Now that summer’s here, it’s time to break out the pretty sandals and flip-flops. But what if, like me, your hobbit hooves are less than pretty after hibernating in woolly socks and Uggs all winter? Enter Dr Anders * and her luxury professional foot care products!
Contents [hide]
- 1 Dr Anders
- 3 Nourishing Daily Therapy
- 4 Conditioning Nail Treatment
Dr Anders
Dr Judith Anders is a podiatrist of over 20 years standing and has spent her working life being fascinated and inspired by how incredible our feet are and how they function. Our feet work so hard for us every day, but foot problems are common and not all feet are perfect. She believes if we gave our feet a little more attention, we could prevent many problems from developing.
Foot care should be a pleasure not a chore, says Dr Anders. If we spend time feeling our feet then we’ll become more aware of them and notice any problems, such as diabetes-related issues, early on. She has spent four years developing her range of clinically effective, unisex, luxury foot care products which use natural ingredients, are non-irritant, cruelty-free, and suitable for all skin types. And, of course, they’re all designed to make your feet feel and smell fabulous!
I’m always keen to try new pamper products for my feet, so I was very excited to be asked to trial all three Dr Anders foot care products while I was away on holiday recently – what did I think?
Intensive Rescue Balm
Did you know the skin on the soles of your feet is much thicker than elsewhere on your body? Too much pressure or friction can trigger excessive thickening of this protective barrier, resulting in the build up of problematic hard skin or callus. Normal body moisturisers just aren’t up to the job but the main ingredient in the Rescue Balm is urea, a natural humectant.
Urea and the AHA lactic acid help to nourish and break down hardened, callused skin and eliminate cracks and fissures. The Balm is also enriched with a blend of olus oil, colloidal oat and vitamin E which help soothe inflammation; Dermosoft ® decalact – a natural antimicrobial ingredient – and Thuja occidentalis extract, known to have antifungal and antiviral activity add to the cocktail.
You apply the Balm twice a day to rough, dry and thickened skin until your feet are restored to their proper condition. For me, this took just three days which is a record that no other foot product has managed before!
It’s a lovely light, non-greasy formula that absorbs really quickly, so no need to worry about sliding around on your flip-flops. I’d describe the fragrance as pleasantly herbal, so men can use it too without fear of smelling girly. And a little goes a long way, I still have plenty left. My hobbit hooves look like feet again, which with the constant slap-slap of flip-flops, is no mean feat (!) I’m still using this twice a week at bedtime, just to keep them nourished and hydrated.
Nourishing Daily Therapy
Why do you get dry skin on your feet? Well, your skin gets moisture from the deeper layers of the skin. But if there’s a build up of hard skin, those moisture levels are compromised. This Daily Therapy spray oil contains a blend of rejuvenating coconut, olus and tamanu oils, which combine to hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin against infection.
You apply a light mist all over your feet, paying particular attention to rough, dry areas, and then massage it into the skin. This is a lightweight oil spray that is supposed to be instantly absorbed, but I had to use a towel to wipe off the excess each time I used it. While that might be me using too much, I didn’t find it sinking in as easily as the Balm.
Tip: put a towel down on the floor too, otherwise you’ll end up with super slippery bathroom tiles! I think perhaps this is a product that you could use once your feet have been restored to tip-top condition, so a less intensive product than the Balm.
Conditioning Nail Treatment
Did you know it can take up to 12 months for your big toenails to grow? They tend to be thicker and more neglected than fingernails and difficult to trim as we get older. This Nail Treatment contains sodium thiosulphate to help combat hardness, antimicrobial Dermosoft® decalact again to enhance appearance, and a blend of castor, grapeseed and sunflower oil to condition and improve brittleness.
The treatment is designed to soften hard, thick or brittle nails, reduce thickness and make them easier to cut, strengthen them and help prevent ingrowing toenails. Nails often reflect our general health – brittle nails, ridges and lines can be an indication of vitamin or mineral deficiencies, circulation problems or other illnesses.
As I’d already painted my toenails ready for my holiday, I couldn’t try this nail conditioner myself, although fortunately, my toenails are quite healthy already. However, my husband has extremely thick and hard toenails that are a nightmare to cut (or saw in his case) so he was a great test candidate. And I’m happy to say, after a couple of weeks’ anointing three times a week, the condition of his nails appears much improved. He cut them a few days ago and had to admit they were easier to manage. Success!
Final Thoughts
Of the three products I was sent, my favourite is by far and away the Intensive Balm, which I absolutely love. Although I still have plenty left at the moment, once it’s all gone I’ll definitely be repurchasing. I’ve never really thought about my feet in terms of how they function, but approaching foot care from a podiatrist’s viewpoint actually makes perfect sense.
Dr Anders has set up an online community, Feel Your Feet, aimed at sharing stories to raise awareness of foot health and reduce preventable foot problems (look out for #feelyourfeet on social media). From bunions and hammer toes, to how diabetes can affect your feet, I have a new awareness of how important it is to look after our feet. And I think her luxurious and effective foot care products can certainly help us make a good start.
* I was gifted these products in exchange for a review but all opinions are my own and this is an honest, unbiased review.
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