Healing Foot Balms
One of the nicest things to do after a long day is to relax and treat your feet. We often neglect our heels and toes even though they keep us going all day despite being stuffed into high heels or enclosed in work boots. Whether it’s a bit of self care or a special gift for a loved one, these healing DIY foot balms are the perfect way to keep your feet in good condition, and contain only the best natural oils and ingredients.
Essential Oils for Feet
You can use any essential oils, but we like these oils best for our feet:
Lemongrass - refreshing, deodorising.
Peppermint - improves circulation and revitalises skin. It is also cooling and soothing for hot, tired feet, and is a deodoriser.
Clary sage - balancing and soothing.
Geranium - mood enhancing and a destressor.
Lavender - healing, calming and anti-inflammatory.
Chamomile - soothing for dry skin.
Vanilla - a relaxing fragrance.
Tea tree - antibacterial and healing, tea tree is a multi-purpose wonder oil.
Go for Hydrating Oils
Olive oil - softening, rich in fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants.
Avocado butter - hydrating, softening and nourishing for skin (one of my personal favourite butters!).
Cocoa butter - one of the best emollients, cocoa butter is deeply moisturising.
Mango butter - a rich, softening emollient full of good acids and vitamins.
Tamanu oil - a healing oil for just about every skin problem.
Extra virgin coconut oil - rich in fatty acids, coconut oil is excellent for skin and has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Remember, you can use any oils or butters of your choosing, this is just a list to get you started.
Extra Add Ins:
Aloe vera gel - revitalising and healing for skin.
Beeswax - rich in vitamins and moisturising.
Calendula oil - one of the best healing oils.
Glycerine - helps retain moisture and prevent dryness.
Recipes
Peppermint Foot Balm
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup cocoa butter
1 T calendula oil (optional)
25g grated beeswax or pellets
25 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops vanilla oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops chamomile essential oil
Melt the olive oil, coconut oil, calendula if using, cocoa butter and beeswax together in a water bath or double boiler. Remove from the heat once melted, and cool to room temperature then add the essential oils.
Now you can choose to either pour the still-liquid oil mixture into a glass jar and let it cool and solidify into a proper balm, or
You can let the mixture cool till almost solid then whip it, so that you get a whipped foot butter. You choose!
To use, apply to your feet after showering at night and massage in well. If you like you can sleep with socks on.
Aloe Vera Foot Cream
¼ c avocado butter
2 T aloe vera gel
5 drops lavender
½ drop Geogard 221 to preserve (you can omit this, but your cream may only last a few weeks without it so use it up quickly!)
Melt the butter and allow it to cool down a bit, then add the aloe vera and lavender. Whip the mixture up with a soup/stick blender for 30 seconds to 1 minute. A milky emulsion will form. Pop this in the fridge to finish cooling. When it has solidified but isn't hard, whip it some more with the stick blender, then spoon into a glass storage jar. Use daily.
This cream may separate over time so I advise using it within a few weeks.
Super Salve for Cracked Heels
28g beeswax
28g raw, unrefined cocoa butter
28g avocado oil
28g tamanu oil
½ tsp vitamin E oil
10 drops essential oils of your choice: eg. 2 drops chamomile, 3 drops clary sage, 5 drops lavender
Combine all ingredients except the vitamin E oil and the essential oils in a double boiler or water bath and melt together. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly, then add the vitamin E and essential oils last. Pour into a glass jar and let it solidify. Use before bed and wear socks to bed.
Tip:
Apply the foot balm after an Epsom salt foot soak or after using a foot fizzy (see recipe here).
2 comments
Hi Francis, this is likely due to the wax in the balm shrinking a little as it cools, and if there is a big temperature difference between the cool glass and the hot mixture when you pour it in, then it may also pull away.
You can try warming your glass containers before pouring.
Hi there. Thank you so much for all the lovely recipes info you give and a wonderful shop. I have a question regarding balms. I have a Moringa balm that I make but struggle with the end product pulling away from the glass and not presenting very well. How can I prevent this from happening? My range is called Abundance wih a very clean look. So I use clear glass and the green balm looks nice wih my lable. Just need to solve this problem.
Thanks