Likely, your feet aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for new skincare products. But seeing as we spend hours on our feet daily, we’d say our heels, toes, and arches deserve some love. And one of the easiest ways to treat your toes to some TLC is with a nourishing foot cream.After all, foot conditions like calluses and dry, cracked heels are common, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah. Luckily, there is a cream for almost every type of foot concern out there, and healing often only takes adding a couple of minutes to your daily routine.
We asked Dr. Shah and our fellow Byrdie editors which creams they like, then tried a few top-rated options ourselves. We considered ingredients and whether or not the creams got rid of calluses, addressed cracked heels, and more, and the result was this curated list of the best foot creams.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget:
Best for Moisturizing:
Best for Calluses:
Best Scented:
Best Balm:
Best for Sore Feet:
Best for Blisters:
What We Like
Eliminates odors
Contains natural ingredients like honey, bee propolis, and dead sea salt
Non-greasy formula
Soothes cracked, blistered feet
What to Consider
Sage and basil scent is not for everyone
Key Ingredients: Bee propolis, sage, basil, vitamin E, chamomile, aloe vera | Size: 5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Whether you deal with smelly feet, cracked feet, or blisters, you'll adore this non-greasy cream from Hey Honey. The formula is loaded with ingredients sourced from nature, like purifying bee propolis, odor-eliminating sage and basil extracts, softening vitamin E, and soothing chamomile and aloe vera. After use, you can expect your feet to feel (and smell) better than ever before. The brand recommends applying nightly (making it a great excuse for a foot massage) and putting on socks to lock in the moisture. Come morning, you can expect super-soft feet.
Who It’s For
Thanks to its softening and odor-eliminating properties, this foot cream is great for anyone dealing with smelly, cracked feet.
What We Like
Non-greasy
See Also11 Foot Creams and Tools for Worn-Out SolesSandal Season or Not, These Are the 12 Best Foot Creams to Keep Your Dry, Cracked Heels HappyThese 8 foot creams are worth spending money on, according to a beauty editorReviewers Say These Hydrating Foot Creams Gave Them A ‘Dramatic Transformation’Absorbs quickly
Gentle enough for all skin types
What to Consider
Can make feet slippery
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, urea | Size: 3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
This pick's ability to deeply hydrate (thanks to ceramides) while also breaking down rough or callused skin has earned it a fan-favorite status with our editors. It’s also a favorite of Shah due to its ability to hydrate and smooth dry, rough feet. “This cream is formulated with ceramide-3 and natural moisturizing factors that enhance the skin barrier—and it’s fragrance-free, making it great for sensitive skin.” It can make feet slippery, though, so if you’ll be walking around barefoot, you may want to enlist the help of some cozy socks.
Who It’s For
When you want to nourish your feet without breaking the bank, reach for this foot cream. It’s available for under 20 dollars, making it a nice pick for most people on a budget.
What We Like
Treats rough, dry heels
Rich, thick texture
Absorbs quickly
What to Consider
Must wear with socks
Key Ingredients: Coconut and olive oils | Size: 4.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Burt’s Bee makes more than that lip balm that has a permanent spot in your bag—they make a great foot cream, too. Formulated with a mixture of coconut and olive oils, its consistency is thick yet feels more like a balm, allowing it to give a hefty dose of moisture with each use. And its light, refreshing scent of peppermint and rosemary only adds to its appeal.
Who It’s For
We recommend this product for anyone seeking a rich, balmy foot cream that drenches skin in intense moisture. It’s also a good option for anyone who prefers naturally derived ingredients.
What We Like
Relieves soreness
Treats rough, dry heels
Great for daily application
What to Consider
Feet can feel greasy
Active Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, and lavender essential oil | Size: 5.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Shea butter, the hero ingredient of this product, has long been known for its ability to instantly hydrate skin. Only a dime-sized amount is needed to go a long way in moisturizing, which is why this foot cream should be in everyone's arsenal. While other rich formulas may have you sliding across the floor, you’ll watch in amazement as this one sinks into the skin in seconds. The cream’s soothing lavender scent is a bonus, too. The only thing we aren’t crazy about is the fact that it can sometimes leave a greasy residue behind. While we don’t mind, it’s something to consider if you plan on applying and heading out the door.
