Chances are, you haven’t spent a lot of time caring for your feet lately. It’s the middle of winter and much of the country is buried in snow, which means most toes are buried in wool socks and boots—out of sight, out of mind! But feet take a beating all year around, and giving them a little love is a great way to relieve winter blues, improve circulation, and even release toxins, according to some practitioners of holistic medicine.
Being a DIY kind of woman, I find it hard to justify spending lots of money on pleasures like spa pedicures, even if they are legitimately good for you. The answer, of course, is to make my own foot scrub, which is incredibly easy and inexpensive.
This scrub will remove calluses, soften skin, and leave your feet feeling and smelling wonderful. Feel free to experiment to create a scent and texture you love.
1 Gather your ingredients (note that this shows 1/4 c. of oil, which I later reduced to 1/8 in the current recipe)
2 Begin by finely chopping the rosemary.
3 Grind up your herbs in a mortar and pestle.
4 Add the almond or olive oil to salt.
5 Combine herbs, oil, and a few drops of essential oil.
6 Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.
7 The final product!
Customize the Scrub Factor
For more exfoliating power, combine the sea salt with brown sugar, uncooked cornmeal or oatmeal, or freshly ground coffee beans; make an invigorating citrus scrub with a dash of lemon juice and grated citrus rinds; soothe your senses with a few drops of lavender essential oil; or add two tablespoons aloe vera or a few vitamin E capsules for a deep moisturizing scrub.
By the way, if you’re looking for a last minute gift, this could be your answer—it’s hard to go wrong with a jar of homemade foot scrub and a gift certificate for a foot massage!
Ingredients
1 cup coarse sea salt
1/8 cup olive oil or sweet almond oil
2 to 3 drops peppermint essential oil
1 to 2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, crushed, or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Directions
Combine all ingredients and massage into feet and ankles. Rinse with warm water and follow with a moisturizer. Store excess scrub in a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid.
Abigail R. Gehring is a bonafide homesteader and editor of several books, including Back to Basics (Third Edition), Homesteading, and Self Sufficiency. She divides her time between New York City and Vermont where she grew up and shares a home with her husband.
From: Margie | 2/28/11 at 7:00 pm
I see rough feet all the time. I am definitely going to recommend this to my massage clients!
From: Holistically Haute | 3/1/11 at 1:11 am
This looks great...I am sure it smells great too...
From: MaryEllen | 3/1/11 at 10:07 am
This sounds like an excellent scrub, can't wait to make it!
From: DIY: Rosemary Peppermint Foot Scrub « The Well | The Official Blog of Zoëtry Resorts & Spas | 12/13/11 at 9:31 am
[...] This holiday season, take a break from your busy schedule and give your feet some TLC with this rosemary peppermint foot scrub. Trust us, they will feel rejuvenated and you’ll be hitting the malls again in no [...]