Wardrobe Essentials #1: My favorite foot cushions for problem areas and shoes

You may have seen these in the foot care section of your local pharmacy, along the many other shoe inserts and items to care for and protect your precious tootsies. These $1 (per pair) packets from Dollar Tree are my fave. Economical, soft against my skin and discreet. I can place them in any shoe to maximize comfort or act as a barrier between problem areas of my feet and the inside of a shoe.

I wrote a bit about how wearing shoes too small for my feet (in a blog post related to my love of espadrilles) ruined my poor feet. After trying everything, from band-aids, bunion covers (even though I don't have bunions) to full on shoe cushion inserts and expensive gel ones, these have worked the best for me. I even tried those flat, circular make-up sponges (unused) as a barrier to keep my naked feet from touching a shoe wall.

First of all, these inserts aren't for the full foot (no arch area), so you're able to strategically place them exactly where you need them in your shoes; under the ball of your feet, under your heel, or up against the back of your shoe where annoying shoe friction and blisters are most common. Since ANY kind of friction against my feet can be problematic and I can't cocoon my tootsies in soft shoes every time I'm out and about, I pretty much always need something between my foot and the inside of a shoe that's not a super soft sneaker.

My issue is so bad that I'm relegated to wearing mostly open-toe shoes, which is a blessing since I live in a city where it's scorching most of the time and flip-flops reign. Open-toe shoes in Miami is more often the norm and even acceptable in some corporate environments, when it would be unacceptable elsewhere. Our feet need to breathe down here, so - for as much as I need to have my toes out and free - it's not so much a hardship as it could be. The issue is that my choice is more about necessity and comfort versus style and keeping my feet cool. These dogs can no longer tolerate friction or pinching of any kind after being stuffed into shoes way too small for way too long. The only way I can get my foot into a closed-toe shoe is to stick one of these inserts against the the roof of the toe box to, essentially, cushion the area above my toes and soften the friction. Synthetic, man-made materials or leather...it doesn't matter. My feet require soft, cloud coverage.

This is how I protect my feet in boots (open-toe or closed)...

Now, besides my toes, the ball of my foot is no different - but that's more to do with having skinny/bony, flat feet than being stuffed in a too-small shoe. The amount of flesh most people have on the balls of their feet escapes mine. The heel, decent enough natural cushion, but the ball, I need assistance underneath. So, inside nearly ALL my shoes is a maze of inserts stuck against the tops, bottoms and sides to strategically cushion problem areas where any contact between my foot and shoe feels unbearable. I even carry a spare pair in my purse like a first-aid kit "just in case", especially when wearing heels and/or wedges. Shoes that elevate my feet on an incline can be the worst, but another benefit to these inserts is they serve to keep feet from sliding forward in heels by providing a bit of stability. With Florida's tropical climate, moisture from sweaty feet gets absorbed; moisture, which often contributes to feet sliding forward in heels. If you have narrow, skinny feet, you know the slippage is real!

Each pad has a peel and stick adhesive that allows you to secure them wherever needed without worry of them falling out. When in a hurry and a closed-toe shoe needs a replacement, I've been known to not bother with peeling and sticking and just placing the insert at the bottom of my shoe where needed. 99.5% of the time, it stays put.

Lastly, If you've ever walked for quite a distance in hard-bottomed sandals you know they can be killer on the soles of your feet fast. Sandals look comfortable, but they're not always the best option for distance walking, which is why you'll see more people traipsing around in sneakers at a place like Disney World, rather than cute sandals. I did the sandal thing once and NEVER AGAIN. I advised one of my nieces against it during a trip. Like me, she couldn't see the harm, and then realized her mistake about an hour in. Whenever I see people walking miles of concrete in the parks wearing sandals, my heart goes out to them because I know their feet are wrecked!

In any case, for sandals where uncomfortable walking in short distances could be an issue, these inserts are literally salve to my soles. When necessary, I'll cut an opening to fit around the thong of a sandal (see below). Strategically placed, the inserts can be discreet enough to not distract from any cuteness of said sandals (while your feet are in them). The trick is knowing how to position them where they protect the soles of your feet, yet aren't a visible distraction when unable to blend with the insole of your shoe.

Honestly, these things have increased my shoe comfort by miles!

Everytime I'm in Dollar Tree and run across packs of these inserts in stock, I pick up about $5 worth. And whenever I purchase a new pair of shoes, the first order of business - after getting them home - is to try them on, see where the problem areas will be and whip out one (or two) of these bad boys and place them in the best possible spots to ease any discomfort. If not for these, I'd be stuck wearing sneakers every day of my life, in 90 degree weather, dealing with inserts that weren't stable or conspicuous to the point of ruining the beauty of a shoe. With these, every shoe becomes a glass slipper...a perfect fit! If you suffer with discomfort and shoes, I highly recommend.

Let me know if you have any other recommendations in the comments!