When I was first born, my Father smiled down and kissed my Mom on her glistening forehead. Together, they ohh'd and aww'd over their new little girl. Then my dad looked into my Mom's eyes and smile and whispered, "She's perfect. Except for the monkey feet."
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Me and my monkey feet. |
Yes, that happened. I know this because the story was often repeated to me in a sweet way meant to make a young child giggle. And life involving my feet has never gotten any better. Or worse, really, so at least there is that. Or I should say there was that. Because my size 10 feet hadn't managed to embarrass me, break an ankle or even trip me until recently when I took a jaunt to Vegas. But before we get into The Incident At The Mandalay, let's back up about four and a half weeks, when a Facebook share got under my skin.
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I'm posing for some makeup shot but really, I'm just thinking about my feet. |
And so I did the Changing U Magic Foot Peeling Shoes. Now if you don't already know, Tony Moly Changing U Magic Foot Peeling Shoes is like a Baby Foot, but less expensive. If you don't know what a Baby Foot is, you are missing out and may have cranksy feet. Baby Feet are little booties that cause your foot skin to peel off like a sunburn, but without injury. After a week or two, all of the skin peels off of your feet and they are revealed to be glorious. The hope is that it peels off like a magical bootie, in one satisfying "peel", but I bet that almost never happens. No matter how the peeling goes down, you are supposed to be left with beautified footskin.
So one week goes by and my feet don't look any different. That's ok, because the packet said it could take 14 days, I think. I am honestly fuzzy on that, but I think I'm right. So I wait.
Then week two breezes by. Nothing. I'm honestly expecting foot snow any day now. If feet peel anything like faces, once there is a crack in the skin, the whole thing starts to fall apart. Any moment, the skin should come wafting off of my feet with each step. Which doesn't sound as appealing as I thought it would when you say it out loud.
Then on week three, a few flakes fell off of my feet and I was honestly underwhelmed. I gave up. I use my Amope' and call it a day. Before I left for Vegas, I got a pedicure and convinced myself that my toes are in no way meme-worthy.
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Hanging with Love for Lacquer and Polarbelle at CosmoProf, without any knowledge of what was coming. |
The next day, it's my job to run around the hotel convention center and have meetings with a variety of different people about a variety of possibilities. I was told there would be a lot of walking and carrying heavy things, so I tried to be smart about it. Stay hydrated. Stay oriented, so you don't get lost--again. Don't forget to eat. Make it to day three and you can wear sneakers. No one cares about your shoes on the last day.
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The stylists at the North American Hairstyling Awards were definitely not thinking about my feet. |
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My feet, before the betrayal. |
"I had noticed you walking by before", said the gentleman manning the booth. "I'm glad you stopped by. I work with a company called FootyFootFoot* and we think you have a problem. Do you have a moment to step over here and talk? I'm not a doctor, but I think I can help you."
"Um, sure. I'm think I'm all good, but I would love to talk to you about the NozzleFoxer**" "Yes, and we can do that," he interrupted, "But I think you need to look at your feet."
I looked down. Holy shit. My feet must have finally cracked from that fracking Tony Moly Change A Foot thing from more than a month ago. Like, they cracked. My footskin was literally unfurling in the breeze where it was not held captive by the straps of my sandals. It was blowing all over the floor at FootyFootFoot, in front of everyone.
Instantly ashamed, I muttered, "I did this Korean foot thing where it peels off your skin, but I didn't think it worked. This should have happened two weeks ago." "No, that isn't from a peel. I can promise you that you've got a very strong fungal problem. If you can come back at the end of the day, I'll give you one of my samples. It will clear it right up, but you should see a doctor very soon. That is very bad." He handed me a napkin, for what reason, I wasn't sure. Yea, I was upset and mortified. But I wasn't about to cry. Sheesh. He looked at me and paused.
"Um, For your feet. There is a lot, um, on the floor."
Oh.
