One of the areas of the body that often gets overlooked is the feet which is why I decided to round up these homemade foot cream with coconut oil for cracked heels recipes.
In today’s article, you will learn everything you need to know about making your own foot-friendly coconut oil concoction that will hydrate and heal your cracked heels and keep your feet in tip top shape.
Make sure you start with the perfect base ingredients first: choose our top recommended coconut oil (affiliate link) that’s perfect for any job!
A day-long presentation at the office, going grocery shopping, taking your kids to the park, fetching your clothes from the cleaners – there is no end to the day-to-day bustle.
By the time you get home, your poor feet – especially your heels – simply give up and desperately ask for some “me” time.
We often ignore how overworked our feet are. They carry our body weight throughout the day, manage to fit into fancy but uncomfortable shoes, and suffer from shoe bites, corns, and calluses.
It is quite common to overlook the hardships we put our feet through, and we do not take care of them like we should.
An important part of this caretaking is keeping your feet well-moisturized. Since our feet lack oil glands, the skin can easily become hardened and cracked due to the constant pressure.
There are some really amazing foot scrub recipes you can make for weekly exfoliation. But don’t forget, you also need a good foot cream! And we’re going to talk about the latter in today’s article.
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How to Repair Cracked Heels Fast with Coconut Oil (DIY)
People often forget to take good care of their feet, ignoring the rough, callused edges. Cracked heels look bad, snag on blankets and clothes and can be downright painful.
One solution is to treat them overnight with coconut oil for some relief. Moisturizing cracked heels overnight is a pretty standard way of treating them, but not all moisturizing agents work equally.
Oils tend to work better than lotions because lotions absorb into the skin more quickly.
While you can use any vegetable oil for this, coconut oil is our recommended choice because it stays solid at room temperature, making it easier to apply without making a mess.
Apply the oil liberally, slip on a pair of clean, white socks, and go to sleep. You’ll have smoother heels in the morning.
If your heels are in particularly bad shape, wash them in warm water and use a pumice stone to take off the worst of the dry skin before your oil treatment.
However, if you want to have soft, beautiful feet, then a foot cream might be in order. You can make your own at home using our recommended homemade foot creams with coconut oil for cracked heels.
These recipes are all natural and will help you pick the right ingredients that work best for you.
The main ingredient will, of course, be the coconut oil. Make sure to opt for a good brand, like our highly recommended Nutiva Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. You can check our Nutiva Coconut Oil review here.
Coconut oil is the perfect ingredient for your DIY foot cream, and you have various options when it comes to preparing the right one for you.
The main ingredient remains the coconut oil itself which, in all honesty, can be applied directly on your feet for good results.
But if you want things to be even better, you do need to mix it up with some other ingredients. Let’s learn how!
DIY Homemade Best Foot Cream For Cracked Heels
This is definitely one of the more popular foot cream recipes which can be made with coconut oil.
We’ll also use peppermint for our homemade concoction, as it has a strong scent that is great for deodorizing your feet and helping the fresh smell last longer.
Nothing can be more comforting than applying a cooling foot cream/balm on your tired and aching feet. This peppermint-based foot cream has the goodness of nourishing agents, such as coconut oil, shea butter, and sweet almond oil.
Coconut oil, especially the extra-virgin variety, is loaded with healthy fatty acids that easily penetrate into the skin. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties will also help you deal with any foot infections as well as prevent them.
The shea butter is rich in vitamins E and A that are great for maintaining healthy skin. The sweet almond oil also will help soften the skin and deeply moisturize it to prevent dry and cracked heels.
Last but not least, the peppermint essential oil will leave a cooling sensation on your feet, relax the stiffened muscles and take away any pain. It is also a powerful antibacterial that will help prevent skin infections.
If you have excessively sweaty feet, incorporating peppermint oil in your foot care regime is a must.
You will have to mix all these ingredients and apply at night before going to sleep. Real the complete instructions for or top recommended DIY Homemade foot cream for cracked heels here.
