Flip-Flop Feet: How to Defeat Foot Cooties and Flaunt Sexy Toes From Stylelist
Photo: Getty Images
Anyone who has ever pounded the pavement in strappy sandals knows that, by dusk, your soles are the color of the asphalt you’ve been strolling. We won’t even get into the “tan line” of grime around your ankle strap.
After finding out what your feet have picked up — a seriously unappetizing stew of germs — you may be ready to ditch your Havaianas for a pair of knee-high boots.
“When walking on the street in something like a flip-flop, you are exposing your foot to vomitus, human waste, dog feces, sputum expectorated by people — some of whom may have microbacteria — and a wide variety of other things like food or liquids that have been brewing in the hot sun,” says Philip Tierno, Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center and author of “Secret Life of Germs.”
The kind of cooties you find on city streets, he says, include norovirus (that scourge of cruise ship passengers), staph aureus, types of strep, E. coli and drug-resistant superbugs like Pseudomonas, Klebsiella pneumonia and MRSA. “The summer heat,” he adds, “acts like an incubator.”
If your feet have cuts or open blisters, you may unknowingly be laying out a welcome mat to the viruses and bacteria stuck to the street. But even if you’re abrasion-free, you can transfer all of that nasty stuff the moment you handle your flip-flops when you slip them off or drop them in your bag to change into heels.
Explains Tierno, “You’re exposed to something even worse — these organisms on your hands.” According to Dr. Tierno, 80 percent of all infectious diseases are transmitted by direct or indirect touching — kissing or picking up a dirty shoe — then touching your eyes, nose or mouth
But before you reserve a spot in the nearest plastic bubble, there is good news. “Your skin is built to protect you from getting infected by its very nature,” says Jeannette Graf, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. The dead skin layer known as the stratum corneum is thickest on the hands and feet and is considered your body’s first line of defense. “Our skin makes antimicrobial peptides that fight against bacteria and viruses and lots of different pathogens,” explains Dr. Graf.
And there are several steps you can take to prevent your tootsies from transferring germs to your hands. Shoe designer Matt Bernson, whose creations are worn by actress Amanda Seyfried and model Gisele Bündchen, has a suggestion for the legions of women who swap out their shoes when they arrive at work or home: “Carry your shoes in a shoe bag when they are in your purse.”
To banish germs, use good old-fashioned soap and water. “You want to wash your feet when you get home,” says Dr. Graf. Or in a pinch, apply an antibacterial hand sanitizer on your feet, she suggests. Also, park a pair of slippers by the front door. “In general, it’s not a good idea to come into your home with dirty shoes that have walked on every known substance and schmear it all over your house,” says Tierno.
You can help keep your skin’s protective barrier in peak condition by exfoliating dead skin cells and slathering on moisturizer, says Dr. Graf. Gently smooth rough spots and calluses with a foot file or pumice stone, such as Sally Hansen’s Prep your Pedi Foot File or Pumice Foot Polish — not with one of those callus razors, says Ji Baek, founder of RescueBeauty.com and author of Rescue Your Nails. “They’re illegal in many states,” says Baek, and they can cut your foot way too deeply. “It’s better to use a foot file and liquid soap when you get home at night.”
Or try a homemade foot soak and scrub. Donna Perillo of Manhattan’s Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa adds warm citrus juice (grapefruit or orange) to a foot soak. “The acidity kind of eats at the grime,” she says. Follow that up with an all-natural sugar scrub, which you can make at home using granulated sugar, olive oil and your favorite essential oil. And then apply moisturizer.
Dr. Graf recommends using a lotion with skin-smoothing lactic or salicylic acid or urea before bed each night. Or you can lightly coat your feet with Vaseline petroleum jelly and then slip on cotton socks, such as Moisture Jamzz socks to protect your sheets. You’ll wake up with super-soft, germ-free feet.
By: Maria Ricapito
new pages
I have start a few new pages to make our shopping lives easier. Finding great shoes is not always an easy task. I have added a shoe link page that has my sponsors listed. Then there is the new Shoe Pick and Deals (linked to buy page) I hope these page make shopping easier through this blog. I also hope to encourage everyone to send links favorite shoe buys
Go Jane
I was sent this link by my niece the other day she was excited about a few pairs of shoes. She is 12 years old and her taste is very glamorous and kind of Hannah Montana like.
Please click-through and look at worst these two pair are fun and might be your flair.
I began to click-through and explore this site and discovered low prices and rather nice styles for most occasions. Went I click-through the link to Go Jane they had a “Tank sale” This sale has top starting from $4 but I would say the ones for $3.95 look more like inexpensive workout wear. The most costly top on the sale is $23.95 and is very stylish. I am going to say the sale is worth checking out if your are ready at the time this is posted.
