Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare blog

I really didn’t think I could get quite so worked up over footcare, but I have to say I am hugely excited by the launch today of our two new treats for feet. Our brand new Foot Repair Moisturiser (UK, IE) and Foot Scrub (UK, IE) are at last hitting the shelves in our own stores and by mail order. (They’ll be in our counters at selected John Lewis stores on 23rd May and on QVC during our June shows – and if you’re reading this in the United States, don’t worry, we’re shipping them just as fast as we can to reach the shores of Miami and Santa Monica on 1st June).

So what is all the fuss about? Well, as regular readers will know, we never launch something new unless we’re totally 110% happy – which can mean many years of development time and a genuine commitment to creating the very best, safest and most effective formulations possible. In this case, we have two new treats to achieve pedicure-perfect feet in just a couple of simple, pampering steps – guaranteed to leave you walking on air – all in good time for summer.

Step One is our Foot Scrub, devised to buff and smooth away hard skin on heels and soles, instantly revealing baby-soft skin beneath. Easy to use in a footbath, basin, bath or shower, we’ve chosen hard-working natural pumice particles combined with avocado oil, peppermint and rosemary essential oils, all blended together to create an intensely skin-smoothing, ultra-refreshing combination. Natural pumice comes from volcanic lava and is created when an active volcano spews lava which then mixes with water as it falls. The rapid cooling and depressurisation creates the internal bubbles, which make rock pumice so lightweight that it floats on water. This also gives pumice a useful exfoliating quality and in the past I’ve picked up pumice stones from the shores of Lake Naivasha, near our home in Kenya, where it literally litters the lake edges. Used on its own though, pumice can be drying, which is why the addition of skin-softening avocado oil especially helps to counteract this after the dead skin has been buffed away.

Following this, Step Two is a lavish application of our Foot Repair Moisturiser, rich in some of my all-time favourite naturally active ingredients. These include pure shea butter which we source from an African women’s co-operative in Ghana and skin smoothing wheatgerm oil (rich in d-alpha tocopherol, the natural form of Vitamin E) to intensively moisturise even hippo-hard skins. Best of all, it sinks in fast so won’t leave tacky footprints or have you sliding out of your sandals. Peppermint, rosemary and seven other wonderful aromatic essential oils combine to create the freshest of scents – it really is an addictive and highly refreshing aroma, unlike anything we’ve previously blended. We’ve also included a nature-identical ingredient called Farnesol to keep odour-causing bacteria at bay, leaving feet sweet-smelling and fresh (I have tucked a tube inside my teenager’s trainers – subtle hint…). After just one application of Foot Repair Moisturiser the difference to feet really is quite amazing. Give it a go and see what all the fuss is about! We have an online step-by-step pedicure guide with great advice from our Treatment Rooms Manager, Jo Givens, who is based at our London flagship store and Treatment Rooms. Do take a look at this for some top tips on achieving – and maintaining – gorgeous looking, supremely comfortable feet this summer. And if you’re heading off to a salon for a professional pedicure, don’t forget to take this dynamic duo with you. I’m also passing this pampering pair onto several friends who have taken part in many marathons, walks and fun-runs recently, as I figure their efforts definitely deserve a little extra reward.