Alternative: Crockpot Homemade Cracked Heel Cream
After I made this Easy Homemade Crockpot lotion for my cracked heels, I decided that I’d never attempt to melt butter and oils again for lotion-making without using a crockpot and crockpot liner! It is the easiest way to make them, with virtually zero clean-up!
Homemade Cracked Heel Cream Ingredients
- 3/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup or 4 oz raw shea butter
- 15-20 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 15–20 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
I chose the combination of lavender and tea tree essential oils for this as they are both therapeutic for skin issues.
Lavender is known to heal dry or chapped skin and will help keep it hydrated to avoid that dry, cracking skin.
Tea Tree oil is anti-inflammatory which will ease any redness and avoid skin infections in any cracked skin. It can also help remove the already dry and dead skin cells on the surface that cause the dry and scaly look on your heels.
As an alternative, you can use your favorite essential oils. Peppermint would be another good, soothing and cooling option to try.
Homemade Cracked Heel Cream Utensils
- Slow cooker liner
- Wide mouth 8oz mason jar for storage
Homemade Cracked Heel Cream Recipe
1. To start making your heel cream, put your slow cooker liner in place, and go ahead and add 3/4 cup of coconut oil to the slow cooker.
2. Then add 1/2 cup of raw shea butter.
3. Now it’s time to add the essential oils to your cracked heel cream. I recommend adding between 15-20 drops each of lavender and tea tree (melaleuca) essential oils or your favorite oil.
4. Turn your crockpot on low and let all of the ingredients warm up and melt – probably no more than 2 hours is needed.
5. Once it is all melted, pour the contents of the crockpot plastic liner into a glass container for storage.
I chose a short, wide glass jar to make it easier to access to cream itself.
Whatever container you use to store your heel cream in, be sure it has a wide enough mouth for your hand to reach the bottom. A regular, tall mason jar, for example, would be difficult to reach into the bottom.
Allow your cracked heel cream to sit at room temperature for a few hours until it’s solid before using it. Or, to speed up the cooling process, you can put it in the freezer and use as soon as it’s solid.
Suggestions for Using Your Homemade Cracked Heel Cream
To use this cream, I recommend putting this on your feet each night before bed. I would even cover with socks to be sure it soaks in overnight in your feet.
If you want the full pampering, then I would suggest using a foot spa followed by a pedicure foot file tool on your heels and lastly applying your homemade cracked heel cream.
For the best results, use your cracked heel cream on your feet daily to keep your heels nice and smooth and soft. This will also help prevent drying and cracking.
Aloe Vera Foot Cream with Coconut Oil
This fresh-smelling foot cream recipe is nothing less than a tropical treat! It uses the richness of coconut oil, the soothing coolness of aloe vera gel and the relaxing fragrance of the lavender essential oil.
Fresh aloe vera gel helps take the heat off your overworked feet. It also brings with it plenty of vitamins and minerals that revitalize dull skin.
The amino acids found in aloe vera also boost the body’s fibroblast cells to produce healthier skin cells.
When used in a foot cream, it will enrich the skin and promote healing of any cracks in your heels. If you have an aloe vera plant or buy fresh leaves, you can learn how to extract your own fresh aloe vera gel.
The coconut oil works better than any other oil in protecting the skin from infections and environmental stress.
It forms a protective antimicrobial layer on the skin, while the lauric acid in it moisturizes dry skin.
The lavender essential oil imparts a soothing fragrance to the cream and also relaxes your mind. It is also anti-inflammatory and will soothe any irritation. Plus, this oil helps extend the shelf life of your DIY foot cream.
You can read all the details – including recipe for step by step instructions for preparing this cream in our article here.
Or you can choose this ready-made one which is available on Amazon.
Shea Butter and Beeswax Foot Cream
Here is another excellent recipe for a coconut oil foot cream. This one will use extra ingredients that provide even more softness and moisture for your feet.
This includes adding some shea butter, which is so soft on your skin, and beeswax that is grated. You will also add in some coconut oil and avocado oil, along with your choice of essential oils.
