Amanda Prahl
Dealing with dry, tough feet is a year-round issue. Whether you’ve got cracked heels, messy cuticles, or all-over dry skin, sometimes regular lotion just doesn’t cut it. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend the time and money to go to the spa to get high-quality, effective treatments for your feet.
Different people have different needs, but anyone can find an affordable and useful foot treatment from our picks below, so you can treat your feet and feel like you’ve been to the spa without ever leaving your own home!
A Home Foot Spa
Getting the at-home spa experience is easier and more affordable than you might think, especially with this MaxKare foot spa and massager. When you visit a salon or spa for a pedicure, one of the most important steps is the first one: soaking your feet in warm-to-hot water in order to soften and loosen the rough spots and to open up the pores to make them more receptive to treatments like lotion or oil. To effectively treat your dry feet at home, a nice soak is an absolute must.
This specialized foot spa is several steps up from just sticking your feet in the tub, though! Not only does it (obviously) save water as a smaller standalone item, it includes the little bonus features that you miss from your favorite spa. Sixteen individual mechanical foot rollers with nodes for acupressure sit on the bottom so you can run your feet across them, and there’s even a vibration/bubbling feature that produces a relaxing effect.
Heavy-Duty Foot Balm
When your feet get really dry and tough, regular lotion might not cut it—especially if the skin starts to crack and split. That’s where a balm like the Burt’s Bees Hand Salve comes in. It might be officially called a “hand salve,” but make no mistake about it: This moisturizing balm is ideal for any super-dry skin, including on your feet.
It’s not greasy like lotion and doesn’t leave a thick, waxy film like other balms. Instead, the all-natural formula is made from beeswax, herbal extracts like eucalyptus and rosemary, and natural oils like lavender and almond. Lotion doesn’t always penetrate when your feet get tough and cracked, but treating them with this balm will do the trick almost every time!
A Paraffin Wax Bath
Paraffin wax treatments, like this wax warmer from Salon Sundry, are a popular choice for skin that need a little extra something. It really is a spa treatment at home, removing the layer of dry, tough skin on the surface to reveal softer new skin beneath. Melt the wax to the desired temperature setting, then gently dip your foot into the warm paraffin wax. Let sit for a few minutes and then gently peel off the wax.
This warmer is extra-deep, unlike some similar products, so it’s easy to fit your feet all the way inside. It’s a more elaborate treatment than just putting balm or moisturizer on, but if you’re looking for a real spa feeling at home, this is one way to go. The first time or two you use it, be sure to test the melted wax temperature before submerging your feet, just to be sure it’s not too hot or too cool.
A Steel Foot File
For heavy-duty callus removal, a Rikans steel foot file helps you get that spa level of treatment without leaving your home. These files, also called “rasps,” feature a wide piece of metal with holes in it, resembling a cheese grater more than anything! Gently run it along the worst areas of your feet to remove the layers of calluses and dead skin.
The trick with using these files is to avoid using too much pressure or using it for too long. A serious steel rasp isn’t for you if you just have a bit of dry skin on your feet; this is for serious foot therapy! Use it slowly (it works faster than you think) and avoid nicking the softer areas of your feet, but for removing that hard-to-tackle hard skin on your heels, it’s a solution that’s up to the task.
Pumice Stones
If your feet need a little exfoliation, but in a gentler way, Pumice Valley pumice stones may be the right choice for you. Pumice stones, made from pure lava rock, have natural exfoliating properties: The tiny holes formed as the lava cools and hardens produce a bumpy and hard but gentle surface, perfect for rubbing away rough spots on your feet.
Pumice stones are a common foot treatment, but it’s also common to find products that call themselves pumice stones but really just mimic the texture with artificial materials. For best results, look for a natural stone product—it will last longer and work more effectively than a foam or plastic alternative.
Exfoliating Foot Treatment
If physical exfoliation isn’t your thing, try the Baby Foot exfoliating foot peel instead. The favorite treatment of beauty influencers everywhere, this exfoliating peel deals with dry, flaky skin and hardened heels without requiring a bunch of physical scrubbing and scraping. It’s a simple treatment: Soak your feet, put them in the treatment booties, let them sit for an hour, then wash it off.
Over the next week, your feet will shed the dead, dry skin, leaving behind soft new skin. The treatment works without physical exfoliation because it contains natural acids, such as lactic acid and glycolic acid, which are popular in skincare regimens for the same reason they work in foot treatments: they penetrate the skin cells, loosen the bonds, and help promote cell turnover.
Moisturizing Socks
To enhance and maintain results, these NatraCure moisturizing socks elevate your foot treatments and help your feet stay soft and smooth. These aren’t socks in the usual sense of something to wear with shoes—they’re a specialized treatment to use on their own. A gel lining inside the socks includes vitamins, aloe vera, and shea butter, which slowly soak into the skin while you wear the socks.
You can use the socks as a treatment on their own or to help lock in moisture after a shower and/or applying lotion. They’re a gentle product, recommended for at least two or three 20-minute treatments per week, but safe to use more often and for longer periods. With individual toes and a complete heel, each bit of skin on your foot is encased in the softening treatment for long-lasting and comforting results.
