DIY Cracked Foot & Heel Salve Recipe

Last night I heard rain and lightning and *thunder* for the first time in literally MONTHS!  What does this mean to me? SPRING IS COMING!!! Oh, how I look forward to spending more time outside very soon… basking in the sun, getting in some excellent Earthing while turning the soil for my garden, and just enjoying the days spent outside playing with my toddler and hubby.

After a long, cold, snowy winter, I am craving the sun and vitamin D (making sure I apply a bit of DIY sunscreen lotion to my nose and shoulders).

Another thing that comes with spring, since you know that I like to keep it real with you, is getting my body back into shape for the new clothing I’m excited to get back on my body. My long hippie skirts don’t ever go out of style all winter long, but shorter ones do make a reappearance (so I must shave those legs just a bit more often). I also bring back out my flippity-flip-flops.

One of the first things I notice after a long winter is the horrific shape of my crusty and cracked feet and heels. Ewwwww. While I have been known to go to the salon for a pedicure visit (maybe twice in my life!??), I prefer to take care of my winter-time feet myself. You know that the stuff they are using in the salon/spa most likely isn’t the best non-toxic option available.

No worries! Pronounce has you covered. Today I bring you a super simple, crazy effective DIY Cracked Foot and Heel Salve Recipe that will absolutely get your feet ready for spring and summer. Hooray!

Two Key Ingredients

Per my typical DIYing style, I want you to know why I specifically choose to use two key ingredients in this DIY Cracked Foot Salve Recipe.

Cocoa Butter

I’ve already written a pretty intense post about raw, organic, unrefined, sustainably-sourced cocoa butter here, but I want you to understand why I chose cocoa butter over shea butter for this recipe. While it’s true that both shea and cocoa butters are wonderful moisturizers, cocoa butter is one of the most rich, emollient oils available. This makes  it an excellent choice for super dry skin (source). Plus, who doesn’t want to give their feet a faint chocolate scent!?

Tamanu Oil

Without hesitation, tamanu oil is always my #1 go-to for healing damaged skin. As well as having anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibiotic properties, raw, organic, unrefined, and sustainably-sourced tamanu oil is a natural antioxidant. Sounds perfect for restoring your cracked, dry winter feet and preparing them for spring and summer. Although it can be a bit pricey, it’s something that will pay off to keep around. On our site here you can make two DIY skincare recipes using tamanu, including…

Ready to make it? Follow this easy recipe and your feet and heels will be in spring & summer condition ASAP!

DIY Cracked Foot Salve Recipe (7OZ)

Supplies/Ingredients

  • Double-boiler (I always make my own with a pot and glass bowl on top)
  • Kitchen scale (like this fantastic glass-top scale)
  • Glass jar(s) &/or tins for salve at least 8 oz in size – Find them in the Container section of the Pronounce Skincare Shop

Make It

  • Combine all ingredients in your lightly simmering double-boiler (EXCEPT the Vitamin E and Essential Oils).
  • Melt everything down; the beeswax will be the last to melt. You can encourage melting with a wooden spoon.
  • Remove glass bowl from heat and wipe down the HOT outside to remove moistur. You don’t ever want water getting into your DIY skincare creations, as this can contribute to and encourage bacterial growth. Now, add the Vitamin E and Essential Oils.
  • Carefully pour mixture into your clean, sanitized containers.
  • Let cool for a while (at least 30 minutes), but you’ll be surprised at how quickly this actually cools (it’s the beeswax).
  • Apply to your feet at bedtime and (if you can stand it) wear socks over the top. As Marybeth mentioned, this salve works quickly, with only a treatment or two you should start to see improvement.

*T=tablespoon and t=teaspoon

I love to sample my DIY recipes before sharing them with you. I always have people try them out so you aren’t just taking my word for it, but the word of others. My lovely retail store neighbor came to me wanting something for her feet. Of course, I had a recipe just for the trick. Marybeth is currently on container #2. She even recently brought a friend up to the store so she could grab her own container!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Pronounce Footcare Salve! Literally overnight, this salve healed my dry, cracked feet, without making my socks oily. I now use it 2 or 3 times a week and my feet feel great! Also, I like the fact that one small tin of it lasts a long time.Marybeth Kelsey, MoonStones Jewelry Store in Bloomington, IN

xo,

Not feeling particularly DIYish?

Simply not enough hours in the day? No worries. I have got you covered. Please, head on over to my Pronounce Skincare Shop where I sell this salve.

While you are there, please look around at all of my other skincare creations. I love making them for my family and for you!

Comments 47

  1. Hi, I have been making your Cracked Heel salve for a few years now. It has not only healed my feet but I’ve started using it as my body lotion. The Tamanu oil is an amazing discovery and I have used it in a homade sunburn gel that works better than any other store bought sunburn salve. I just wanted to give credit where credit is due and tell you thank you for this recipe. I quadruple the recipe and give jars to my friends and family. They love it. People literally tell me my skin looks great. Just wanted to say thank you.

  2. Pingback: DIY Detangling Spray (for sensitive heads) • Pronounce Skincare & Herbal Boutique

    1. Hi Kelly! I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work. Come back and let us know if you give it a try 🙂

  3. Does this salve get hard enough to put it in a deodorant-type container for applying? Or does it have a soft consistency? Thanks.

      1. how much product are we gonna get from this recipe , I was reading that for 1oz product only 15 drops of tamanu oil. So makes me wonder.

  4. I just made this and it’s one of the best salves I’ve made so far. I didn’t have any Tamanu but I decided to make it anyway, I was desperate, and as soon as I used it I felt relief from my poor cracked hands. I did order the Tamaru and I plan to make another batch with it. Thank you so so much for this recipe, my hands have been splitting and bleeding for weeks and they were so painful.

