DIY Cold Weather Overnight Foot Mask

During long summer when we wear sandals and open-toed shoes, we tend to take better care of our feet because we are concerned with aesthetic appearance.  Then Autumn and Winter rolls through, and our feet are all but forgotten as we bind them up in heavy socks, shoes, and boots, day after day, in heated environments.

Our feet take a toll and can either develop Winter Athlete’s Foot from not drying our feel properly and allowing the skin to whiten and pucker, or, we over-dry them in front of fireplaces and heaters, pay little attention to exfoliation and moisture, and we trim and care for the nails less frequently, contributing to nail problems.

Kick off those boots and shoes and give your feet a treat in the winter.  This overnight moisturizing mask is ideal for cold climates or wintry weather when wearing boots and socks has made your feet dry, scaly, or just plain neglected.

The cocoa butter (or coconut oil if you prefer) serves as emollient moisturizer, and the honey is an anti-bacterial remedy which will aid in healing cracked heels.  The addition of almonds and oatmeal help to exfoliate the dry skin once the masque is rinsed off the following morning.

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Cold Weather Overnight Foot Mask

Cocoa Butter is pressed from the cocoa bean as a byproduct of the chocolate manufacturing process. Unaltered food-grade cocoa butter has a pleasant chocolate smell and is readily available online from handmade soap product suppliers. We've grated cocoa butter into our own bath water for soft winter skin, since cocoa butter is an excellent emollient, leaving our skin soft and smooth. Unlike other oils that penetrate into the skin, cocoa butter remains on top and lays down a protective layer, preventing the skin from drying out.

Course: Hands and Feet

Cuisine: DIY Spa Treatments

Keyword: Almonds, Honey, Oatmeal

Courtesy of: SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas and Spa Lifestyle Daily

Materials

• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1/4 cup oats (fine cut) or oat bran
• 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

• Process almonds in a blender or coffee grinder until finely ground. Set aside.
• In the same blender, pulse your oatmeal until of the same consistency.
• In a bowl, combine ground oatmeal, cocoa butter, honey and ground almonds.
• Rub into your clean feet, step into cotton socks, and leave on overnight.
• The next morning, remove the socks while standing in your tub or shower enclosure.
• Scrub the mixture into the feet to remove dry skin.
• Rinse feet in cool water.
• Pat dry.

Spa Index Kitchen Notes

The honey is an anti-bacterial remedy which will aid in healing cracked heels. The addition of almonds and oatmeal help to exfoliate the dry skin once the masque is rinsed off the following morning. You'll be delighted with your incredibly smooth skin. This remedy is ideal for soothing hard-working hands and feet because it gently exfoliates old, dead skin and nourishes new cells.