Get Your Feet Sandal-Ready with These DIY Pedicure Recipes

A winter's worth of ill-fitting boots and dry air is enough to really do a number on your feet. And while vanity is the main reason many of us pamper our feet more once sandal season hits, there are several health reasons to do so as well. Reducing the likelihood of infection is plenty enough reason, and there's some evidence that massaging your feet helps with increasing blood flow to the rest of the body, which helps us feel more energetic.

And if that's not enough, it just feels good to pamper yourself sometimes! Here are three easy, inexpensive recipes for doing your own pedicure at home.

Relaxing, Moisturizing Foot Soak

2 gallons of very warm water

1 cup of Epsom salts

1 cup of baking soda

10 to 20 drops of essential oil (lavender, lemon, or patchouli are all good options)

Combine all of the ingredients in a large tub, and soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. For a little extra pampering, add smooth stones or marbles to the bottom of the tub, and get a foot massage and soak at the same time.

Moisturizing Foot Scrub

1/2 cup granulated sugar or sea salt

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Essential oil, optional, 10 - 15 drops

Avocado, optional

Combine all of the ingredients and apply the scrub to your feet, massaging rough areas to remove dead skin cells. Rinse with warm water.

Soothing Foot Moisturizer

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon almond oil

1 Vitamin E capsule

Essential oil, 10 drops (optional)

Combine the olive and almond oil. Poke a hole in a Vitamin E capsule with a pin, and squeeze the Vitamin E oil into the olive/almond oil mixture. Add essential oil if you want to. For extra soothing, warm the oil in the microwave for ten seconds. Massage onto feet, paying special attention to heels and other rough patches. Put socks on, if you want for added moisturizing -- this works best if you do it right before going to sleep. Your feet will be amazingly soft by the time you wake up.

With these easy recipes, made from items most of us have on hand, your feet will be sandal-ready in no time!