Who It’s For
If you have rough, dry heels and sore, tired feet, look to this calming lavender-scented foot cream from L’Occitane. The blend of shea butter, coconut oil, and lavender essential oil nourishes and soothes as it sinks into the skin.
What We Like
Exfoliates
Treats calluses, splits, and cracks
Non-greasy
What to Consider
May irritate sensitive skin
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid | Size: 3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Knock out pesky calluses with this foot cream from AmLactin. Its formula helps heal any calluses, splits, and cracks with just a tiny bit of product. Another bonus: its formula is non-greasy and fragrance-free, making it ideal for use on dry heels and stubborn calluses (and avoiding sliding all around your house). Shah is a fan of this cream because it contains lactic acid to help moisturize and exfoliate. It’s a gentle exfoliant, but those with super sensitive skin might find it to be slightly irritating.
Who It’s For
This is our recommendation for anyone who wants to treat dry, dead skin and calluses. Thanks to the lactic acid, it gently exfoliates splits and cracks.
What We Like
Treats dry feet and heels
Absorbs quickly
Eucalyptus scented
What to Consider
Can smell overwhelming if you use too much
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, E, A, and F, shea butter, aloe leaf, cocoa seed, chamomile, and essential oils | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
When you apply a foot cream, you want a scent that smells good without being too overwhelming, which is where this eucalyptus-scented pick from Footnanny comes in. Aside from working well on repairing dry feet and heels, it also provides a delicious, refreshing scent from the mixture of essential oils within its formula, though fair warning: a little bit goes a long way, or you might find the smell overpowering. Also nice: It absorbs speedily without leaving any residue, greasiness, or gross stuff.
Who It’s For
We like this one for anybody in the market for something scented. While several options on this list have essential oils, this one offers a mixture that offsets the scent of stinky toes.
What We Like
Mess-free application
Travel-friendly
Treats rough, dry heels
What to Consider
Packaging on the smaller side
Key Ingredients: Sunflower and meadowfoam | Size: 1.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Aside from its incredibly soothing and hydrating formula, this balm offers the simplest, mess-free application. It comes housed in a stick applicator that ensures hands don’t get all greasy and slimy while being easy to glide all over heels and arches. By locking in moisture, it’s intended to repair and rejuvenate dry, cracked skin. Plus, it’s an overnight treatment, so it only needs to be applied once a day.
Who It’s For
If you’re not a fan of messy foot creams, snag this balm from Olive & June. It serves as an overnight treatment that won’t leave a mess while you sleep.
What We Like
Exfoliates
Drastic softening results
Smells good
What to Consider
A tad gross watching your foot peel
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 1.2 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For feet that feel as soft as a newborn, put on these foot masks from Baby Foot. With each use, it’ll use a whole slew of AHAs (like lactic and glycolic acids) to exfoliate every inch of dead skin off of your entire foot (yes, entire!). It may look like an ordinary foot mask when you first put it on, but for 48 hours after you apply it, you’ll watch your entire foot peel. The results? Feet that look renewed and feel ultra-soft.
Who It’s For
This is for anyone interested in sloughing off an entire foot’s worth of dead skin. It’s slightly creepy, yes, but it’s also incredibly satisfying.
Best for Sore Feet
Dr. Bronner's Arnica Menthol Balm
What We Like
Relieves soreness
Multi-purpose product
What to Consider
Slight tingling feel
Key Ingredients: Organic beeswax, arnica, camphor, menthol and peppermint oils | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While this multi-purpose balm can be used on just about everything, we love how well it works for soothing sore feet. Its infusion of hydrating ingredients—think healing beeswax plus avocado, hemp, and jojoba oils—alone makes it worth it, but the blend of menthol and peppermint oils is what truly works the magic. For some extra pampering, soak your feet in the tub before applying.
Who It’s For
If you have sore, tired feet, you’ll like this balm that acts as a treat for your feet. Between the nourishing ingredients and the soothing scent, this is not to be missed.
