Dermatologists Say These Creams Work Wonders on Dry, Cracked Feet (2024)

At only $4, this foot cream is super affordable, but it also has great reviews, earning over 5,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. Its ultra-hydrating formula is packed with coconut butter, a natural moisturizer, as well as Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to soothe and improve skin tone. Additionally, peppermint oil helps refresh and soothe sore, tired feet.

“Best $4 I ever spent,” wrote a satisfied Amazon customer. “This product has saved my feet. I have tender spots that rub and make standing and walking uncomfortable, and I work 12 hour shifts, so that is unacceptable, but since using this product my feet have been softer and in less pain.”

With more than 58,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, this popular pick from O’Keefe’s is Amazon’s number one best-selling foot cream and is a clear customer favorite. Its ultra-hydrating formula contains a high concentration of glycerin, along with allantoin (a skin-protecting compound) to boost moisture levels in rough, dry skin.

“This stuff works. Like most everyone else, I have tried every paste, cream, solution, pumice stone, skin grinder, etc. to find something that would get rid of the thick, ugly, and painful cracked skin on my diabetic feet,” one reviewer wrote. “I am absolutely amazed! After two weeks (with only one daily application) my feet looked and felt like a baby’s. I am not kidding.”

Have dry, cracked feet that are also sore and achey? This top-rated foot cream from The Body Shop is formulated with peppermint essential oil, which offers a natural cooling sensation for soothing relief. But it also moisturizes and softens dry feet at the same time thanks to hydrating ingredients like glycerin, and it comes in a lightweight, non-greasy consistency.

“I love this foot cream. I have been buying it for years; it does wonders for diabetic feet like mine. It helps ease the soreness and the aches, the smell is great, and it is very moisturizing,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “Love this lotion for my tired feet. Cools and smooths them before getting into bed,” another said.

If you’re looking to soften up dry, cracked heels, look no further than this top-rated pick from Dr. Scholl’s, which comes in an easy-to-use balm form that you can apply directly onto skin. It’s specifically designed to heal and repair severely cracked and tough skin on the heels, moisturizing and filling in cracks and leaving behind a rich layer of protection. The hydrating formula contains 25% urea, which helps draw in moisture, as well as skin-soothing shea butter and cocoa butter.

One Amazon reviewer swears it’s a “life saver,” writing: “After just three days of use, my feet are no longer cracked, sore, or dry. In fact, I don’t even remember the last time my feet were this soft.”

Eucerin’s foot cream has a great combination of ingredients to smooth and moisturize dry feet: urea and glycerin to draw in moisture, ceramides to repair the skin’s natural barrier, and lactic acid to gently exfoliate. Unlike many foot creams, this non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and never feels too thick.

One Amazon reviewer called it “the best foot cream I’ve ever used,” writing, “I absolutely love this cream. It makes my feet feel so soft and moisturized, without them feeling oily or greasy. The cream is very easy to apply and easily rubs in.”

This cream from AmLactin “exfoliates and moisturizes,” says Dr. Jaliman. “It has lactic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid, and it helps to get rid of the rough skin on your feet.” This hydrating formula also contains a blend of humectants and emollients to effectively moisturize and smooth cracks and roughness. Bonus: It’s completely fragrance-free.

“Wow! It works! After applying AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy to my feet twice a day for a week my feet were smoother than they have been for ages, and the dead skin was gone,” wrote one reviewer.

Infused with shea butter, coconut milk, and vitamin E, this creamy lotion claims to soften and hydrate cracked feet in just two nights. Reviewers say it actually gives quick results, too, raving that the rich formula smells great, absorbs quickly into skin, and softens and moisturizes feet without leaving it feeling greasy.

“This stuff works and fast!” said one Amazon shopper. “First time I used this on my cracked heels I was totally amazed at how fast it worked. Put it on my feet before bed and after two nights there was such a difference in my foot’s condition.”