After cleaning up my remains, I practically jogged to the bathroom to get a better look at what had happened. After securing one of the larger bathrooms (sorry!), I began to take a closer look. Yup, my footskin was now pulling away from my feet in thin, uneven ribbons. This would be a dream for those people who love to pick at sunburns. But seriously? I'm at a professional conference and my feet are unfurling their excess and leaving momentos everywhere. I remember an esthetician who once told me to avoid lotions after a peel, because they will tack the loose skin to the face, long after it should be gone. Luckily, I had just gotten a lotion sample from an organic brand, and I slathered my feet, hoping to weigh down the fly-aways. I walked back on to the showroom floor, ever hopeful my feet would hold it together until the end of the day.
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The showroom floor was packed with people I hope weren't staring at my foot ribbons,. |
Luckily for me, the lotion worked until about six o'clock that night, when I made it back to the hotel room to change for dinner. I scrubbed my feet, re-lotioned and went to dinner, without any additional issues to report. After dinner, I spent the better part of three hours peeling my feet, which is what every girl dreams of when visiting Vegas for the first time.
Needless to say, it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped.
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I don't think the sisters behind Manic Panic were worried about my feet. But you never know. They definitely look concerned about something. |
The moral of the story? Don't cheap out and buy Tony Moly Changing You Magic Foot Peeling Shoes. Or maybe just don't peel your feet during warm months because you never know when they'll crack. Or maybe you just stick with a foot file or something like the Solemate.
Either way, you never want your footskin unfurling inappropriately when you least expect it.
* real name changed
** not name of anyone intentionally

Find Kelly on Google+. Official disclosure/disclaimer statement can be found here.
Oh.my.gosh. But did you ever stop by the brand that hated feet??? That's what I was waiting for. LOL
ReplyDeleteI should have. I was too mortified. And then I met with Meg O'Brien, who kindly didn't point out my feet ribbons. Cause that would be great, I need a RHWOBV or whichever one she is on thinking of me as tattered footgirl.
DeleteOMG I so totally didn't even notice your feet. Did the Footie Foot Baby samples work? Or did you never go back?
ReplyDeleteI was trying to hide them from everyone! What a first impression!
DeleteOkay. I'm dead. Dead, I say.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAH!!!! <3 <3 <3
DeleteOMG, I would have died!
ReplyDeleteUm, yup.
DeleteGirl... half of me is mortified for you and the other half is dying laughing. I'd have died too, though. But, I probably wouldn't have noticed because I make it a point to never look at peoples feet lol I'm trying to go next year, I hope you'll be there!!!
ReplyDeleteVegas in Summer is NO JOKE. At 110+ degrees dry heat shouldn't even be a thing. When it's about 90 in May it's actually not bad.
RIGHT? Dry heat shouldn't be a GD thing. Stop selling it like it helps anyone!!!
DeleteOmg, Kelly!! You're so funny!!!! I was busy trying to hide my yucky feet but thank God no one pulled me to the side like the dude did to you. I want to say so many funny things, but you've been thru enough - here's to the second trip to Vegas!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, YES!
DeleteOmg what an experience!! I've been dying to try those foot peels. Guess I will be careful haha!!
ReplyDeletejust think BABY FOOT!
DeleteOMG!! I know how mortified you must have been and you seem to have handled it pretty well. But, I have to say...I'm Sorry but that is one of the funniest things I have read in quite awhile.
ReplyDeleteYEAH!!! I'm glad it made you laugh. I was honestly HORRIFIED when it happens, but what good is a learning experience if it doesn't make you laugh, right??
DeleteOh my gosh, Kelly! I'm sorry this happened to you! So I'm hoping it was the result of the Tony Moly peel and not a fungal infection? I have used Baby Foot and it is amazing. Just don't plan to wear sandals for about two weeks. I picked up some other Korean foot peels from TJ Maxx but haven't used them yet. Now I'm having second thoughts!
ReplyDelete