Diy Foot Spa

12 Parts:

Steps For A DIY Foot Spa

What You'll Need:

Let The Pampering Begin

The Maintenance

The Massage

Reveal The Healthy Skin Underneath

Moisturizing And Locking In Moisture

Polish Your Nails Beautiful

Tips, Tricks and Warnings

FAQS

Questions and Answers

Comments

The feet have it hard. Imagine supporting the entire weight of your body from morning until night. Some people work in small, enclosed spaces, while others are on their feet for hours on end. Just like the muscles need massaging, the feet also deserve some much-needed TLC (tender loving care) every now and then. Like a machine that needs to be "oiled and maintained" to function and perform well, your feet need attention as well.

Basking in relaxation and comfort during a day at the spa may sound amazing, but the truth is, few people can afford this luxury, especially if you need to go regularly. That doesn't mean your overworked feet don't need to be pampered. Be a fashionista on a budget and give your feet a well-deserved Foot Spa in the comfort of your own home, and save the money you'd have spent in a spa or salon. All you need is to set aside some time for yourself, prep the supplies you'll need, and commence with the pampering of your feet. Another advantage to doing this yourself is that you can choose your own products and scents. You can even make your own blends and mixtures from natural ingredients that will not only be cheap, but safe and healthy as well.

With the string of parties you'll attend this holiday season, or with outings at the beach awaiting you, make time for a DIY foot spa, not just to make your feet look good, but to make them feel good. There are several things you can do to make your feet happy. They include: Massage, exfoliation, moisturizing and maintenance. Follow these instructions for a DIY Foot Spa in your own home - and be on your way to prettier, happier feet.

• Foot spa machine. If none is available, a deep bowl or tub that will accommodate your feet will be fine.
• Pumice stone or sandpaper paddle (or equivalent).
• Towels for patting the feet dry.
• Pedicure kit.
• Water - very warm it if you are using a bowl or tub.
• Foot soaking mixture (or homemade soaks).
• Essential oil - one that will relax your feet. Choose a scent you like - those used in aromatherapy are great.
• Foot scrub or foot exfoliating product (or a homemade exfoliator)
• Foot lotion or homemade moisturizers

Soften that rough skin.

Soak your feet in a foot spa machine or bowl/tub.

1. 1
   Add very warm water - if you are using a bowl or tub.

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2. 2
   Add some commercial or homemade products that will soften the skin

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3. 3
   Add scented or aromatic oil

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4. 4
   Soak your feet for at least 10-15 minutes

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5. 5
   Add more warmer water if it begins to cool, or if you feel you need more time soaking

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Relax those feet!

Homemade ingredients you can mix yourself for relaxation.

1. 1
   Foot Soak with Peppermint and Lavender is perfect for those who want to relax their feet, scent them, and soften that dead, scaly skin

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2. 2
   To the soak, add about a half cup of Epsom salt, and a few drops of peppermint extract, lavender extract or oil, and tea tree oil

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   1. Be more creative; add lavender or rose petals to the soak for a spa-like feel and ambiance.

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Wake up those feet!

Homemade ingredients you can mix yourself to stimulate your feet.

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   Foot Soak with Coffee is a stimulating and energy boosting formula

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   If you are going to a party or you have a big night out, this is perfect for you.  

   1. Add about two cups of brewed coffee for every gallon of warm water into your footbath.

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Nourish your feet.

Homemade ingredients you can mix yourself to soften and moisturize your feet.

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   An Almond and Milk Foot Soak is great when your feet look dry and "starving for moisture." With this formula, you'll see results almost instantly

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   The skin on your feet will be softer, and silkier.  

   1. Add a cup of powdered milk to the warm water in the tub/bowl.
   2. Add a tablespoon of almond oil.
   3. After soaking, do not rinse it off.
   4. Instead, pat your feet dry with a foot towel before proceeding to the next step.

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The Pedi.

After soaking your feet and after they've been patted dry with a clean, soft towel, it is the perfect time to perform some maintenance on your nails.

1. 1
   Use your pedicure set to get rid of any dirt underneath your toenails

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2. 2
   Clip your toenails to the desired length

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3. 3
   File your toenails to smooth the rough bits.

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4. 4
   Push the cuticles back while they are soft

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   You can soften the cuticles with a mixture of apricot oil and lanolin cream.

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5. 5
   You might also want to use a cuticle nipper on them.

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Who doesn't dream about a good foot rub when you've been on your feet all day? You can use any of your regular foot balms or creams to give your feet a good massage. You can make it more interesting by using "pressure massage" by forcefully moving your thumbs up and down the arches of your feet. Let those thumbs linger a bit on any tender or sore spots. Do this from side to side on both feet. As you massage your feet, note where your feet need special consideration. Things that require special care include warts, growths, and painful cracks. Some of these may require medical attention. You've gone to the trouble of creating your own footbath, go that little bit further, and make yourself a homemade massage oil/lotion for your feet.

Here are some homemade products you can blend yourself:

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   Feel good massage oil

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   A massage using calming, homemade oil is an excellent way to revitalize your feet. The following is a recipe you can try:  

   1. Put about 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a small bowl.
   2. Add a drop of chamomile oil and about 3 drops of essential oil of lavender.
   3. Mix and rub slowly into your feet.
   4. Enjoy both the effects and the aroma.

