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Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Soothing Magnesium Foot Scrub

Soothing Magnesium Foot Scrub

May 16, 2016 (Updated: July 30, 2019)   —  by Katie Wells

Soothing Magnesium Foot Scrub Recipe

Reading Time: 4 minThis post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Ever gotten cracked heels? I’m pretty sure my husband can set some records with his!

In fact, I’ve woken up at night to scratches on my legs from his heel-knives (my loving term) and I’ve even created a specific salve for his cracked heels.

Another thing that seems to help a lot is using a foot scrub regularly. This homemade magnesium scrub is a a perfect solution for cracked heels and dry skin. I love using it to exfoliate feet, but it can be used on face and body as well. It leaves skin tingly and smooth and is completely natural.

Why Magnesium?

Soothing Magnesium Foot Scrub Recipe - so relaxing and leaves skin silkyExperts estimate that 80-95+% percent of adults are deficient in magnesium, and this can have dire consequences since the body uses magnesium in the processes that regulate heart health, mental health, blood pressure, and during pregnancy. In fact, magnesium is one of the most-needed minerals in the body and is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions.

I personally use a magnesium spray on my skin each day to help optimize my magnesium levels, but this soothing foot scrub is a great way to get a gentle (and relaxing) magnesium boost.

DIY Magnesium Foot Scrub Recipe

Epsom salt or magnesium salts would be rough on their own, but the addition of a few other soothing ingredients creates a scrub that is both exfoliating and moisturizing with a cooling sensation to ease dry skin and irritation.

A liquid oil like almond or olive oil moisturizes skin, while the roughness of the magnesium exfoliates. This scrub is naturally unscented, though a variety of essential oils can be added for scent and additional skin benefits.

A pinch of cinnamon powder and a few drops of peppermint essential oil make a festive scrub, or rose petals and lavender oil make a floral version. Some other great combinations would be:

  • 10 drops lavender essential oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 drops citrus essential oil and 5 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 5 drops lemon essential oil and 5 drops rosemary essential oil

If you don’t want a salt/magnesium based scrub or are getting magnesium from other sources, sugar can also be used in place of the salt to make a simple sugar scrub with many custom options for scent and color.

Magnesium Foot Scrub Ingredients

  • 1 cup of epsom salt (a natural source of magnesium) or magnesium flakes
  • 1/4 cup olive oil or almond oil (also available here)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap (also available here)
  • Optional: 10-15 drops of essential oil of choice (I used peppermint)

Magnesium Foot Scrub Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix all ingredients and add essential oils or scents until desired scent is achieved.
  2. Store in an airtight jar and use a teaspoon sized amount to exfoliate feet or body as needed.
  3. Rinse after use.

FAQs:

In general, scrubs are some of the easiest DIY beauty products to make, but there are so many options and customizations that I often get these questions:

How long does it last?

It depends. Without the liquid soap, it lasts indefinitely, as both oil and epsom salt have a shelf life of several years. The liquid castile soap changes the formulation and introduces a liquid element, so I don’t keep it longer than 6 months in this case (though it usually gets used up long before 6 months anyway!

Best time to use it?

I prefer to use any type of scrub just before a shower for the easiest cleanup, and magnesium is especially helpful for some people at night, though this can be used at any time of day.

Can I use magnesium oil in place of the olive oil?

Technically Magnesium Oil isn’t an oil at all but a liquid salt solution, so it works differently than an oil would but it can definitely be used in a scrub like this. Over time, some of the epsom salt may dissolve, as there is technically liquid in magnesium “oil” but it would provide a much stronger source of magnesium since it isn’t diluted by the oil, and would be safer for drains and septic systems. If you want to try this version, I’d recommend making in smaller amounts and using 1 tablespoon of each magnesium oil and epsom salt. Here is a tutorial for making magnesium oil and this is the brand I purchase and use.

What kind of liquid castile soap is best?

Whichever one you prefer! In the small amount in this recipe, any brand and scent of liquid castile soap will work and it helps make cleanup easier and skin softer. It isn’t necessary and can be omitted if you don’t have it. My personal favorite brands are this bulk unscented one and peppermint Dr. Bronners.

Can I use sea salt instead of magnesium?

Absolutely! This will technically make it a salt scrub and not a magnesium scrub, but it will still make skin silky and soft.

Can I use sugar instead of magnesium?

Sure! Again, it will no longer be a magnesium scrub in this case, but sugar is great for skin (just not so much when consumed internally!)

Can this be given as a gift?

Of course! Homemade gifts are my favorite, and I’ve given this scrub to friends, especially pregnant friends, as it seems to help ease the leg cramps that can come with pregnancy. Just make sure that it has an expiration date or leave out the liquid soap to make sure it lasts a long time.

Where do you get cute jars?

