Last week we brought you the best of the bunch when it comes to super foods now that we’re edging into Autumn, and this week we’re talking about getting your toes ready for cooler weather too. It’s time to wave goodbye to your open toe sandals and flip flops; now we need boots and shoes that are going to keep our feet warm and dry! So while we look forward to months of snuggling up in thick socks, what happens to our feet beneath it all? Yes they’re cosy, but they’re also poorly ventilated and this can make them dry and itchy- not good. So here are three little Autumn foot care tips to take you right through to Winter and beyond.
The better you take care of your feet now, the better they are prepared for next summer’s must have sandals
Soak
A good foot soak is the basis of any foot care regime because it helps to keep them soft and smooth, and is a super way to relax too. What better way to brush away the stresses of a busy day? Release your feet from the shackles of their shoes and plunge them into one of our three favourite soaks!
Rosemary and lemon foot soak
This soak smells divine, and the lemon gives it a nice refreshing zing too- perfect for tired feet. To make it you need:
- A few branches of Rosemary leaves
- 2 lemons
- Half a cup Epsom Salts
Simply boil the Rosemary in some water for a few minutes to soften it and release the herb. Slice the lemons and add them, along with the salt to the bath you’re going to soak your feet in. Pour in the Rosemary water and top up with more warm water. Soak your feet for up to 15 minutes. Bliss.
Spicy cinnamon foot soak
It goes without saying that this one is perfect for cooler weather. There is something about the scent of cinnamon that warms the soul, and this is one of our very favourite soaks of all time! To make it you need:
- One quarter of a cup lemon juice
- One quarter cup milk
- 3 table spoon extra virgin olive oil
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
Mix all ingredients well with warm water in the bowl you’re going to soak your feet in. Relax!
Mustard and ginger foot soak
Another truly warming treat for the feet! To make it you need:
- One and half tablespoons powdered mustard, or freshly powdered mustard seeds
- Two tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
Mix all ingredients with warm water in the bowl you’re going to soak your feet in. Bliss.
Exfoliate
We can’t emphasise this enough. There is no other way to get rid of dry, rough skin. Exfoliating regularly will help to keep your feet soft and smooth all through the Winter, and there are plenty of ways that you can do this naturally. Here are our top three exfoliating scrubs for feet:
Pumpkin foot scrub
Well, it is Autumn after all, so pumpkins are aplenty! To make the scrub you need:
- A quarter of a cup of pureed pumpkin
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Half a teaspoon honey
Mix all ingredients together and apply to the feet in gentle circular motions. For added moisture, leave the scrub on your feet for up to ten minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Vanilla and brown sugar scrub
This one not only smells delicious, but it leaves your feet so super soft too! To make it you need:
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- Half a cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 6 drops vanilla essential oil
- A mason jar for storage
Combine all ingredients together and apply to feet as before. Rinse gently with warm water and store left over scrub in the air tight jar.
Coconut and lime foot scrub
Another beautifully smelling scrub, and this one is zingy too, so it’s great for waking tired feet. To make it you need:
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2-3 drops lime essential oil
- Half a cup Epsom salts
- 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
- Zest of one lime
Heat the coconut oil on the stove in a glass bowl above boiling water in a pan (or a double boiler). When it is melted, add the oil and mix completely, away from the heat. Add the salt and bicarbonate of soda then mix again. Lastly, add the lime zest and allow to cool before applying to feet in gentle circular motions. Rinse well with warm water.
Moisturise
After all that soaking and exfoliating, finish you feet with a super strength moisturiser to keep them soft and supple all through Autumn and Winter. Our top three tips are:
- Use organic, natural products when you can. We love coconut oil for this- read more here.
- Use a foot file or similar to gently scrub away dry skin before you apply moisturiser.
- For an added moisture boost, try a home made moisturiser, and tuck your feet up in a pair of snuggly socks for the night. To make a super coconut shea butter cream you need two parts of shea butter to one part coconut oil. Mix well and apply to feet as an when required. Store in an airtight container.
And those are our three little Autumn foot care tips!
