In today’s health-conscious society, we are continuously urged to “take time for ourselves” and reduce our stress levels. It can be difficult to accomplish this in our hectic lifestyles, even with the best intentions! In fact, stressing to find time for yourself may actually be disrupting your zen!
With adorable strappy sandals and colorful flip flops season in full swing, you may be desperately trying to pencil in time for a pedi. Fitting a salon pedicure into your schedule can be difficult, as your availability probably coincides with many other busy women also desperately seeking to have sandal-worthy feet. In addition, salons offering the convenience of walk-in appointments often may not have the quiet, revitalizing atmosphere that you had in mind. Salons can reek of overwhelming chemicals and nail lacquer. Salon pedicures also are often defined by their use of metal tools that shave and grate away dead skin and often use foot soaks laden with harsh chemicals. At the least, they can be intimidating.
Does peaceful and on your own time sound more up your alley? A more gentle, natural and simple approach can result in soft, smooth feet from the comfort of your own home. 
The key to achieving this is using a rich, hydrating foot cream each night for about a week. For a more intense moisturization, try wearing socks to bed over your freshly slathered feet to hold in the moisture all night long. Look for a cream that is absent of harsh chemicals and whose key ingredients consists of powerhouse moisturizers such as Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Mango Butter and/or Cupuaçu Butter. A blend of these butters actually work in synergy to provide optimum conditioning and promote elasticity of your skin. In addition, ingredients such as pure peppermint essential oil provide a refreshing and soothing cooling effect, whereas pure tea tree oil helps to fight odors, having natural antibacterial properties.
If you feel as though your feet are in need of a little extra TLC or if you simply want to indulge in a much-deserved self-care session, try soaking and gently exfoliating your feet prior to your moisturizing regimen. Again, look for products that are free of harsh ingredients and opt for ones containing natural or organic ingredients instead. Many natural foot soaks contain Epsom and sea salts which help to ease the soreness of muscles in tired feet and have detoxifying abilities. When searching for a foot scrub, look for one that is gentle and that uses sugar and/or pumice as its main exfoliants. For particular rough spots, use a natural pumice stone to gently smooth. You will be in love with your smooth, soft feet and ready to put them on display while achieving the results in a much healthier and peaceful environment!
Try this simple foot scrub recipe yourself:
Mix well.
Massage the mixture into each foot your using firm strokes, paying special attention to rough spots. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.