Everywhere. My name is Katie and I am a glass jar addict. I have a whole cabinet of jars that I’ve purchased online, at thrift stores, antique stores and even rescued from friends kitchens when they were going to throw them out. I always prefer to reuse a jar if possible and give many gifts in mason jars. I also have some of these cork top jars with a wooden spoon that are perfect for DIY gifts like this and homemade bath salts, clay masks, etc.

Is this safe for drains and septic systems?

Yes and no. Of course, check with your specific system if on septic before using this or any product that goes down the drain, but I’ve never had trouble with it clogging drains or messing up our septic system and I think the soap helps this.

Ever make a foot scrub? What did/would you use? Share below!

This homemade foot scrub is easy to make and super moisturizing and exfoliating. It contains all natural ingredients and provides magnesium.

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Category: Beauty

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder and CEO of Wellness Mama and Co-Founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (71 Comments)

  1. Lisa Bogaars

    June 9, 2014 at 3:18 AM

    where is the magnesium in the recipe?

    Reply
    • Sabrina

      June 12, 2014 at 12:06 PM

      The epsom salt is the magnesium source.

      Reply
  2. Julie

    May 29, 2014 at 10:15 AM

    Can I use coconut oil?

    Reply
  3. Allison

    May 2, 2014 at 4:05 PM

    Can I use glycerine instead of the liquid Castile? & also can I add vitamin E oil in the scrub? any answer would be appreciated thank you!

    Reply
  4. lainy

    March 11, 2014 at 8:17 AM

    Regarding the essential oils, can they be any one or do they have to be a specific type (like for skin; can you recommend where to buy them?)? For scent, can I use an extract like the ones I use to bake?

    Reply
  5. Angelique

    January 11, 2014 at 1:45 AM

    Yum. I just made a variation of this recipe and it was delightful.. I had a 1/2 cup of an oil mix that I used for a massive sugar scrub gift exchange (1 cup of each, sweet almond oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil plus 1.5 tablespoons of vitamin E oil. To that I added, two cups of Epsom salt, two teaspoons of Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Liquid Castille Soap and 30 drops of peppermint essential oils. I have to say that this combination is fabulous for the feet. My feet feel soft and clean at the same time. Most products (or projects) do either, but not both. Thank you for sharing your recipe. For small batches, I may add coarse cornmeal (or polenta) to the mix. It really exfoliates your skin.

    Reply
    • lisa

      June 1, 2014 at 8:33 PM

      I was thinking of making these as gifts. Would you happen to know how long they would last?

      Reply
  6. Cad

    September 25, 2013 at 7:55 AM

    I love this idea. I’ve tried sugar scrubs on my heels in winter but they just aren’t quite “hearty” enough. I think the Epsom salts would work great! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! By the way, one of my readers linked this post on my Meet & Greet Monday link-up. I asked that everyone link their favorite Eco-friendly posts and this article was a favorite. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Michon

    August 20, 2013 at 9:20 AM

    Hi can you tell me how long this scrub lasts and the best way to store it?

    Reply
  8. Michon

    May 24, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    I just tried this scrub on my feet. I used Dr. Bronner’s almond liquid castile soap and lavender essential oil. It felt so good and soothing, and my skin is so soft. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!

    Reply
    • J. Hughes

      August 19, 2013 at 3:03 PM

      How long can I expect this recipe to hold up? I would like to give it as a gift and need some sort of “expiration” date

      Reply
      • Michon

        August 20, 2013 at 9:18 AM

        Mine is still holding up after 5 months. This is the first time I have made it, so I don’t really know how long I can expect it to last.

        Reply
  9. Sherry Lynn England

    March 21, 2013 at 2:26 PM

    Can Dr Bronners Tea Tree liquid castille soap work in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Allison Maskell Hawkes

      March 21, 2013 at 2:41 PM

      I’ll bet it could – but I think the tea tree scent would overpower any essential oils and smell kind of medicinal. Up to you if you like that scent.

      Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      March 21, 2013 at 3:23 PM

      It should be fine….

      Reply
    • Angelique

      November 9, 2013 at 4:46 PM

      Since I have a huge bottle of Dr Bronners Tea Tree liquid castille soap, I’m gonna give it a try. I plan on making a double batch (one for me and another for my hubby ’cause he’s a scrub fiend =) ). For half the batch I’ll add in sweet oil essential oil and I’ll add peppermint essential oil to the other.

      Reply
      • Sheila

        May 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM

        Would probably be really good for toenail fungus that may be trying to set up shop- especially if you use fractionated coconut oil!

        Reply
  10. sharon vincello

    December 6, 2012 at 2:12 PM

    What do you think about adding magnesium oil to this?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      December 6, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      You definite could, or you could also just rub magnesium oil on the feet after using while the pores are really open and just put socks on over it.

      Reply
    • Sherry

      January 12, 2016 at 8:56 PM

      How long would this foot scrub last…

      Reply
      • Bree Colbern

        September 26, 2016 at 7:56 PM

        Hi Sherry!!! Wellness Mama said that with the castille soap, it should last around six months. However, without it, it should last almost indefinitely! 🙂

        Reply
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