Summer Foot Care

We’ve all been there. You’re at the end of your day when suddenly your feet demand a little TLC. As much as people shy away from talking about feet, that’s exactly why this blog is needed. Feet deserve love too!  

Plus, sandal weather is pulling at our sock-sheathed feet. Set yourself up for sandal success with foot care essentials as Summer approaches. Whether you’re getting your feet ready for pedicure season or helping them recover after a lengthy hike, we’ve got your (head, shoulders) feet and toes covered.

Soaking and Soothing

1. Foot bath, anyone?
   Goat milk is a beauty secret as old as time and that's because of its extreme soothing capabilities (shoutout Cleopatra)! Many of us here at Essential Labs enjoy a good relaxing Goat Milk Bath Soak for our tired and overworked feet. A centuries-old beauty secret, delivering an array of soothing and nourishing vitamins to keep skin looking bright and fresh. With its natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid helping to support, balance and moisturize the skin. This soak is finely blended and dissolves instantly giving your skin the royal treatment! We recommend you use 1-4 tablespoons per bath. It’s absolutely wonderful unscented, or if you prefer to add a little aromatherapy to your soak, you can add up to 1% essential oils. 
   
   Easy hack: Simply close the drain when you take your shower. Then put two ounces of Goat Milk Soak and a few drops of your Essential Oil of choice in the tub.  Turn on the shower and bath your feet in luxurious, silky, fragrant water.
   
   
2. Instant Moment of Zen
   Put about one ounce of Goat Milk Powder Soak, scented or not, into a basin of warm water. Add some fresh rose petals or rosemary stems and let your hands relax and your mind wander. Double the fun and put your feet in a large bowl with small round stones (you can Netflix and chill while you relax), warm water and about an ounce or so of Goat Milk Powder Soak. Add fresh flowers like calendula blossoms or orange and lemon slices.
   
   
3. Make Paste While The Sun Shines
   If you want a little exfoliation and a little moisturizing, too, stir the Goat Milk Powder Soak with herbal tea (I love Hibiscus tea) to make a paste. Scrub, rinse, and you’ll get the soothing, refreshing properties of the tea as well as the Goat Milk. I like to blend with sparkling water for an effervescent experience. Our COO likes to mix with Kefir or yogurt to create a luscious and sensuous body mask. We also recommend mixing it with our Essential Oil Blends like Women’s Balance or Citrus Burst. We don’t recommend adding carrier oils though, as the powder gets clumpy and hard to use.

Don’t stop with a soak, did you ever consider exfoliating and following with a mask on your feet? When we think of masks, we usually think of how great they are for facial treatment, but they also work wonders on your hands and feet. 

Exfoliation

Exfoliation is important to create supple heels and soft toes (especially in the Summer)! Here’s what we recommend:

1. Scrubs and Polishes
   Walnut Polish is a great exfoliant for feet because it combines cleansing ingredients as well as the wonderful exfoliation properties of walnut shell powder. This is where you should go to town on those calluses!
   
   
2. Foot Masks for the Summer, or anytime!
   After you relax with our lovely Goat Milk Bath Soak and Walnut Polish, treat your feet to a Glycolic & Rose Gel Mask. This rosewater based mask helps reduce the build-up of excess skin cells, allowing your skin to breathe and show off its glowing beauty. If you have very sensitive skin, this particular mask with 10% glycolic acid is not recommended for your face but should be ok on your feet. Glycolic masques can cause anything from slight tingling to burning sensations. Apply a thin layer to your newly rejuvenated toes for a great way to soften your cuticles. Rinse off after five minutes or sooner if your skin becomes irritated. Also helps with the look of your nail bed. 

Cuticle Care

1. Treat Yourself
   Use our Tune Up Blend to pamper your nails and cuticles with a mix of carrier oils, delivering antioxidants in a light, non-greasy oil. Grapeseed and argan oil has fatty acids and Vitamin E that is great for brittle nails. Helichrysum essential oil may help your nails and cuticles look like they’ve been professionally done.

Cool, Soften and Moisturize

1. Cream
   Now that your feet have been restored to their youthful glory, for a wonderful cooling effect try our Simple MSM Muscle Cream. This cream also has a warming effect due to this product having our Muscle Essential Oil Blend. This blend is spicy due to Peppermint, Cinnamon Leaf, Ginger Root and Cajeput Essential Oils.
   
   
2. Gel
   Papaya & Pineapple Mask is perfect for those hot feet at night (we suggest during menopause too!). The enzymes from the pineapple and papaya help with softening the skin while the rest of the gel continues to hydrate.
   
   
3. Spray
   Spritz our Calming Calendula Spray, whenever you want a refresh on tired feet. Formulated with calendula extract and poppy seed oil, this mist helps maintain soft-feeling skin while providing a gentle, lightweight nourishing finish. Add Peppermint essential oil to heighten this product for a nice cooling effect.