers and creams are better than lotions as they are high in oil and low in water content.

If the skin on your feet is exceptionally dry then you must massage your feet before you go to bed and then use socks to sleep. This helps to keep the moisture locked in and helps the skin to soak in all the oils.

Tips for healthy feet

Always wipe of any water that remains on your skin after you wash your feet. This helps to prevent bacterial growth on your skin.
You must also change your socks and panty hose daily. This helps to prevent bacteria from causing odor.

If you are in a profession where you are expected to stand for long hours then you must make sure that you rest as much as possible when you are off duty. Standing for extended periods can lead to damage to the veins and causes varicose veins.

Source: www.natural-homeremedies.com

Finding the right dry skin home remedy is an important part of overcoming your dry skin. There’s really no single home remedy for dealing with dry skin. Rather, there are a wide assortment of different home remedies for you to select from. When you have a list of different skin care tips to select from, the best way to create a home remedy that will work is to combine different skin care choices until you find the regimen that’s best going to address your needs. Everybody has unique skin, so the solution to your needs is going to be unique also.

-  Don’t soap as frequently as you typically would. There is nothing truly therapeutic about using soap for your dry skin. In America, somehow we feel the need to be over washed and over deodorized, and it’s impacting us in bad ways. More problems are produced by an overuse of soap than a lack of using soap. Unless you are dirty, skip the soap, as it might be doing more harm than good for your dry skin.

-  You should make use of a humidifier to help you with dry skin. One of the biggest problems relating to dry skin is the dry heat during the winter months. When air is heated using a furnace, it could reduce your home’s natural humidity level down to as little as 10 percent or even less, whereas having a humidity level of 30 percent to 40 percent is much closer to ideal if you want to keep moisture in your skin.

For this reason, it’s suggested by a lot of skin care experts and dermatologists that you keep a humidifier in your home. You can use it during the dryer winter months, but there’s something that you need to keep in mind: a lot of people simply think that putting in a humidifier in the home is all that needs to be done, but humidifiers operate like air conditioners do meaning that the whole house can’t be done by a single humidifier. Put a smaller unit near your bed, and one on or near your desk for best results.

You are able to restore your dry and itchy skin to proper health, nourishment and nutrition. Obtaining the skin health that you seek will take diligence and patients, but these tips will surely steer you in the right direction. When you keep yourself from over soaping or over deodorizing your skin and you use a humidifier the right way in your home, you can have a positive impact on your skin health by restoring the nourishment and moisture to your skin and keeping it from drying out as a consequence. These are two really good home remedies for dealing with dry skin on a long term basis in the comfort of your own home

Source: www.homeremedypro.com

Complaint: My feet are dry and cracked. My feet are itchy, red, and sometimes have blisters. Cause: Believe it or not, both of these complaints will often root from the same problem! Warm, dark, humid environments create a delightful home for fungus! Dry feet are a sign of sweaty feet and sweaty feet are a precursor to fungal feet. Prevention: The number one thing to avoid is going barefoot in public. Wear sandals around the pool, in the locker room, and in public showers. When possible wear sandals over shoes to allow your feet to breath. Wear dry shoes, change socks often and inspect your feet on a regular basis.

Complaint: I have calluses or corns making my feet ugly. I have thick skin on my foot and it hurts. Cause: The summer shoe selection can be referred to as the podiatrist’s best resource for job security. Too often men and women put their feet in shoes or sandals that are nowhere near the shape of their foot. This causes the foot to rub against the shoe. Friction causes a buildup of skin that can become painful or unsightly. Prevention: Wearing wide toed shoes or just properly fitting shoes can help with this problem! Over the counter creams and lotions can help soften the skin, but be careful with corn pads. They often make the problem worse over time. If the callus or corn is continuously painful see a podiatric physician to properly remove the ailment.

Complaint: I have warts. I have a hard, flat, bump on the bottom of my foot. Cause: Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus. It only takes a small cut or opening in the skin to allow the virus into your skin. These opening are often unseen by the naked eye. Some people are more susceptible to getting warts and need to take extra precautions to avoid the virus. Preventions: Avoid walking around barefoot, even in your own home! If your family members have warts, you can all get warts! Avoid at home or over the counter treatments. Picking at the wart or improperly removing them can make the wart spread and what started out as one wart can quickly multiply creating a mosaic of many warts.

