Our feet are continuously under strain, which causes the skin to stiffen and thicken. As the condition worsens, our skin flakes, peels and develops calluses. Without our realising it, we smash our feet from all the walking, running and exercising we do daily. Unlike our hands or face, we take less time to care about our feet, and only pay them any heed when we feel the coarse texture covering our sole.
The good news is, you don’t need to head to the spa or get expensive products to rescue your drying feet. All you need is a few household ingredients to create a wonderful, rejuvenating food scrub. So, you save lots of time and money! Here are 7 great foot scrubs you can make yourself for healthy-looking feet.
1. Peppermint Foot Scrub
The cooling and revitalizing properties of peppermint foot scrub make it a great pleasure to use. Peppermint scrubs also assist to soothe itching, irritated feet, as well as muscle tension, and leave the feet smelling fresh and clean.
For this foot scrub you’ll need 1 cup of granulated sugar, coconut oil and peppermint essential oil. Fill a bowl with one cup of granulated sugar. Mix in the coconut oil gradually until you get a wet, yet gritty consistency. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil and transfer the mixture into a bottle. It can be used to exfoliate, hydrate, and relieve aching feet in the bath or shower.
2. Lemon Foot Scrub
A fresh lemon, granulated sugar, and coconut oil are all you need for this foot scrub. When you combine all of the ingredients, you’ll have a great scrub that’s ideal for exfoliating your feet or any other areas that require exfoliation. For a more EXTRA feel, you can add honey. Simply mix sugar with coconut oil and add a few drops of lemon essential oil, or even better, lemon juice. Mix well and apply to your feet. Massage gently and rinse.
3. Milk Foot Scrub
It’s more of a foot soak – but you still have the scrubbing part. Lactic acid, found in milk, aids in the breakdown of dead skin cells, allowing them to be easily ‘lifted’ to reveal the soft, beautiful skin beneath. Paired with sugar, this scrub aids in the removal of pollutants, leaving you with baby soft, clean feet. In a basin, mix equal parts of milk and sugar. Soak your feet in it for about 15 minutes. Then scrub your feet using sugar and coconut oil. Give it a good rinse and apply some moisturizer before slipping into some socks. This helps lock in the moisture.
4. Coffee Foot Scrub
In skincare circles, coffee is praised for boosting blood flow, which can make your soles look vibrant and bright. Not to mention how delicious it smells! Save those coffee grounds – if you enjoy drinking freshly brewed coffee every day. Add a spoonful of coconut oil to equal parts brewed coffee grounds and sugar. If you want to make it even more of a dessert-inspired scrub, add a few dashes of vanilla extract. In gentle circular motions, rub the paste on your feet, paying specific attention to your ankles and heels. After a few minutes, wash it off.
5. Coconut Foot Scrub
This foot scrub is especially beneficial for people who have dry, cracked heels. While salt is an excellent exfoliant, coconut oil is rich in nutrients that will heal and improve your feet. You can use sugar too. Mix 1/2 cup of coconut oil with 1 cup of salt or sugar. Apply the mixture to your feet and scrub in a circular motion. Once done, rinse or wipe clean. You can store this mixture for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container.
6. Baking Soda Foot Scrub
After a long day, all your feet need is a relaxing baking soda scrub to relax and restore itself. It can also help with itchiness and rashes. This foot scrub is excellent for people who have infected feet. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. You’ll get a thick paste. Apply the paste on your feet and give it a good scrub. You could also do a foot soak by adding baking soda to a tub of water. For a refreshing feel, you can add lemons.
7. Oatmeal Foot Scrub
Oatmeal’s gritty texture makes it a good exfoliating agent. It’s also used in a number of facial exfoliators, in which it gently but effectively removes dead skin cells. This oatmeal foot scrub can also help to relieve dry, itchy skin. Mix 2 teaspoons of oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and enough water to form a thick paste. Combine all of the ingredients and massage your feet for 10 minutes with this paste. After that, wash it off and apply a moisturizer.
Making foot scrubs at home is great, but only with proper usage you can reap the benefits. Here are a few things to bear in mind when doing a foot scrub:
- Clean your feet. Right before you start scrubbing, give your feet a quick wash to loosen the top layer of skin. This will allow the scrub to penetrate better into your skin.
- Be generous. You made the scrub, so don’t be stingy. Scoop a good amount of the mixture and generously use it for your feet.
- Moisturize. Be sure to apply moisturizer on your feet after the scrub. This will help lock in all the moisture in your skin.
- Exfoliating differs for everyone. Ideally, you can use a foot scrub once or twice a week – but this depends on your lifestyle and footcare habits.
More on scrubs? Read:
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