If you haven’t yet been influenced by the cult following of Skin Food, now is the time. With 4.5 stars on Amazon from more than 30,000 ratings, this thick, emollient cream deeply hydrates and nourishes skin with extracts of rosemary, chamomile, and pansy, as well as beeswax and sunflower oil. It’s also great for multi-purpose use: It works on heels, elbows, hands, and even the face. Reviewers say that it smells great and is rich and thick, but still soaks in fast without feeling greasy.

“This product is game changer! It’s pricey for the size but well worth it for effectiveness of healing dry, chapped hands and feet,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “It is a thick cream, so a little goes a long way, and it really does seem to nourish the skin.”

“Neostrata PDS cream contains 20% glycolic acid and improves even the thickest scale after a few days of use,” says Dr. Waldorf. It’s also packed with lactic and mandelic acids, nourishing vitamin E, and dimethicone to seal everything in. The fragrance-free formula really buffs away roughness, and you can feel free to use this one on your elbows, knees, and any other persistent dry patches.

“My dermatologist recommended this product to put on my heel/foot that seems to have terrible dryness like eczema...This helps to make my heel softer and not cracked and painful,” wrote one Dermstore shopper.

Shea butter’s occlusive properties are amazing when it comes to foot creams, and this one packs a punch with 15% of the ingredient. It also contains a blend of arnica and lavender essential oils to soothe and relax tired feet. Reviewers say the cream is rich and thick but fast-absorbing and non-greasy. They also love the “incredible” smell.

“I think it’s the best moisturizer that I’ve had. It’s thick and creamy. It’s so smooth, you can’t wait to rub it on, but it soaks in right away,” wrote one customer. “It’s like it’s what your skin has been waiting for its whole life...My feet are as smooth as a baby’s butt!”

✔️ Look for exfoliators and skin-smoothers: An effective foot cream also contains exfoliating ingredients that help speed skin cell turnover, like salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids. “Getting rid of dead skin is important to keep feet looking their best,” says Dr. Jaliman. While it’s tempting to just use a pumice stone to remove flakes and scale, make sure you’re always following with a foot cream. “Otherwise, you aren’t changing the root of the problem,” Dr. Waldorf says.

✔️ Find hydrating ingredients: Dr. Jaliman recommends looking for hydrating ingredients, specifically humectants that “will draw water into the skin cells,” such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and urea. You’ll also want to look for occlusives (to seal in other ingredients and moisture), such as petrolatum, ceramides, dimethicone, and shea butter.

✔️ Consider the right formula for your needs. Thick, deeply moisturizing creams are generally ideal for treating dry and cracked feet. If you have sensitive skin, though, you’ll specifically want to look for formulas that are fragrance-free and contain gentle ingredients that won’t irritate your skin. Additionally, if you have tired, achey feet, consider a formula that contains ingredients specifically meant to provide soothing relief, like cooling peppermint oil.

Using foot creams go beyond just having soft, nice-looking feet—it’s actually also vital to your health. “Skin is the largest organ in our body. Keeping our skin barrier healthy, particularly in the feet, is so important,” says Sharkey. “When skin is dry and cracked, this allows a portal of entry for bacteria and fungus which can cause infection.”

That’s why applying the best foot creams, which can help restore hydration in dry skin and heal calluses and cracked heels, is important. “Foot creams are essential in a skin care regimen aimed to optimizing foot health,” Sharkey says.

You should apply foot cream daily, according to Sharkey. As for the best time of day to apply them, both Sharkey and Dr. Markus agree that slathering them on after a shower is best. “Optimally, cream should be applied after showering when the skin is moist and creams are more easily absorbed,” she says.

You can further help your skin absorb the moisturizing creams by putting on socks and leaving them on overnight. This ensures your skin has enough time and ability to really absorb the product as you sleep. “For an extra boost, stick your moisturized foot in a baggie or plastic wrap under a sock for all or part of an evening,” adds Dr. Waldorf. Sharkey also recommends this trick, explaining: “The heat generated with this treatment will further increase the absorption of the foot cream.”

Dr. Waldorf also advises applying foot cream whenever you’re going to wear gym socks (say, before a hike) to reduce friction and blisters and to moisturize while you’re working out.