Vanilla is a really good scent for this type of coconut oil, but as with many other foot creams, you can also add in a few drops of peppermint essential oils.
I read where somebody said that when they were in their teens, they suddenly developed cracked heels.
They did not know how they got them, but they started applying Vaseline on their feet at night and covering them with a pair of socks before bed. In the shower, they vigorously scrubbed their heels with a Pumice and it worked well in sloughing off the flaky skin.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Vaseline was only a quick fix to seal moisture and soften the cracks but not heal the cracks, which is what they wanted.
They then started using raw shea butter for cracked heels and said it was really soothing and moisturizing.
Then recently they found that when shea butter is mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil, it can act as a powerful antimicrobial cream so they ended up combining the two together coupled with other healing ingredients to form a simple yet very effective foot cream!
This foot cream is intensely healing, seals moisture and neutralizes foot odor PLUS it lubricates the dry cracked skin while cooling and soothing painful cracks and fighting off fungus!
What a load of benefits! Okay, without further ado, check out this intense healing shea butter foot cream recipe.
Coconut Lavender Foot Cream
If you want a foot cream that not only moisturizes your feet, but can also provide a relaxing and soothing experience, lavender is the perfect option.
To make this type of foot cream, you will still need to start with your coconut oil, usually a couple tablespoons of it, then add about ½ cup of olive oil.
Combine this in a bowl with the same amount of beeswax pastilles, and add in as many drops of lavender essential oil as you want.
You should start with 5 drops, mix it, then smell it to see if it is strong enough. Add about 5 drops at a time until you’re happy. For this much cream, 15-20 is usually enough.
You can also make a plain foot cream that just uses coconut oil with something cream based, or you can whip the oil to make a cream consistency, then apply it to your feet.
After a couple of treatments with this natural lavender foot cream, my heels were soft and my toes were ready for the spotlight.
Why lavender? It has calming and soothing properties to help you relax, fight stress, and drift off to sleep, while the rich, natural cream smoothes and softens your skin.
Coconut Lavender Foot Cream Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 15 drops Lavender essential oil
Coconut Lavender Foot Cream Method
- Put everything except the essential oil in an empty canning jar or glass measuring cup.
- Place the jar into a pan of simmering water (this is the frugal way to make a double boiler) and stir gently until all the solids have melted.
- Using an oven mitt or tongs, take the jar out of the water and set it on a towel on the counter. Stir it occasionally as it cools.
- When the lotion is cool but not solid yet (about 30 minutes for me), mix in the Lavender essential oil. You don’t want to add the lavender when the mixture is warm, because the heat can have an adverse effect on the oil.
- If you prepared your lotion in a canning jar, you’re done!
At bedtime, apply the cream generously to dry heels, ankles–all over your feet. Put on clean, cotton socks and allow it to soak in and nourish your skin overnight.
This lotion is great for fussy babies and crabby kids, too! Rub on their chest after their bath and before putting on pajamas.
DIY Foot Balm with Coconut Oil
You may notice that some of the ingredients in this foot balm, such as coconut oil and olive oil are food.
I saw where somebody said that they were taught during their Ayurvedic training, that the skin is the largest organ of absorption in the human body.
Therefore, they make sure that anything they put on their skin is healthy enough for them to eat. Interesting take and something that’s definitely worth considering from now on.
DIY Foot Balm Ingredients
- ¼ cup shea butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ ounce beeswax pastilles
- 10 drops vanilla essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
DIY Foot Balm Method
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over very low heat, stir until melted
- Remove from heat and stir to combine, then add essential oils
- Pour mixture into a clean ½ cup mason jar
- Massage a small amount into your feet at bedtime to moisturize.
How to Soothe Dry Cracked Heels Naturally with Wild Orange & Honey Foot Scrub
I always considered honey to be a poor choice in homemade creams because I believed that they will make everything sticky and yucky.
Fortunately, this is not the case. Even more, our recommended cream below will keep you extremely happy – just take a look and you will see what I mean.
