For many of us, the words “foot cream” are an inherently unsexy pair. However, dry indoor air, lots of walking, and even at-home workouts are all recipes for rough, flaky feet. Aesthetics aside, less-than-supple feet can also feel uncomfortable — or even downright painful. Thankfully, the best foot creams are available far and wide to soothe your feet’s roughest scenarios.
The reason our feet tend to feel rougher than the rest of our body often boils down to simple physics, according to Hillary Brenner, DPM, a New York City-based podiatrist. “Every time we walk, we exert [a lot of] pressure from our body weight, and the friction between our feet and the ground can cause them to become dry,” she tells Allure.
Another culprit behind crustiness and thick calluses is some of us don’t shed keratin as quickly as others. If you suspect you may be one of these people, “use a heel file in the shower to slough away dead skin and soften calluses [before reaching for foot cream],” advises New York City-based nail artist Rita Remark. Exfoliating first with a pumice stone and following up with a moisturizer is the best way to ensure the hydration needed to keep your feet soft isn’t blocked.
Once you’re pumiced and primed, you can slather on one of these 13 luxurious foot creams, as recommended by professionals.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.