We have a challenge for the women of today: wear shoes that don’t hurt the environment.

If you knew what goes into the production of shoes, then you’d definitely agree that the average shoe is far from eco-friendly.  

As women, we have to admit we have a weakness for beautiful shoes and some of us have even pay a lot just to get that perfect pair. While we are aware of the existence of vegan, eco-friendly shoes in the market today, few of us truly realize the heavy impact the shoe industry has on our planet.

The typical shoe uses toxic glues, virgin plastic, and the majority of its materials come from animal products. And it’s not only the environment that is harmed, people too, are in danger. Did you know that plastic shoes are a killer? One study found the presence of phthalates in them and they can harm the reproductive systems of women shoe makers! Needless to say, its production is wreaking havoc on both our health and the environment.  

This is why we believe that women, being at the forefront of change and a major contributor in worldwide shoe sales, need to take a lighter footstep.

Thanks to eco-friendly shoe manufacturers, we can now lower our carbon footprint, and have more options for shoes. Buying eco-friendly shoes is definitely a great way to help the environment, while at the same time helping improve the quality of life for both workers and consumers. At CastMedic Designs, we’re all for eco-friendly shoes because:

• We are able to support eco shoe manufacturers incorporate animal rights, sustainability and fair labor practices into their design.
• We promote conscious awareness of the USDA label when purchasing shoes. In order to be officially labeled organic, companies must comply with USDA standards. 
• We support eco-friendly farming practices and the use of materials grown and produced without chemicals. 
• We believe in shoe companies pushing for 100% sustainability and strongly support their cause. 
• We love the fact that eco shoe companies use recycled yarn or bamboo, organic cotton, woven jute, old tires, old carpet padding, recycled bike inner tubes, discarded water bottles and more. How creative is that? 

We are constantly searching for a great selection of eco-friendly, vegetarian and vegan shoes. Eco-friendly shoe companies like Naya Shoes and Toms Shoes are just a few you might want to check out. By going natural in your footwear choices, you literally take a lighter footstep. 

If you’re fond of wearing skirts, dresses and shorts, then you have to pay extra attention to your legs. If you’re going to flaunt them all the time, make sure they look good and healthy! A little TLC goes a long way. After all, your legs literally take you to places so they need extra loving care!

Here are a few things you can do regularly:
1. Wax. Hairy legs are never appealing. Waxing is one of the easiest and the most effective way of keeping your legs smooth. Hair doesn't grow back as fast the way they do when you shave. If money is not an issue, you can try laser hair removal or even electrolysis. You can wax your legs yourself or you can go to a professional waxing salon if you want to be pampered.

2. Moisturize. Legs dry out more easily than other parts of your body. A rich lotion or cream applied on your legs two to three times a day is ideal. Rub more lotion on rough areas like your knees and shins and don't forget to extend that tender loving care to your heels.

3. Exercise. Whether it's running, walking, or any other activity that keeps your legs moving, exercise is the best thing that you can do to keep your legs toned and healthy.

4. Massage. Having someone massage your legs is a luxury but you can also do it on your own. A vitamin E rich-oil or lotion applied in a circular motion will help with circulation. In addition, a massage will relax your legs and if your legs are rested, your whole body will also feel relaxed.

Not all of us have legs as long or as a supermodel's but legs that are smooth and healthy are always beautiful. And knowing that you have great legs is a great confidence booster! So take care of your pair and have fun flaunting them!

Summer is always a good excuse to glam up your nails. Those pretty summer sandals deserve nothing less than glamorous toes peaking out of them and your fingernails should complement those darling summer dresses!

With so many nail colors to choose from, the challenge is which shade do you pick to keep your nails looking their best this summer? Depending on your personality, mood or the kind of style statement you want to make, there is a fabulous color perfect for you!

Here are some of this season’s nail color trends to give you ideas:

• Bright Colors. From the color of Sunkist to electric blue, these hot colors look great on tanned skin. And, you’ll be glad to know that orange is definitely in this summer.

• Pastels. For those who lovely softer shades and feminine hues, baby pink is still a classic in nail color. If you want to stray from the classic pinks, a sky blue shade will definitely match the sunny summer weather.

• Neon. For those who are not afraid of really bright shades, try the neon version of your favorite color. Pink polishes have a neon version. So do green, yellow, and a lot of other colors.

• Metallic. Silver is definitely hot this summer. Anything metallic always seem sexy and glamorous. Make sure you paint those nails carefully because reflective colors emphasize flaws. The best option is to have your nails professional done.

• Beige. Really. This classic color is always in style. In fact, it’s a nice neutral to complement those colorful summer dresses and the very in-style beige shoes.

Does choosing the right summer nail color seem mind-boggling to you? It doesn’t have to be. Experts say that just like choosing makeup, go for the color that best suits your skin tone. Or, just take a hint from what summer is all about. It’s a time to have fun, relax, and enjoy. Just pick the color that matches your mood and cheers you up. After all, summer is the season to relax and have fun!

Ahh… the beautiful ballet flat…

We have seen them all -- elegantly designed with different fabrics, prints and colors, perfect for pairing with almost every outfit. They also come in various shapes and sizes, from pretty round toe styles to pointed ones.

Many women have already tossed the sexy stiletto for the comfy ballet flat and they have good reason to do so. With so much information on how high heels can literally kill one’s feet, it’s really no wonder why many of us have shifted to kinder, flatter shoes.

Ballet flats are a classic shoe so women don’t have to sacrifice their sense of style. But what’s this we hear about the so-called dangers of ballet flats? Here’s what the experts say about ballet flats and flat sandals in general:

• They look comfortable but they actually lack or give no support! They make your feet muscles work to much which results to heel pain, strain on the Achilles tendon, and many more painful feet and leg injuries.