Wild Orange & Honey Foot Scrub Ingredients
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup sugar – use organic cane sugar
- 2 Tbsp raw honey
- 1 cup coconut oil – I use it melted, which is handy in the summer time since it’s already in that state
- 8-10 drops wild orange essential oil
Wild Orange & Honey Foot Scrub Method
- Add Epsom salt and sugar to a bowl and slowly begin stirring in the oil until mixture is smooth, but not goopy. (You may not need the full cup of oil.)
- Add the honey and stir well, then mix in the essential oil. Spoon into a decorative container or canning jar with a tight-fitting lid.
How to use this cream
While soaking your feet, grab the wash cloth and sugar scrub. Pull one foot out of the water and scoop about a tablespoon onto your foot and start rubbing it all over, paying special attention to heels.
(If you have cracked heels, be careful and stop scrubbing if it hurts.) Add more scrub to your foot as needed.
Now take the wash cloth and start scrubbing in a circular motion all over your foot. When you’re done, put the scrubbed foot back in the water and repeat the process on the other one. Rinse off the scrub and pat your feet dry.
Step 3: Soften – This part is wonderful, especially if you can get someone to give you a nice foot massage.
I find it’s best to complete this step when you know you won’t need to put sandals back on (it’ll be quite slippery if you do) or are ok with putting socks over freshly-moistened feet (I can’t stand this feeling, but many can).
I’ve found shea butter and coconut oil to be a great combination for deeply moisturizing skin. When used in the right ratio, it rubs in nicely without feeling super greasy and also offers a nice antifungal property for those who experience athlete’s foot.
DIY Foot Salve for Cracked Heels
With this recipe we have a word of caution: Do not use oregano or peppermint essential oils on children or while pregnant. As with any medical condition, check with a doctor if things don’t improve or if you have any specific concerns.
DIY Foot Salve Ingredients
- ¼ cup shea butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 3 TBSP beeswax pastilles
- ¼ cup magnesium flakes + 2 TBSP boiling water (or ¼ cup of pre-made magnesium oil, though this won’t yield as much magnesium in the final product)
- 10 drops oregano essential oil (Not for use during pregnancy or on children.)
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
DIY Foot Salve Method
- Pour 2 tablespoons of boiling water into the magnesium flakes in a small container and stir until dissolved. This will create a thick liquid. Set aside to cool.
- Set a quart-size mason jar inside a small pan with 1 inch of water. Add the coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter to the jar. Melt slowly over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- When melted, remove the jar from the pan and let the mixture cool until room temperature and slightly opaque.
- At this point, put into a medium bowl or into a blender. If in a bowl, use a hand blender or immersion blender on medium speed and start blending the oil mixture.
- Slowly (starting with a drop at a time) add the dissolved magnesium mixture to the oil mixture while continuing to blend. Continue until all of the magnesium mix is added and it is well mixed.
- Add the oregano and peppermint essential oils (if using) and whip until combined.
- Put in the fridge for 15 minutes and re-blend to get body butter consistency.
- Store in fridge for best consistency (and a cooling lotion feel), or at room temperature for up to two months.
To Use: Apply the salve to cracked heels at night.
For best results, a few steps are needed:
- Exfoliate feet while dry, using the pumice or Ped Egg.
- Do a detoxifying foot soak. Let skin dry fully.
- Apply a thick coat of salve. Wear socks to bed to keep salve where it’s needed (and to keep sheets clean).
- Repeat as needed until problem resolves!
Coconut Oil for Cracked Heels: Does It Work?
Cracked heels are especially prevalent when feet are exposed through open-back shoes. The condition stems from untreated dry skin.
Once feet are cracked, it is difficult to undo the damage with a simple foot lotion. Coconut oil is one of the treatments you can use to relieve cracks in your feet and it does work even if you use it alone!
Functions – Coconut is often considered a “miracle” ingredient when it comes to skincare. However, its benefits for extremely dry skin are pretty straightforward.
