Products You Need To Get Your Feet Ready For Spring?

It is no secret that I hate feet, but more than that, I am really not a fan of having them touched by other people, though I can just about stomach my own hands touching them. In order to ensure no-one else needs to come near my feet, I do take care of them, as I do with my hands, face, body and so on. I have an abundance of products that I use to rub, scrub, smooth and smoothe my feet with because nothing gives me the heebeejeebees more than the thought of having to visit a podiatrist!

Now Spring has sprung (somewhere), it is time to remove those socks and tights you have so perfectly hidden your feet away in over the colder months and dust off those pretty sandals, flipflops and wedges you bought in the Summer sale to get some wear out of them. But, before you do that, there is a whole host of things you need to get those feet ready to be on show to the world.

For me, the first thing I always do is grab a foot mask and I tend to opt for ones which come with their own booties. One of the best masks I have used for my feet comes from Tonic15 and it is the Love.edellis Foot Mask (£5 here). 

Using Honey extract which increases skin firmness and retains moisture, Menthol because it hosts antibacterial properties and also helps to hydrate dry skin as well as Macadamia oil which works to soothe the skin. To use, always ensure your feet are clean and then remove the foot mask boots from the packet and apply them to your feet, just like a pair of socks.  Unlike similar products, these masks have a tightening stud so they don't hang off your feet.  After twenty minutes, you remove the boots and if there is any excess serum, massage it into your feet and let them work their magic.

If you need something a little more hardcore to help remove dead and dry skin, then Tony Moly Super Peeling Liquid foot masks are the ones you need and whenever I see these on offer in TKMaxx, I stock up, but you can also grab them on Amazon or Boots*. 

This Super Peeling Liquid has a unique formula fortified with fruit extract and it is a gentle way to remove layers of dead skin cells from your feet. Inside the box, you will find a pair of single-use plastic socks and the Super Peeling Liquid to ensure you get those soft, smooth feet.  To use, you apply the plastic looking socks, which I always find are slightly too big but they do have ties at the top so you can safely secure them in place, but you do need to leave them on for around an hour to 90 minutes, so grab that book you have been meaning to finish reading or finish writing that blog post.  Within 5-7 days you will notice the skin on your feet begins to loosen as the fruit extracts work their magic over that time and you will be surprised how much skin comes away!  Thankfully, after looking like a snake shedding its skin, you are left with incredibly smooth skin.

If that sounds a little too grim for you, then you could grab the Scholl Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot Care System (£39.99 in Boots*).  It helpfully comes with an extra Coarse Roller Head which has long-lasting micro-abrasive particles which now includes finely ground diamond crystals. 

Having used a previous design from Scholl, this one is so much better at removing dead and dry skin in one go, so there is no need to spend an age trying to remove it and there is little need to use the device too regularly. On its own, this device retails for £39.99 so the kit as a whole is an absolute bargain.

Just like the rest of your body, your feet do need moisturising help. From L'Occitane, I have been using the Shea Intensive Foot Balm (£23 here*) which is an ultra-rich version of the iconic Shea Foot Cream, specially adapted for very dry skin. 

Enriched with a high concentration of Shea butter (25%), this repairing foot cream works to intensively nourish the skin. Concentrated in D-Panthenol and allantoin, it helps to immediately soothe the feet, bringing them comfort, reducing roughness and fighting against dryness. I love how rich and luxurious this balm textured cream feels on my feet and the best part? It absorbs into the skin incredibly quickly, so I don't have to sit and massage my feet for too long.  For added moisture, you can also apply a thicker layer to the skin and then, use cotton socks and leave on overnight. Every single time I have used this balm, it has left my skin soft, supple and incredibly smooth to the touch.

I would love to know what you use to ensure your feet are kept looking their absolute best as we move from Winter to Spring.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Tina Cassaday Banana-Banana Hair Care

When it comes to hair care, there is one lady who knows her stuff and that is the wonderful Tina Cassaday, someone I have not only had the pleasure of meeting but someone I've had my hair checked by, secrets I've shared and afternoon tea we have chatted over. One of Beverly Hill's most notable hair stylists who tends to the tresses of some of Hollywood's hottest stars, there is very little Tina does not know about hair care and the structure of it but she has also created her very own hair care line.

