I was in yoga class the other day, looking at my bare feet while hanging out in butterfly pose, and I was bit appalled by what I saw. Dry, flaky scaly bits were peeling away from my heels and the balls of my feet, and it was pretty gross, so I decided to do something about it before my yoga mat complained.
The plan for this soak was to make an acidic powder that could be added to a tub of hot water. Combined with a good, long soak, the skin on the feet would soften enough to be thoroughly scrubbed and buffed into submission.
I chose citric acid as my acid since it’s relatively inexpensive and readily available. If you’ve ever made bath bombs you probably already have some! Up next, some Epsom salts. There’s not really enough here to bring all the benefits of Epsom salts to the table, but they do help dilute the citric acid so it’s harder to accidentally end up with an unpleasantly strong foot soak.
For a bit of soothing and healing I’ve added a touch of 200x concentrated aloe vera powder. If you don’t have it you can leave it out and simply add a splash of aloe vera juice to your foot soak water.
I selected orange and tea tree essential oils to give the soak a bright, fresh, and anti-bacterial kick. The pairing smells fantastic, and if you don’t have orange essential oil you can easily use whatever citrus essential oil you have on hand instead.
I gave this soak a test run with a big bowl of warm water and some writing to keep me occupied while my feet soaked. I got so distracted that I sat there until well after the water had gone cold, but I’d say 15–20 minutes would be more than adequate. Afterwards I gave my feet a very thorough scrubbing, and I must say it was very, err, satisfying. I followed up with a heavy coating of Rocky Mountain Foot Butter and called it a day. Mmm, happy feet 🙂
Orange & Tea Tree Foot Soak
¼ cup Epsom salt
¼ cup citric acid
1 pinch aloe vera powder 200x
10 drops orange 5x essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil (USA / Canada) (optional)Combine the Epsom salt, citric acid, and aloe vera powder in your DIY-specific coffee grinder and blend to combine. Let the mixture settle for a few minutes before removing the lid (so you don’t inhale the powder) and add the essential oils. Blend to combine.
Store the mixture in a 120mL/half cup mason jar.
To use, add a heaping tablespoon to a big tub of warm water. Soak your feet for 15–20 minutes and follow up with a thorough scrubbing. Feel free to adjust the amount of powder in the future if you feel the bath is too strong or too weak.
How long do you think this will keep, and how should it be stored?
Assuming you keep the powder somewhere air tight (keeping it away from moisture is your main concern) it should keep for at least a year, if not longer. I have mine in a mason jar.
Ahhhhh!!! I have a feeling my feet will be singing your praises for this one. I certainly will be making it later today!
Wonderful! I look forward to hearing what you think of it 🙂
That combination of essential oils for a foot soak sounds like just what tired winter feet need right about now 🙂
Thanks, Colleen!
thank you, this looks awesome! i have been looking for a good “soak”. cant wait to give it a try. blessings.
Enjoy! 🙂
Marie! I have been a fan of your recipes for a very long time. I have just recently been able to set aside enough money to put in my order for the things that I need to start making some of my favorite recipes you have created. Now I know this is a simple question but how much of the mix prepared do you use in the soak? All of it or a few tablespoons? How long is the shelf like?
Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing it with me!
~Monica
Hi Monica! I recommend a heaping tablespoon in a bucket of water large enough to soak your feet. Feel free to tweak by adding more water or powder as needed 🙂 Stored in an air-tight container you should be able to store the powder for at least a year. Thanks for reading and have fun pampering your feet!
What is orange 5x essential oil?
It’s orange essential oil that’s 5x concentrated for a stronger, longer-lasting scent 🙂
OMG this is getting made this week! I need this, my heels are yuck. Just yuck.
Woo! Let me know what you think 🙂
Hi Marie, you reminded me that I also needed a nice foot soak! I wanted to ask you how you prepare your containers before storing the various concoctions. Do you wash them first with dish soap or use alcohol? It’s easy to sterilize mason jars, little pots and the like but what about smaller/difficult to clean containers such as lip balm tubes and pump/spray/dropper/rollon top bottles?
Hi Sophie! My go-to is rubbing alcohol for smaller containers and things that can’t be boiled, otherwise boiling water or a trip through the dishwasher works nicely 🙂 Since I’m not selling anything I’m more concerned about clean rather than sterile.
Did you just describe my feet? I will be making this concoction this week!
We seem to have a bit of an unofficial gross feet club going on here 😛 Let me know what you think!
Made this yesterday, and of course, had to test it before giving to my daughter (who is training for a marathon). Love it! I switched the tea tree for lavender.
Wonderful! And good luck to your daughter with her marathon, wow!
Thank goodness for this 🙂 I was at yoga this week and thought the exact same thing. The state of my feet is embarrassing! I made some Rocky Mountain Foot butter but they need way more than just that. The heels are starting to crack (grossness)
Can’t wait to give this stuff a try this weekend!
Enjoy! I can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂
Hi Marie,
I’d bookmarked this recipe when you first posted it until I had gotten the citric acid. Well, two days ago was The Day. I made a double batch, subbing lavender eo for tea tree. My motivation was to include it as part of a gift for a friend’s baby shower (for her, not for the baby’s use). But I thought it might be wise to try it first =). So I did. I loved it! The smell with the hot water added is wonderful. I rubbed vigorously with a towel after soaking and am happy to report that there was a good amount of sloughing. My feet felt warm and happy the rest of the evening. A few of my kids have enjoyed a good soak, as well.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you love it, Susan 😀 You’ve got me thinking I should do another soak soon 😉
Thanks so much for this recipe! It feels great, and smells amazing! Even my two year old soaked his feet last night for a bit 🙂 He then let me know his toes “smelled like tea,” which is true – in a good way.
Wonderful! That sounds like such a fun family spa moment 😉
Hey,
I noticed the recipe doesn’t include any carrier oils or surfactants. Wouldn’t using essential oils mean using them undiluted?
Oh wow, this does wonders for my feet! I tried dead sea foot soak with plain sea salt for epsom salt and while it was awesom, this feels more relaxing and healing boosting. I left EO’s out and used a bit of matcha green tea powder for colour (not much so endresult has very faint green colour). What an effortless and satisfying DIY! 🙂 Second time I tossed in some foaming coconut bath milk (made modified batch today). It took foot soak to a whole new level. It seems to boost cleansing + hydrating benefits not to mention luxurious vibes and yummy scent. Looking forward for trying your bath salts with EO’s/ fragance + solubilizers as well.
Whoops, I meant * plain sea salt for dead sea salt. Thank you so much!