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2. 2
   Invigorating Aloe Vera Oil

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   Make a blend of homemade ingredients to relax and soothe your overworked feet. Follow this recipe:  

   1. Put 1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera gel into a small bowl.
   2. Add 2 teaspoon of unscented (or scented) body oil or a few drops of other essential oil.
   3. Add 1 teaspoon of rolled oats.
   4. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. (exfoliates dead skin)

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You can do this by exfoliating or scrubbing the feet using some exfoliating tools and foot scrubs. You can use commercially prepared products, or make your own homemade foot scrub or exfoliator.

Conventional scrubs include loofah, pumice stone and bath poufs. Here are some homemade products you can mix yourself:

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   Epsom Salt

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   Scrub away dead skin with Epsom salt. Even your regular salt can help loosen that lackluster, dead skin you need to get rid of.  

   1. In a bowl, put a couple teaspoons of plain espom/kosher salt.
   2. Add a quarter of a cup each of cornmeal and oatmeal.
   3. Add either Aloe Vera gel or olive oil to make a thick paste.
   4. Rub it into your feet to exfoliate and moisturize your feet.

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2. 2
   Sugar is Sweet

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   Sugar is a good alternative to salt. To make a scrub using sugar:  

   1. In a bowl, add a quarter cup of sugar.
   2. Add a teaspoon of honey.
   3. Add about 1/8 cup of olive oil.
   4. You may want to blend the sugar with an essential oil for the aroma and soothing effect.
   5. You may also want to and lemon for whitening the skin.

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3. 3
   Beach Sand - Nature's Exfoliator

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   Going to the beach? Bring a few things from hom and you have an exfoliator.  

   1. In a Tupperware™ container, add a few teaspoons canola oil.
   2. 3-5 drops of rosemary oil.
   3. At the beach, add 2 tablespoons of beach sand.
   4. Mix well.
   5. Voila! You have your own foot scrub.

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Stressed feet love to be moisturized and softened. Your feet lack sweat glands and have thick skin. This makes the skin on your feet prone to dehydration. You can keep the moisture in your feet by pampering them regularly and treating them with foot or body lotion. Of course you can have fun and make your own foot moisturizer.

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   Rejuvenating Choco Cream

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   This is a delicious way to keep your feet soft.

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   Put half a cup of almonds in a food processor until coarsely ground

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   1. Pour ground almonds into a bowl.
   2. Add half a cup of dry oatmeal.
   3. Add 3 tablespoons honey.
   4. Add 4 tablespoons cocoa butter.
   5. Apply generously to your feet and leave on overnight by wearing a pair of socks to bed.
   6. Rinse off any excess in the morning.

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3. 3
   Vitamin E Lotion

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   1. Combine equal amounts of E cream and petroleum jelly.
   2. Add twice as much baby oil to the mixture.
   3. Use this thick mixture generously on your feet.
   4. For best results, leave it on overnight.
   5. Wear socks to avoid messing up your sheets.

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4. 4
   Homemade Foot Mask

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   This recipe uses ingredients that have many beneficial uses. Combine in a bowl:

    

   1. One half cup milk. Milk is nourishing and can soften skin.
   2. Two tablespoons of honey. Honey is a antibacterial and antifungal.
   3. Three tablespoons of olive oil. Olive oil has vitamin E and other natural moisturizers, as well as omega fatty acids, good to treat cracked heels, calluses, and dry yellowed toenails.
   4. To cleanse, deodorize, detoxify and pamper your feet, just mix all three ingredients together.
   5. Apply the mixture to your feet to make them soft and beautiful.

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After you apply moisturizer, you might be done with your DIY Foot Spa, but if you're going to a party, you have a date, or your wearing open-toed shoes or sandals, you might want to take the final step and apply polish to those now soft, supple, beautiful feet.

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   Start With A Bare Canvas

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   1. Make sure all the lotions and creams are wiped off the toenails. Polish won't stick to an oily surface.
   2. Remove all traces of previously applied nail polish using polish remover.

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2. 2
   Painting the nails

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   1. Choose your nail polish and apply it smoothly.
   2. If you have the luxury of time, use longer-drying polish for a glossier finish.
   3. You can finish off by using a quick-drying topcoat.
   4. Make sure the polish is thoroughly dry before putting on your shoes or socks. If you don't wait, you might be taking it off and starting all over again.
   5. Each brand of nail polish takes a different amount of time to dry.

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• Clip straight across the nail. This is preferable to overly rounding your nails. This will prevent painful ingrown toenails.
• Maintain healthy feet. You can keep your feet healthy, soft and relaxed by putting aside time regularly for an at-home foot spa.
• Nighttime socks. You can lock in moisture by applying lotion every night and keeping your feet covered by wearing socks.
• Add marbles. Putting marbles in a foot spa machine or bowl can give you a massage just by rolling your feet back and forth over them.
• Invite friends and family to your home spa. You can have at-home foot spa party during a rainy afternoon or invite the girls for a sleepover.
• Allergies. To prevent adverse reactions, always do a patch test on your skin after you've created a mixture of your own, before generously applying it on your feet or hands.

When you're tired you don't want people looking at your feet, especially when they look as tired as you feel, why not spare an g hour or two to relax in your bathroom, light a relaxing, aromatic candle, sip a cup of relaxing green tea, put on some good music and enjoy your DIY foot spa. Everyone deserves this kind of pampering once in a while, to de-stress and feel beautiful inside and out. You deserve it!<b/?