I really like to make a lot of my own self-care products like this DIY beeswax foot balm because 1) It’s easy 2) I’m basically allergic to everything right now and 3) I can customize the scent and the therapeutic properties to what I want and need at that particular moment.
Right now, at the tail end of summer, my feet are dry, chapped, sore, and achy. You tend to think of chapped feet as being a winter thing (and it is!) but it’s also a summer thing. I walk around in flip flops all summer long and eventually all that exposure takes its toll. Luckily, relief is just a few minutes away.
Watch the tutorial on YouTube
Table of Contents
- DIY Foot Balm: Ingredients
- My DIY Foot Balm Recipe
- DIY Foot Balm Instructions: Step by Step
- How to Use Your DIY Foot Balm
DIY Foot Balm: Ingredients
I’ll include my exact recipe below, but you can absolutely customize this recipe to fit your needs, budget, and access to certain ingredients. The basic ingredients for an all-natural salve include just a few simple ingredients:
Beeswax – either in pastille form or in a block. Pastilles are manufactured to be easy to measure and look like lentils. They are easier to work with, but I generally try to get beeswax locally if possible, and that usually means in a molded block. If you’re in Maine and are looking for a local product, Swann’s Honey has reasonably priced beeswax blocks and they do ship. If you’re not in the great state of Maine, you may have a local source – google it! Otherwise, buy some pastilles from Mountain Rose Herbs (Oregon), or your craft store of choice. You can also order it from Amazon, though I’m making an effort to shop there less myself and to find smaller resellers that support local economies (no judgement – do what works best for you).
Oil – I’m going to infuse some organic Argan oil with Roman Chamomile, but you don’t need to get that fancy. You could simply use any kind of oil that your skin loves, like coconut oil or almond oil. If you don’t have that, olive oil that you use for cooking will also work wonderfully. Don’t stress about it too much – the stuff you buy at the stores is made of cheaper oil than you will use.
Essential oil (optional). I love to use essential oils both for their fragrance and often for their medicinal properties. I also happen to own just about every EO under the sun. To moisturize your skin, it’s not essential. If you are planning to purchase an essential oil just for this project, I would recommend an oil that you’ll find many uses for, such as lavender, tea tree oil (melaleuca), peppermint, or geranium. I’ll talk about the benefits of these and others below. I encourage you to purchase these from a reputable vendor that is committed to sustainable harvesting, such as Mountain Rose Herbs, Rocky Mountain Oils, or Eden Botanicals. DoTerra and Young Living are fine as well, but I avoid them because I don’t want to deal with multi-level marketing schemes just to get good quality oils. If you’re already in with them, go for it!
My DIY Foot Balm Recipe
- 0.5 ounces of beeswax
- 24 drops of skin-friendly essential oils, such as lavender and geranium
- 3.5 to 4 ounces of skin-friendly oil, such as olive, castor, almond, argan, coconut, etc.
- 1/4 cup of dried botanicals, such as calendula flowers or chamomile flowers
- Altnernatively, use 3.5 to 4 ounces of herbal infused oil in place of the oil and botanicals above.
DIY Foot Balm Instructions: Step by Step
This is a very simple project, though infusing the oil does take some passive time.
To infuse your botanicals into your oil (skip this step if you already have infused oil on hand):
In a wide-mouthed glass mason jar, add 4 ounces of oil (you may choose not to use the full 4 ounces in your balm, but it’s best to start with the full amount). Then add your 1/4 cup of dried botanicals. Stir the botanicals so they are completely submerged in the oil. Then, add the jar to a saucepan half full of very hot water and let them steep for about 2 hours. DO NOT simmer them or boil them. I put mine on the warming zone of my stove. The ideal temperature is about 115 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
When your oil is ready (it should take on the color of the botanicals), strain it into a new container using a fine mesh strainer.
Now, it’s time to melt your beeswax. Add the beeswax to another glass mason jar and add it into the same saucepan with water. This time, put it on the burner on medium heat and stir occasionally until it’s completely melted.
Turn the heat off the burner, but keep the beeswax in the hot water and then add your strained infused oil. To have a more waxy consistency, add only 3.5 ounces of the oil. To have a softer, oiler consistency, use 4 ounches of the oil.
Stir until it’s mixed well.
Then take it off the heat and add your 24 drops of essential oil and stir well. I used 12 drops of lavender and 12 drops of geranium essential oil.
Let it sit on the counter or in the fridge until solidified.
How to Use Your DIY Foot Balm
Starting with clean feet, rub your foot balm generously on your dry feet. Put on clean socks to lock the moisture in (and prevent you from slipping all over the place!).
To give as a gift, make a nice label and add a bow.
For other beeswax projects, check out DIY Rolled Beeswax Taper Candles and How to Clean Beeswax for Candles and Crafts.
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