So as summer comes to an end make sure you keep your feet healthy and safe. If you have any questions or concerns about your foot health or other summer threats to your feet, seek medical help from a foot and ankle specialist also referred as a podiatrist. They are trained to treat all foot ailments of children and adults.

Source: www.submityourarticle.com

Tips For Healthy & Beautiful Feet

• Wash you feet on a daily basis, in lukewarm soapy water. Thereafter, rinse them with cool water, dry with a towel and apply foot cream.
• Whenever you get your feet wet, make sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
• The best time to buy shoes is later in the day, when the feet are a bit swollen. The shoes that feel comfortable at that time will surely be comfy at all times of the day.
• If, and when, you go out in the sun wearing sandals, make sure to apply a sunscreen
  on your feet, just like the rest of your exposed body parts.
• Scrub your feet, especially the heels, with a foot scrubber on a regular basis. It will help remove the dead cells and make you feet softer.
• Before going to bed, wash you feet thoroughly, dry them with a towel and apply moisturizer generously, especially at the heels.
• Whenever you are applying moisturizer or cream
  on your feet, avoid the area between the toes.
• To keep you feet dry and odor free, make use of products like foot powders, foot sprays and specially designed insoles.

Natural

Foot Care

Feet Soak

Supplies Needed

• 1 cup Lemon Juice
• ¼ tsp Cinnamon Powder
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• ¼ cup Milk
• Water
• Tub

Instructions

• Fill a tub with warm water and put the lemon juice, cinnamon powder,
  olive oil and milk in it. Mix well.
• Put your feet in the tub and let them soak in the water for 10-15 minutes.
• Now, wash your feet with a mild soap, dry them with a towel and apply a
  foot care cream.

Foot Lotion

Supplies Needed

• 1 tbsp Almond Oil
• 1 tbsp
  Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Wheat Germ Oil
• 12 drops Eucalyptus Essential/Fragrance Oil
• Bottle (dark-colored)

Instructions

• Take a dark colored bottle and put almond oil,
  olive oil,
  wheat germ oil and eucalyptus oil in it.
• Shake the bottle shake extremely well and store in a cool, dry place.
• To use the lotion, just rub it into your feet and heels, after you have cleaned and dried them.

Source: www.indusladies.com

Footwear that pinches you, will give you blisters. You should not wear loose shoes either, since constant rubbing can also give rise to blisters.

Care

• Till the blisters has dried, do not wear the same shoe.
• Do not try to puncture the blister yourself, as your can infect your skin
• Use a good talcum powder and keep the blister dry while going out.
• When at home, apply an antiseptic cream over the blister.

2. CORNS

One is likely to get corns at places where one gets blisters. If the same defective shoe is being worn repeatedly, you will develop corns.

Care

• Change your shoes( foot wear) frequently.
• The best remedy is to leave corns alone and scrub them hard. with a pumice-stone and massage after that – If the corns are too painful, consult your doctor.

3. SWEATY TOES

There can pose a lot of problems. If you wear shoes, they always tend to get loose and acquired a peculiar odour.

Care

• Avoid wearing closed shoes altogether.
• Wash your feet with cold water often.
• Use a skin astringent on the soles of your feet.

4. ENLARGED VEINS

This generally occurs when one has to stand a lot and sometimes because of wearing very high heels.

Care

• Do not wear very tight shoes.
• Give yourself a little rest during the day by taking off your shoes and resting your toes higher than the level of your head.

5. CRACKED HEELS

Lack of moisture and oil can bring about such a condition.

Care

• Use glycerine and oil to massage your feet once a week.
• Use a good moisturiser daily.

6. CRACKED NAILS

This happens due to neglect of the toe-nail and also if the health in general is not good.

Care

• Include plenty of vitamins in your daily diet.
• Massage the toe nails with a rich nourishing cream daily.
• Do not use a dry nail-polish

7. SWOLLEN FEET

This results if one is net used to sitting or standing for too long, with feet hanging down and rather right shoes.

