One of the greatest things about New York is it’s a walking city, which means greater human interaction, better exercise and a more personal appreciation of our streets. On the downside, it’s rough on the feet, and since we live in a fashion capitol, chances are we are not always covering ground in Asics or Easy Spirits.
We checked in with Dr. Suzanne Levine; Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson, Naomi Campbell and Mary J. Blige have all reportedly visited her chic Park Avenue office. Inside, she has glass cases filled with designer shoes for inspiration, and a bag of tricks for maintaining a healthy—and sexy— supportive base from heel to toe.
“My emphasis is to be able to keep my patients in their stylish shoes,’’ she says. “Even if its for a few hours at a time.’’
Here she reveals her strategy.
Moisturize Feet can get especially dry after a summer of sun. Soak them in lukewarm water and Epsom salts, which makes skin more receptive and porous; then apply a cream that has urea, which penetrates deeply and stimulates collagen production.
Shorter Pedicures Now that toes are tucked into shoes instead of bared in sandals, cut nails straight across and shorter to keep them healthy.
Lend support Dr. Levine’s Stiletto RX arches add support to any shoe and they are slim enough to slip into even the most delicate Louboutins.
Exercise The muscles in your foot should be getting a workout. “Pick up a pencil with your toes, roll your foot back and forth on a soda can, write the letters of the alphabet by rotating your ankle, and simulate stepping on a gas pedal,’’ she prescribes. “Don’t bother with the ‘yoga toes’ contraption; just put your fingers through your toes to stretch them out—it works much better.’’
Ice red or painful areas A 15-minute application before you put on shoes will reduce swelling.
Use facial powder to cover flaws Choose one that contains silica, which is water resistant and has staying power.
Purchase shoes midday This is the optimal time to get a true fit based on gravity and swelling.
Spring for “foot pillows” Injections of polylactic acid provide internal cushioning that lasts up to a year, $500 per syringe, one syringe per foot (on average).
Cure numbness in your toes or heel spurs with infrared A five-minute session of painless light will shrink inflammation, $300.
Eradicate spider veins or sun discoloration Laser treatments lighten hyper-pigmentation and eviscerate small veins.
Lighten nails Dark polish in particular can discolor nails. Dr. Levine’s combo of filing, laser, and sodium hypochlorite bleaching brings them back to their natural shade, $225.
Relieve pump bumps A combination of ultrasound and magnetic energy is applied to the back of the heel to diminish spurs and other pain, $100. Levine’s office also sells a magnetic home device for maintenance, $95.
Exfoliate Glycolic peels for mild calluses and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for more severe and cracking skin, help turn tootsies baby soft, $75 for glycolic; $150 for TCA.
Get a foot facial Levine’s famous treatment exfoliates with microdermabrasion, cleans with green tea, moisturizes and lightens nails with a laser, then finishes with relaxing reflexology, $225.
