All Natural Coconut & Coffee Foot Scrub

One of my biggest issues this time of year is dry skin - especially on my feet.  While there are tons of store-bought foot scrubs on the market, the best one that I've ever used is a DIY coconut oil & coffee scrub.  It only has four ingredients, and all of them are almost always in my kitchen. These ingredients are all natural and healthy for the skin - with none of the chemical toxins found in many store bought scrubs.

Combine the quarter cup of coffee grounds and tablespoon of sea salt together first in a bowl.  Once they are evenly combined, set them aside and heat your third cup of coconut oil so that it is in it's liquid form.  Heating the coconut oil doesn't necessarily require a microwave - you can set it on a windowsill in the sun to warm it up as well, depending on the climate where you live.  Be sure that the oil isn't HOT - warm is fine, but too hot might dissolve the sea salt.

Once your coconut oil is in its liquid state, combine both the teaspoon of vanilla extract and the coconut oil with the salt/coffee mixture.  Stir until it becomes a paste.  I recommend letting it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes at this stage so that the coconut oil can cool slightly, making the scrub firm up for application.

Fill a tub with warm soapy water and soak your feet for at least 10 minutes.  Once your skin is nice and soft from the soak, you will begin to apply the scrub - I always do this in the shower or tub - don't forget, coffee stains!  If you're applying it over a towel or on carpet, you may be causing some troublesome clean up later.

Because the scrub contains coconut oil, your feet WILL become slippery - please be careful and try to sit while applying the scrub (I usually sit on the edge of the tub for this).  You can use a scrub brush, pumice stone, or your hands depending on what you'd prefer.  I like how soft my hands feel after I apply it with my fingers, but it will also leave a coffee smell on your skin for a few hours, so it's up to you.  If you have deep cracks on your feet, it might be best to use a stone/scrubber to assist you.

Keep massaging the scrub over your skin for 5-10 minutes (or until your feet become sensitive to the exfoliation) and then rinse off with warm water.  If you have severe cracks on your feet, the coffee will have temporarily stained these a slightly darker color than the rest of your skin, so pay special attention to them when you're rinsing the scrub off.  As you continue to exfoliate and moisturize the skin on this area with scrubs and oils, these cracks should begin to lessen and you'll be able to stop worrying about them all-together!

Benefits of These Ingredients

Ground coffee: This ingredient has a lot of medicinal benefits when used in skincare products.  First, and a key benefit for this scrub, is that it exfoliates the skin.  It can also reduce inflammation and swelling.  I tend to avoid using coffee grounds to exfoliate my face because it's a bit harsh for me, but I know many women who have used it to aid in lessening under-eye puffiness. 

Coconut Oil: This is a natural moisturizer that conditions your skin.  It moisturizes without impacting your skin's natural oil production, and helps to avoid the premature aging.  Coconut oil is also filled with natural proteins that can repair skin damage - this is important for use with a scrub like this one because it will keep your skin from feeling irritated while you exfoliate.

Sea Salt: This is a natural detoxifier that draws out toxins present in the skin.  It will also exfoliate your skin as well, whether you use "fine" or "coarse" sea salt.  For use on feet or elbows, I recommend coarse sea salt - if using anywhere else on the body, use "fine" sea salt in order to avoid skin irritation.

Pure Vanilla Extract: This serves as an antioxidant and skin protectant.  It promotes healthy skin and helps to prevent damage from toxins and pollutants.  Plus, it smells amazing.

A Few Things To Keep In Mind

• If you are pregnant, coffee scrubs of any kind DO contain caffeine and, as I've said many times, the skin is an organ, so it WILL absorb the caffeine into your body if used.  I've had several conversations with my doctor about the pros and cons, and while he has no problem with me using the scrub during my pregnancy, I've decided to skip it until the baby is born. 
• Decaffeinated coffee grounds will NOT work as intended, given that the benefits of coffee grounds are due much in part to the caffeine they contain.  Also, decaffeinated grounds are highly processed, so I would recommend avoiding them due to the chemicals they may contain.