Care

• Wash your feet with soap and hot water and apply Eau-de-Cologne on them.
• Avoid sitting with your legs hanging down for too long.
• Lie down with the feet higher than your head as often as possible.

8. BUNIONS

These are caused due to certain pressure of the shoes on the toes. It is difficult to get rid of bunions so it is best to avoid them. When buying shoes, look for comfort rather than style.

9. FUNGAL INFECTION

Feet are more prone to such infections because fungus thrives in a moist and airless atmosphere, where the sun does not reach.

Care

• Switch over to open shoes or sandals without socks
• Use any anti-fungal cream, especially between the toes, which is the breeding place for infection.

Source: www.feelbetterblog.com

So here are some easy & quick tricks to keep your feet healthy & good looking.

•    Always trim your toe nails properly, otherwise it will look ugly.

•    Remember to clear the dead rough skin while taking your shower.

•    For your tired feet, soak it in cold & hot water. If possible do it in every alternative day.

•    While purchasing shoes, make sure that the shoes fit properly. Never purchase really tight shoes.

•    Walking in bare feet on the grass can give you some effective results.

•    Don’t forget to massage your ankle as well as your feet regularly.

•    Plunge your feet into a mixture water & lemon juice & a few drops of neem oil. Use the turmeric (1 tsp), olive oil (2 tsp) & honey (2 tsp) mixture to massage the area. It’s an outstanding remedy for the cracked heels.

•    Create a mixture of rose water and glycerine. It will help you to keep your feet crack free.
•    While drying your feet don’t forget the gaps between toes.

•    You can also use some chilled drink cans for rolling your feet over it.

•    You can also use the pumice stone to clear the rough skin from your heels.

•    Application of regular moisturiser is also very important.

•    For winter heel cracks you can use the lanoline rich cream as well as use alkaline soap while washing your feet with hot water.

Source: www.justcarehealth.com

Consider retinoids: If you’re not already using Renova, Tazorac, or another of these radiance-enhancing, collagen-boosting creams, talk to a dermatologist about getting a prescription. “Summer is the best time to begin,” says Dr. Baumann. “With more humidity in the air, there’s less chance of dryness or irritation.”

Protect, protect, protect: The sun is the most powerful skin-aging agent, so wear a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen like L’Oréal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX ($22, drugstores) every day — even if you’re just driving to work or running errands. For a bit of extra protection, consider this new option: cleansers with leave-behind sunscreen that clings to your skin when you wash. Sounds strange, but experts say they can help — just don’t skip the regular stuff. Try St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser ($7, drugstores).

Look out for your lips: “They don’t tan like the rest of your skin, so they are defenseless against the sun,” says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross, M.D. He recommends daily use of a non-petrolatum-based SPF lip balm: “Anything oil-based attracts the sun and is counterproductive.” Try MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 25 Lip Balm ($18, Sephora).

You Want: A Younger-Looking Chest

Get in scoop-neck shape: Thin skin makes your chest supersusceptible to sun damage. To refresh and renew it, Dr. Baumann suggests exfoliating three times a week with a face scrub — not a body version. “Your chest is even more sensitive than your face, so you need to be gentle,” she says. Prevent new damage by applying your daily facial sunscreen farther south, too.

See a dermatologist for serious smoothing: Consider fractional lasers, like Fraxel, that treat wrinkles and age spots with little downtime. “Fraxel is great for the chest,” says New York City dermatologist David Goldberg, M.D. “And the results aren’t just good, they’re dramatic.” Treatments are pricey, though: Expect to pay $1,000 to $2,000 per session, with four to six sessions required.

Fake flawlessness: To draw the eye away from age spots, New York City makeup artist Linda Hay brushes bronzer across the décolletage to conceal, followed by a subtle shimmer powder to reflect light. (Shimmery bronzer has a similar effect; try Lorac Tantalizer Baked Bronzer, $28, Sephora.)

