All summer long we’ve been polishing up and moisturizing legs, arms and feet. In warm weather we pay attention to how these parts of our bodies look, because warm weather clothing and footwear expose them for all to see. Now that these areas are going undercover during the cooler weather, they tend to get ignored more.

Elbows, knees and heels are especially prone to becoming dry, flaky and cracked when the air is dry and they get neglected.

For extremely thick, dry heels I recommend Avon’s Foot Works Cracked Heel Relief Cream. It contains a topical analgesic and works as an antiseptic to soothe and protect against infection.

For less dire cases, the old home remedy of applying petroleum jelly under a pair of socks overnight does wonders. This works well for hands too. Whenever doing any activity that requires gloves, such as cleaning or yard work (like raking all those fall leaves), just apply petroleum jelly to your hands before putting on your gloves.

The best treatment is to prevent the dry skin before it gets started. Exfoliating with a body scrub is a first step. Then moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Apply your body lotion or cream immediately after getting out of the shower to lock in moisture. Keep a protective moisturizing hand and body lotion at both the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Remember that when you unveil these areas again next spring, you don’t want to have to start a reclamation project.

Sugar keeps showing up in all sorts of skincare products, from sugar scrubs to shower gels. Avon is not being left behind in this sweet trend, introducing their own bath and body products made with sugarcane.

Avon brings out their NATURALS Renewing Sugar & Walnut Shower Gel, Body Lotion and Body Spray just in time for those cool weather days when a little warmth is in order.

The fragrance is light and a little sweet, but not cloying. Often food-based fragrances can overcome with too-fruity or heavily vanilla-accented aromas. Avon’s Sugar & Walnut will remind you of some warm and comforting scent without boldly declaring itself. You won’t smell like grandma’s kitchen when she’s baking for the holidays, but if your man has a sweet tooth, you might get a nibble.

As I have mentioned before, smoky eyes are the hot look this season and I have found the perfect quad, both for color and effect.

Avon’s new Crushed Velvet Shades, True Color Eyeshadow Quad has everything you need to create those smoldering, smoky, sexy eyes. Apply the lightest shade over the whole lid up to the brow. Apply the next deepest shade to just the lid. Then apply the next to deepest shade in the crease, to create depth. Finish by using the deepest shade as an eyeliner. A good set of brushes would aid in creating the look but it can be done with the dual end sponge applicator included. Just use the side edge of the sponge tip to get a thin line for eyelining.

Available in wonderful autumn shade combinations: Crushed Rose and Rich Green.

“My feet hurt!”

Chances are if you say this at the end of a long day as you kick off your shoes to reveal pinched toes and tired soles, you also may have a tendency to develop calluses and corns.

Calluses and corns are areas of thick skin that result from pressure and friction over a bony prominence. On the bottom of the foot these are called calluses and on the top, they are called corns. The most common area for a callus is the ball of the foot, where the pressure on the foot is greatest.

Over the counter callus removers contain acid that burns off the callus but should be used with caution as they can burn healthy skin as well.

If you have a callus, then soak your feet in warm water with bath oil or a moisturizing bubble bath product to soften the area. This will make it easier to file off with a pumice stone. I don’t recommend shaving the callus as this could lead to infection.

There are also creams that “roll” away dead skin to keep calluses from forming, such as “Pretty Feet”. Avon has several creams in their “Foot Works” line that help with dead skin, cracked heels and calluses.

Of course, the best way to deal with corns and calluses is to deal with the root of the problem. Reduce pressure on the foot by wearing low-heeled shoes and avoid pointy-toed shoes that squeeze the toes into an unnatural shape. Use lotion on your feet to keep the skin moisturized and supple. Keep ahead of emerging calluses by using a pumice stone or emery board to file away dead skin.

After a good foot treatment and the application of a good moisturizing lotion, remember to treat the feet with care. Try pampering them with thick padded socks, cushion insoles and low-heeled shoes that are kinder to feet.

If you have a chronic callus problem, you should seek the advice of a medical professional.