Cracked Heels Are No Match for My Favorite Luxury Foot Creams
These feet have never been softer.
I can admit that, when it comes to curating a skin and body routine that's hydrating and moisturizing, I often put most of my focus on areas of the body like my face, neck, arms, and legs, just barely extending a little body lotion or body oil down to my feet for some extra attention. But with sandal season over on the East Coast, every time I look down, I'm reminded that my feet could use a lot more love than a standard body moisturizer can offer, which is why I keep some of the best foot creams on deck.
Taking frequent walks around the city, exercising, or occasionally wearing uncomfortable shoes or heels can create friction that can cause your feet to become dry, cracked, or callused over time. A foot cream is more of a targeted treatment that you can apply to your heels or the soles of your feet to better address the aforementioned issues, and most of them come in the form of thick, heavy moisturizers and occlusives, as opposed to lotions that are thinner and contain a higher concentration of water. "Think about ointments, like petrolatum, which are the thickest types of moisturizers because they contain a higher concentration of oils than creams or lotions," says board-certified dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD.
Luckily, if you're thinking about adding a foot-specific product to your body care routine, there are tons of options to choose from. To help you narrow things down, I curated a list of the best foot creams for moisturizing, softening, and even exfoliating dry feet. Read ahead to see my picks.
The Best Foot Creams
Product | Price | Key Ingredients | Best For | Size |
$8.80 | Ceramides and urea | Best Overall | 3 oz. | |
$16.74 | Glycerin and panthenol | Best Overnight Foot Cream | 7 oz. | |
$6.69 | Peppermint oil, jojoba oil, and vitamins A, C, and E | Best Foot Cream For Pain Relief | 4 oz. | |
Dr. Scholl's Rough, Dry Skin Ultra Exfoliating Foot Peeling Mask | $8.22 | Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and glycerin | Best Exfoliating Foot Mask | Pack of three |
$7.99 | Shea butter, avocado oil, and provitamin B5 | Best Hydrating Foot Mask | One mask per pack |
- Best Foot Cream Overall: Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream for Dry Feet
- Best Overnight Foot Cream: O'Keefe's For Healthy Feet Night Treatment Foot Cream
- Best Foot Cream For Pain Relief: Gold Bond Triple-Action Foot Cream
- Best Exfoliating Foot Mask: Dr. Scholl's Rough, Dry Skin Ultra Exfoliating Foot Peeling Mask
- Best Hydrating Foot Mask: Aquaphor Repairing Foot Mask
Calluses are probably the biggest nuisance when it comes to foot care, and Eucerin’s foot cream is formulated with three ceramides as well as urea (this is a double-duty ingredient that draws water into the skin like a humectant while getting rid of rough, dead skin like an exfoliant) to target them specifically. It’s meant to gently moisturize severely dry and cracked heels and/or feet while also making the area baby soft—and the under-$10 price tag is one you can’t beat.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides (hydration); Urea (moisture retention and exfoliation)
Size: 3 oz.
What I Love: Very cheap price; Dermatologist-recommended brand; Product softens hardened skin
What I Don’t: Can make your feet feel slightly slippery
Customer Review: “I wish I had a before and after photo to show you just how effective this cream has been for me. I've had a problem with peeling and scaling on my left foot for years. After a week of using this product, my foot was so smooth and clear! I couldn't believe it....it worked.” — Walmart
You’ve heard of slugging, right? The beauty trend that involves rubbing an occlusive (like Vaseline) on your face at night in order to lock in moisture so that you can wake up with a healthy, moisturized glow? Well, think of this as slugging for your feet. This thick formula features hydrating heroes like panthenol (aka vitamin B5) and glycerin, and it creates a barrier on the surface of your feet in order to soothe and hydrate the area while also making sure that moisture can’t escape as easily. While you don’t necessarily have to only use it at night, it’s another drugstore favorite that gets the job done when you need something a little more heavy duty than a simple foot cream.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin and panthenol (hydration)
Size: 7 oz.
