Body & Soul: Natural, At-Home Pedicures

Treat Your Feet

June/July 2006
By Laurel Vukovic  
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Warm weather means summer sandals and going barefoot, but if you’re like most people, your feet could use some tender loving care before making a public appearance. Taking good care of your feet is important not only for vanity’s sake, but also for good health: Regular foot and nail care can prevent painful heel cracks, calluses and ingrown toenails.

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Plan a relaxing and rejuvenating pedicure once a week (or every other week). You can keep feet soft and smooth in between pedicures by running a pumice stone or foot file over your heels and smoothing on a rich moisturizing cream at night after washing your feet.

Sweet-Smelling Feet

The pleasant fragrances of many essential oils, such as cypress, lavender and patchouli, not only freshen the feet but provide potent antimicrobial properties that eliminate odor-causing bacteria. To prevent foot odor, spray your feet daily with an aromatherapy foot spray, and dust your feet with an aromatherapy foot powder before putting on closed shoes.

• Aromatherapy Foot Spray 
• Aromatherapy Foot Powder 

Cuticle and Nail Butter 

Ingredients for a Natural Pedicure

• Basin large enough for both feet
• Baking soda and borax
• Essential oils for footbath
• Natural bristle foot brush
• Pumice stone or foot file
• Orangewood manicure stick
• Toenail clippers
• Emery board
• Nail buffer

Five Steps to a Perfect Natural Pedicure

Salon pedicures are a wonderful treat, but you easily can duplicate the same treatments at home, using natural, nontoxic products. The following five steps will have your feet summer-ready in about 40 minutes.

Step One: Soak and Relax
Begin your pedicure with a soothing foot soak. A warm foot bath with baking soda and borax softens calluses and makes it easier to remove rough skin. Fill a large, plastic basin or foot tub with comfortably warm water. Add 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of borax and stir to dissolve. To freshen and deodorize feet, add 5 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of patchouli essential oil. (For an invigorating foot bath, instead add 2 drops of peppermint essential oil and 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil; to ease aching feet, add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil and 3 drops of lavender essential oil.) Relax, and soak your feet for 10 minutes.

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