You Want: Tank Top Arms

Soften scaly elbows: Hydrate these easy-to-skip spots with a rich cream morning and night; New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, M.D., advises choosing one with urea or lactic acid. Try Gold Bond Ultimate Softening lotion ($6.49, drugstores). But if the dryness is severe and persistent, see a dermatologist. “Elbows are a common site for psoriasis, but a lot of people mistake it for dry skin,” says Dr. Baumann.

Say so long to chicken skin: Those rough, red bumps on your upper arms could be keratosis pilaris, a condition in which follicles become clogged with dry skin. To treat, try gentle scrubbing followed up with a good moisturizer like Dermadoctor KP Duty ($36, Sephora) — a Good Housekeeping Seal holder.

Tighten those triceps: Self-conscious about arm flab? New York City personal trainer David Osorio recommends leveraged push-ups, a no-gym-required toner that works your arms and chest. The trick: Place your hands — slightly more than chest-width apart — on an elevated surface like a bench or staircase; this makes the move easier than doing it military style, with your hands on the floor. Lower your aligned body toward the stairs, then push yourself back up. Aim for three sets of 10 reps three times a week, and move down one step (which will up the difficulty level) each week.

You Want: A Flatter Tummy

Avoid the summer-treat trap: At potlucks or parties, “stay away from assembled dishes like casseroles and dips,” advises Penny Geller, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition for NuKitchen in New York City. Instead, opt for grilled lean meats, steamed veggies, or mixed greens salads with low-fat dressing on the side. Satisfy cravings with 150-calorie snacks and limit between-meal munchies to two a day, says Geller. Her favorite low-cal sweet: Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches (140 to 150 calories; skinnycow.com for stores).

Whittle your middle: “You don’t need crunches to strengthen your midsection,” says Delf Enriquez, a personal trainer at Equinox Fitness Club and Spa in Century City, CA. “The key is to work the area as a unit.” His favorite ab move: the plank. Lie facedown on the floor, then push up so that you’re holding yourself in an almost-straight line with only hands, forearms, and toes touching the ground. (Too tough? Drop your knees.) Hold for 15 to 20 seconds two or three times; repeat three times a week.

Blast belly fat: What may be key: the fats you eat, according to recent research. A diet high in monounsaturated fat specifically appears to decrease ab fat. Swap saturated and polyunsaturated fats for these good fats found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and olive oil. To further beat bloat, be sure that you’re drinking lots of water — especially if you’re eating more fiber, says Geller.

You Want: A Bathing Suit Butt

Shape up your rear: Squats are an easy, effective way to tone your tush, says Enriquez. Stand with your back toward a chair, feet shoulder-width apart. Sit back until your butt just grazes the chair (don’t actually sit or let your knees go beyond your toes). Return to standing. Do three sets of 15 to 20 reps three times a week. (Bonus: You’ll work your entire leg.)

Zap stretch marks: Catch them in the early stages (when they’re red or purple), and they may be treatable — though it will take a few trips to the dermatologist. Dr. Goldberg recommends pulsed dye laser treatments to help fade the color. Sessions run $500 and up, and you’ll need around five. Once stretch marks are more established, creams won’t do much, but they may help keep new marks from forming, especially when you’re dieting or pregnant, says Dr. Baumann. Try Bio-Oil ($12, drugstores).

Hide the evidence: The quickest fix for less-than-perfect (and hard to reach) posterior skin: tinted bronzing or self-tanner sprays. “They immediately conceal stretch marks and cellulite,” says Hay. Try Victoria’s Secret Bare Bronze Body-Perfecting Spray Tint ($18, Victoria’s Secret).

You Want: Great-Looking Legs

Smooth and soften: Exfoliation is step one for prepping dry legs before you bare them. Try True Blue Spa Rice to the Rescue body polish ($17.50, Bath & Body Works). Once you’ve de-flaked, apply lotion daily (the best time: just out of the shower, so you seal in moisture). Or switch to a body oil, which softens and adds a sexy, summery sheen. Try Sephora Dry Oil Spray ($18, Sephora).

