We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

These 10 Best Foot Creams Will Treat Your Feet to Some TLC

Step up your self-care—say goodbye to cracks, calluses, and blisters.

A jar and a box of Hey Honey Walk the Walk Propolis Foot Heel Repair Cream featured against a fabric background

Byrdie

TL;DR

Likely, your feet aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for new skincare, but they need just as much love as the skin on your face. And one of the easiest ways to treat your heels, toes, and arches to some much-deserved TLC is with a nourishing foot cream. After all, foot conditions like calluses and dry, cracked heels are incredibly common, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah. Luckily, there is a cream for almost every type of foot concern out there, and you can expect a big difference just by adding a couple of extra minutes to your daily routine.

We asked Dr. Shah and our fellow Byrdie editors which foot creams they consider the best of the best, while testing out a wide range of top-rated options ourselves. We considered the key ingredients within them, how well they absorbed into the skin, and how effective they were at addressing common issues such as calluses and cracked heels. Want to find out which ones made it into our roundup? Read on to find the 10 best foot creams.

What We Like
  • Eliminates odors

  • Contains natural ingredients like honey, bee propolis, and dead sea salt

  • Nongreasy 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 oz | Fragrance: Sage and basil | 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, 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 supersoft feet.

What We Like
  • Affordable value pack

  • Absorbs quickly

  • Gentle enough for all skin types

What to Consider
  • Can make feet slippery

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, urea | Size: 3 oz | Fragrance: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: No

This pick’s ability to deeply hydrate rough skin (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 Dr. Shah’s 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. It’s also available for under $20, making it a nice pick for most people on a budget.

What We Like
  • Accessible

  • Treats rough, dry heels

  • Rich, thick texture

What to Consider
  • Must wear with socks 

Key Ingredients: Coconut and olive oils | Size: 4.3 oz | Fragrance: Peppermint and rosemary | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Burt’s Bees makes more than that iconic 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. 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
  • Great for daily application

  • Treats rough, dry heels

  • Relieves soreness

What to Consider
  • Feet can feel greasy

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, and lavender essential oil | Size: 5.3 oz | Fragrance: Lavender | Cruelty-Free: No

Shea butter, the hero ingredient of this product, has long been known for its ability to instantly hydrate skin. You only need a dime-sized amount for an instant hit of moisture. And, 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 blend of shea butter, coconut oil, and lavender essential oil nourishes and soothes as it sinks into the skin. This is a great pick if you want deep moisture without waiting forever for it to absorb.

What We Like
  • Treats calluses, splits, and cracks 

  • Exfoliates

  • Nongreasy

What to Consider
  • May irritate sensitive skin

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid | Size: 3 oz | Fragrance: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This foot cream from AmLactin tackles calluses, splits, and cracks with just a tiny bit of product. Another bonus: its formula is nongreasy and fragrance-free, making it ideal for use on dry heels and stubborn hard skin without risk of you sliding all around the 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.

What We Like
  • Eucalyptus scented

  • Absorbs quickly

  • Treats dry feet and heels 

What to Consider
  • Can smell overwhelming if you use too much

Key Ingredients: Vitamins C, E, A, and F, shea butter, aloe leaf, cocoa seed, chamomile, and essential oils | Size: 8 oz | Fragrance: Eucalyptus | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This eucalyptus-scented pick from Footnanny is excellent at repairing dry feet and heels, while a mixture of essential oils makes it smell delicious. We will warn you, though, that a little bit goes a long way, and some may find its fragrance overpowering. Aside from that, it absorbs speedily without leaving any residue or greasiness.

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 oz | Fragrance: Fragrance-free | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Aside from its incredibly soothing and hydrating formula, this balm offers the simplest, mess-free application. This is a great pick if you hate getting foot cream all over your hands. It comes housed in a stick applicator that ensures your hands don’t get all greasy and slimy while making it 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.

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 oz | Fragrance: Lavender | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For feet that feel as soft as a newborn’s, put on these foot masks from Baby Foot. This is a great pick if you’re ready for a full-foot reset instead of everyday maintenance. With each use, it’ll use a whole slew of AHAs (like lactic and glycolic acids) to exfoliate every inch of dead skin off 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 ultrasoft.

What We Like
  • Relieves soreness 

  • Multipurpose product

What to Consider
  • Slight tingling feel 

Key Ingredients: Organic beeswax, arnica, camphor, menthol, and peppermint oils | Size: 2 oz | Fragrance: Arnica-menthol | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While this multipurpose 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. Reach for this when your feet need a little recovery, not just hydration. For some extra pampering, soak your feet in the tub before applying. Between the nourishing ingredients and the soothing scent, this is not to be missed.

What We Like
  • Multipurpose product

  • Safe for sensitive skin 

  • Affordable

What to Consider
  • Sticky formula

Key Ingredients: Petrolatum | Size: 14 oz | Fragrance: Fragrance-free | 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, Dr. 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 act like a seal over blisters,” he says. And with the added healing (and moisturizing) benefits, your blisters will be gone before you know it.

Other Items We Love

What to Look for in a Foot Cream

  • Consistency: The skin on your feet is much thicker than the skin on the rest of your body, which is why Dr. Shah recommends reaching for a thicker moisturizer. “I look for thicker moisturizers and advise creams and ointments over lotions and gels.” To get the most out of your foot cream, apply it after showering or before bed, then slip on a pair of cotton socks if your feet are especially dry. They’ll help lock in moisture while you sleep.
  • Ingredients: Dr. Shah recommends looking for foot creams that do more than just moisturize. “I also look for exfoliating ingredients like lactic acid, urea (an emollient), or salicylic acid to penetrate that thickened layer of skin.” These ingredients help soften rough skin over time, so you won’t have to rely on constant scrubbing. If you use a separate foot scrub or peel, once or twice a week is usually plenty.
  • Fragrance: Fragrance is another factor worth considering, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you’re prone to irritation or have a fragrance allergy, Dr. Shah recommends sticking with a fragrance-free formula. Otherwise, a lightly scented cream can make your nighttime foot-care routine feel a little more relaxing.
FAQ
  • What are the benefits of foot creams?

    Since many people experience different skin issues on their feet than on 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 Dr. 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, Dr. Shah advises. “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?

    Dr. 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.

  • What’s the best way to get rid of calluses?

    The quickest way isn’t always the best. Rather than trying to remove thick calluses in one session, gently file them down once or twice a week and use an exfoliating foot cream in between to keep rough skin from building back up. Since calluses help protect your feet from friction, it’s normal—and healthy—for a thin layer to remain.

Meet Our Expert

For this story, we spoke to an expert for further insight:

  • Dr. Muneeb Shah is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Remedy Skin.

Why Trust Byrdie

Caitlyn Martyn is a former associate editor at Byrdie, where she covered all things beauty and style. She’s an at-home mani-pedi girlie, so she knows the value of a good foot cream.

Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves—from the most effective collagen serums to the best drugstore makeup essentials.

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.
  1. Pasupuleti VR, Sammugam L, Ramesh N, Gan SH. Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:1259510. doi: 10.1155/2017/1259510. Epub 2017 Jul 26. PMID: 28814983; PMCID: PMC5549483.

  2. Tang SC, Yang JH. Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin. Molecules. 2018 Apr 10;23(4):863. doi: 10.3390/molecules23040863. PMID: 29642579; PMCID: PMC6017965.

Comments
Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to our Community Guidelines.

Related Stories