I heard this tip a few weeks ago to keep your soles soft....before bed/after shower....use a Stridex pad to wipe your foot then apply a moisturizer and don some socks...apparently whatever is in Stridex helps...I tried it and my feet really are softer.

Maybe because the salicylic acid that's in the pads for treating acne, Kitty, is also in foot creams to break down calluses.

I find what works for me is once a week to take an extra-hot, extra-long bath in the evening (with a book, cordless phone, etc., to stave off boredom) and while in the bath

# 1. rub ordinary bar soap, e.g. ivory, into heels; keep on soaking for at least five minutes

# 2. I have a special foot scrubber, not pumice, but a rock that has been given a ripply contour by the artesan, and just patiently, gently rub

# 3. If you're satisfied with the result, go to #5

#4 Go to #1

#5 Stop and get dried and dressed.

Then after I've trimmed my nails, I absolutely slather my feet with a high-lanolin cream, put on white cotton socks, and go to bed.

Blissful sigh!

You can make your own lanolin cream by mixing lanolin with petroleum jelly and add a little of your favorite essential oil -- lavender, tea tree, rose, carnation, whatever is your fancy -- then put the ingredients into a sterile jar and put the jar in a hot water bath in a larger jar or bowl. When it has softened to the melting point, blend it very well. Let it cool. It should be a semi-solid; if it's liquid, it won't work very well: reduce (or skip altogether) the oils. The higher the ratio of lanolin to petroleum the better. But lanolin is expensive.

It's fun.

I used to do long distance running so my feet never looked good....but since I have given it up I am totally into nice feet...once a week I give myself a full pedi...buff the bottoms,file the nails, push back the cuticles, polish...and every night I oil my cuticles and do the lotion.

I will have to look into the lanolin.