How to Make Your Feet Happy in Three Steps

Posted by Katie Zapotoczny on 15th Jan 2016

Our feet work hard for us. Many of us are on them for most or all of the day, but we don’t tend to give our feet much attention. So it’s easy for them to get neglected. The three steps that follow will revive your feet and even refresh your mind. For the best results, follow all three steps, but if you’re short on time, you can also use just one or two.

Soak

Start by soaking your feet in this Lavender Lemon Soak. This step will help soften your feet. The sea salt provides some trace minerals that are absorbed through the skin. Lavender essential oil is calming and soothing, while lemon is refreshing and uplifting.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sea salt

Half a lemon, sliced, or 5 drops lemon essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients in a tub of warm water, and put your feet in. Soak as long as you want. If you have any cracks, cuts, or scrapes on your feet, you may wish to omit the sea salt and lemon, and use just the lavender essential oil.

Scrub

For this step, I use Verefina Sugar Scrubs. These scrubs gently gently exfoliate, removing dead skin cells and allowing the younger, healthier skin underneath to emerge. In addition to exfoliating skin, sugar scrubs help moisturize it. Sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and holds moisture from the air. So not only does the oil in the sugar scrub moisturize your skin, but the sugar does too.

Directions: Using about a teaspoon per foot, scrub all over your feet and ankles until the sugar is all dissolved. Rinse your feet.

Moisturize

Last, lock in the moisture in your feet. The mint essential oils in this Homemade Mint and Rosemary Cream create a cooling sensation, while rosemary increases circulation and provides extra moisture for dry skin.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil

1-2 Tbsp grated beeswax (depending on how thick you want it)

1/2 tsp. vitamin E oil (optional)

6-8 drops peppermint essential oil (you can use either peppermint or spearmint essential oil or both)

6-8 drops spearmint essential oil

3-4 drops rosemary essential oil

3-4 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Directions:

Gently melt the coconut oil and beeswax in the top of a double boiler. (You can leave out the beeswax if you want, but it helps to thicken up the foot cream.) Pour the melted oil and wax into a clean glass jar, and allow to cool. When the oil/wax mixture is cool but not solid again, add the vitamin E oil (if using) and essential oils. Gently stir. Allow to become solid again. Store in a cool, dark place (if you don’t use a dark jar). If you need a quick, ready-made moisturizer, Spearmint Aloe and Calendula Cream is an excellent alternative. This lotion is especially beneficial for severely dry or irritated skin.

To use, massage a small amount of cream onto your feet after soaking and scrubbing them. Cover with cotton socks. I like to use this cream before bed and leave it overnight.

Caution: Wash your hands after applying; mint essential oils can burn the eyes. Pregnant women should avoid rosemary essential oil. Peppermint, spearmint, and lavender essential oils are generally considered safe to use in the second and third trimesters, but should be used in moderation and with caution. Consult your healthcare professional before using them in pregnancy.