Baking soda is THE natural miracle product to have at home. It has many benefits, whether for the maintenance of the house or for the kitchen. More surprisingly, it is a beauty ally, especially of the feet.
On a daily basis, your feet are abused. But it's never too late to pamper them. Known as a cleaning product, baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is also used in cosmetics, in particular as a foot care product. It is one of the great products to have in your vanity, just like cream or other shea butter. This odorless white powder has softening and soothing properties. It has the power to relieve itching and hydrate the skin. To use it, nothing could be simpler, just take a foot bath. Here are some recipes to know …
To conquer the odor of the feet
"Foot odor is due both to perspiration, but often also to microscopic fungi which sometimes develop in the form of mycoses or yeasts on the skin or nails", explains Nicolas Palangié, founder of the Compagnie du Bicarbonate and author of the book "Bicarbonate, a concentrate of tips for your health, your beauty and your home", published by Eyrolles. To overcome odors, "You can proceed as for other parts of the body by massaging the feet after having wet your hand and sprinkling it very finely with baking soda".
It is also possible to carry out a foot bath. Nicolas Palangié delivers his magic recipe. For that, "Completely dilute two tablespoons (equivalent to 30 g) per liter of lukewarm water and bath in 20 minutes. Rinse or not depending on the tolerance of the skin with baking soda." This ritual can be performed at your convenience and as needed. For a very strong and very present smell, you can do a foot bath daily then space out every other day, then once or twice a week, then once a week.
To fight against dirty feet
For very dirty feet or to remove dead skin, Nicolas Palangié recommends "wet the foot, sprinkle a very thin layer of baking soda and massage the foot evenly", whether at the level of the toes, between the toes and the soles of the feet.
To read also on aufeminin :
– Use of sodium bicarbonate in the kitchen
– Recipes for making homemade foot baths
– Thanks to these homemade treatments, your feet will be very soft!
– These natural beauty treatments at home
To fight calluses
Baking soda foot baths are also wonderful for calluses. This treatment has the power to soften the skin and therefore make it soft. Which foot bath recipe? Pour 2 tablespoons, or the equivalent of 30 g per liter of lukewarm water, into a basin. Let your feet soak for 20 to 30 minutes. The expert advises to then run your usual grater over your skin. Perform foot baths as many times as necessary, until these calluses disappear. You can quickly space them out in time.
Bicarbonate book, a concentrate of tips for your health, your beauty and your home!
Book by NIcolas Palangié with Eyrolles editions available on Fnac. Price: 6.50 euros
To get rid of nail fungus
Yeast infections tend to poison the lives of those who have them. Baking soda foot baths are once again proving to be an effective remedy. "Regular baking soda foot baths soak the skin and toenails with baking soda and make the environment less conducive to the growth of yeast infection." Recipe ? Pour two teaspoons, or 10 g per liter of water, into a basin. Take a foot bath for 20 to 30 minutes. You can add in the water of your foot bath "a few drops of grapefruit seed essential oils", recognized for its antibacterial properties. "This will provide a synergistic effect with the baking soda". Be sure, in all cases, to dry your feet well after each bath, as this may lead to the yeast infection.
Be careful, some yeast infections require consultation with a doctor. "Baking soda is not a medicine", recalls the founder of the Compagnie du Bicarbonate.
To overcome blisters
Wearing shoes becomes unbearable, you are so embarrassed by blisters. Baking soda is one of the solutions. Recipe ? Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to 4 to 5 liters of lukewarm water. Soak your feet in a basin for about twenty minutes. Remember to dry your skin well. You can safely take foot baths daily until the blisters are gone.
To relieve eczema
Are you prone to eczema? Are your feet itchy? A baking soda foot bath can be a great relief. Recipe ? To achieve it, "add 5 g, or one teaspoon per liter of water, in lukewarm to reasonably hot water", advises the author of the book "Bicarbonate, a concentrate of tips for your health, your beauty and your home" published by Eyrolles. Immerse your feet in water for 20 to 30 minutes. Your itching will, without a doubt, be relieved.
To overcome fatigue
You have been walking all day. Your feet are tired. Nothing better than a good foot bath to relieve them and bring them a little softness. Recipe ? Pour 1 tablespoon of baking soda in hot water. Immerse your feet in it. The heat helps flush out toxins.
Cosmetic baking soda, Anaé
Sodium bicarbonate, available on Onaturel. Price: 3.52 euros for 500 g
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Sodium bicarbonate, available on Onatera. Price: 4.05 euros for 500 g
To remove the horn from the feet
By walking in shoes that are too tight or poorly ventilated, the skin on your feet thickens, shaped like a horn. Beyond the fact that it is not very aesthetic, it bothers you. The most important thing then is to hydrate your feet. Start with a baking soda foot bath. Pour 1 tablespoon in hot water to soften the skin. You can then unhook the horn by passing a pumice stone before continuing with a scrub. You can opt for a recipe based on coarse salt and olive oil. Guaranteed efficiency. Be aware that there is another natural remedy, which is a good alternative to sodium bicarbonate for horny feet: vinegar.