Do not ignore the most important part of your body. A part which is said to be the masterpiece of engineering and a work of art, by the famous painter Leonardo da Vinci.
This is so true, and if you look into the various mythological texts around the world and in India too, the feet have always been cherished, fetished and spoken off with high regards. It is the greatness and the beauty of the feet which takes us miles to achieve what we want in life, is it not? So why then should we ignore the feet?
We care so much about our skin. We use the best creams, lotions, and potions for glowing skin to have, but when it comes to the feet, why is it that we pay less attention there?
You do not have to spend a bomb for foot spas at costly parlors and salons to obtain foot spa benefits. In fact, today we shall tell you what the foot spa is all about, what it can do for you and how to do foot spas at home in five ways. We have found five easy weasy foot spa recipes that you must try before Diwali, so that you can flaunt your smooth and lovely feet wearing Indian ethnic footwear while the festivities are on. Believe us when we say the foot spa recipes below are affordable to do at home, non-time consuming and beneficial. Please read on and be well-informed on foot spas and the foot spa benefits you can obtain!
What is a foot spa?
Before we give you more information on the foot spa benefits, it would be wise to know what a foot spa is about.
In layman terms, a foot spa is an effective technique that helps relax the feet and caters to the demands of the feet. Just like a hand spa or a manicure does for the hands and the palms, the same concept is for the feet as well.
In all foot spas, the techniques are almost the same, with a little variation to customize and please the client. It involves soaking the feet in a foot bath, which has warm water. In this warm water, there would be added salts and oils to help relax the feet, promote circulation and more.
The water is all bubbly and warm, and this is when the foot would be scrubbed well, massaged and detoxed, and cleansed thoroughly. Then a foot lotion would be applied, and after that, the nail paint would be placed on the nails.
A foot spa detox machine is used at parlors and spas, but you do not need them per se at home. You could use a basin filled with warm water, which is more than enough. The main aim here is to energize the body through the feet, remove the toxins and increase stamina whilst providing relaxation to the body as well.
The best part is, a foot spa can be done once a week for the best health of your feet to maintain, and it will not take more than half an hour for both feet to get pampered.
Now let us come to the various benefits of the foot spa
- Tired feet is an indication of poor blood flow, and with a foot spa done, you can have the best blood circulation improvement given. It helps circulate the cells of blood beneath the dermal layer of the feet skin, and this brings back the energy much needed and the relaxation you desire. So yes, a foot spa done well can give you proper blood circulation.
- Stress is sent out of the window when you get a foot spa done. The entire day’s tension and stress can be washed out when the feet are scrubbed and massaged. This promotes the washing away of tension and helps you relax, both mentally and physically.
- If you suffer from arthritic pains, a foot spa can help. Sources and research and studies from the medical world too say the same. This is because, when you scrub and massage the feet well, it helps rid the joints and muscles off the pains and aches. The massage when done at least once a week, with oils and herbal potions can help relax the feet better and chase away the annoying inflammation too.
- Headaches and migraines too can be tackled, when you pamper yourself to a foot spa once a week. This is because, there are nerve endings in the feet and when they are lightly massaged, the nerve endings are stimulated and hence symptoms of headaches and migraines are done away with.
- People suffering from acidity and indigestion too can have a lot of benefits from foot spas. And if you suffer from insomnia, you can have foot spas to reduce the symptoms of the same as well. Acidity and indigestion can lead to improper sleep habits too, which is why doctors too would recommend a foot spa from time to time for the release of toxins and stress.
- Talking about detoxing the body, any foot spa you indulge in would aid the body in toxin release. What happens here is that the liver and the kidney, where all the toxins house and hide would be flushed. This helps in also maintaining the pH levels of the body. When the pH levels of the internals are in good stead, your skin would glow, and there would be no acne, signs of aging, and no weak immune system to deal with or worry about.
Now that you know about some of the many benefits of foot spas, and should you want to do your own home foot spa, here are the basic tools needed for the same.
Basic Tools Needed
- Nail clippers
- Cuticle nippers
- Cuticle pushers
- Scissors
- Nail files
- A pumice stone
- A buffer for softening the rough areas over the feet.
Basic Equipment Needed
- A basin big enough for both feet to place in and to soak
- Cleansing products
- Foot scrubbers
- Foot lotion
- Towel
- Nail polish
5 Foot Spa Recipes
1. Listerine foot spa
The Listerine foot spa is a very popular foot spa being used by many women and girls across the world these days. It is a no-nonsense recipe, does not consume much time and is very cheap on the pocket too. So why not try this foot spa method? This method works because of the THYMOL in Listerine that is antimicrobial, and the acetic acid in vinegar which is antimicrobial too. In addition to that, Epsom salt helps exfoliate the skin and maintains the eco-system levels of the skin as well.