• They have no cushioning. This is especially bad for those who walk a lot in hard concrete city streets. There is only a thin piece of leather or canvas between your feet and the pavement!

But before you react ladies… this doesn’t mean that we have to suffer just to wear pretty flats. For those of you who have healthier arches, experts say that the pain and the harmful effects of flat shoes are not actually bad. For those who are not as lucky, you can still wear them but you just have to make sure that you alternate them with shoes which have more support.

The secret actually to choosing feet friendly ballet flats is looking for proper cushioning. If it’s too thin… don’t buy it. If you know you are going to be on your feet all day or you are going to have to do a lot of walking, just make sure you wear comfortable flat shoes with enough cushioning.

There are a lot of stylish ballet flats out there that also give support and are kinder to your feet.

Remember, it’s all about choosing the right flats that are kind to your feet. With the right pair, you can definitely strut your stuff with happy feet!

Ahh… Summer!!!!

If you’re a sun, sand and sandals lover like we are, then we’re pretty sure you want beautiful feet during the season so you can look great in sandals and flip flops! Before we can pull out those sexy and strappy sandals, we need to take a look at our feet and make sure they look good! It can be a long, hard winter when we neglect our feet and they can become dry and calloused.

This summer, when your feet will be exposed most of the time, give them some regular tender loving care.

Here are some of our favorite tips for beautiful and healthy feet:
• Keep them smooth. Soak your feet in warm water with epsom salts for ten minutes and use a pumice stone to slough away rough spots and callouses. You can also use natural products like sugar or fruit pits for exfoliation.
• Moisturize them. Rich lotions and creams are more effective when applied after you have scrubbed and exfoliated your feet. Using creams in your favorite scent makes moisturizing feel luxurious. For cracked heels, a prescription cream from the dermatologist is your best bet.
• Keep them dry. Fungus thrive in damp places. Make sure you dry between the toes to avoid any fungal problems. Fungal sprays, powders, or lotions keep fungal problems in check. Make sure the ones you use have clotrimazole, ciclopirox, or terbinafine as an active ingredient.
• Wear shoes with good support. If your feet hurt, it affects the rest of your body and you become tired easily. Using insoles also help ease the discomfort of standing on your feet for a long time.
• Take care of your toe nails. Regular pedicures will keep them looking pretty. Make sure that your pedicure is done properly. Cut your toenails square across to avoid ingrown nails. Push back cuticles rather than cut them to avoid infection. Toe nails need to be moisturized, too. Rub in petroleum jelly or vitamin E oil on your feet and cuticles.

On second thought, why limit taking extra care of your feet only during summer? If you take care of your feet all year round, you don’t have to worry about them come sandals’ season. With a few good foot care habits, you will not only have smooth, sexy feet -- you will have healthy ones, too!

If your feet are a constant pain in your life, take a moment to look at the shoes you are wearing.

Have you heard the story about that woman at a party in Cannes who approached shoe designer Christian Louboutin and yelled “Your shoes are killing me! Make them more comfortable!”?

We applaud her brazenness, and we totally get her point! Who doesn’t love a great pair of shoes but at what cost?

How many of us wear sky-high heels to work or to parties? Our poor, tender, abused and ignored feet are constantly battling with shoes and sometimes we don’t even know it… until it’s too late.

Don’t get us wrong – we LOVE shoes. In fact, just like many women out there, our knees turn to jelly and our eyes sparkle at the sight of beautiful shoes. We love looking at them, buying them and wearing them, but do we really need to be teetering dangerously on those three or four inch heels to look sexy or pulled together? We love shoes, but we need to love our feet more, so comfort should be on top of style. After all, our feet carry our entire body weight – that’s a lot of work!

If your feet have constantly been a pain in your life, take a moment to look at the shoes you are wearing. Do you spend most days wearing high heels? Do your shoes really fit well?

The Skinny on Stilletos
It’s funny how we all know that high heel shoes and improperly fitted shoes cause heel pain, deformed toes, nerve damage and aggravate bunions – yet we still keep wearing them.

The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society advises women to wear shoes with a height of no more than two and a quarter inches – but never for an entire day. Shoes this high (or more) should be worn no more than 2 or 3 hours a day.

Most of us do not know that wearing heels frequently for long periods of time can actually shorten our Achilles tendon and cause a loss in the range of motion in our feet. This shortening of the Achilles tendon is responsible for the large number of women who suffer from heel pain!

To spare us working women from the pain of wearing wrong, uncomfortable shoes, we’ve put together a list of tips you can use the next time you buy some shoes:
• To eliminate foot pain, don't simply pick a pair of shoes because the box says they are your size. Try them on and walk around in them to make sure they’re pain free and not just pretty.
• Did you know that feet can change size and shape over the years? If you haven't had your foot measured in years, measure them now so you can get the right size the next time you buy shoes. Remember to measure both feet because they may vary in size.
• It’s best to buy shoes late in the day when our feet are swollen a bit and may be slightly larger. For shoes to fit properly, there should be a little bit of space between the end of your longest toe and the tip of your shoe when standing up.
• Whatever you do, do not expect a tight pair of shoes to stretch to fit your foot. A pretty shoe is not worth all the foot pain later on.
• When choosing shoes, prefer the open or rounded toes that allow your toes room to wiggle and breathe.
• Finally, how about choosing a pair that’s eco-friendly and has an interesting story? There are many socially responsible shoe companies today and we can’t get enough of them! Buying sustainable shoes is a great way of helping the environment while at the same time improving the quality of life for both consumers and workers.

Be good to your feet by choosing pain-free, ultra comfortable shoes. They’re kinder on your feet!

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