Mint & Lime Foot Soak

Our feet are one of the hardest working parts of our bodies, barely ever taking time off and deserve to be pampered! I love sitting down at the end of a long day and plunging my feet into a bowl of warm water and essential oils and RELAX.

Essential oils are a great way to relieve the pain of overworked feet and can even help minimise unpleasant foot odour caused by sweating and wearing shoes all day. A salt soak can help slough away dead skin, leaving your skin soft and smooth. They are also a great way of keeping your feet in tip top shape. A foot soak is usually the first step for me - I like to follow it up by patting my feet dry and exfoliating them before applying a moisturiser.

It is easy to put together a simple foot soak/scrub and well worth the small effort. One way of making a foot soak is to add a few drops of essential oils to Epsom salts and mix together. (a little baking soda is also a common addition to foot soaks, as it absorbs odour and may support healing). I also love the addition of fruit zest to give it that extra zing!

I have chosen Peppermint and Lime essential oils for this recipe, but there are several other oils you can use e.g. Tea Tree and Lemon, Rosemary and Wintergreen, Spearmint and Lavender. You can also use orange or lemon zest in place of lime.

Peppermint is a wonderful essential oil to use on skin and is great for foot odour because it freshens and deodorises unpleasant smells. Tired feet that are irritated, burning, swollen or just sore can also benefit from a peppermint soak. The oil has a cooling effect that can calm the skin and relieve soreness.

Lime essential oil is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic and can help to heal minor wounds and scrapes. The refreshing aroma of Lime can also help to lift your mood.

Epsom salt is actually magnesium sulfate, a pure, time-tested mineral compound with dozens of uses. When Epsom salt is mixed with water, it dissolves and releases magnesium and sulfate ions. These particles are believed to be absorbed through the skin, providing the body with magnesium and sulfates.

You should try and soak your feet for at least 15 minutes.

Ingredients

300g Epsom Salts

Zest of one line

4 drops of Lime essential oil

3 drops of Peppermint essential oil

2 or 3 drops of green food colouring (optional)

Method

Mix all the ingredients together and place in jars.

Add a handful to a bowl of warm water and insert feet!

The Verdict

Sylvia says:

“My niece and I sat watching the television while our feet soaked for 20 minutes. Verdict? Our feet felt nourished and pampered and no, they didn’t turn a shade of green!”