Feet are finally stepping out of the shadows! Why not give them the care they deserve before sandal season?
Feet are often overlooked in beauty routines, but they take centre stage again as the warmer weather arrives. Get them ready now to avoid calluses, fungal infections and unpleasant odours. Discover the 5 essential oils to prioritise, as well as the routines to adopt for feet that put their best foot forward in sandals!
5 essential oils for beautiful feet
Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts, known for their benefits for the skin and the senses. They bring freshness, softness and lightness to the feet, which are often subjected to fatigue and the stresses of everyday life. Used with care and always diluted in a vegetable oil, they promote soft, pleasant-to-the-touch skin, whilst providing a moment of well-being and relaxation.
Tea tree essential oil : an essential to incorporate into your foot care routine. Always use it diluted, for example by adding 1 to 2 drops to a vegetable oil for a massage or in a foot bath to benefit from its purifying and refreshing properties.
Palmarosa essential oil: with a pleasant fragrance, it can be added in diluted form to a moisturiser or a foot bath to reduce unpleasant odours and excessive sweating.
True lavender essential oil: known for its calming and soothing properties, it’s ideal for sensitive or irritated skin. For a relaxing foot bath, mix 5 drops with 10 g of Epsom salt, then add to lukewarm water.
Peppermint essential oil: refreshing and invigorating, it can be diluted in a vegetable oil to massage tired feet, providing a soothing ‘ice cube’ effect whilst stimulating circulation.
Rose geranium essential oil: add a few drops to your skincare products for its purifying and regenerating properties, whilst enjoying its floral, lemony scent that leaves you feeling refreshed.
Precautions for using essential oils
Essential oils are powerful natural concentrates with numerous benefits, but their use requires a few precautions. They must never be applied undiluted directly to the skin: it is essential to always dilute them in a vegetable oil to avoid irritation or burns.
Furthermore, certain essential oils may be contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women, young children, or people with allergies or sensitive skin. Before use, carry out a patch test on a small area of skin to check for tolerance.
Finally, avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes, and keep your oils out of the reach of children. If in doubt or if you experience an unusual reaction, consult a healthcare professional or an aromatherapist.
What’s the best routine for pampering your feet before summer?
DIY exfoliation and moisturising: gentle yet effective
As well as maintaining the beauty of your feet, regular massages promote better blood circulation and reduce swelling. Exfoliation will also help remove dead skin cells and prevent calluses and corns. It will also help your skincare products penetrate more effectively.
Prepare your scrub by mixing one tablespoon of Epsom salt into 8 ml of vegetable oil, then add 3 drops of tea tree essential oil.
Clean your feet to remove any impurities.
Soak them in lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes to soften the skin.
Apply the scrub using circular movements, paying particular attention to the roughest areas.
Rinse your feet thoroughly and dry them.
Moisturise your feet
Then apply a moisturising treatment such as Kokum Butter, which is particularly suitable thanks to its nourishing and protective properties, leaving your feet with soft, velvety skin.
Follow up with a cream specially formulated for feet, which intensely moisturises and helps repair dry or rough areas.
Finally, finish with a massage using a rich lipid-replenishing balm, which restores the skin’s barrier and prolongs the moisturising effect for long-lasting comfort.
For a complete treatment, you can also apply a gentle vegetable oil, which is ideal for softening the skin and leaving it feeling soft for longer.
Sensory ritual: foot bath and reflexology
Treat yourself to a relaxing foot bath as often as you need to, both to unwind and to eliminate bacteria. In a basin of lukewarm water, add a handful of 2 Epsom salt or bicarbonate of soda, to which you’ll add 5 to 10 drops of essential oils. Soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes. Then take the time to give yourself a self-massage of the reflex zones.
You can use a vegetable oil mixed with a few drops of Peppermint essential oil or Lavender essential oil. Reflexology promotes blood circulation, stimulates the internal organs and induces deep relaxation. An evening ritual that’s just as soothing for the body as it is for the mind.
Massage your feet
Ideal for revitalising the whole body and promoting a sense of general well-being, this foot massager is the perfect companion for your moments of relaxation. Its lotus wood rollers have been specifically designed to apply pressure to the nerve endings in the arch of the foot, based on the principles of foot reflexology.
Discover the wooden foot massager
A few well-chosen essential oils, a purifying soak, a nourishing balm… It doesn’t take much to restore soft, fresh and healthy feet. Make foot care part of your routine and step out in your sandals with confidence!
Spotlight on our editor: Patricia Béard
Patricia Béard has been exploring the properties of plants for over 10 years and is committed to a conscious and planet-friendly lifestyle. As an SEO web editor, her mission is to share the virtues of the plant world through holistic health, natural cosmetics, well-being, and healthy eating.
