Three Natural Ways to Care for Dry, Cracked Heels
If your heels are rough, dry, or even cracked, you’re not alone. The good news? With a little consistency and care, you can restore your heels to soft, supple health, naturally.
The skin on our heels is thicker than anywhere else on the body, built to withstand pressure and friction. But when that skin loses moisture, it loses flexibility too, causing peeling, and leading to splits and painful cracks.
Common culprits include:
Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can affect skin elasticity everywhere, including your feet.
Hot showers and harsh soaps: Both strip away natural oils that keep your skin supple.
Barefoot walking or open shoes: They expose feet to air and dust, increasing moisture loss.
Age: As we age, our skin naturally produces less oil, making dryness more common.
Exfoliate Gently, Not Harshly
It’s tempting to grab a file and scrub away rough patches, but harsh exfoliation can make things worse by damaging healthy skin. Instead, think gentle renewal.
At home, soak your feet in warm, not hot, water for 10–15 minutes to soften the skin. Then, use a pumice stone or a fine-grit foot file to remove dead cells in circular motions.
For a more nourishing experience, try adding a spoonful of Epsom salt, oatmeal, or a few drops of essential oil to your soak. These natural ingredients calm inflammation and promote shedding of dead skin. Two of our favorite natural pre-mixed soaks are the Milk Bath from Being, and the Detox Bath Soak and Scrub from Dirt Don’t Hurt Me.
Replenish with Deep Hydration
Once the dead skin is gone, your heels are ready to drink in moisture. The key is layering. Immediately after soaking or bathing, apply a rich emollient cream or oil. Look for ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or vegetable glycerin, all known for sealing in hydration. For very dry skin, follow up with a thin layer of occlusive balm or oil (like petroleum jelly) before bed, then slip on cotton socks to lock in the moisture overnight.
Protect Your Progress
Healthy heels don’t happen from a single treatment, it’s the rituals that matter. Protect your progress by:
Avoiding walking barefoot on hard or dirty surfaces.
Avoid using harsh soaps when bathing
Moisturizing your feet nightly, or up to 2 times daily, especially during dry weather
Staying hydrated throughout the day, water supports skin health from within.
Sometimes, what your feet really need is not another at-home fix, but intentional rest and rejuvenation. At Sainte Foot Sanctuary, our foot soaks and massages are designed to restore hydration, boost circulation, and soften the skin naturally.
Our treatments use plant-based, non-toxic ingredients and gentle exfoliants to leave your feet refreshed, without the harsh chemicals that can cause further dryness. It’s a ritual designed to help you reconnect with your body, nourish your soles and reclaim your calm.