blister shmister

My feet have seen their share of blisters, blood and battered bunions.  I grew up as a dancer after all.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do to completely avoid blisters (you competitive athletes know what I’m talking about) but there are definitely some preventative steps you can take to keep those hideous and painful puss pockets at bay.  Here are some of the tricks I’ve learned over the years.

To keep your Louboutins from ruining your night on the town…

I use Body Glide.  About 5 years ago I found this stuff in a runner’s store and it literally changed my life.  No longer do my designer shoes ruin a perfect pedicure by creating unsightly and painful blisters.  Here’s how it works.  The slippery gel prevents friction caused when your soft and sensitive feet rub against durable Italian leather.  And, because it’s a clear lubricant, you can flaunt your shoes freely without the embarrassment of exposing an ugly band-aid or bit of moleskin (see below). Its great for the back of heels, tops of toes, and outer bone area – anywhere the shoe creates extra pressure.

P.S. Band Aid and many other brands now make a blister gel too.  Since I’ve never tried them, I can’t recommend them, but let me know if they work for you.

To keep your trainers and closed toe shoes comfy…

Try Moleskin.  This wonderful stuff can be cut to the shape and size you need, then stuck onto your skin to provide a bit of padding and prevent painful rubbing.  I even stick it directly onto the insides my new shoes in places where I worry blisters might form.  I find that it sticks much better than those fancy Foot Petals do and it costs a fraction of the price.

For athletes in athletic shoes…

Opt for Toe Tape.  You see boxers wrapping their hands before a fight.  I used to wrap my feet before a performance.  Why not give the same professional treatment to your feet when you’re not in the spotlight?  By wrapping your toes you’re virtually guaranteeing that blisters don’t form.  The skin is simply not exposed enough to rub on anything.  Mind you, you’ll want to ensure that you allow your skin to air out well after going to this extreme so as not to invite fungal friends, but this dramatic prevention will do you right especially while hiking and running.

To make your stiff outdoor boots more inviting…

Wrap your toes and add some lamb’s wool in places where you can use more padding.  When on pointe, dancers are known to make a little pillow across their toes to help absorb some of the shock from standing on them.  These days, I’ve retired my pointe shoes, but I still use my trusty lambswool around my bunions when squeezing my feet into hardcore hiking boots.

Here’s to keeping our little feet comfortable and confident on the dance floor, on the mountain, and on our brand new stilettos!

Christian Louboutin Esoteri booties that I'm coveting at the moment