Mocha Mint Foot Scrub: A Treat for Your Feet!

Are you ready for a winter treat for your feet? While the chocolates and goodies may be circulating in abundance around the holidays, why not also pamper your hard-working feet with a little extra decadent DIY self-care? This Mocha Mint Foot Scrub is easy to whip up; with ground coffee beans, sugar, and almond meal to slough off dead skin, honey and oil to provide moisture, and peppermint and cacao to tantalize your olfactory system, this foot scrub is a delight for your skin and senses. Make this special holiday-inspired scrub for yourself or package and gift to loved ones as a special holiday offering. Let’s check out some of the key ingredients in this DIY foot scrub. 

Mocha Mint Foot Scrub Ingredients

Coffee (Coffea spp.) 

The ground coffee beans in this Mocha Mint Foot Scrub serve the function of providing exfoliation due to their rough texture. Coffee is also known to be a rich source of antioxidants—never a bad idea for your skin. There is also research to indicate that caffeine in skincare products offers a level of UV protection and may be helpful in resisting some types of cancer (Elias et al., 2023). There is, however, some evidence to show that caffeine can slow wound healing when applied externally, so go easy on this scrub if you have any cuts or scrapes on your feet (probably a good idea anyway due to the scrub’s slightly gritty texture) (Elias et al., 2023). Furthermore, coffee enlivens the senses and boosts mood and alertness; enjoying coffee as a key ingredient in this perky foot scrub is a way to refresh your skin and your mind, all at once. 

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) 

This Mocha Mint Foot Scrub incorporates cacao for the sheer pleasure of smelling the luxurious combination of coffee, chocolate, and peppermint—great for the holidays and any time you desire a cozy, rich, pick-me-up treat for your feet. That said, cacao is not without its herbal benefits. Cacao possesses antioxidants and magnesium, as well as a capacity for bolstering mood via endorphin production (Groves, 2016). These benefits are likely most pronounced when consuming cacao as a food or beverage. However, some say that you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat; what we apply to our skin is absorbed into the bloodstream to some extent. Therefore, putting beneficial plants on our skin as well as on our plates—and in teas, treats, and tinctures—further broadens our exposure to these multifaceted plant allies. 

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) 

If you are searching for a refreshing, aromatic herb with a delightful aroma and antimicrobial effect, look no further than peppermint. Peppermint essential oil, with its cheery, invigorating scent, boosts cognitive function, including alertness and memory (Groves, 2016). Peppermint is indeed multifaceted; it is indicated for colds, headaches, toothaches, skin eruptions, and indigestion (Dass, 2013; Lu, 2005). Perfect when applied topically in foot creams and incorporated into this Mocha Mint Foot Scrub, peppermint also eases pain by relaxing muscle spasms (Groves, 2016). Furthermore, it has antimicrobial effects, making it great for keeping your hard-working feet extra healthy and clean (Singh et al., 2015). Peppermint essential oil can make sensitive skin feel a bit tingly, but this scrub should be just fine on hands and feet. However, if you have very sensitive skin, you can always cut back on, or omit, the peppermint essential oil in this recipe. 

Honey and Sugar 

In this Mocha Mint Foot scrub, honey and sugar provide texture and help draw in moisture due to the osmotic properties of sugar. Honey, in fact, is of great benefit when used externally on the skin. It has a relatively low pH, as well as antibacterial properties. This is why honey face washes are often suggested for acne-prone skin, as bacterial buildup can lead to acne and other skin outbreaks. Honey also has immunomodulating effects and just as it soothes a sore throat, it can aid cuts and scrapes (though it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for proper cleaning and first aid care) (Mandal & Mandal, 2011). You may wish to explore other ways of using honey in skincare in this Herbal Academy blog article 3 DIY Honey Face Washes. 

Lemon (Citrus x limon) 

Lemon has a cheerful scent that, like peppermint, may be soothing and nostalgic for many. When taken internally, lemon juice has many advantages. It is antimicrobial and alkalizing, and is often used to gently stimulate digestion and support liver function. A fruit rich in vitamin C, its vitamin C content also offers benefits to the skin when used externally. Scientific studies have demonstrated that vitamin C can protect the skin against sun damage (Pullar et al., 2017). Furthermore, vitamin C is naturally present in the skin and contributes to collagen synthesis, andtopical application of vitamin C can add to the natural presence and function of vitamin C in the skin (Pullar et al., 2017). Lemon is often used in skincare products to brighten skin tone, and its antimicrobial properties will only be a boon for your feet. 

To Use: 

Any time your feet and senses could use a little energizing, blend a small amount of scrub with water and give your feet an exfoliating treat. This scrub also works well on hands as well. However, it’s gritty texture is a bit rough for facial skin, so is probably best reserved for hands and feet. Rinse well and apply a foot cream or oil for moisture and softness. 

In Closing, 

If the holiday season has you running around, perhaps it’s time to pause for a little spa evening at home. Give your feet a little extra special care with a soak and scrub. Perhaps try out this Warming Herbal Foot Soak with Cinnamon and Magnesium and follow up with our Mocha Mint Foot Scrub. Our feet are incredibly important and are often overlooked, especially during winter when closed-toed boots and shoes are the norm. But everyone needs a holiday, even your feet—so give your feet a treat with this Mocha Mint Foot Scrub! 

REFERENCES 

Dass, V. (2013). Ayurvedic herbology: East & West. Lotus Press. 

Elias, M.L., Israeli, A.F., & Madan, R. (2023). Caffeine in skincare: Its role in skin cancer, sun protection, and Cosmetics. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 68, 5. 546-550. https: //doi.org/10.4103/ijd.ijd_166_22

Groves, M.N. (2016). Body into balance: An herbal guide to holistic self-care. Storey Publishing. 

Lu, H.C. (2005). Chinese natural cures: Traditional methods for remedy and prevention. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc. 

Mandal, D., & Mandal, M. (2011). Honey: Its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 1(2), 154–160. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2FS2221-1691(11)60016-6

Pullar, J.M., Carr, A.C., & Vissers, M.C.M. (2017). The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients, 9, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866

Singh, R., Sushni, M., & Belkheir, A. (2015). Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Mentha piperita L. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 8, 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2011.01.019