  5. Hi, im Gee from the Philippines, and im planning to follow and make the recipe, but is there any substitute for beeswax and avocado oil? I have other oils (neem, sunflower, grapeseed, jojoba, calendula, apricot kernet, rose infused, frankincense infused, and myrr infused oil) anything i can use from my available oils? And oh! I have shea butted too.

    Thanks in advance

    1. Hi there! I have heard some people use candelilla wax in place of beeswax, but I have not tried that. It is plant based and harder than beeswax, so you’d have to tinker with the recipe. Any liquid carrier can replace the avocado oil. Learn more about various carrier oils here. Happy DIYing!

        1. Hi! The tamanu oil is pretty crucial. I offer smaller amounts of tamanu oil here in my herbal boutique. That said, you could use another carrier oil (learn more here), but this will be a totally different recipe without the same benefits you receive from tamanu. Happy DIYing!

  6. Is there a phone number where I can call you to place an order? My debit card has been hacked twice and I prefer to place my orders by phone if possible.

  7. Hi there! Looking to make a heel balm to use in a roll up deodorant style container. The recipe I recently made (from a different source) worked well, but I thought it was slightly too soft. I have two questions, 1) Would this work in that type of container? and 2) How could I make the resulting balm slightly harder in nature? Would I change the amount of beeswax used? Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Missy! That sounds like a brilliant idea! I believe this salve would work in a roll-up style container. If you find that it’s still too soft for your liking you will want to add more beeswax to firm it up. I hope this helps you! Happy DIYing 😊

    1. This recipe makes approximately 7 oz, so that will depend on what size containers you are using. If you are looking for small containers, we have a few different options in our shop! I hope this helps you 😊

  8. Would grapeseed or jojoba oil be okay in place of avocado oil? I usually don’t stock avocado oil, it’s just not something I use.

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      Author
  9. Dear Jessica,

    I just want to thank you for this wonderful recipe.
    When I made this salve last year, I was not ready to buy Tamanu oil for its high price. The salve was still good enough, though. This time I decided to follow your recipe strictly and buy Tamanu oil because I really had enough of my cracked feet. The salve worked so well, so that I went on to apply this salve on my super dry hands and the skin became so smooth. It hasn’t been this smooth since I moved to Germany and became a full-time mom 14 years ago! Thank you sooooo much!

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      Author

      <3 Hi Ling! Yay...I'm so glad that you are loving this recipe. Isn't the tamanu such a wonderful addition!? Enjoy, and thanks for your feedback.

      1. Hi! I’ve given this as a gift and folks seem to love it! I think I made it incorrectly though. Can you please explain the fluid ounce vs ounce to me. Should I melt the cocoa, beeswax and coconut to liquid to get 1 fluid ounce or stick with 1 ounce on the scale before melting? And from what I can tell, 1oz on your recipe for all the oils equals 2 tablespoons, right? Thank you for sharing and helping!

        1. Hi Kelly. Yay! I’m glad your folks love it, too. And yes, you are correct…measure the items into a bowl and then melt. And yes, 1oz is 2 tablespoons. Let me know if you need anything else!

  10. I found you through Pinterest and very excited to try your products. I have EXTREMELY dry and cracked feet which I am sure is from NEVER wearing socks (even in the winter months). I sure hope this helps! I love essential oils and use them often, and I am amazed at what they are capable of doing! I am looking forward to getting these products. 🙂

    Thank you!

  11. Hi! Im Andrea from mexico. Im about to open a foot spa, im all into young living’s esential oils, do i want to make my own spa pedicures treatments. Where can I find the little tins?

    1. Hi Andrea! You can find a great selection of little tins over on our shop page. I hope this helps you with your search. Good luck with the foot spa 🙂

  12. I just wanted to let you know that I have made this several times and have gifted most of it. They are begging for more! It not only has helped the cracked heels, it helped heal some feet disorders too like runners toe. I just gave a sample to a friend who had a horrible skin condition on her hand that was made worse by a prescribed steroid. The problem healed up, but seems to be coming back again. She asked for one of my other products, but I thought this salve would work better. Finger crossed!

  13. I think that the world is so commercialized, that, even in Coconuts, they use: HAND PRESSED COCONUT OIL!!!

    While, the truth and the matter is, that _ coconut oils are results of a “cooking” method used to develop an “OIL” out of cooking procedures…

    There is no such thing as : hand pressed coconut oil!!!

    THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE!!!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Cleo. The coconut oil I use both in my home and in all of my organic skincare goods for sale in my shop is actually hand-pressed. You can learn more here about my favorite coconut oil here, including how it is hand-pressed in small batches.

  14. The salve sounds great! I have really dry hands every winter and it takes for ever to get them back in shape. Speaking of shaving more often, do you have any products or tips for razor burn? I have not been able to find any way around razor burn 🙁

    1. I make little discs of coconut oil and rub them on my legs in the bath and shave using it like a shaving cream. I have never had raiser burn since I started that.

  15. I have just recently stumbled across your website and I’m loving it!!! My daughter is African-American and I have started making her hair products myself so I know what’s is going into it. Well, that has snowballed into wanting to make as many homemade products as I can. I just made your sunscreen and it’s terrific!!!! Now on to the heel salve for my sister! Well anyway, I just wanted to say thank you, your sited has been extremely informative and inspiring!!!!! Thanks again!!!!

  16. This sounds wonderful, can’t wait till I get out to the store and buy supplies! I love running around bare foot in summer and love going to the beach and having the sand in between my toes, so this sound great for putting on after a day of play!
    P.s.love the comment about having to shave more now that nice weather is around the corner! Lol! But so very true! 😉
    Karen

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