Your feet are precious because they carry you day in and day out. However, it is a part of your body that is more often neglected and given too little attention.

Hence, it is not a surprise that your feet may feel tired, aching, and even swollen at the end of the day. And this is the reason why you need to take care of your feet.

Your feet are an important foundation of your body. Through the years, all the activities that you’ve been doing can be very hard on them. Overuse, your weight, shoes that aren’t right for you, and even other illnesses can greatly affect your feet.

Having dry and rough skin on your feet are also bad for your health. The more you ignore them, the more susceptible it will acquire other more issues which will affect the way you do your everyday activities.

So, what can you do about it?

Give your feet the TLC they need with the help of a relaxing foot spa. A foot spa can help soothe tired feet, help detox the body, provide better circulation, reduce inflammation, relieve arthritis, and even therapy for light injuries like sprains.

If you have no time to go to a spa or clinic, no worries! It is easy to make your own even at the comfort home.

But these days, there is another way to pamper your feet and this is with the use of a foot mask.

What is a foot mask?

Foot masks are becoming very popular these days. Just like foot spas, they also help detox your body, exfoliate and moisturise rough foot skin, draw out the impurities from your body, and boost cell regeneration.

A foot mask or foot peel is an emerging beauty product that is used by slathering it on the feet. It is typically a single-use product that involves wearing a pair of acid-solution-soaked booties for an hour. The acids may be salicylic, glycolic, or lactic that work in dissolving dead skin cells.

After an hour, you will be soaking your feet and then wait for a few more days before the skin on your feet will start shedding off the skin. Yes, literally shed off the skin! Once the skin is shed off, you will feel a baby-smooth and revatalised skin.

What is the difference between a foot spa and a foot mask?

While both can help revatilise and detoxify your feet, the difference lies in the process of application. Since foot masks or peels are fairly new in the market, there are still a lot of studies as to whether they are safe to use or not.

True that foot masks can make your feet soft, smooth, and remove callouses. However, they are not recommended to everyone especially those that have diabetes. According to experts, foot masks are essentially chemical peels that may burn your skin.

It is also a short-term fix that can make your feet temporarily soft and smooth. Because it contains acids, they may cause microtears in your skin which allows the fungus to grow. It may also be harmful to those who have sensitive skin.

On the other hand, foot spas are better than foot masks. Here’s why:

They are safer

When using a foot spa, you can choose the product that you can add to your foot soak. You can use natural ingredients that are safe for your skin like herbs, essential oils, Epsom salts, baking soda, and the like.

They are more relaxing

Because warm water is added to your foot spa, you will find it more relaxing and more soothing. Instead of simply applying a thick slab of the gel-like substance to your feet, placing your feet in warm water will ease the tension on your muscles and for some, allow them to free their mind and relieve stress.

The good thing about having a foot spa is that it also allows you to create the ambiance that you want making it more conducive as a way to pamper yourself.

They provide more health benefits

Since foot spas provide you with a good foot massage, it provides you with many health benefits. Advocates of foot spas claim that their overall health improved. But don’t just take their word for it, because experts also find that having regular foot spas with massages provide these benefits:

  • Helps in relieving headaches and migraines
  • Improves better circulation
  • Reduces anxiety and depression
  • Helps in reducing the symptoms of PMS
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Helps in improving your mood
  • Improves sleep
  • Offers therapy for minor ankle and foot injuries

Foot spas and foot masks have their own pros and cons. It will all depend on the person using it and how it can affect them. It is essential that while you take care of your foot health, make sure that it suits your needs and do some checking first.

While foot masks or foot peels work in making your feet look and feel like a baby, they may only provide short-term solutions. Moreso, its safety needs to be further tested because not everybody can use it. Consult with your health provider first before using any of these methods.

Author

Nicola is always on the lookout for the best beauty tools and skincare products. She believes in "prevention is better than cure" so she is always trying to perfect her beauty routine to avoid premature aging. Fun fact about Nicola: She owns a lot of sunscreens as she carries a mini sunscreen in each of her handbags and backpacks.