How are your feet shaping up after being buried under layers of thermal socks for so long? Like lots of people, my tootsies were looking a little worse for wear and in need of some definite TLC (tender loving care) before I could slip on a pair of flip-flops and pretend I am on a permanent vacation!
There was nothing else for it – I needed a foot scrub. I ferreted about in the cupboards and discovered I was all out of peppermint oil. Hmmm. I love the zingy feel of peppermint oil on my feet, it lifts my spirits and I can feel the tingling energy zoom up through the soles of my feet and spread throughout my body to enliven me during the mid-afternoon lull …
Instead, I pottered out into the garden and picked some fresh peppermint leaves. A-ha! The perfect recipe to keep tootsies polished and refreshed and to give some much-needed ME time:
Zingy Mint Foot Scrub
All you need to make this for yourself is:
3 – 4 tablespoons olive oil, or similar
1 – 2 tablespoons sea salt or Epsom salts
1 handful of freshly-picked peppermint leaves
1 bowl, 1 large spoon (for stirring), 1 jug of warm water
2 clean hand towels
Your favorite foot butter or foot moisturizer
Please note: I prefer to do this outside in my back garden (in the summer months, of course) – some of you may find this easier to do in the shower or bath!
To make:
1. Roughly chop the freshly-picked peppermint leaves and add to a clean bowl, adding the olive oil (or alternative) to steep for half an hour
2. When you are ready to polish your tootsies, add the sea salt or Epsom salts to the bowl and give a good stir with the spoon to make sure the mixture is not too lumpy or bumpy
3. Get yourself into a comfortable sitting position and make sure you have a warm jug of water next to you, and two clean hand-towels
4. All you need do is scoop up a handful of the peppermint scrub mix and really give your tootsie a good scrub, getting in all the nooks and crannies and making sure you also do your ankles and between-toes. When you have finished, switch feet (now you can see why I do this outside and recommend you do the same, or in a shower or bath!)
5. You should really be feeling the benefits of the natural peppermint oil and sea salt/Epsom salt scrub by now – your feet should be feeling nourished, smooth and definitely a “lighter than air” feeling! Enjoy that moment for as long as you can … you SO deserve this!
6. When you are ready, slowly pour the warm water from the jug over your feet and use gentle, circular motions with your free hand to rinse off the peppermint and sea salt/Epsom salt mixture
7. When most of the zingy mint foot scrub has come off, gently pat your feet dry (a clean hand towel for each foot) and just rest your feet for a while, allowing them to dry naturally in the air. If you can still feel the scrub in between your toes, use the hand towel to gently exfoliate
8. Lavishly apply your favorite foot butter or lotion to your tootsies and again, leave them to soak up the nurturing oils for as long as you can – remember, this is ME time, time for you alone to savor and a brief respite from our daily busy self!
Take some you time.
