Mean Girls’ Amanda Seyfried reveals the grossest thing she has done for beauty: ‘The mess that you make…’

Amanda Seyfried has had won many accolades including Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award (Image: Instagram/Amanda Seyfried)

Amanda Seyfried has never been one to sugarcoat things. During a recent interview with Allure, the Mean Girls actor offered an unexpectedly graphic glimpse into the least glamorous side of beauty maintenance—foot care. “I think it’s pretty gross in general to have to slough off your hard skin on your toes and on your heels and the mess that you make when you do it,” Seyfried said, describing the aftermath of wearing open footwear through summer. She went on to paint a vivid picture of what happens when shoes like Crocs meet heat, dust, and sweat for too long—dirt getting “trapped in your skin and in your toenails,” followed by soaking, scraping, dead skin piling up, and finally trimming nails to clean it all out.

Unfiltered as it was, her confession struck a chord because it’s deeply familiar—especially in hot, dusty climates where open footwear is a summer staple.

Hard skin and rough heels in summer are common and usually harmless, but they are signs that your feet need care (Image: Freepik)

According to Dr Amulya, dermatologist at Miror, what Seyfried described is entirely regular. “Our feet naturally shed skin cells every day,” she explains. “When we wear open footwear such as sandals, slippers, or Crocs, the feet are exposed directly to dust, sweat, and environmental dirt. Unlike closed shoes, open footwear does not provide protection, so dead skin tends to accumulate, particularly over pressure points like the heels and around toenails.”

The heels, in particular, are designed to take the brunt of body weight. “The skin there is naturally thicker,” Dr Amulya says. “To protect itself, it produces more keratin, which leads to hard, rough skin and sometimes cracks if not cared for properly.”

Summer only makes things worse. Heat and humidity increase sweating, which initially softens the skin, but once that moisture evaporates, the skin dries out and hardens. Add dehydration, friction from walking more, barefoot habits, and sun exposure, and you get the perfect conditions for calluses and cracked heels. “It’s a protective response by the skin,” she explains—not a hygiene failure.

That said, the solution isn’t to attack your feet with every tool in the bathroom cabinet. While soaking and exfoliating can help, overdoing it can actually damage the skin barrier. “Aggressive scrubbing with pumice stones, metal files, blades, or frequent peeling can cause micro-cuts, increased dryness, sensitivity, and raise the risk of bacterial or fungal infections,” warns Dr Amulya. For people with diabetes or circulation issues, this can be especially dangerous.

Dr Amulya recommends keeping it simple and consistent: wash feet daily with mild soap and lukewarm water, dry thoroughly (especially between toes), soak only once a week if the skin is tough, and exfoliate gently—never on dry skin. Daily moisturising, ideally at night, is key, particularly with creams containing urea or lactic acid. Clean, properly trimmed toenails also help prevent debris buildup.

The takeaway? Rough heels and dead skin aren’t something to be ashamed of—or aggressively scraped away. There are signs your feet need care, not punishment. As Amanda Seyfried’s refreshingly honest confession shows, beauty isn’t always pretty—and sometimes, it involves dealing with the mess instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.