Put Your Best Foot Forward

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Fresh YQR

Fresh YQR

Create a Foot Spa at Home

By Fresh YQR Staff

Summer is a wonderful time of year. It’s long, warm days followed by long, warm nights. We’re spending hours outdoors enjoying the sun—beaches, boats, parks, trails or just time in the backyard. If you’re like us, you’re spending a ton of time barefoot or in sandals and flipflops because it feels great to peel off socks and shoes. While we soak up every drop of summer with next to nothing (or nothing) on our feet, it’s also brutal on those tender tootsies. Calluses, peeling and cracked heels are just some of the symptoms of summer. Fear not, however. You can take care of your feet and enjoy our Saskatchewan summer at the same time.

Ready to rehab those feet? Let’s create a DIY foot spa experience you can do at home or at the cottage or camper that’s easy, relaxing and affordable.

The Supplies

·         A big plastic tub, large enough for your feet and plenty of water (your local dollar store can hook you up). You may want two tubs, one for warm water and one for cool water.

·         A pitcher for extra water

·         A soft, fluffy towel

·         Marbles – these are optional but a great way to massage the bottom of your feet.

·         Epsom salts – available at your local drug store, supermarket or dollar store

·         Baking soda

·         Two peppermint tea bags, opened (optional)

·         Peppermint essential oil

·         A foot brush, pumice stone or foot scrub

·         Moisturizer – we really like O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet Foot Cream, Carotene Foot Cream (find it at DermaPosh Skincare) and Sacred Earth Soaps Healing Salve

·         Water

·         Clean, soft socks

These are optional, but you might want some or all of them.

·         Nail clippers, nail file and nail polish remover

·         Nail polish and toe dividers

·         Aromatherapy Candles

·         Relaxing music

·         A good book or magazine

·         Your favourite drink

Getting Started

First, pick the location where you want to spa. Pick a spot that is relaxing, inside or outside. Set up the area with your towel, foot brush/scrub and moisturizer. Feel free to add candles and music.

Fill your tub with warm water and have extra warmer water ready in a pitcher. Add a 1 c. of Epsom salts, ½ c. baking soda and five to 10 drops of essential oil to the warm water. You can also add the marbles and peppermint tea (optional). You can also fill an extra tub with cool water, too.

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Recipes for Soaking

Besides the peppermint soak, here are a few other concoctions to try.

Calming Chamomile

·         Six chamomile tea bags

·         5-10 drops lavender essential oil

·         1 c. Epsom salts

·         ½ c. baking soda

Coconut Lemongrass

·         1 c. coconut milk

·         10 drops lemongrass essential oil

·         1 c. Epsom salts

·         ½ c. baking soda

Lavender Oatmeal

·         ¼ c. dried lavender

·         10 drops lavender essential oil

·         ¼ c. ground oatmeal (just pulse ½ c. dry oatmeal in your blender)

·         ½ c. baking soda

Take Me Away

Sit down in a comfortable chair and place your feet into the tub. Soak your feet for at least 15 to 20 minutes, and you can add more warm water from the pitcher as needed. If you added marbles, gently press your feet into the marbles and roll your feet over them to massage your soles.

Get to Work

After your soak, it’s time to scrub. Using your foot brush or scrub, gently scrub your feet. You can use a pumice stone on any hard skin or calluses. If you’re using a cream scrub, apply it all over and scrub for five minutes. Wash off your feet with the warm foot spa water. To refresh your feet, dip into the cool water in the second tub (optional).

Time for Moisture

Dry off your feet with the towel and generously apply moisturizer to your feet and rub in. Put on your socks and you’re done! If you’re also ready for a quick pedicure, now is the time to trim your nail and apply your favourite polish. Make sure your polish is totally dry before you slide on the socks (it’s the perfect excuse to keep relaxing with your book or music).

Keep it Up

Any time your “dogs are barking” or your feet are feeling tough and sore, break out the spa. It’s the perfect way to unwind and take care of yourself at the same time. We highly recommend spa-ing it up on the deck with a cocktail and a good book or your favourite show. It’s a great way to end a long summer day and your feet will thank you for it.