Review (5/5): Wow! It's like having new feet!
My actual words, partway into my first buffing session, were "Holy crap dude!" I don't usually talk like that but it's an indication of how amazed I was. I've been dealing with callouses on my feet since I was a teenager in the 70s wearing platform heels. In my twenties, I used to cut them off with scissors. After cutting too deep a couple times I switched to using files. The files helped, but the end result always looked like filed-down callouses and they started becoming unsightly again after a day or two, despite applying lotion and wearing socks overnight. Even after a professional pedicure, my feet still looked calloused and unsightly.
I researched motorized buffers pretty thoroughly before trying the Emjoi. I received a battery-powered pedicure kit as a gift a few years ago and it was no match for my callouses so I knew I wanted more power. The cords on plug-in units were not long enough for my single-outlet bathroom, plus I wanted more convenience, so I opted for a rechargeable unit. I chose the Emjoi because it looked sturdier and more comfortable to hold than similar units I saw online. I share other reviewers' concerns about the charging light never going off but that's a minor complaint given how well this thing works.
I found the Emjoi very easy to use. It had some power when I received it but I followed the directions and let it charge overnight before my first use. When I started buffing the callouses on the ball of my left foot, the results were immediately impressive. I could tell by all the dead skin dust falling to the floor that the Emjoi was making far better progress than my usual foot file, but it was when I touched the freshly buffed area that I exclaimed out loud. That part of my foot hadn't felt that soft in decades! I proceeded to buff the heel, the outside edge of the sole, and the callous on the outside of the big toe on my left foot. I wish I had taken before and after photos at that point because it was like taking 20 years off my left foot. By the time I finished my right foot I was wishing it would hurry up and be sandal season already. I had purchased the Emjoi in February, thinking it would take several uses before my feet were presentable enough for spring here in the northwest. I was delighted to see and feel such great results after just the first use.
I was mindful during my first session that I didn't want to overdo it. I wasn't sure how my feet would feel after a few days of walking around with no callouses to protect them. To my pleasant surprise, they actually felt better, even after standing or walking for long periods of time. It was also nice not having my socks get stuck to my rough heels. Buh-bye lizard feet!
The initial charge got me through my first session with no signs of slowing down. I recharged the unit before putting it away. I've had a couple brief follow-up sessions to buff down the balls of my feet a bit further and remove some new dry skin from my heels, but it looks like less than 5 minutes a week will keep my feet looking and feeling fabulous all through the summer. I am very glad I took the plunge and tried the Emjoi.