How to Use a Pumice Stone?
Pumice stones are used for many purposes such as: Hair Removal, Skin Scrubbing, Foot Care, Hand Washings, Tooth Whitening and so much more. There are various types of pumice stones available like: Red Jade, Green Quartz, Blue Quartz etc. You may also see different names for pumice stones including: Black Diamonds, White Diamonds or even as “Black Glass”.
The main purpose of using pumice stone is to remove dead skin cells from your body. It helps in removing unwanted hair growth, acne scars, stretch marks and other blemishes. However, it does not work well for all skin problems.
For example, if you have eczema or psoriasis then pumice stone will not do any good for you since these conditions are caused by abnormal immune system reactions which cannot be cured with just one treatment.
You can use pumice stone for other reasons too. You could use it to whiten your teeth, treat acne, reduce wrinkles and so on. But the most common reason why people use pumice stone is to get rid of dead skin cells on their bodies.
If you want to get rid of dead skin cells naturally then there are several products available like: Salicylic Acid (AHA) Shampoos , Exfoliants, Cleansers and Soaps .
How to use a pumice stone for feet?
You can make pumice stone foot soaks at home with the help of certain ingredients. These ingredients include:
1) Water
2) Liquid Castile Soap (Optional)
3) Sea Salt (Optional)
Pour enough water in a bucket or a container to completely submerge your feet. If you have dry skin then you can add some liquid Castile soap to the water (2-3 drops should do). If you want a more scrubbing action then add some sea salt to the water (1-2 teaspoons should be fine).
You can also add some essential oil for aroma.
Soak your feet in this water for about 15 minutes and use a pumice stone to gently remove dead skin cells from your feet. After 15 minutes, scrub your feet with a nail brush and wash them thoroughly with lukewarm water. Pat them dry with a clean towel and apply some foot cream to hydrate your feet.
Note: Always scrub in one direction only, using small circular clockwise strokes is best.
How to use a pumice stone for skin?
The main purpose of using pumice stone for skin is to remove dead skin cells and expose new ones. If you have dry skin then using a pumice stone can make your skin more supple and hydrated. You can also use pumice stone for removing calluses or corns from your feet.
However, you should be very careful while using pumice stone on your skin. Using it daily will only worsen your skin issues and you may need some medical treatment in severe cases. Over scrubbing can cause your skin to easily tear thus making it prone to infections.
You should never use pumice stone on open wounds or cuts since it can easily get infected.
Always remember not to overdo it since as they say, too much of anything is bad! If you have extremely dry skin then you should exfoliate your skin at most twice a week. If you do decide to exfoliate more than that then make sure to apply a good moisturizer to your skin afterwards.
How to use a pumice stone for face?
Pumice stones work as an excellent natural tool for facial exfoliation. You can get rid of dead skin cells and blackheads with the help of pumice stones.
Follow the steps below if you want to use a pumice stone on your face:
1) Fill your bathtub with warm water.
You can also use a basin or a bucket if you don’t want to use running water for this purpose.
2) Add some liquid Castile soap in the water (3-4 drops should be fine).
You can also add some essential oil for scent.
3) Soak your feet in the water for about 15 minutes.
4) While your feet are soaking, scrub your face gently with a pumice stone in a circular motion.
5) Wash your face with warm water and pat it dry.
Never attempt to scrub your face when it’s wet.
6) Apply some moisturizer or foot cream to your skin.
How to use a pumice stone for exfoliating?
Pumice stones can also be used for general exfoliating purposes. You can use it on your arms, legs and other body parts as well. However, you should never use it on your face since the particles of the stone are rather harsh on the skin. You should also avoid using pumice stones on areas that have open wounds otherwise you’ll only end up getting those wounds infected. Always remember that pumice stones are not to be used for scrubbing since this can lead to skin irritation and other issues.
Wash your skin area where you want to apply exfoliating gently with a mild soap. Pat the area dry and then rub the pumice stone in a circular motion on the area. Do not use any force, just move the stone gently over the skin.
After a few minutes you should start noticing dead skin coming off the area. This is a good indication that you can now stop since further scrubbing will only worsen the condition of your skin. Now wash the area once again and apply some moisturizer.
How to use pumice stones for feet?
There are several ways in which you can use pumice stones on your feet. There are commercial pumice stone foot files that you can use to reach those hard-to-get areas on the bottom of your feet. Men and women both can use this for exfoliating their feet.
You can also use pumice stones along with your favorite soap to give a foot bath. Soaking your feet in some warm water with a few drops of Castile soap will not only help you relax but will also help you get rid of dry skin on your feet. You can also exfoliate your feet using a pumice stone in the same way as mentioned above.
Always apply a good foot cream to moisturize your feet afterwards.
Tips for choosing a pumice stone:
There are several different types of pumice stones available for sale out there so you’ll have to choose one that works the best for you. Always choose a stone that is odorless and free from cracks. It should feel smooth to the touch as well.
Here are some other factors you should keep in mind before buying a pumice stone:
Size – You can get pumice stones of different sizes so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Hardness – The harder the stone, the better it is for exfoliating dead skin cells from your body.
Ease of use – The stone should be fairly easy to use and comfortable to hold in your hand.
Essential oils for feet: Which ones to use?
If you want to give your pumice stone a nice scent, you can add a few drops of an essential oil on it while it’s dry. Here are some essential oils that can be used for this purpose:
Lavender essential oil – This is a favorite among most people and it has a pleasant scent. It’s great if you have dry or cracked skin as it can aid in soothing those areas.
Rose essential oil – If you’re looking for something that smells a little more feminine, rose essential oil is the way to go. It has a nice, subtle smell and it’s good for your skin as well.
Sources & references used in this article:
Use of pumice stone as a ceramic raw material by OE Kuzugudenli – Key Engineering Materials, 2004 – Trans Tech Publ
Potential Use of Pumice Stone Modified by HCl for Treatment of Textile Wastewater by M Zarrabi, MR Samarghandi… – Journal of …, 2011 – healthjournal.arums.ac.ir
Immobilization of TiO2 on pumice stone for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes and dye industry pollutants by KVS Rao, A Rachel, M Subrahmanyam… – Applied Catalysis B …, 2003 – Elsevier
Adsorption of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions by modified pumice stone: kinetics and equilibrium studies by Z Derakhshan, MA Baghapour, M Ranjbar… – 2013 – sid.ir
