Where I live, flip-flops are a year-round staple. We wear them with everything: swimsuits, jeans, heck, even dresses. And no one gives us snotty looks because it's just part of the SoCal beach culture.

This is a good thing because...I hate shoes. I know, it's virtually sacrilegious for a woman to say such a thing, but it's true. I mean, sure, they're pretty to look at, but they hurt my feet and kill my back. I'll just stick with my Havaianas, thank you very much.

The one drawback to wearing them all the time though is that you have to keep your feet looking pretty and that's no small feat because walking around in them tends to make your heels harden, dry up, and crack open. Oh joy.

I've long struggled with this issue, (you know it's bad when you're walking barefoot in your house and your heels snag on the Berber carpeting) and despite numerous valiant attempts at "callous removal" by the women at my local mani/pedi place, I was beginning to feel like I'd soon have no choice but to -- you guessed it -- start donning real footwear.

Lucky for me I'm a Dr. Oz junkie, and one night while I was TiVo-ing through an episode, I happened upon a segment featuring Paula Begoun -- that "don't go to the drugstore without me" lady who debunks all the high-priced brands and recommends cheaper, more effective ones. Love her.

Then, as if speaking directly to me, Paula started talking about how to get baby soft heels. I grabbed a pen (because Paula knows her stuff) and ran right out to buy what I needed to reclaim my heels -- and save my flip-flops!

Happy to say it worked like a charm in about six days and I haven't had a problem with heinous heels since. Curious what the fix is? Here's what you have to do...

Step 1: Pick up some Stridex Triple Action Medicated Acne Pads, $5.49 and a tub of Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment, $14.99.

Step 2: Before bed, wipe each heel with a Stridex pad (they contain alpha hydroxy which works as a powerful exfolliant) allow it to dry then slather your feet with Aquaphor.

Step 3: Put on a pair of white cotton socks and go to sleep. Repeat this every night and within a week you'll be amazed by how smooth your heels become. Once they're healed, you can cut back to once a week, but continue to moisturize frequently.

Like this as much as I did? Try my anti-stretch mark strategy, too.

Have other skin issues? The Skin Matrix will help you to address even the most confounding concerns.