Not only does coconut oil help retain hydrating water on the skin’s surface, but it also removes dead skin cells. On top of that, coconut oil can help strengthen tissues underneath the epidermis, celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder tells the Huffington Post.
While this oil may provide your feet with the deep moisture they need, some people also choose coconut because of its tropical smell. The scent of coconut may be especially welcome during the summer months.
Application – Coconut oil can be applied directly to the feet. An added benefit to coconut oil is that it goes a lot further than regular lotion.
One spoonful is generally enough to cover your entire body. Since coconut oil has a greasy texture, make sure you don’t walk barefoot until it is absorbed.
For the best results, apply before bed and wear socks to seal in the moisture.
Other Ingredients – It is important to do your own research before buying coconut products for cracked heels. While pure versions are available in natural health stores, many drugstore products contain small amounts of the oil mixed with other ingredients.
Shea butter, grapeseed extract and goat’s milk are just a few examples. While added ingredients can help relieve dry skin too, read product labels carefully if you only want coconut oil. Some products can also contain alcohol, a known drying agent, which can actually worsen cracked heels.
Tips for Optimal Foot Health – Since dry skin can lead to cracked heels, consider measures to prevent excessive dryness in the first place.
Coconut oil can be used in place of your regular foot lotion to prevent cracked heels; consider using it daily.
The risk for dry feet increases when you walk barefoot or with open-back shoes, so consider moisturizing your feet twice a day during warmer months. See your doctor if the cracks on your feet become swollen or infected.
Choose the best product – make sure that you choose a high quality, organic and extra virgin coconut oil for your cracked heels. Our top recommendation is this one which you can get on Amazon (it’s perfect for cooking too!)
How to Use Coconut Oil for Cracked Heels
Your feet are one of the most overworked limbs of your body. Genetics, age, dehydration, walking barefoot and environmental conditions are among the causes of dry feet and cracked heels.
Thankfully, there are good natural moisturizers out there such as coconut oil for cracked heels and feet. Find out how to use coconut oil for cracked heels in this post!
How Does Coconut Oil Help Cracked Heels?
Coconut oil is a creamy white oil that’s solid in cold climates. It has a small molecular structure which makes it easily penetrable into skin, which readily absorbs it.
Coconut oil is rich in medium chain triglycerides or fatty acids that nourish, protect and soothe skin. This is a list of ways coconut oil helps cracked heels:
- Nourishes skin
- Moisturizes dry cracked skin
- Soothes painful cracks
- Softens hard cracked feet
- Keeps skin smooth and silky
Extra tips for healing your cracked heels with coconut oil & DIY Coconut Oil-based creams
- Apart from using your DIY foot cream, it is important to scrub your feet regularly to slough off the dead skin. You can try one of our homemade foot scrub recipes.
- Since the dead skin on your heels can be pretty hard, use a pumice stone to slough off the dead cells.
- If you have dry and cracked heels, slather a thick layer of foot cream on your heels at bedtime and put on your socks. Leave it on overnight and wake up to soft and healed skin.
- Always wash your feet when you get home after a long day. This will help get rid of accumulated dirt and impurities, preventing any buildup.
- Keep your toenails trimmed and filed to prevent nail infections.
- If you have extremely sweaty feet, always wear socks with your shoes. You can also apply some talcum powder before putting on the socks. This little hack will keep your feet dry throughout the day.
- Once a week, you can soak your feet in an Epsom salt bath. It will help soften the skin and also help get rid of toxins in your body.
- Protect your feet from extreme hot or cold temperatures to maintain healthy skin. Your feet are one of the most overworked limbs of your body. Genetics, age, dehydration, walking barefoot and environmental conditions are among the causes of dry feet and cracked heels. Thankfully, there are good natural moisturizers out there such as coconut oil for cracked heels and feet.
Conclusion
Now this is what we would like to call an epic, complete article. Hopefully you found it useful, because researching, testing and actually writing it took us a lot of time.
But we are 100% confident that this is the best resource available online to help you with your cracked heels, using natural ingredients and coconut oil. Choose the cream or lotion that you like the best and enjoy!