The best foot creams for dry and cracked skin

We put our feet through a lot. The harsh elements, uncomfortable shoes and walking around bare-foot all contribute to a number of problems such as dry or cracked skin, infections and a whole array of aches and pains. The feet aren’t exactly the most attractive part of the body, and although some of us love a foot massage, the rest of us recoil in disgust just at the thought of another person touching our feet.

You don’t have to pay out loads for a length spa treatment in order to get your soles back into shape;  there are a whole range of foot creams on the market that you can use in the comfort of your own home, to pamper your feet and have them feeling soft and supple again in no time. 

Many of the problems listed above are extremely common, and we know how easy it can be to simply choose to wear socks or boots and ignore it, but moisturising your feet should be just as important as your face when it comes to your skincare routine. 

With the amount of different brands available, it can be tricky to decide what really works, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best moisturisers, creams and lotions to rejuvenate your soles ready to show off when the warmer weather rolls around (it can’t come soon enough).  So whether you’ve got severe calluses or you simply want to keep on top of your foot care with a nicely scented cream; we’ve rounded up the best foot creams to suit all lifestyles and budgets. 

1. Margaret Dabbs Foot Hygiene Cream

Great for gym-goers who are prone to athlete’s foot

Specifications

Best for: Sweaty feet
Size: 100ml
Skin type: All
Targets: Athletes foot

Reasons to buy

+
Hygiene focused ingredients
+
Eliminates foot odour 

Reasons to avoid

-
Not everyone likes the smell 

If you’re a regular gym-goer or runner, then it’s likely you’ve encountered dry, cracked heels or even a bout of athlete’s foot at some point. However, you can target and prevent all of that with this Margaret Dabbs foot cream which aims to provide hygienic measures for when your feet get sweaty. It has been said to combat symptoms of athlete’s foot and foot odour, and customers love how soft and supple their feet feel after use. Some customers don’t like the slightly medicinal or Tee Tree type smell it has, but have said this dissipates quickly so it’s not enough to overrule how good the cream itself is. This is definitely the best foot cream for athletes who want to keep their feet feeling silky smooth all year round.  

2. L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream

Keep skin hydrated and refreshed with this foot butter

Specifications

Best for: Hydration
Size: 150ml
Skin type: Dry
Targets: Aches and pains

Reasons to buy

+
A little goes a long way
+
Anti-inflammatory properties

Reasons to avoid

-
Not to be used during or post pregnancy 

Do your feet feel dry and achy? You can rejuvenate your feet with this Shea butter paste that works to soothe and heal the feet with its anti-inflammatory arnica extract. Reduce any redness or irritation from excessive pressure on the feet and refresh the soles with this minty formula. This foot cream does include antiseptic and is not recommended for use during or post pregnancy. Other extracts include lavender essential oil to really make your feet feel brand new and users swear by this cream for banishing those daily aches and pains so your feet are always summer ready.  

3. Liz Earle Foot Repair Moisturiser™

A reliable foot cream for daily moisturising

Specifications

Best for: Daily moisturising
Size: 100ml
Skin type: All
Targets: Hard calluses

Reasons to buy

+
Repairs dry, cracked skin
+
Smells good 

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite a small tube for daily cream 

This Liz Earle Foot Repair Moisturiser is a great way to get into the habit of daily moisturising. It features ingredients such as avocado, Shea butter and wheatgerm which work to soften hard calluses and cracks for silky smooth skin on your soles, heels and lower legs. Customers said they found a quick and noticeable difference after using this cream and love the fresh minty fragrance it leaves. It’s a small tube but a little goes a long way so it’s ideal for using 2-3 times a week.

4. Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme

A lovely smelling, natural foot cream for deep moisturising

Specifications

Best for: Deep moisturising foot rub
Size: 120g
Skin type: All
Targets: Dry patches and redness

Reasons to buy

+
Thick and creamy
+
Smells wonderful

Reasons to avoid

-
Some don’t like the texture 

If your feet are in need of a good pampering, then this is the best foot cream for a foot massage. It is thick and creamy, which some users don’t get on with, but if you struggle to find the time to moisturise your feet every day, this one will keep them hydrated for days. Customers also love the coconut smell and say it works wonders after just a couple of applications. It can be quite oily so it’s best to wear socks if applying before bed and remember that with suck a thick balm, only a small amount is needed. 

5. Flexitol Heel Balm Medically Proven Treatment For Dry & Cracked Heels

A medicated balm for seriously cracked skin

Specifications

Best for: Seriously dry skin
Size: 112g
Skin type: Dry skin
Targets: hard calluses and cracked heels

Reasons to buy

+
Nourishes skin
+
Quick healing

Reasons to avoid

-
Medicinal smell 

For those who have really neglected their feet, this Flexitol Heel Balm is designed to quickly repair and nourish your feet back to normal. Severely cracked heels and hard calluses are said by customers to have disappeared or at least reduced in appearance after only a couple of applications. If you’ve tried other foot creams but not had the best results, this is the foot cream to try. It does have a strong medicinal smell but users say it is less greasy and much easier to apply than some other creams they have tried.  

6. Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream

Get beautiful, beach ready feet with this soothing cream

Specifications

Best for: Beach-ready feet
Size: 125ml
Skin type: Dry
Targets: Tired toes

Reasons to buy

+
Leaves feet super-soft
+
Non-oily formula

Reasons to avoid

-
Non much of a scent  

To achieve beautiful feet for the summer, try this Clarins foot cream. Customers absolutely love the feel of this cream on their feet, saying it is light and soothing on the skin, and can be particularly good for eczema. If you want a daily moisturising cream then this is a handy sized bottle that can easily be taken anywhere you go and although some users would like it to have more of a fragrance, this unscented formula is the best foot cream for sensitive skin.  

7. Eucerin Intensive Foot Cream

Fragrance and colourant free for those with dry, sensitive skin

Specifications

Best for: Sensitive skin
Size: 100ml
Skin type: Dry, sensitive
Targets: chapped skin/heels

Reasons to buy

+
Very good for hard heels
+
Strong formula

Reasons to avoid

-
Must be applied twice daily 

This is one of the best foot creams for cracked heels. Severely chapped or dry, hard heels can really benefit from this thick foot cream. The formula includes 10% Urea with Lactate which aims to intensely moisturise even the driest feet. Users say it has worked incredibly well for them and it is definitely worth the money, however you do need to be strict with it and apply twice daily for the best results.  

8. GEHWOL Med Deodorant Foot Cream

Keep your feet clean and smelling fresh with this medicated foot cream

Specifications

Best for: Fresh feet
Size: 75ml
Skin type: Sensitive
Targets: Bad odours, fungal infections

Reasons to buy

+
Bacteriostatic
+
Anti-inflammatory

Reasons to avoid

-
 Small bottle 

If you are susceptible to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, or notice that your feet don’t smell the freshest, then this formula works as a deodorant for the feet, to keep them smelling fresh all day, every day. It contains jojoba oil and fatty acids that aim to protect against fungal infections and soften the skin at the same time.

Treat your hands too with our round-up of the best hand creams