Your feet bear the brunt of your daily activities, especially as you get busy with the hassles of your daily life. In fact, you never realise how tired your feet are until you lie down in bed at night. Tired feet can cause many problems. Your body posture is affected if you have aching feet. Also, if your feet begin to crack, there is a higher chance of bacterial and fungal infections such as ringworm developing in them.
Your feet are precious, it is no surprise that they may feel tired, calloused, or swollen by the end of the day. Give your feet the attention they really deserve by pampering them with a foot spa. Once you know the basic procedure, you can experiment with special soaks and scrubs to suit the needs of your feet.
The point is that your feet need cleaning and pampering. If you have been putting off the luxurious salon pedicure, then here are some great ways to enjoy a foot spa treatment right at home. These easy to follow, cost-effective tips make your feet soft and relaxed.
1. Create A Relaxing Environment.
Decide where you want to have your foot spa, then dim the lights. Put on some music that you find relaxing. Light some candles, if desired, and make sure that all of your supplies are close by and ready to use. This includes your towels, scrubs, lotions, and socks or slippers. You can have your foot spa anywhere you want: bedroom, bathroom, living room, etc. Music, classical music, and nature sounds are all very relaxing. Everyone is different, however; if you find heavy metal to be the most relaxing, then go for it!, If you want an invigorating foot spa instead, choose a room with windows, then open the curtains to let in the natural light.
2. Remove Your Nail Polish, Cut Your Nails And Push Back Your Cuticles.
The first and foremost step of a foot spa is to remove the nail polish. It is best to use an acetone-free nail polish remover, as acetone can leave your feet dry. Also, before you begin with the cleansing process, do cut the long nails as this would help you clean them better. Once you cut your nails, apply a cuticle cream to soften them. Then push back the cuticles with the cuticle pusher very gently.
3. Soak Your Feet In A Tub Of Warm Water.
Now, soak your feet in a tub of lukewarm water. Add a pinch of salt in it. It will help to remove dirt and dead skin. The salt will also help you to get rid of swelling. After that, add shampoo in the water and rev up the lather. Let your feet soak for twenty minutes. Remove when the water cools down a bit. Clean your feet thoroughly using a soft brush. Brush at the heels, between the toes and on the sole. Use pedicure tools to clean the dirt under the toenails and gently scrap off the dead skin surrounding the nail.
Consider adding some marbles or smooth stones into the bottom of the tub. This way, you can roll your feet over them and give yourself a foot massage!
You can also add a few drops of peppermint essential oil or lemon essential oil in the water if your feet feel tired. Almond extracts and milk will also help in making your feet extremely soft. You can add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide as well, which will extract the hidden dirt from the little cracks in the skin.
To soften your feet, use 1 cup (125 grams) of powdered milk (dairy or soy) and 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of almond oil instead.
4. Soak Your Feet In Warm Water For 10 to 15 Minutes.
Pull the tub over in front of a comfortable chair. Sit down in the chair, then slip your feet into the tub. Read a book or close your eyes and listen to some music. You can even combine the foot spa with another treatment, such as a face mask or eye mask.
Dirty water is not very relaxing, so make sure that your feet are clean. If they are dirty, rinse them off first in the shower, bathtub, or sink.
5. Exfoliate The Feet.
You can use the exfoliation scrubs and gels available in the market. Exfoliation can be done with a foot scraper or a pumice stone. Rub it on your heels because that is where most of the dead skin ends up accumulating. Do not ignore the pads under your toes. Exfoliate every part of your feet. Once done, lower your feet in the water. Then wash your feet gently. Remove your feet from the water, and using a clean towel pat your feet dry. If you don’t have a foot scrubbing gel, then you can use your regular facial scrub or body scrub as well to exfoliate your feet.
- If you used the foot scrub, be sure to rinse it off using your foot soak water.
- For exceptionally calloused heels, consider using a pumice stone.
- Keep your feet over the tub so that you can splash water on them whenever it is necessary.
6. Massaging.
Massaging is best done with an unscented skin nourishing cream. The best home remedy is to massage with foot cream mixed with a few drops of lemon juice. Lemon juice will help you get rid of dead skin and will also to remove tanning from the feet. You can also rub a slice of lemon on your feet before you move towards massaging them with a cream.
Now, massage the cream on to your leg, applying just the right amount of pressure. Knead the soles of your feet for complete relaxation. A 10-minute massage gets you the most beneficial results. Moisturising is important because the warm water can leave your feet dry and cleansing would leave your skin pores open and exposed. You can also use some essential oil, such as lavender, olive or almond, or your normal body lotion for the massage.
Give Yourself A Pedicure.
Clean under your toenails with a manicure brush, then trim them with nail clippers. Dry your feet with a clean towel, then wipe your toenails with nail polish remover to get rid of any oils. Apply a base coat, follow up with your desired nail polish color, then seal it with a clear topcoat. Let everything dry before moving on.
- If you need to push back your cuticles, do so with a cuticle pusher or orange stick before you apply the nail polish.
- It’s recommended that you wait at least 45 minutes before wearing any closed toe shoes after polish application.
Note;
However, you should wait for a day before applying the polish. Since foot spa rejuvenates your feet, your nails breathe better. Applying polish might block this breathing process.