Self-tan like a star: For a just-back-from-Acapulco application, here are Los Angeles makeup artist Vanessa Scali’s top fake-it tips: Exfoliate first with a scrub, then apply moisturizer an hour before the self-tanner. Any less and you risk mixing leftover lotion with the tanner, which can cause blotchiness. Can’t wait? For immediate color that washes away in the shower, opt for body bronzer. Try Tarte Glam Gams Bronzing Leg Stick ($30, Sephora).

Best new self-tanners: Bottled bronzers are the safest way to perk up winter-weary skin, but which ones are tops? To find out, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 10 of the newest gradual-glow lotions and traditional, one-application tanners. Here, the results of our faux-glow face-off: Nivea Body Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer ($7, drugstores) led the gradual group, with the highest hydration ratings in our lab test and a color that volunteers praised for looking natural. Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Tinted Self-Tanning Gel ($50, Sephora) was the winner in the single-application category. “It made my tan smooth and sun kissed,” one woman raved. Budget-friendly Neutrogena Sun Fresh Sunless Foam ($10, drugstores) and L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist ($10, drugstores) tied for second place.

Glow — without the faux: If you’re after sheen, not tanning, try a low-level glimmer lotion like Jergens Soft Shimmer Skin Radiance Moisturizer ($6, drugstores) or Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Body Gloss Lotion ($6.40, drugstores). “They have a subtle, pearl-like quality that evens out your skin tone without adding color,” says Scali. “It will just look like your skin on its best day.”

Stay sun safe: Bare legs are a given in summer, so it’s no surprise they’re a common spot for skin cancers. On workdays, try one of the new light body lotions spiked with SPF, like Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15 ($9.49, drugstores) or Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15 ($9.49, drugstores). At the beach, opt for full-on sunblock like Coppertone Oil Free QuickCover SPF 30 spray ($10, drugstores).

Slim down the supermodel way: Here’s Hay’s trick to fake thinner legs (it’s the same one she uses on models at the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows): First, apply a tinted lotion like MAC Skinsheen Leg Spray ($22.50, department stores) for bronzy color. Then dip a fluffy powder brush into a shimmer powder like Isadora Mineral Body Glow ($20, cosmeticmall.com), and draw a line from the top of your thigh down to your toes on both the front and back of your legs.

Cellulite solutions: When it comes to this dreaded dimpling, women remain tempted by at-home potions — but no cream can eliminate cellulite, doctors say. Ingredients like caffeine might firm skin — which in turn lessens the look of lumpiness — but only briefly. “Studies show that cellulite creams last about 24 hours,” says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D. “So it might be worth using one if you’re going to the beach.” For a longer-lasting solution, talk to your doctor about these treatments.

Endermologie: Fans have long sworn by this form of deep massage and have eagerly awaited the latest generation (Lipomassage) now available. The catch: It takes time to see a difference (eight to 16 sessions) and requires ongoing appointments. “Endermologie works,” says dermatologist David Goldberg, M.D., “but only as long as you keep doing it.” Cost: around $100 per session.

Accent: This radio-frequency device shows real promise: In a study reported in Dermatologic Surgery in February, 30 women received treatments every other week for 12 weeks. Six months later, 27 of them still had significant improvement in their cellulite. And although prices are superhigh ($750 and up per session), results appear to last. “We looked at the women 18 months later, and half still had improvement,” says Dr. Goldberg, lead researcher on the study. “I tell patients to expect once-a-year touch-ups.”

You Want: Pretty Hands and Feet

Slough your soles: “There’s nothing sexy about a strappy sandal with a cracked heel,” says New York City celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann. To get rid of the roughness, she recommends scrubbing daily in the shower with a foot paddle or pumice stone and then following up with an ultrathick moisturizer. Try Dr. Scholl’s For Her Foot Butter ($7, drugstores).

Protect those paws: Constant sun exposure makes hands vulnerable to age spots and wrinkling. Keep them from being an instant age giveaway with an SPF-enriched hand lotion like Neutrogena Age Shield Hand Cream SPF 30 ($5.69, drugstores) or Lippmann Collection Rich Girl Hand Cream SPF 25 ($24, Nordstrom).

Source: www.sfgate.com