How to Soothe Sore Feet

Freeing your feet from the constraints of shoes is a rite of summer, but there can be consequences come fall.

"Walking around barefoot — whether at the beach, pool, or just indoors — is horrible for your feet and can cause dryness, scaling, and calluses," says Blake Feeney, spa director at Canyon Ranch SpaClub Las Vegas. Without arch support, your feet can also feel sore and strained. To soothe and smooth soles at home, Feeney suggests using products that contain peppermint (try this Peppermint Cocoa Scrub) or menthol, both of which cool and refresh. 

And you don't have to be a massage therapist to reap the rewards of a rubdown; according to Feeney, any manipulation of your muscles should ease tension and rev up circulation to the feet. You can also try using a small, chilled plastic water bottle: Lay it on its side, then roll your foot over the top of it, back and forth from your toes to your heels. "The bottle will mold to your foot and give it an even massage," notes Feeney — helping you greet fall with your best foot forward.

The Ultimate At-Home Foot Treatment: For super-soft feet, exfoliate from your soles to your calves with a sugar scrub (we like this DIY Blueberry & Brown Sugar Scrub), making sure to focus on rough spots. Next, remove the scrub with a towel soaked in warm water, then massage in a shea butter-based cream. - Megan O'Neill