In approaching hair, Tina has successfully paired the study of molecular structure - trichology - with hair colour and cutting. It was this scientific method that led to her success. I have been using the Banana-Banana range for a few months now and it is every bit as incredible as you might expect, the condition is also Vegan!

I met Tina last year in Harvey Nichols as she showcased her brand and the first thing we did was talk about how my hair makes me feel, the issues I have and the products I use on my hair.  We then did, what is known as the submerge test to look for areas of concern.  The test includes talking a bowl of water and one strand of your hair which you place on top of the water, after three minutes, if any part of the hair sinks, this is the main area of concern.  Your hair should hold 1/3 of its dry weight and sinking means low moisture levels if little dots appear around the floating hair strand, this indicates a residue.  Thankfully, my hair did float but for me, my issue is when I am stressed or unwell, my scalp becomes dry and itchy at the back of my scalp, so I was thankful I was able to talk to Tina about this.

The Banana-Banana range consists of three products - a shampoo, a conditioner and an Elixir and I am lucky enough to have been using all three.  The Banana Bliss Shampoo smells absolutely incredible, if you love the scent of bananas then this will leave you wanting more.

Designed to be both nutritious, Banana Bliss is made with 100% organic ingredients which include Banana Flower Extract, Banana Fruit Extract, Coconut Fruit Juice, Plantain Leaf Extract, Banana Pulp Extract, Hydrolyzed Quinoa and Aloe Leaf Juice to name a few.  

What I really love about this shampoo is that you only need a small amount, my hair is just past shoulder length and whilst this shampoo doesn't lather as much as others, it leaves my hair feeling just incredibly clean, my scalp refreshed and there is less frizz and static once it has dried.

The second product is the Banana-Banana Conditioner Hair Masque and it is designed to give the hair extreme deep conditioning.  Made with Banana Pulp, it is rich and luxurious and its job is to lock in moisture and leave your hair feeling soft, shiny and manageable.  If your hair needs some rescuing because it is chemically processed or stressed.

To use, you apply it from the roots to the ends in a downward motion and it is the liquid fruit formulation which delivers that deep, natural conditioning for the hair leaving so soft, so hydrated and feeling just amazing. The idea with this conditioner is that to get the best from it, you should use it as a masque and it should be left on the hair for between 5 to 45 minutes to work its magic. Once you have washed the remnants from your hair and then, Tina then advises that you finish with an ice-cold rinse.

You can also use this masque overnight by simply applying it to the hair and washing it out in the morning, but I would advise that you wear a shower cap of some sort, because it does mush on your pillow.  I tend to use this conditioner once a month as an intensive treatment and my hair just absolutely loves it.

The final product is one I cannot get enough of and it is one I want to bathe in and that is the Banana Blossom Elixir and honestly, it just smells amazing.

The Banana Blossom Elixir features lightweight Banana Flower, Sunflower, Quinoa, Passionfruit, Acai Fruit and Argan oils and its job within your hair care routine is to help you to achieve shiny, healthy and smooth hair which, as you might have guessed by now, smells just incredible.

To use, you simply pump a small amount onto the palms of your hands and then rub them together to emulsify, at this point, you then distribute through damp or dry hair in a downward motion and then style as you usually would.  For my hair, this elixir helps to keep those shorter, newer hairs in place without leaving my hair feeling greasy and unwashed. The scent of banana is even more intensified when used alongside the other two products within this range and it is a scent which lasts for a good day or two.

The entire Banana-Banana hair care range is available in Harvey Nichols and online and if you are looking for an incredible hair care range to soothe and smooth those tresses, then this is more than worth giving a try.

As well as being the hair care guru to the sides, Tina's other passion is giving back. She works with Centrepoint in London teaching the homeless youth how to do hair, as well as, hairstyling for royal events. Centrepoint is HRH Prince William's patron charity.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.