During winter, feet are out of sight and out of mind. Months of wearing socks and covering your feet have most likely led to cracked heels and overgrown toenails. Before you give in to your significant other's not-so-subtle hints and get a pedicure, there are a few at-home treatments you can try to make your toes more attractive. This five-step guide will help tame your scary feet and get you ready for frolicking on the beach, worry-free. 

1. Wash

Before you protest, just know that the soap run off from the rest of your body is not an adequate amount of cleansing for your feet. Use your shower gel or soap to give your toes some extra attention. When you get out of the shower, use your towel to properly dry your feet. Letting water air dry can aid in the spread of odor-causing bacteria and cause the skin to lose moisture. If your nails are discolored, rub a lemon wedge on them for one minute—lemons contain an oxidizing agent that can whiten yellowing nails. 

2. Trim

 

A photo posted by @qvsnz on May 13, 2016 at 1:47pm PDT

Tame those rogue toenails! Toenails grow slower than fingernails so you don't have to trim them as often, make it count when you do by investing in a good pair of clippers like the Art of Shaving The Stainless Steel Toe Nail Clipper or Tweezerman Zwilling Pour Homme Fingernail Clipper. While you're taking care of your nails, push back and remove cuticles. Use an angle-tipped nail stick to gently push your cuticles off your nail. 

Pro-tip: Cut your toenails straight across and avoid cutting the corners to prevent ingrown nails.

3. Exfoliate

Beach sand is a wonderful exfoliant, but it's best to give your feet a head start and remove dead skin before you arrive at the shore. Using a foot scrub such as this 4.5-star  Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub from The Body Shop can help soften your skin. If you need a more intense treatment use a Callus Remover like the OPI Professional Pedicure Foot File to remove even the toughest calluses. 

4. Moisturize

 

A photo posted by Udderly Smooth (@udderlysmooth) on Jan 17, 2016 at 5:16pm PST

If you've washed, trimmed, and exfoliated your feet, moisturizing them is a surefire way to ensure your work has not been in vain. If your feet need extra attention, Udderly Smooth Foot Cream with Shea Butter is formulated to smooth roughness and soften skin. If your feet are in less dire condition, regular lotion will work to keep your feet beach ready! 

5. Protect

Prevent your feet from reverting back to their pre-groomed state by protecting them from conditions that can lead to dry feet and cracked skin. Always wear shower shoes at the gym—even though the showers may look clean, it's better to keep your feet on higher ground. At the beach, make sure to put sunscreen on your feet (both the tops and the soles) to avoid skin damage. 

Do you have any routines to keep your feet looking beach ready? Share in the comments!