How to Make Hand and Foot Cream

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 11, 2022

Hands and feet are prone to getting dry, especially in the summer or if you do a lot of heavy work. Store-bought creams can get expensive, however, and many of them are filled with unpronounceable chemicals that may irritate sensitive skin.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
Go to source} Luckily, it is possible to make your very own hand and food cream right at home. For best results, apply the cream at night before going to bed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Coconut Oil and Shea Butter

1
Set up a double-boiler. Place a saucepan filled with 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water on the stove. Place a heat-safe, glass measuring cup into the water, then bring the water to a simmer.
2
Add some coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter. You will need 4 tablespoons (60 grams) of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of shea butter, and 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of cocoa butter.
- If you can't find one of the oils or butters, simply substitute it with what you already do have.
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3
Allow the ingredients to melt, then remove them from heat. Stir the oil and butters occasionally to help them melt more evenly. Once everything is melted and combined, use a potholder to remove the measuring cup from the water. Set it down onto a heat-safe surface, then wait about 10 minutes for it to cool.
4
Stir in some aloe vera juice and a liquid oil of your choice. You will need 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of aloe vera juice and 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of liquid oil. Great choices include jojoba and sweet almond. You can also use regular olive oil as well.
- If you can't find aloe vera juice, you can try using aloe vera gel instead.
- You will need to use this within three days. If you won't use it that fast, replace the aloe vera juice with another tablespoon (15 milliliters) of liquid oil.
5
Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil if desired. You don't have to do this, but it will make the cream more pleasant to use. Use your favorite type of fragrance. Lavender, rose, or peppermint are all great options.
6
Pour the cream into a small jar. A jar that is able to hold 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 milliliters) would be ideal for this.
7
Allow the liquid to solidify before you use it. This will take several hours. If you can't wait that long, you can speed up the process by placing the jar in the fridge. Keep in mind that if it is very warm where you live, the cream may never solidify and remain in a liquid state. In this case, store it in the fridge.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Shea Butter and Beeswax

1
Set up a double-boiler. Fill a saucepan with 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water. Set a heat-safe glass measuring cup into it, then bring the water to a simmer.
2
Add some shea butter, sweet almond oil, and beeswax. You will need 4 tablespoons (60 grams) of shea butter, 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of sweet almond oil, and 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of beeswax pellets.^{[2]
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Research source} If you want something that's more like a lotion, use less beeswax.
- You can also use a combination of shea butter, cocoa butter, and/or coconut oil.
- If you don't have any sweet almond oil, you can use jojoba oil or olive oil instead.
3
Allow the ingredients to melt, then remove them from heat and let them cool. Stir the ingredients together as they melt. This will help them melt faster and move evenly. Once the ingredients are liquid and combined, use a potholder to grab the measuring cup and lift it out of the water. Set it down on a heat-safe surface, then let it cool for 10 minutes.^{[3]
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Research source}
4
Stir in 10 drops of myrrh and 10 drops of cedar wood essential oil. These oils are wonderful for the skin because of how nourishing and soothing they are. If you can't find any, or just don't like the fragrance, you can use a different type of essential oil. Great options include: frankincense, geranium, lavender, and sandalwood.^{[4]
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Research source} Another great option is rosehip seed oil.
5
Pour the mixture into a glass jar, then let it harden. Choose a jar that is able to hold about 4 ounces (120 milliliters). Pour the mixture into the jar, then set it aside so that it can harden. This can take a few hours, but you can speed the process up by placing the jar into the fridge.
6
Apply the salve to your hands and feet before going to bed. You can keep this lotion on the counter. If it gets very warm where you live, however, it may liquefy. In this case, store it in the fridge.^{[5]
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Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Whipped Cooling Cream

1
Set up a double-boiler. Fill a saucepan with about 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water. Place a glass, heat-safe measuring cup into it. Bring the water to a simmer.
2
Add some shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and avocado oil. You will need 4 tablespoons (60 grams) of shea butter, 2 tablespoons (30 grams) coconut oil, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) cocoa butter, and 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of avocado oil.
3
Allow the ingredients to melt, then remove them from heat. Stir the ingredients together as they melt. This will help them melt more evenly. Once everything turns liquid and no streaks remain, use a potholder to lift the measuring cup out of the pot and set it down onto a heat-safe surface.
4
Allow the mixture to cool and harden. This will take several hours. Once it turns solid again, you are ready for the next step. You can speed the process up by placing the cup into the fridge.
5
Add in some vitamin E oil and essential oil. You will need 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil (about 12 capsules), ¼ teaspoon of tea tree essential oil, and ¼ teaspoon of peppermint essential oil. If you can't find vitamin E oil in a bottle, use vitamin E oil capsules instead. Prick them with a pin first, then squeeze the oil out. You will need about 12 capsules.
- For more fragrance, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract.
6
Whip everything together using a hand mixer. The lotion will turn light and fluffy, sort of like buttercream frosting.^{[6]
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Research source} If you don't have a hand mixer, you can use a stand mixer or a food processor fitted with whisks instead.
7
Transfer the cream to a glass jar, then store it in a cool place. Use a rubber spatula to scoop the whipped cream into a glass jar. You can leave the top fluffy and whipped, or you can smooth it down. Store the jar in the fridge so that the cream does not melt.
- Use a glass jar that can hold about 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 milliliters). If the jar is too big, it will become inconvenient to use.

Community Q&A

Question

Can we apply this paste to the face?

Community Answer

Yes. Just try not to get it in your eyes.
Question

Which cream should I use for fairness?

Community Answer

Vichy creams are good for fairness.
Question

What does it actually do?

Tansy_200

Community Answer

The banana, honey and aloe vera soften and soothe your skin. Margarine and lemon juice hold the entire mixture together.