Best Homemade Foot Scrub Recipe – Exfoliating & Smoothing
This simple, homemade foot scrub will exfoliate away dead skin cells and reveal smooth soft feet that are smooth and moisturized. Pamper yourself with this easy DIY foot scrub and enjoy pretty feet all year long.
There is one thing for sure: I definitely will not be showing a picture of my feet in this post, so no worries there.
I love a good homemade product that allows me to feel pampered.
My feet are sore and tired from a day full of running around like a crazy pants chasing four young kids all day long. Sometimes, you just have to focus on yourself, and honestly, I rarely get the time to do so. (See my recent post on 10 Tips For Self-Care)
Pampering is rarely on my to-do list, but I try to include it as much as I can.
Because really, at the end of a long day, there is nothing like taking a bath, soaking your feet, and doing a DIY foot scrub.
There are so many great options and combinations for this recipe, so I’m going to include a few variations. Feel free to tweak this according to your preferences.
If you are new to sugar scrubs, you can check out my ultimate guide to sugar scrubs here.
Random fun fact about me: in high school and college, I worked at a high-end salon and spa. I was pretty much obsessed with all things hair and beauty, and I was constantly pampering myself with pedicures, facials, massages, you name it.
It also didn’t help that my mom worked in the beauty industry, so I had access to so many amazing beauty products.
I’m still slightly obsessed with these things, but now I create my own products and do it at home. Best part is I save money, and know exactly what’s in my products. It’s a win-win.
So learn how to make your own homemade foot soak to remove dead skin, soothe achy feet, and reveal softer and smoother feet.
Why you will love this recipe:
Natural Ingredients: This natural exfoliator is made from just a few simple ingredients you can probably find in your pantry.
Soothing: So soothing to those achy feet.
Moisturizing: Do you deal with dry feet? This recipe is perfect
Increased blood circulation
Tips For Making A DIY Foot Scrub:
- Soak your feet first to help soften and remove dead skin.
- Do the natural foot scrub in the shower or the bath for easier clean up. I like to just plan to take a shower or bath all at the same time.
- Make this a whole spa experience. Do a foot soak, then the foot scrub, and lastly, dry them off and apply your favorite lotion, foot cream, or body butter.
- This recipe makes a great gift. Combine the ingredients and add them to a pretty jar. Label and give as a wonderful gift.
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Ingredients
Oil: you can choose whichever oil will work best for your skin. See below for my favorite choices.
Sugar: Great exfoliator. I like to use cane sugar as it is more coarse and a better exfoliate than white sugar.
Epsom salt: Just using epsom salts alone may make this scrub too rough, but combining it with another exfoliant (in this case sugar) it provides the perfect balance.
Essential oils: Choose your favorite based on your preference. For a more uplifting experience, use peppermint or spearmint. For a more relaxing scrub, use lavender, chamomile, bergamont, clary sage, etc. Mix and match until you get the combination that suits your fancy.
Tools you will need:
Mixing bowl
Spoon – I love one that is similar to these.
Measuring cup
Mason jar
How To Make A Homemade Foot Scrub
- In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of Epsom salt, sugar, and oil.
- Mix together.
- Add essential oils, and if it is a little dry, add a touch more carrier oil. Stir to combine.
To Use:
- Wet feet or soak for 10-30 minutes for best results. This allows the skin to hydrate making it easier to exfoliate.
- Apply a small amount of foot scrub onto hands, and massage into feet using circular motions focusing on the soles of your feet and any rough areas. Repeat on the other foot.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Dry off feet and apply lotion or body butter if desired.
Find More DIY Scrubs:
FAQ
DIY foot scrubs do a great job of smoothing out dead skin. If you are dealing with really dry, cracked skin, I would recommend soaking your feet first in a foot soak, and then using a pumice stone or one of these foot scrubbers to remove excess skin, and then follow up with a foot scrub to really get those feet looking pretty.
You can follow up with your favorite lotion.