What I Love: Inexpensive; Hydrates overnight; Formula is thick but not too heavy
What I Don’t: Some reviewers say it doesn't work as well on feet that are severely dry
Customer Review: “This is the best foot cream on the market, easily. Easy to apply, it’s not overly messy or perfumed, and it works. Simple as that. I apply it every day and it keeps my feet soft. And if you ever get any blisters or hotspots, this cream will heal them faster. Apply it anywhere you deal with dry skin issues, and it will do wonders.” — Amazon
Danielle Jackson tests the O'Keefe's For Healthy Feet Night Treatment Foot Cream.
Maybe you spend a lot of time walking, or maybe your daily tasks require you to spend multiple hours in a row standing. Either way, if your feet regularly take a beating and could use some pain relief, Gold Bond’s creamy, non-greasy formula includes soothing ingredients like peppermint oil to help alleviate your symptoms. That’s not to mention the inclusion of jojoba oil and vitamins A, C, and E, which also come together to treat dryness in the area.
Key Ingredients: Peppermint oil (pain relief); Jojoba oil and vitamins A, C, and E (moisture)
Size: 4 oz.
What I Love: Very inexpensive; Provides inflammation relief; Non-greasy
What I Don’t: Thick texture might make it uncomfortable for daily use
Customer Review: “My feet were developing small cracks, and this product has worked wonders. It got rid of them in just a few weeks. It contains vitamins and jojoba oil, which provide deep hydration, and it also has a wonderful scent. A little goes a long way, so it lasts a long time. I will definitely buy it again.” — Target
Danielle Jackson tests the Gold Bond Therapeutic Foot Cream.
Okay, so this isn’t a foot cream per sé, but it’s an exfoliating product that softens the feet in the same way that a quality foot cream would. Foot masks are a world all their own, and they’re a much more convenient and no-fuss way to get rid of hard, rough texture than, say, foot sponges and pumice stones that require a little more grit. This mask from Dr. Scholl’s includes alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to quite literally peel flaky, dead skin off of the foot to reveal a baby-soft surface. Just slip them on like socks after showering and leave them on for at least an hour.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids (exfoliation); Glycerin (moisture)
Size: Pack of three
What I Love: Easy to use; Very inexpensive
What I Don’t: These require downtime, since you have to wear them for at least an hour; Takes at least three days to begin peeling, so don't wear them ahead of an important event
Customer Review: "I wore the foot mask for an hour before washing it off, then [three] days later, my skin began to peel. (Pro tip: don’t peel it off yourself, you could damage the new skin underneath that’s not ready to be exposed yet). Now my feet are smoother. Doing a peel also stimulates collagen, so it will also keep my feet looking younger." — Amazon
Danielle Jackson tests the Dr. Scholl's Rough, Dry Skin Ultra Exfoliating Foot Peeling Mask.
Aquaphor’s Lip Repair ointment is a lifesaver for chapped lips, so it should come as no surprise that the brand’s Repairing Foot Masks are just as hydrating for the feet. Foot masks, while necessary, often require you to commit to keeping your feet covered while taking at least an hour to do their thing, but this is a quick-acting formula that intensely moisturizes dry, cracked feet in as little as ten minutes thanks to a blend of vitamin B5, shea butter, and avocado oil. Pop them on while sitting on the couch or while taking a break from running errands—you'll be back on your feet in no time.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, avocado oil, and provitamin B5 (moisture)
Size: 1 pair of socks per pack
What I Love: Can be applied just like a pair of socks; Requires little downtime; Very inexpensive
What I Don’t: It comes in one standard size that doesn’t fit all feet
Customer Review: “I have extremely dry, cracked skin on my feet. I tried one of these masks for fun. I slipped them on my feet before bed and fell asleep. I woke up in the early morning hours and removed the booties and my feet were so silky smooth. It really amazed me. I'm going to use this product once a week. It worked miracles for my feet.” — Ulta
Danielle Jackson tests the Aquaphor Repairing Foot Masks.
Whenever I want to recreate the feeling of getting a foot massage at a luxury spa, this is the first foot cream that comes to mind. That’s partly because it includes lavender essential oil, which is a key component of the relaxing and soothing spa treatments you may have come to know, though shea butter gives it a thick, rich texture that softens the skin and protects it from dryness. Is it a steep price tag for a foot cream? Sure. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t worth every penny.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter (moisture); Lavender essential oil (soothes)
Size: 5.3 oz.
