When the skin on and around the heels becomes thickened (callused) or dried out it causes cracking. These cracks can range from minor to severe and be caused by anything from increased pressure /weight and ill-fitting shoes to dry climate and fungal infections, like athletes foot. Whether your dry cracked heels are causing discomfort, or if you simply find them unsightly, try making a honey moisturizer for daily use to get them supple and smooth again.





Ingredients: Milk, honey, orange juice.

Why honey: Honey is a humectant, which means that it traps and seals moisture, making it ideal to apply to dry, cracked heels. Put it on and it essentially “sucks” moisture into your skin, helping to relieve the dryness and heal the cracks. It also helps ward off bacteria, which is an added benefit if you have open cracks that run deeper.

Why milk: Milk is rich in vitamin A which is essential for healthy skin, as it helps to repair and rebuild it. It also helps to thin out the honey a bit and allow for easier application.

Why orange juice: Oranges, and subsequently their juice, are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen, which is basically the substance that gives skin its elasticity and suppleness. As we age our collagen lessens, which is why we get wrinkles. Applying vitamin C topically will help your skin retain the flexibility that makes it possible to put pressure on it without it splitting.

You will need…

-1 cup of organic honey, slightly warmed

-1-2 tablespoons of milk, preferably whole

-The juice of ½ -1 whole a orange

-A foot file or pumice stone (optional)

Directions

Warm the honey slightly to make it easier to spread on. Stir in 2 tablespoons of milk (warming the milk helps as well) and the juice of ½ an orange. If you have one, use a pumice stone or foot file to slough off some of the callused skin before spreading a layer of the mixture evenly onto your heels, massaging as you go to help it sink in.

You don’t need a super thick, gobby layer, but it should still cover all the dry parts thoroughly. Leave it on for 45 minutes and then, if you like, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. Do this twice daily. If you prefer, you can apply this before bed and let it dry and then leave it on overnight. You can also cover it in gauze if you have to be walking around, but it can still be a little messy and the gauze tends to stick to it.

Dry skin isn’t fun for anybody, but it poses a unique sort of problem when it’s on those special things that carry you around all day (aka your feet.) Not only can the sight be bothersome to some people, dry and cracking heels are uncomfortable, sometimes downright painful. If you find fancy foot creams aren’t doing the trick, or want to avoid them altogether, a trip to land of milk and honey may be all you need.

To note…

This will keep for up to a month in the refrigerator. Place it in a bowl of hot water (in its container) to make it easier to spread on. I gave a range of amounts-like 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk or 1/2 an orange instead of a whole one-because it can be adjusted depending on how thick or thin you want it to be. I usually make mine somewhat thinner-closer to a glaze than anything. Sometimes I leave it on, sometimes I have to rinse it off, and sometimes I just wipe off any excess and don’t rinse, it’s really up to you!

P.S. Make sure to take a look at the Everyday Roots Book with 350+ pages of the best home remedies, natural beauty recipes, homemade cleaners and diy household products. View Remedies By Claire Goodall Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse. Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything 🙂 Meet Claire Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse. Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything 🙂

We Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment: