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If you’ve been slathering your feet with your go-to body lotion, it’s time to invest in one of the best foot creams instead. “The skin on the soles of your feet is thicker than the skin elsewhere on the body, so it requires more targeted hydration,” says Bobby Pourziaee, DPM, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. “Even if you don’t notice dryness, regular use helps prevent calluses, cracking, and general discomfort.”
Foot-repair creams are richer than your average body lotion and contain a mix of exfoliators to slough off calluses and dead skin cells. After testing nearly a dozen options, we narrowed down the list to eight that will effectively restore your tootsies back to baby-soft status. Of all the options we tried, L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Balm earned the top spot for its comforting formula and velvety application. It offers impressive results for all skin types and makes applying foot cream feel like a treat. Other options stood out for their ability to erase calluses or treat cracked heels.
The best foot creams, at a glanceBest Overall
L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Balm
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Best for Dry Feet
Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream
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Best for Calluses
CeraVe SA Cream
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Best for Cracked Heels
Dr. Scholl’s Dry Cracked Foot Repair Ultra-Hydrating Foot Cream
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Best for Men
O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet Foot Cream
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We tested the best foot creams by evaluating their ingredients, texture, and efficacy. Our top picks included dermatologist- and podiatrist-recommended ingredients, like nourishing urea and shea butter, as well as exfoliating agents like lactic and salicylic acid.
Beyond the ingredients, it was also important for us to select lightweight, nongreasy formulas that didn’t leave behind any residue after application, especially since our experts recommend applying foot cream right before bed. Finally, we also paid close attention to how each foot cream improved the health of our feet. We examined how much softer our soles felt after continued use, and compared cracked heels before and after a few weeks of consistent treatment. The following picks revived our feet and left them looking vacation-ready throughout the seasons.
Best Overall: L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot BalmOriginal photo from Mary Honkus testing L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Balm
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L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Balm
Both testers and experts adore this luxe foot balm that feels more like a treat to apply than a chore. From the sleek tube to the velvety texture, this quickly became a favorite in our routines. “Rich in shea butter, L’Occitane’s balm provides deep hydration and a more indulgent feel,” says Dr. Pourziaee. “It’s ideal for people who want their foot care to be both effective and pampering.”
Glamour contributor Mary Honkus didn’t realize the importance of a foot cream until she began incorporating this into her evening routine. “My feet take a beating. It’s not uncommon for me to walk 10 miles a day, and I constantly have blisters,” she says. “It never even crossed my mind to give my feet a little TLC, and this has made a major difference for me. The buttery texture of this cream instantly sinks into my skin, so there’s no greasiness or weird film left on my sheets when I go to bed. Even better than that, though, this has helped moisturize my soles and heal my many blisters. My feet haven’t looked or felt this good in years, and it’s all thanks to this cream.”
Key ingredients: Shea butter, provitamin B5, allantoinSize: 5.3 oz.Best Moisturizing: Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot CreamOriginal photo from Mary Honkus testing Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream
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Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream
If your feet are desperate for moisture, this Burt’s Bees foot cream will restore them to their baby-soft glory—almost like a foot mask. With a mix of ultra-rich hydrators, like coconut oil, olive oil, and soybean oil, this formula works as an intensive treatment to help repair skin overnight. “This was very different from the other foot creams I tried, mainly because of the texture, which resembled thick golden honey,” says Honkus. “It can feel a bit greasy when you first apply, but that sensation quickly fades as it sinks into the skin. I preferred putting socks on after slathering this on to really lock all the nourishing oils in. My feet were glowing by the morning!”
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, rosemary extract, olive oilSize: 4.3 oz.Best for Extremely Dry Feet: Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream
Courtesy of brand
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Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream
Now that sandal season is over, it’s not uncommon for people to forget about foot care. However, neglecting the area can lead to dryness, which can cause a slew of issues, like cracks and flakes. Dr. Pourziaee recommends slathering on this moisturizing cream year-round to keep your lower extremities in tip-top shape. “Formulated with urea and ceramides, this cream hydrates while gently exfoliating,” he says. “It’s a great option for very dry, rough feet because it restores the skin barrier as it softens.”