What you need.
- A teaspoon of Epsom salt
- A jar of water
- A cup of vinegar
- A cup of Listerine mouthwash
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Foot lotion
- Nail polish (your choice)
How to do
- Start by mixing all the ingredients in a basin filled with warm water.
- Dip your feet and soak the feet in this water solution for ten minutes to fifteen.
- Now remove the feet one at a time, and gently wipe them with a clean hand towel.
- Start filing the feet with the pumice stone or the buffer, and then use the foot brush once again, which should be now and then dipped into the water solution and scrub the soles of the feet and the sides of the feet, and the toenails well.
- Remove and wash the feet with cold water, and discard the bubble water which is now dirty. Refill and wash the feet once again sans the need of solution this time.
- Remove the feet and dry the feet with a hand towel, and then clip and file the nails.
- Apply cuticle cream to the toenails and soak the feet in water for five minutes
- Remove the feet from the water, one foot at a time and push back the cuticles. Remove the cuticles with a nipper and then wipe the feet dry
- Wipe the feet and then apply foot lotion
- Massage the feet, the toe and the calves of the legs
- Apply nail polish and end the session of the spa for feet at home.
2. Hydrating foot spa
Once again, we must remind you that the soles of the feet and the skin of the feet can get dehydrated and dry. This is why, a hydrating foot spa, and especially now since autumn is here, is a must do. Bananas have minerals in it which refresh and nourishes the skin, honey, and coconut oil are natural hydrants for the skin and they illuminate the skin too. To do this foot spa at home, please check the needful below-
What you need:
- A ripe banana which should be mashed
- Half a tablespoon of honey
- 2 tbsps of coconut oil
- Plastic wraps
- A pair of socks
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Foot lotion
- Nail polish (your choice)
How to do
- In a blender, mix the mashed banana, the honey and the coconut oil to a smooth gooey paste and keep it aside.
- Dip your feet and soak the feet in a basin filled with an antibacterial water solution for ten minutes to fifteen.
- Now remove the feet one at a time, and gently wipe them with a clean hand towel.
- Start filing the feet with the pumice stone or the buffer, and then use the foot brush once again, which should be now and then dipped into the water solution and scrub the soles of the feet and the sides of the feet, and the toenails well.
- Remove and wash the feet with cold water, and discard the bubble water which is now dirty. Refill and wash the feet once again sans the need of solution this time.
- Remove the feet and dry the feet with a hand towel, and then clip and file the nails.
- Apply the mashed ingredients to the feet and gently wrap each foot with plastic wraps for ten minutes and wait.
- Remove the plastic wraps and then wash off the feet and clean it well with normal lukewarm water
- Apply cuticle cream to the toenails and soak the feet in water for five minutes
- Remove the feet from the water, one foot at a time and push back the cuticles. Remove the cuticles with a nipper and then wipe the feet dry
- Wipe the feet and then apply foot lotion
- Massage the feet, the toe and the calves of the legs
- Apply nail polish and end the session of the spa for feet at home, or just wear your socks and rest!
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3. Exfoliating foot spa
With just two ingredients, you can pamper your feet, cleanse them and exfoliate them too. This is possible with baking soda and milk. Baking soda helps softly scrub and exfoliate the skin of the feet, and since it is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial by nature, it helps keep germs at bay. It also helps with pH balancing of the feet, and removal of dirt, grime, and toxins that make the feet stinky. Milk, on the other hand, has lactic acid in it, which gently illuminates the skin and nourishes it with the proteins in it. To do this foot spa at home, here is what you need.
What you need
- 1 liter of milk
- 1 cup baking soda
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Nail polish (your choice)
How to do
- Begin with warming up the milk
- Place the milk in the basin and soak your feet in it for ten to fifteen minutes
- Once the time is up, grab the dry baking soda and gently rub onto the feet. One foot at a time when the foot is damp.
- Gently massage and scrub the feet using a filer or a buffer
- Dip your feet and soak the feet in the warm milk once again and keep it soaked for fifteen minutes
- Now remove the feet one at a time, and gently wipe them with a clean hand towel.
- Remove and wash the feet with cold water, and discard the milky solution which is now dirty. Refill and wash the feet once again sans the need of solution this time.
- Remove the feet and dry the feet with a hand towel, and then clip and file the nails.