What I Love: Thick, luxury formula; It has a scent, but it’s subtle and not overpowering
What I Don’t: It’s slightly expensive for a foot cream
Customer Review: “I struggled with cracked feet for so long, but most products I tried felt sticky and left my feet feeling wet at night. This one absorbs really quickly while still deeply moisturizing. I apply it the night before a pedicure, and it makes such a difference—the skin feels soft and easy to work with.” — Sephora
Let this specialized treatment be your reminder that exfoliating acids aren’t just meant to be used on your face. Prequel’s Foot Rescue formula includes salicylic and malic acids, which both slough away rough, dead skin buildup on and around the heel area. They’re both featured alongside urea, which traps moisture underneath the surface of the skin, and the product itself has a thicker, balmy texture that makes it work well as another overnight slugging treatment.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic and malic acids (exfoliation); Urea (hydration and moisture retention)
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: It exfoliates the feet and breaks down dead skin instead of just covering it up
What I Don’t: It’s a pretty small tube for the size; A drugstore product can do the same for less money
Customer Review: “I bought Foot Rescue because I had some cracks on my heels and some callouses on the side of my feet next to my big toe. After two uses, I saw tremendous improvement in the texture of the skin on my feet. They look and feel the softest they’ve been in years!” — Prequel
A lot of scrubs have a reputation for being a little too abrasive and scratchy, but this drugstore favorite from Dr. Teal’s features soothing epsom salt that immediately softens and melts when it comes into contact with warm water. It especially comes in handy for softening the heels and getting rid of hardened calluses. Use it alongside a foot sponge to get twice the softening benefits.
Key Ingredients: Epsom salt (exfoliation); Aloe vera and coconut oil (moisture)
Size: 6 oz.
What I Love: Has a soft lavender scent; Exfoliates well; Inexpensive
What I Don’t: It works better when used with a foot sponge or pumice stone
Customer Review: “I got [this] for my calluses and for dryness. Lotions and such didn't work, so i tried this at 2:15am before going to bed. I exfoliated for about one minute on each foot then rinsed in warm water. My feet feel sooo soft now! I really didn't think I'd feel a difference because I exfoliated fairly quickly being it was almost 2:30 in the morning.” — Walmart
Reminder: a foot scrub doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles (or be expensive) for it to be a good one that gets the job done. Natural ingredients like cocoa butter and moisturizing vitamin E come together in this extra-gentle drugstore favorite that transforms rough texture into skin that's soft as butter. This is a scrub that doesn't feel as gritty or sticky as a traditional physical exfoliator, and it solves two issues at once by also providing relief for soreness thanks to its inclusion of soothing peppermint oil.
Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter and vitamin E (moisture); Peppermint oil (soothing)
Size: 2.1 oz.
What I Love: It has a soft, cocoa butter scent; Inexpensive; Also contains peppermint oil to soothe inflammation
What I Don’t: Some reviewers think it feels more like a cream than a scrub
Customer Review: "I use this a few times a week, after my evening shower, and then slip on socks. My feet look like I’ve just had a pedicure the next day!" — Amazon
What Should I Look For In a Foot Cream?
Like any other product, what you'd look for in a foot cream depends largely on what you're hoping to get out of it. For example, "when buying a foot cream to keep skin smooth and soft, look for ingredients that gently exfoliate. Examples include glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and urea," says Dr. Camp. "If you're looking for options to help hydrate dry skin, look for ingredients that improve the skin barrier and the ability of skin to retain moisture." Some examples of the latter include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane.
Can a Foot Cream Really Provide Pain Relief?
You're most likely to come across foot creams with hydrating formulas that are meant to moisturize, soften, and even exfoliate or peel at the rough, hardened skin on the foot. If pain relief is what you're after, there are products for that as well. According to Dr. Camp, these would most likely feature ingredients like "lidocaine, allantoin, or menthol to temporarily treat pain associated with arthritis, sprains, and tired feet."
How Often Should I Apply a Foot Cream?
That all depends on how dry your feet are and what the packaging of the product you're using suggests. In general, though, Dr. Camp recommends using a product that can be applied at least one to two times a day.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
How We Tested
Marie Claire's senior beauty writer, Danielle Jackson, curated this list of the best foot creams based on online customer reviews as well as personal experience testing a variety of creams and moisturizers over time.
Meet The Expert
Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York.