What We Like
Multi-purpose product
Safe for sensitive skin
Affordable
What to Consider
Sticky formula
Key Ingredients: Petrolatum | Size: 14 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Applying moisturizer to your feet while having blisters is not fun by any means, but you can rest assured knowing that this cream from Aquaphor will help heal them. Although it’s not specifically intended for feet, Shah says that this cream is a staple for most dermatologists—especially for healing really dry areas. “It combines three ultra-nourishing ingredients—petrolatum jelly with panthenol and glycerin—that acts like a seal over blisters,” he says. And with the added healing (and moisturizing) benefits, your blisters will be gone before you know it.
Who It’s For
This is a prime option for anyone who frequently gets blisters. The petroleum jelly-based formula forms a seal over the skin (preventing blisters from happening in the first place) and helps heal existing ones, too.
Best for Exfoliating
CeraVe SA Foot Cream
What We Like
Exfoliates dry patches
Calming ingredients
Gentle but effective
What to Consider
Contains parabens
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides, ammonium lactate, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid | Size: 3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
With all the dry skin on our feet, it’s no surprise that exfoliation is necessary. Make the process a bit less tedious by incorporating an exfoliating foot cream like this one from CeraVe. “It contains salicylic acid and other exfoliants to help smooth skin on the feet,” explains Shah. And we’d be remiss to mention that it’s also moisturizing, affordably priced, and made with a gentle, non-irritating formula.
Who It’s For
Because salicylic acid is an effective exfoliator, this is a great choice for anyone experiencing dry patches on their feet. The added nourishing ingredients prevent irritation—an added plus.
Best Splurge
Susanne Kaufmann Warming Foot Cream
What We Like
Warming and cooling sensation when applied
Improves circulation
Treats calluses and dryness
What to Consider
Can feel greasy
Key Ingredients: Camphor bark oil, thyme, wheat germ oil, marigold, rosemary, and witch hazel extract | Size: 7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For a truly luxurious experience, slather on this foot cream from Susanne Kaufmann. Aside from aiding circulation, dryness, and healing, it makes a great addition to your self-care routine due to the warming and cooling sensation you’ll feel when it’s applied. Add to your foot massage routine or as a little daily luxury at the end of a bad day. One thing is for certain: It's worth every single penny.
Who It’s For
This foot cream is well worth the money and is a nice option for those who need improved circulation in their feet. This formula offers warming and cooling sensations that bring feeling back to the toes.
What to Look for in a Foot Cream
- Consistency: The skin on our feet tends to be very thick compared to the rest of our body, which is why Shah recommends a thicker moisturizer. “I look for thicker moisturizers and advise creams and ointments over lotions and gels.”
- Ingredients: Every foot cream should contain some exfoliating ingredients, says Shah. “I also look for exfoliating ingredients like lactic acid, urea (an emollient), or salicylic acid to penetrate that thickened layer of skin.”
- Fragrance: When it comes to picking a foot cream, the fragrance is the most important element to consider. If you have an allergy to fragrances (or simply don't love the smell of a lingering scent), opt for a formula that’s fragrance-free, advises Shah.
FAQ
What are the benefits of foot creams?
Since many people experience different skin issues on their feet than the rest of the body, foot creams can be helpful. “For one, the circulation to our feet is poor, and we put all our weight onto our feet, so it may help with that,” says Shah. Many also have jobs that require a lot of walking, which can cause a variety of foot conditions that foot creams may help. “Foot conditions can include thickened heels, calluses, dry, cracked heels, and foot fungus.” The cream can help with all of these things and more.
How do you apply foot creams?
Apply to both feet twice a day, advises Shah. “The first application should occur immediately after getting out of the shower when your skin is still damp.”
How often should you apply foot creams?
Shah recommends applying foot creams twice a day. It's less messy to massage cream onto your feet at night, especially when you wear socks afterward.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Rachel Dube has written for some of the biggest beauty publications out there. Although she’s a fan of regular salon pedicures, she combines the treatment with foot cream application to prolong the benefits (and keeps calluses away) as long as possible.
Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty and style. She’s an at-home mani-pedi girlie, so she knows the value of a good foot cream. For this story, we spoke to Dr. Muneeb Shah, a board-certified dermatologist.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough foot creams from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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