10 Homemade Foot Scrub Recipes

Everyday wear and tear can put your feet in a dismal (and painful) state where you find yourself suffering from cracked heels, calluses, achy feet, or plain old dry skin that no amount of moisturizer can repair.

Regular exfoliation is one way to care for your feet so they feel and look great all the time. But, because many of the foot scrubs at the store are filled with chemicals and harmful plastic microbeads, you might want to make your own DIY exfoliant at home.

Below are a few eco-friendly sugar and salt scrub recipes to help your feet stay soft and callus-free. We also threw in a soothing oatmeal scrub and an ultra-cleansing baking soda scrub to add to your foot-pampering routine.

Soothing Peppermint Foot Scrub

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Olive or coconut oil
• A few drops of peppermint essential oil

Take one cup of granulated sugar and pour into a mixing bowl. Gradually add your favorite olive oil or coconut oil and mix until you have a slightly wet but grainy consistency. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Transfer the scrub to a pretty bottle and use it in the bath or shower to exfoliate, moisturize, and soothe sore feet.

Refreshing Lemon Foot Scrub

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup almond or coconut oil
• 6-8 drops of lemon essential oil

Combine sugar and almond oil in a clean, dry bowl and add oil slowly until you have a soft, wet-sand consistency. Add as much lemon essential oil as you like and work into feet for five minutes before rinsing away in the shower. Your feet will feel like they’ve had a refreshing spa treatment.

Milk Scrub for Cracked Heels

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 5 cups warm water
• 4 tablespoons sugar or salt
• 1/2 cup baby oil
• Pumice stone
• Salicylic acid acne pads
• Favorite thick moisturizer
  
• Socks

Instructions

Pour one cup of milk and five cups of warm water into a foot bathtub or large basin and soak your feet for five to 10 minutes. In a bowl, pour baby oil and sugar or salt and mix well. Make it into a thick paste and apply it all over your feet, massaging in circular motions.

Finish with a pumice stone scrub on callused heels. Rinse and pat feet dry. Rub feet with acne pads, which further exfoliates them. Apply a thick moisturizer or petroleum jelly to the bottom of the feet. Put on thick, cozy socks and rest with your feet up for several hours or sleep with the socks on.

Antioxidant-Rich Coffee Scrub

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ground coffee
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 tsp real vanilla extract

Instructions

Warm coconut oil to above 80 degrees Fahrenheit so it turns into a liquid. Mix the coffee, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Wait to add the brown sugar until after the mixture has cooled to prevent the sugar from melting.

Once all ingredients are combined, massage the mixture into your skin and rinse or wipe clean. If you wipe clean, the coconut oil residue left on the skin will keep working to moisturize.

Moisturizing Coconut Scrub

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil, solid but soft
• 1 cup white or brown sugar

Instructions

Mash the coconut oil with a fork (warm it slightly, if needed, but not enough to turn it into a liquid). Combine the sugar and coconut oil with a fork or, for a lighter consistency, whip it using a stand mixture.

Apply the mixture to your skin and rinse or wipe off when finished. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three weeks.

Vinegar Foot Soak for Achy Feet

Ingredients

• Hot water
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• Epsom salt or sea salt

Instructions

Fill a foot bath or large basin with hot water, add the vinegar, and mix in a handful of Epsom salt or sea salt. Soak your feet for 20 minutes. Prepare the same mixture using cool water.

Soak a towel in the cool mixture, squeeze out excess, and wrap it around your feet for five minutes. Add essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, or grapefruit for an extra refreshing finish. Repeat several times a day to reduce inflammation and relieve achy feet.

Tropical Pineapple and Yogurt Foot Scrub

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, crushed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

Make your sugar scrub by first mixing the yogurt and sugar, then adding the pineapple. If you didn't buy crushed pineapple, you can crush it yourself by putting it on your blender's "chopped" setting for 30 seconds. A half-cup crushed is roughly 10% of a medium pineapple.

Scrub your feet with the mixture for 10 minutes. Let sit for another 10 minutes. Rinse clean.

Cleansing Baking Soda Foot Soak

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 3 cups warm water
• Juice of half a lemon

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and watch the mixture fizz as the baking soda blends with lemon juice. Soak your feet for 10 minutes, then rinse the mixture off well.

Gentle Oatmeal Scrub

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon almond oil
• 1/2-1 teaspoon water
• Brown or white sugar or honey (optional)

Pulse the oats in a blender until finely ground. Don't worry if you leave some chunks, though, it will be more of an exfoliant for your feet. Add the almond oil and water until you reach your desired consistency. Add sugar or honey if you like. To use this moisturizing exfoliant, massage into wet feet, then rinse and apply a foot cream or oil.

Clay Foot Mask and Soak

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons bentonite clay

Dissolve the Epsom salt in a basin of hot water. Mix apple cider vinegar and bentonite clay in a separate small plastic or glass dish, using a non-metal spoon. Apply this mixture to your feet and let it dry for 10 minutes. Then place your feet in the basin of hot water and let the clay wash off. Dry, scrub with a pumice stone, and moisturize.