These 3 All-Natural Pedicure Treatments Will Radically Overhaul Your Feet

Ruth Kallens doesn’t believe in quickies. At Van Court, the eco-focused nail salon the 31-year-old recently opened in Manhattan’s Financial District, simple pedicures can last close to two hours. In addition to a carefully curated library of nontoxic polishes and a top-flight air purification and ventilation system, Van Court is equipped with a team of expert technicians who examine, wash, and trim with the focus and dedication of 16th-century violin-makers. (They can even guess your preferred mode of exercise based on wear-and-tear patterns.)

“Cleanliness and exfoliation are essential to healthy feet,” says Kallens. “We don’t take shortcuts.” Nor do they rely on industrial products: Every pedicure begins in the salon’s kitchen, where the staff mixes soaks, scrubs, and moisturizing oils to order. The potions are made from natural, organic ingredients, and simple enough to whip up at home.

“When people give themselves their own pedicures, they tend to overlook everything except for the color,” says Kallens, who has mastered the art of the DIY mani-pedi (she still enjoys alfresco coloring sessions in Prospect Park). “Our feet get exposed to all sorts of germs in the summertime. Cleaning, exfoliating, and moisturizing your feet is just as important as protecting your face.”

Her signature foot soak relies on cypress oil’s anti-inflammatory properties, while her peppermint oil–spiked scrub is designed to slough off dead skin and moisturize, and her coconut and wild orange oil moisturizer does double time as a before-bed hand and foot salve. “I keep a jar next to my bed and use it every night,” says Kallens.

Here, she shares her exclusive formulas. (One bonus? They’re far easier to execute than her recipe for a perfect self-polish job: years and years of practice.)

 

 

Pink Himalayan Salt Foot Soak

 

2 T pink Himalayan salt
1 drop cypress essential oil
1 drop tea tree essential oil
1 tsp. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap
Tub of warm water

Directions: Mix ingredients until equally distributed. Soak feet 15 minutes, or until skin plumps and softens.

 

Coconut Oil Foot Scrub

 

1/4 cup sea salt
1/2 T Dr. Bronner’s soap
3 T organic fractionated coconut oil
2 drops peppermint oil (or any essential oil)

Directions: Mix ingredients into a rough, uniform paste. Apply to entire foot and ankle area, and massage gently for 10 minutes, concentrating on heels and balls of feet. Rinse off with warm water.

 

Wild Orange and Coconut Oil Moisturizer

 

1 part organic fractionated coconut oil
1 part organic aloe vera gel
1 drop wild orange essential oil

Directions: Mix ingredients in a glass jar with lid. Coat foot liberally with oil treatment and massage for five minutes or longer.

 

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