If you are looking for an all-natural, relaxing at-home pedicure you have come to the right place. Grab your foot bath (even an extra-large mixing bowl can work in a pinch) and these few ingredients that may already be in your kitchen:
- 1-2 cups vinegar or lemon juice (I used lemon juice)
- Fresh lemon slices (optional)
- Plain yogurt
- Shea butter or coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
Other tools you will want to have nearby are:
- Nailbrush
- Cotton swab or orange stick
- Pumice stone
- Toe-nail clippers (the kind that curves out is best)
- Emery board
- Castile Soap
Fill your foot bath (my inexpensive, inflatable one from Avon works perfectly) with hot water and then add either the lemon juice or vinegar (which will soften dead skin). You can also add lemon slices to the bath for an extra indulgence. Get comfortable and soak your feet for 5-15 minutes.
After soaking, rub the pumice stone on your feet to remove dry skin, focusing on any problem areas (I usually concentrate on my heels). While rubbing, you should be able to see old, dry skin falling away to reveal fresh, smooth skin. You can also make a foot scrub to use at this point by mixing equal amounts of sea salt and olive oil (1-2 tbsp of each should be enough).
For extra cleaning, add lemon juice and castile soap to the nail brush and scrub your nails. The lemon juice will help to remove stains. Next, softly push back your cuticles using either the orange stick or cotton swab and clip nails straight across (to help avoid ingrown toenails). Use the emery board to smooth them out for a nice finish.
Then, cover your feet entirely with plain yogurt and wait five minutes before rinsing. This will further clean and soften your skin. Lastly, apply coconut oil or shea butter to your feet for extra moisture and if desired, put socks on to hold in the moisture.
