Steppin' Into Fall - Pt. 3 How to Repair Dry Cracked Feet

By Arvette Hammar

With summer coming to an end, now is the time to deal with dry cracked feet.  For me in California, dry cracked feet are always an issue because I run around in flip flops or bare feet more than half the year.  This often leads to dry cracked abused feet.  Dry and calloused feet don’t get any better with winter and I hate when my feet snag on socks or tights. Once boot season arrives, cracked feet will be more prone to fungus and can lead to various foot infections.  So, here's how to repair dry cracked feet at home naturally.

1.      SOAK

Soaking in a warm foot bath softens dry skin and feels so good on overworked feet.

Softening Foot Soak                                                   

1 cup    Epsom Salt 
½ tsp.   Avocado Oil or other light oil 
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil 

Use:  Fill tub or container with enough warm water to cover feet and add Epsom Salt and Oils.  For Extra calloused feet:  Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar (* Do not use if you are diabetic or have poor circulation)

Sit back, relax and enjoy.  Soak feet for 30 minutes.

2.      REMOVE 

While feet are still in foot bath; use a Natural Pumice Stone or Foot File to gently slough away rough skin and callouses. 

Periodically rub the bottom of feet with hand to judge softness. Don’t get too gung ho with skin removal because too much can remove the protective layer of skin on the feet and make them sensitive and prone to injury.

3.      SCRUB

Peppermint Sugar & Honey Scrub

1 cup       Organic Cane Sugar (fine) or Brown Sugar
¼ cup      Avocado Oil
1 tbs.       Raw Honey (warmed to liquid)
10 drops  Peppermint Essential Oil – you can use any essential oil you like, however peppermint oil menthol properties provide cooling and anti-fungal properties.

Don't feel like making it? Purchase ours here


Preparation: Mix ingredients together for a thick blend (similar to toothpaste), you may not need all of the oil.    

Use:  Apply exfoliating scrub with fine textured pumice stone, exfoliating glove or hands (give your hands a nice exfoliation in the process) to tops and bottoms of feet in a circular massaging motion. The goal here is to polish the feet to a smooth soft texture. Rinse feet well and wash feet with soap to remove oil. Caution:  Feet may be slippery prior to washing with soap. Dry feet well.

4.      MOISTURIZE

A little about moisturizers.  Water based lotions are good for applying to dry skin however they don’t last long and wear off quickly.  Oil based moisturizers/balms/butters absorption rates vary depending on the oil. I have found that oil moisturizers work best at softening and smoothing dry skin and locking in moisture.

Super Foot Repair Moisturizer

½ cup     Shea Butter (melted)
¼ cup     Almond Oil
1 tsp.      Vitamin E Oil
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil – You can use any essential oils you like, however Lavender and Peppermint essential oils provide skin soothing and anti-fungal properties.

Preparation: Melt butter in a double boiler only until melted not boiling (microwaving will cause Shea Butter to become grainy). Remove from heat.  Combine Almond Oil, Vitamin E Oil and Essential Oils.  Combine oils with Shea Butter and pour into dark colored glass jar with lid and store in a cool place. The dark colored jar will protect the potency of your essential oils. If you don't have a dark jar, store blend in a cool dark place.  Blend will solidify.

Don't feel like making your own? Purchase ours here.


Use: Apply moisturizer immediately after drying feet, focusing on heals and other dry areas.  It is beneficial to immediately place cotton socks on freshly moisturized feet to allow oils to penetrate. 


Follow this process as often as needed.

I will often do this before going to bed and wear socks to bed to wake up to soft happy feet in the morning.

 
 How do you naturally repair dry cracked feet?

DISCLAIMER: Information on Holistic Blends Soap Company™ is not reviewed or endorsed by the FDA and is NOT intended to be substituted for the advice of your health care professional. If you rely solely upon this advice you do so at your own risk. Read full Disclaimer & Disclosure statements here.