There is a full line of clothing from jeans and tanks to formal wear making Go Jane a one stop shop. If you are one of my subscribed reader you are looking for shoes. If you are like me you have a shoes fetish. Here are my personal picks from this site.
These summer time cuties are less than $16. Nice for a simple thong
I found these heels one of which is a clog
Sexy pump with buckles under $30
Strappy faux ostrich leatherette design platform under $40
- Black studded strappy clog under $30
For more fun I even checked the formal shoes.
Regal purple and glitter for the opera, ballet or opening under $30
- Add a satin bow to ankle for your next formal event under $30
Overall what a nice shopping experience and I hope you find some fun exciting and useful item for yourself
Untitled Document
Link directory of Top Sites
SEO friendly web directory of top sites & blogs organized by topic into categories and presented according to relevance of website. Submit your website free.
Improve your marketing with the best web directories This site is listed under Footwear Directory
>Flats for the new season
Flats are big this spring I am noticing hot styles in ballet slippers. Ladies are wearing them with everything for
comfort and making them look great. When picking a pair be sure they fit so your arch is support and just enough
toe cleavage is shown. Now go find the fav outfit that you love your heels with and try flats with it. These shoes are
best with jeans and leggings. Avoid pattern hosiery and ankle high height. Petite ladies try something with a 1-inch
heel to stretch your calves and look longer.
She is not wearing a pattern at her ankle for a clean look
Checkout this selection by Michael Kors
A nice amount of toe cleavage for a causal but sexy look
Link directory of Top Sites
SEO friendly web directory of top sites & blogs organized by topic into categories and presented according to relevance of website. Submit your website free.
Improve your marketing with the best web directories This site is listed under Footwear Directory
Miu Miu Spring 2011 Shoes
A word is Wow for Miu Miu. I love these spring beauties. I can not wait for spring to with perfect pedicure toes and shoes that are colorful sexy fun and expressive. These are going to look great attached to some leg walking down the street.Click below for a list of stores
http://www.shopzilla.com/womens-shoes/miu+miu+shoe/10110000/products
Dan Clog Review
Recently I tried a new pair of Dan Clogs. They are black with closed back.
The Dan Clogs 2380 is very comfortable and molds to the foot. I notice after a couple of days of wear that these clogs snuggled nicely against my arch for a great fit.
I wore these clogs to do a paper route that I had jump over fences and run through mud puddles. Yes I ran in them and very comfortably. After I was done this one-mile of mud running and jump. My feet were completely dry. The Permair Leather does resist water. I was able to just wipe them back k clean again. Oh yeah I am impressed. I hate wet dirty feet. I spent at least an hour in the rain and mud in the clog and came home with dry feet.
Like I said I ran in the mud and rain while delivering newspapers. I have done the same thing in sneakers and I slipped and stumbled. The non-skid soles really work. I did not slip or slide on any of the brick or tile door front with the clogs being coated in mud and wet from the rain. The makers of these clogs made good use the PU material.
I said before I ran in these clogs. While this was not a full out right sprint like in a pair of sneaker it was a pretty quick pace jog. The pace I ran was comfortable in the clogs and I was able to run the one-mile route. These are clogs and running can be a little difficult. That was not the case running was comfortable.
The only real problem was I had to wear I full size bigger to get that good fit.
Overall these are great shoes that I would recommend to any
nurse, health care worker, chef, or restaurant server. The fit is comfortable.
They are easy to keep clean. The non-skid sole are a real safety. Look from
them at our store site in Brown, Dark Brown Nu
buck, Red, White, Black, and Black Nu
buck
New Boots
Leather Boot with Low Heel
Combat Boot
Flat Black Leather Boot
All of these boots are on sale at Michael’s Clogs
New Handbags
Cheetah and Giraffe Pattern
Giraffe and Cheetah Design Bucket Bag
Giraffe and Cheetah Design Bucket Handbags
Petite Nylon Microfiber Single Straps Handbags
Four new purse on sale at Michael’s clogs for under $60 CAD. We offer free shipping.
About
We spend every second of the day looking living and breathing shoes. This is a fashion shoe and foot blog. We finding great deals on shoes and features to help your feet.
The post here are going to be about shoes. Some how some shoes are going to be involve in every post even if the owner is rambling on about politic he always gets shoes in there or at least feet. Love your feet.
Link directory of Top Sites
SEO friendly web directory of top sites & blogs organized by topic into categories and presented according to relevance of website. Submit your website free.
Improve your marketing with the best web directories This site is listed under Footwear Directory
BLOG DIRECTORY, Submit blog free, Promote Blog, Best directory
Michael’s Clogs Foot Fashion BlogDaily Post
Kirty Girl
-
IFB
Polyvore
Michael's Clogs Foot Fashion Blog 