Natural Pedicure Treatments

With Spring coming into bloom, it's a great time to pay some extra attention to your feet.  Dry winter air, and cold weather can take a toll on your feet.  They've spent several months locked tightly in socks, boots, and slippers, and are probably looking forward to breathing the fresh spring air as much as you are.  A simple home pedicure is a great way to get them ready for their Spring or Summer debut.  Follow these three simple steps to give your little piggies the royal treatment.

Soak
Begin by soaking the feet in a warm bath of water.  This step can be enhanced by using the following Foot Soak Recipe:

Peppermint Tea Tree Foot Soak

Ingredients
1/2 gallon Warm Water
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
1 tablespoon Borax
1 tablespoon Baking Soda
The juice of 1/2 fresh lemon, or about 1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 oz Turkey Red Oil
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Directions
In a small cup, mix the Turkey Red Oil and Essential Oils together.  Warm 1/2 gallon of water to a comfortable temperature (about the same as bath water) and pour it into a foot bath tub.  Add the lemon juice, Epsom Salt, and powders to the warm water, and stir to dissolve.  Next, add the Turkey Red Oil and Essential Oil Blend, and stir to disperse. 

Usage
This recipe should be used immediately, as it would not be suitable for storage or packaging.  Soak the feet for 10 - 20 minutes, or until the water cools.

Exfoliate
After priming the feet with a relaxing soak, they should be exfoliated.  You can use an exfoliating tool, such as a Pumice Stone or a Pedi Groomer, or you can use a Scrub.  Another option, is to use a combination of both.  For the feet, it is a good idea to use a Scrub with a little extra power.  Try adding some intensive exfoliating ingredients, such as Pumice Powder, Walnut Shell Powder, or Dead Sea Grains.  The following recipe is great for pedicures.

Lemon Walnut Foot Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
1/4 cup Sea Salt, Fine
2 tablespoons Pumice Powder
1 tablepsoon Lemon Peel Powder
1 tablespoon Walnut Shell Powder, Medium
1 ounce Perilla Seed Oil
1 ounce Walnut Oil
10 drops Saro Essential Oil
5 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
5 drops Corn Mint Essential Oil

Directions
In a small bowl, mix the Sea Salt, Pumice Powder, Lemon Peel Powder, and Walnut Shell Powder.  Pour the Walnut Oil and Perilla Seed Oil over the mixture, and stir to combine.  Follow with Essential Oils, stir well, and spoon into jars.

Usage
This intensive scrub should only be used on tough skin, such as the bottom of your feet.  It is far too instense for more sensitive or delicate areas of the body.  Use this scrub with care, and discontinue use if it causes any discomfort.

Moisturize
After the exfoliation is done, treat your feet to some much needed moisture.  Any intensive balm, or body butter will work well, but using a recipe designed especially for the feet is the best.  The following recipe contains ingredients that can help to keep the feet healthy, happy, and moisturized.

Whipped Pedi-Butter
Makes about 2-3 ounces (by volume)

Ingredients
 1 oz. Illipe Butter
1/2 oz. Perilla Seed Oil
1/2 oz. Avocado Oil
1/8 oz. Jojoba Esters MP70
1 tsp. Dry-Flo
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
10 drops Geranium Essential Oil
5 drops Neem Oil CO2 Extract

Directions
In a double boiler, melt the Jojoba Esters completely.  Add the Illipe Butter and allow that to melt completely.  After both solid ingredients are melted, remove the mixture from the heat.  In a small bowl, combine the Dry Flo with a few teaspoons of Avocado Oil to form a slurry.  Add the Dry Flo and oil slurry to the hot oils, followed by the remaining Avocado Oil, Perilla Seed Oil, and Neem CO2.  Next, add the Essential Oils.  Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the mixture until it cools and thickens. This may take 10 - 20 minutes. To hasten the cooling time, you can try cooling the outside of the mixing bowl with an ice bath.  When the mixture has cooled to room temperature it should be thick and leave a trail when drizzled over the surface.  Pour the mixture carefully into a plastic bag and tie the end shut. Cut a small hole in the corner of the bag, and use it to pipe the mixture into a jar.  Allow the mixture to cool and set for several hours before use.

Usage & Packaging
This whipped butter will be thick, and oily, but will provide the intense moisture that your feet need.  Apply a small amount directly to your feet, and massage it into the skin.  You may want to put on a pair of clean cotton socks while the oils sink in.  This recipe will make about three ounces by volume, and will fit nicely in a 4 ounce PET Jar or Cream Jar.

Comments

[Sara Thompson]

I love foot treatments. There is something great about making them yourself for yourself.

[Emmy Gabriel]

I agree! Taking the time to pamper yourself like this can really be self-affirming.

[Pamela Palmer]

These are great ideas! My son is a dancer and I have used some of remedies on his feet. Dancers are ROUGH on their feet and need to take care of them well! Thanks, great blog.

[Bee]

Hi, Emmy. I just wanted to know--can Starch Structure XL, or some other starch, be substituted for the Dry-Flo in this recipe? If not, is the DF crucial to the recipe? Thanks as always!

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Pamela. Thanks for visiting The Natural Beauty Workshop.  There are several dancers in our extended From Nature With Love family, here in CT. They would certainly agree about it being very tough on their feet.  I hope these recipes can bring their tired feet a little bit of comfort!

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Bee.  The Dry Flo in the Whipped Pedi Butter recipe helps to give the product a silkier, dryer slip.  Natural, intensive moisturizers like these can tend to be a little greasy.  Dry Flo reduces that greasiness a little, but is not necessary to the success of the recipe.  You could certainly leave it out and still have a highly moisturizing butter.  As for substituting a different kind of starch, I cant say for sure whether or not that would be successful.  I would recommend experimenting with a small batch to see how the starch behaves in the recipe.  If the ingredients arent too different it could work well, though the proportion of the starch could need to be adjusted.