Get Soft Feet

Our feet may be one of the hardest working body parts we have, so they deserve a little pampering every now and again. There are a few easy steps you can follow to keep your feet soft and beautiful all year round. Although you may wish to concentrate on these steps in the summer time when you wear sandals more often.

Steps

Keeping Your Feet Soft Every Day

1. Exfoliate your feet every day. Calluses and dead skin will build up on your feet from simple, every day use. In order to remove calluses, use a foot file or pumice stone to remove dead skin from the bottom or sides of your feet every day, after a shower or bath.
   • When purchasing a pumice stone, ensure you buy one intended for use on your skin.
   • Both pumice stones and foot files are essentially sandpaper for your feet. In fact, the coarse surface on a foot file (and emery board) is basically sandpaper made specifically for your body.
   • While not required, it helps if you soak your feet in warm water before using a pumice stone or foot file. This can include having a shower or bath.
   • Before using a pumice stone, dip it in water, or run it under a warm water tap.
   • Use either the pumice stone or foot file to gentle rub excess and dead skin off the bottoms of your feet - in a circular motion. Do this for only a minute or two per area on your feet.
   • You will most likely need to repeat this process several times before you’re able to remove all the dead skin.
   • Do not use foot razors to remove dead skin. Nicks and cuts to the skin on your feet can be easily infected.
2. Hydrate your feet daily. Feet do not have a lot of oil glands to keep the skin moisturized on their own. With age, the cell regeneration in our skin slows down and also impacts foot dryness. To help offset these problems, put foot moisturizer on your feet every day, ideally after a shower or bath.
   • Be careful not to walk around in your bare feet on tile or hardwood floors after applying moisturizer, your feet will be very slippery. Either stick to carpet, put socks on, or use slippers to walk around.
   • If your feet are very dry and bothersome, consider talking to your doctor about a prescription-strength foot cream.
3. Soften your toenails. As we age, our toenails get thicker and harder from the constant contact with the inside of our shoes. To help soften your toenails, you can apply petroleum jelly to your toenails before bed, every night.
4. Remove overgrown cuticles. Every 2 weeks, rub cuticle oil on your toenails and soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Use a wooden manicure stick (or your fingernails) to push your cuticles back and remove excess skin.
   • An alternative to cuticle oil and foot soak is to use a commercial cuticle remover. You should be able to purchase cuticle remover at a department or drug store.
5. Avoid soaking your feet in hot water. Hot water is very drying. When showering, bathing, or soaking your feet, avoid using really hot water. Use warm water instead to help keep the natural moisture and oils in your skin.

Pampering Your Feet

1. Make your own foot soak. There are several types of foot soaks that can help keep your feet soft. Unless otherwise noted, mix the ingredients into 1-1.3 gallons (4-5 litres) of warn water in a tub or bucket (large enough for both of your feet to be covered with water). Soak your feet in the mixture for 10-15 minutes at a time. Follow-up the soak by removing dead skin using a pumice stone or foot file, then apply foot moisturizer.
   • Baking soda - use 3 tablespoons of baking soda, plus 2-3 drops of lavender oil (optional).
   • Lemon juice - use lemon juice instead of water. The acid in lemon juice helps remove dead skin.
   • Liquid soap - use 2-3 pumps/drops of mild liquid soap, plus 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil.
   • Epsom salts - use ½ cup of epsom salt.
   • Vinegar - use ¼ cup of white vinegar.
2. Administer your own foot scrub. Remove one foot from the foot soak and apply approximately 1 tablespoon of the a foot scrub mixture to the foot. Use your hand or a cloth to scrub the mixture all over your foot, then rinse the mixture off in the water. Repeat the same process with your second foot.
   • Wild Orange and Honey Foot Scrub - Combine 1 cup of epsom salts to 1 cup of sugar in a bowl. Slowly stir in 1 cup of liquid coconut oil until the mixture is smooth (you may not need to use a full cup of coconut oil). Add 2 tablespoons of honey and 8-10 drops of wild orange essential oil to the mixture. Stir. Store the mixture in a glass jar for future use.
   • Salt Scrub - Add the following items together - ¾ cup of fine sea salt, ¼ cup of coarse sea salt, ¼ of olive oil, ¼ cup of coconut oil. You can also add your favourite essential oil and/or vitamin E oil to the mixture if you want. The essential oil adds a nice scent to the scrub, while the vitamin E oil adds extra moisturizing power. Store the mixture in a glass jar for future use.
   • Vanilla Chai Sugar Scrub - Mix the contents of 5 chai tea bags, plus ½ cup of brown sugar, plus ½ cup white sugar, and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a bowl. Once mixed, add 6 tablespoons of coconut oil (at room temperature), plus 1 teaspoon of honey, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extra to the dry mixture and stir. You may need to use a fork to mash the coconut oil into the mixture until it’s broken up. Store the mixture in a class jar for future use.
3. Produce your own foot cream. Foot cream should be used after you’ve soaked and scrubbed your feet, and removed any dead or excess skin. Apply the foot cream all over your feet, including on the tops and on your ankles. To prevent yourself from slipping on tile or hardwood floors, wear socks immediately after you apply the cream.
   • Olive Oil and Lemon - Add a spoonful of olive oil and 2-3 drops of lemon or lavender oil to a small bottle. Shake the bottle until the liquid turns milky. This mixture can be in the bottle to be used again. Just shake the mixture before each use.
   • Coconut Oil and Shea Butter - Mix ¾ cup of coconut oil and ½ cup of shea butter in a saucepan on low heat. Once melted, remove from the heat and add 15 drops of lavender essential oil. Stir. Store the mixture in a glass jar for future use.
   • Honey Heel Cream - Stir together 1 cup of honey (warmed), plus 1-2 tablespoons of whole milk, plus the juice of 1 orange (approximately 2-3 tablespoons of orange juice). Store in a glass jar - in the fridge - for future use.
4. Create your own foot mask. Before bed, moisturize your feet using your normal foot cream. Next, coat your feet in the mixtures outlined below. Then wrap your feet in plastic wrap, and put a pair of sock on top of the plastic wrap. Go to bed. In the morning, take off your socks and the plastic wrap. Wipe off any excess mixture that may be left on your feet.
   • Coconut oil.
   • Vegetable oil.
   • Petroleum jelly and lemons - mix 1 tablespoon of petroleum jelly with the juice from 1 lemon. If you’d prefer not to juice your own lemon, use 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice from a bottle.
5. Soften your feet with paraffin wax. Melt paraffin wax in a large bowl in the microwave. Add an equal amount of mustard oil for add moisturizing power. Dip one foot, then the other, into the bowl and coat your whole foot with the wax. Allow the wax to dry, then wrap your feet in plastic wrap. Wait 15 minutes, then remove the plastic and wax.

Tips

• Foot scrubs can be used as scrubs on almost any other part of your body. However it is recommended that you do not use salt scrubs on sensitive skin as it may be too coarse.

Related Articles

• Do a Pedicure
• Do a Self Pedicure
• Give Someone a Pedicure
• Exfoliate Feet for a Pedicure
• Keep Feet Clean
• Make a Foot Spa
• Use a Foot Scraper
• Get Rid of Foot Odor

Sources and Citations

See also

• Pumice Your Feet
• Heal Dry Cracked Hands
• Shave Dead Skin off Feet
• Care for Your Feet and Toenails
• Remove Corns from Your Toes
• Remove a Stuck Ring
• Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Athlete's Foot
• Get Rid of Cracked Heels Fast
• Get Rid of Corns
• Treat Sweaty Hands

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