Key ingredients: Ceramide 3, urea, glycerinSize: 3 oz.Best for Calluses: CeraVe SA Cream
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Both Morayo Adisa, MD, FAAD, medical director at Dermatology Physicians Chicago/ Kenilworth, and Dr. Pourziaee recommend this cream, which goes above and beyond, packing a powerful punch of hydration while also gently exfoliating rough skin to soften calluses. “This combines salicylic acid for exfoliation with ceramides for hydration,” says Dr. Pourziaee. “This makes it especially helpful for calluses and areas of thickened skin.” This isn’t solely a foot cream, but its rich blend of ceramides and salicylic acid makes it effective against tough skin. Plus, it’s an affordable multitasker that can also help smooth out rough, bumpy skin on other areas of your body.
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, hyaluronic acidSize: 12 oz.Best for Cracked Heels: Dr. Scholl’s Dry Cracked Foot Repair Ultra-Hydrating Foot Cream
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Dr. Scholl’s Dry Cracked Foot Repair Ultra-Hydrating Foot Cream
Cracked skin doesn’t just feel uncomfortable, it can also lead to bleeding and infection. To completely revive dry, rough, cracked heels, stock up on Dr. Scholl’s. Yep, the foot-care brand makes more than just arch-supporting insoles and shoes. This extra-strength formula calls upon some of Dr. Pourziaee’s favorite foot cream ingredients, including urea and essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus, but what sets this apart is the inclusion of Epsom salt, which simultaneously hydrates, exfoliates, and softens the roughest areas of your feet so they’ll be smooth after just a few uses.
Key ingredients: Urea, Epsom salt, beeswaxSize: 3.5 oz.Best for Men: O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet Foot Cream
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6/8
O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet Foot Cream
While technically any foot cream will work for men, we found that the neutral packaging of this jar gives off “I’m manly and take care of myself” vibes. Oh, and it’s backed by experts to work for those who put their feet through the ringer. “This is a budget-friendly option that works well for stubborn dry spots,” says Dr. Pourziaee. “It creates a protective barrier to lock in moisture and helps repair cracks over time.”
Key ingredients: Glycerin, stearic acid, allantoinSize: 6.4 oz.Best Heel Balm: Flexitol Heel Balm
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When your soles are blistered, cracked, dry, and just in need of some serious TLC, you’ll want to grab a thick balm. It’s the pillowy consistency—along with the heavy-hitting hydrators, like aloe vera and vitamin E—that helps mend dry skin so your feet look and feel fresh. Dr. Pourziaee especially recommends this for anyone dealing with cracked heels. “With a high concentration of urea, it delivers intensive repair and noticeable improvement with consistent use.”
Key ingredients: Urea, aloe, vitamin ESize: 4 oz.Best Nongreasy: Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Foot Cream
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Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Foot Cream
Because dermatologists and podiatrists recommend applying foot cream before bed to reap the moisturizing benefits, it’s important to find formulas that aren’t greasy. One: So they don’t stain your bedding. And two: Well, who likes the feeling of oily skin? Ahava’s foot cream is rich yet instantly melts into skin. The unique formula is made with some tried-and-true hydrators, like avocado oil, but it also utilizes minerals harvested from the Dead Sea that are the key to making your feet feel extra soft and smooth.
Key ingredients: Avocado oil, witch hazel, wheat germ oilSize: 3.4 oz.Frequently asked questions
What foot creams do podiatrists recommend?
Do foot creams really work?
The answer is a resounding yes, according to our experts, especially when used consistently. “The key is choosing a formula with ingredients like urea, lactic acid, or ceramides and applying it regularly, ideally before bed when the skin has time to absorb it,” says Dr. Pourziaee. Applying a foot cream multiple times a week will help smooth out rough patches, and keep feet feeling soft and looking pedi-ready all year round.
For those struggling with dry, cracked feet, there are a few things you can do to restore them to baby softness. First, Dr. Pourziaee says there’s an optimal time to apply a foot cream: At night after bathing or showering, when your skin is still slightly damp. After application, wear cotton socks overnight to lock in the moisture. Another thing that helps is regular exfoliation. “Exfoliate gently with a pumice stone or foot file once or twice a week to remove dead skin before moisturizing,” he adds.
If you’re still dealing with rough, dry, or cracked feet after taking these steps, Dr. Pourziaee recommends visiting your podiatrist to determine and remedy the underlying issue.
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