DIY Foot Balms

DIY Foot Balms

Juliette van der Meer

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

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Melt the olive oil, coconut oil, calendula if using, cocoa butter and beeswax together in a water bath or double boiler.
  2. Remove from the heat once melted, and cool to room temperature then add the essential oils.
  3. 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

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Melt the butter and allow it to cool down a bit.
  2. Add the aloe vera and lavender.
  3. Whip the mixture up with a soup/stick blender for 30 seconds to 1 minute. A milky emulsion will form.
  4. Pop this in the fridge to finish cooling.
  5. When it has solidified but isn't hard, whip it some more with the stick blender.
  6. 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

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Combine all ingredients except the vitamin E oil and the essential oils in a double boiler or water bath and melt together.
  2. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
  3. Add the vitamin E and essential oils last.
  4. 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).

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Juliette van der Meer

Fascinated with all things Nature, Science, Chemistry and Cosmetic Formulation; slave to four cats; my sweet tooth fuels my sweet nature.

I like to constantly learn new things. I also love crime series, which is totally not a red flag :)

I graduated from Rhodes University with a Degree in Geology but later switched to Cosmetic Science and haven't looked back - proof that flipping your life around can lead to much happiness.

BSc Hons, Adv. Dip. Cosmetic Science


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4 comments

Hi Sarah
You definitely could include Lanolin in your formula, it could be great – but it will not function as an exfoliating agent.
Lanolin is functionally an emollient and moisturizer – so great for nourishing and softening dry skin
But, it does not have any exfoliating properties.
For exfoliation consider Lactic Acid or Salicylic Acid.

Aiden

Thanks for the recipe ideas for foot balms, I have a question, what about incorporating lanolin into the heel balm as an exfoliating agent ?

Sarah

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.

Juliette

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

Francis Burls

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