Vinegar makes a wonderful foot soak. Dilute some vinegar with water and add some essential oils to make a great foot soak. You can also add in bentonite clay and Epsom salts (or a few magnesium flakes) to take it up a notch.
The Epsom salts and magnesium flakes will add magnesium to the water, and your feet will absorb it. Most of us are deficient in magnesium, and this is a great way to increase magnesium levels.
I like to use relaxing oils to soothe my feet after a long day. My favorite combination currently is lavender and chamomile. Mint is also a great one to use, as it can be very up-lifting. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid peppermint, because it may decrease milk supply.
If your feet will be in the sun in the 12 hours after using the foot scrub, I would recommend not using any citrus oils as they can be photosensitive.
I like to use cane sugar, because the sugar granules are slightly bigger, making it perfect for a foot scrub.
It will last at least two months, possibly longer. As long as it is stored in an airtight container and you don’t get any water in the product, then it should last quite a long time. Water can cause it to spoil and get moldy.
You can pick whatever oil you want, depending on what properties you need. If you need a hydrating oil, try olive oil or jojoba.
Olive oil is very moisturizing and has anti-inflammatory properties. It contains oleocanthal, which can help reduce irritation. (source)
Avocado oil is a great moisturizer because it is rich in fatty acids (i.e. Oleic acid) and vitamin E. (source)
Apricot oil (I use this one) is great for soothing dry skin.
Jojoba oil is moisturizing. It can soothe dry skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and help repair skin.
Coconut oil – is moisturizing while being naturally antibacterial and has antifungal properties, perfect for feet. Fractionated coconut oil is liquid at room temperature, which will leave a more consistent and fluid sugar scrub.
Almond oil: Is great for skin since it contains fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. It helps moisturize, soothe, and may improve some skin issues. (source)
Variations
Peppermint Foot Scrub
Add 10-20 drops of peppermint oil.
Relaxing Foot Scrub
Add 5-10 drops of lavender and 5-10 drops of chamomile.
Citrus Honey Scrub
5 drops of lemon essential oil, 5 drops of sweet orange essential oils and replace 2 tsp of oil with honey.
Invigorating Coffee Scrub
Replace the 1/4 cup epsom salts with 1/4 cup of coffee grounds. This DIY coffee scrub for your face and body is one of my favorites.
If you deal with fungal infections, add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil.
Check Out More Homemade Skincare Recipes:
- DIY Charcoal Mask Recipe
- Homemade Face Wash: Natural Herbal Recipe
- Homemade Shea Butter Cream For Face
- DIY Face Serum Recipe: Repairing & Anti-Aging
- Homemade Natural Hair Gel Recipe
- DIY Foot Soak Recipes
If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back and giving it 5 stars. Please and thank you!
Homemade Foot Scrub
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup epson salts
- 1/4 cup oil of choice you may need to add a few drops more if it is too dry.
- 15-20 drops essential oils of choice see notes above
- few drops vitamin e oil optional
Instructions
- Place ingredients in a bowl.
- Add essential oils until desired smell has been achieved.
- Store in an air-tight container. Will store for at least 2 months as long as moisture has not gotten in the scrub.
Notes
- Soak your feet first to help soften and remove dead skin.
- I recommend using this product in the shower or bath for easier clean up.
- Make this a whole spa experience. Do a foot soak, then the foot scrub, and lastly, dry them off and apply your favorite lotion, foot cream, or body butter.
- This recipe makes a great gift. Combine the ingredients and add them to a pretty jar. Label and give as a wonderful gift.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I am making homemade body butters and scrubs for christmas this year. I have been looking for a little while found yours, so easy but love how you explain what each product does like the coconut oil. I have made about 10 so far.. God bless you and thank you . Oh yea made me some to haha I am already using it,
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear. I hope everyone loved them. Hope you had a very merry Christmas.
I agree! I made pamper kits for all the important woman in my life for Christmas. They absolutely loved it because you put time into what you thought about what you were doing you were individually thinking about these people and they are important to you so they really appreciate it I think