- Apply cuticle cream to the toenails and soak the feet in water for five minutes
- Remove the feet from the water, one foot at a time and push back the cuticles. Remove the cuticles with a nipper and then wipe the feet dry
- Wipe the feet and then apply foot lotion
- Massage the feet, the toe and the calves of the legs
- Apply nail polish and end the session of the spa for feet at home.
4. Coconut and lime foot spa
The benefits of using coconut and lime for a foot spa at home cannot be undermined. Coconut is a natural hydrant that prevents the feet from drying up, while the vitamin C in lime helps nourish the skin cells of the feet and also whiten the feet too. To do this spa at home for your feet, here are the ingredients.
What you need
- A cup of coconut paste
- Half a cup of lime juice
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Foot lotion
- Nail polish (your choice)
- Plastic wraps
How to do
- Make a paste of the coconut and lime juice and keep aside
- Spray the feet with water and gently dip them in the basin filled with lukewarm water to which an antibacterial solution is added.
- Keep your feet and soak the feet in this water solution for ten minutes to fifteen.
- Now remove the feet one at a time, and gently wipe them with a clean hand towel.
- Start filing the feet with the pumice stone or the buffer, and then use the foot brush once again, which should be now and then dipped into the water solution and scrub the soles of the feet and the sides of the feet, and the toenails well.
- Apply the coconut and lime paste on both the feet and wrap them with plastic wraps for ten minutes.
- Remove the wraps and wash the feet with cold water, and discard the bubble water which is now dirty. Refill and wash the feet once again sans the need of solution this time.
- Remove the feet and dry the feet with a hand towel, and then clip and file the nails.
- Apply cuticle cream to the toenails and soak the feet in water for five minutes
- Remove the feet from the water, one foot at a time and push back the cuticles. Remove the cuticles with a nipper and then wipe the feet dry
- Wipe the feet and then apply foot lotion
- Massage the feet, the toe and the calves of the legs
- Apply nail polish and end the session of the spa for feet at home.
5. Tea tree and mint foot spa
Tea tree oil and mint oil when combined act as stimulants for the skin on the feet. They help with good circulation, relaxation and the aroma is heavenly when the two are mixed. To do this foot spa at home, here is what you need!
What you need.
- Three drops of tea tree oil
- Two drops of mint oil
- Cuticle cream (optional)
- Foot lotion
- Nail polish (your choice)
How to do:
- Spray the feet with water and gently dip them in the basin filled with lukewarm water to which an antibacterial solution is added.
- Keep your feet and soak the feet in this water solution for ten minutes to fifteen.
- Now remove the feet one at a time, and gently wipe them with a clean hand towel.
- Start filing the feet with the pumice stone or the buffer, and then use the foot brush once again, which should be now and then dipped into the water solution and scrub the soles of the feet and the sides of the feet, and the toenails well.
- Apply the essential oils mixed together on both the feet and wrap them with plastic wraps for ten minutes.
- Remove the wraps and wash the feet with cold water, and discard the bubble water which is now dirty. Refill and wash the feet once again sans the need of solution this time.
- Remove the feet and dry the feet with a hand towel, and then clip and file the nails.
- Apply cuticle cream to the toenails and soak the feet in water for five minutes
- Remove the feet from the water, one foot at a time and push back the cuticles. Remove the cuticles with a nipper and then wipe the feet dry
- Wipe the feet and then apply foot lotion
- Massage the feet, the toe and the calves of the legs
- Apply nail polish and end the session of the spa for feet at home.
Please note: For this recipe, you can use the oils or the leaves of the herb!
So those were the five promised foot spas you could do by yourself at home. Now some tips on making the foot spa a magical one sans mishaps! Check below!
Precautions and tips whilst doing spa for feet at home
While there is a lot of money saved doing your own foot spa at home, there are a few things to know before you do your own foot spa in the comforts of your home. Check these pointers out!
- When you use hot water, please ensure that the water temperature is apt for your skin, before you put your feet in. If it is too hot, it may scald the skin on the feet and boils can come about. This is why lukewarm water is the best to use.
- Make sure the antibacterial lotion you use is a non-allergenic one, which means, use the one you always use for handwash needs since your skin is used to it.
- Always and always pick your lotions for the feet from a reputed outlet and one that suits your skin type
- If you are using home-based ingredients, herbs and oils, please ensure to use minimal quantities to avoid waste and so that the whole room and the ambiance around does not smell of it for days.
- Clean cotton towels- five of them at least should be kept handy.
We hope now you would go ahead and use the foot spa recipes we gave and enjoy the benefits too. If you have your own foot spa recipes to share with us, we are eager to learn more. Do write in, but do also enjoy the five amazing foot spa recipes we shared with you too! Let the feet now do the talking!
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