I get it: A cream just for your feet can feel a little, well, extra in your grooming regimen. But the best foot creams are a sleeper staple that come in especially clutch during the warmer months for refreshing hydration and odor protection—so you can wear your flip-flops without freaking out others—and during winter, too, as a foot saver for dry skin.
“Foot cream is often overlooked in men’s grooming routines, but it shouldn’t be,” says board-certified dermatologist and content creator Dr. Charles Puza. “The skin on your feet is thicker and drier than anywhere else on the body, making it especially prone to roughness, cracking, and buildup, particularly around the heels and soles.”
The best foot creams with hydrating and/or exfoliating ingredients don’t just soften—they help restore the skin’s moisture barrier, reduce dead skin buildup, combat odor, and protect against daily friction and pressure. Plus, they simply feel super refreshing. Whether you need targeted treatment or want to keep feet smooth and sandal-ready, a solid foot cream is a grooming move that pays off in the long run—pun intended. Below are 10 of the best foot creams to hydrate, exfoliate, soften, combat odor, and refresh.
- The Best Overall Foot Cream: Pedestrian Project Walker’s Foot Cream, $12
- The Best Multi-Use Body Balm: Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm, $105
- The Best Repairing Foot Cream: Origins Reinventing the Heel Super-Hydratant, $39
- The Best Natural Foot Balm: Lush Repeat Foot Balm, $18
- The Best Softening Foot Cream: Juara Candlenut Body Creme, $38
- The Best Anti-Bacterial Foot Cream: Margaret Dabbs Miracle Foot Cream, $30
- The Best Luxury Foot Cream: Santa Maria Novella Foot Cream, $52
- The Best Exfoliating Foot Cream: Aveda Foot Relief Moisturizing Crème, $28
- The Best Foot Balm for Dry Cracked Heels: Dr. Scholl’s Severe Cracked Heel Repair Restoring Balm, $6
- The Best Invigorating Foot Cream: Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion, $8
In This Guide
Pedestrian Project
Walker’s Cream
Pedestrian Project’s whole mission is healthy feet (it’s right there in the name), and its Walker’s Foot Cream exemplifies what the brand does best: approachable, effective, and specialized foot care without the fuss. It’s a well-rounded formula guys can use daily, formulated with primarily natural ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe for moisture; moringa seed oil for antimicrobial and antifungal properties (great for odor control); and rosemary extract, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps soothe tired feet. I love the texture too—it’s rich and buttery without being greasy, and it absorbs beautifully. If you’re hesitant to dip your toes into the foot cream world or need a dependable solution for dry, callused feet, this is the versatile all-rounder that strikes the sweet spot for hydration, odor control, and skin repair.
Best Multi-Use Body Balm: Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm
Aesop
Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm
Aesop’s Rejuvenate formula can be used anywhere on the body, but a dollop of this balm on your feet delivers next-level (amazing-smelling) hydration. Almond, coconut, macadamia, shea, and sunflower oils come together like the Avengers of foot creams to soften dry, weary soles. Glycerin, aloe, and wheat germ oil help lock in moisture, while antioxidants like vitamin E and carrot extract defend against free radicals and everyday wear and tear. The medium-viscosity texture is rich but not greasy and I appreciated that I could use it on my hands, elbows, or anywhere needing some extra TLC. And, of course, this is Aesop, so the scent is stellar: an herbaceous blend of tangerine, sandalwood, and vanilla that that is more botanical apothecary than podiatrist’s office.
Origins
Reinventing the Heel Foot Cream
When dealing with cracked heels or dry, flaky feet, you need a more targeted and heavy-duty formula. Reinventing the Heel from the grooming pros at Origins is packed with moisturizing heavy hitters like shea butter, rosehip oil, and jojoba oil to soothe irritation, boost hydration, and smooth out rough patches. Salicylic acid exfoliates, while menthol adds a cooling sensation and a bit of nostalgic Vicks VapoRub energy. When I applied it, the refreshing cool kicked in immediately, and the rich, balm-like texture felt like a protective layer sealing in all that moisture. It’s closer to a salve than a cream, which makes it ideal for overnight use, so slather it on, pull on a pair of socks, and let it work its repairing mojo as you sleep.
Scope the label on Lush’s foot balm and you’ll see it’s impressively targeted, mostly organic, and packed with a high percentage of natural ingredients (plus a touch of safe synthetics). Unscrew the lid, and you’re met with a fresh, zesty citrus scent, accompanied by a balmy texture reminiscent of a hydrating purée. The formula leans into nature’s MVPs: orange peel acts as a natural astringent and odor neutralizer, jojoba oil deeply conditions, and a blend of waxes and emollients soften and soothe rough heels. When I applied it, my feet felt instantly softer and smoother, and I suspect it would work wonders on very dry or cracked feet. The tub itself is compact, making it perfect to toss in your tote or weekender for citrusy hydration on the go.
Best Softening Foot Cream: Juara Candlenut Body Creme
Juara
Candlenut Body Creme
Editors love to describe moisturizers with phrases like “whipped cream texture” or “buttery soft” (guilty as charged), but this light yet deceptively rich cream from the IYKYK Indonesian beauty brand earns those stripes. If your feet are extremely dry or sensitive, this ultra-soft cream practically melts upon contact with your skin, providing instant moisture. Candlenut oil provides long-lasting hydration without a greasy finish, while rice bran and avocado oils soften rough patches and support skin elasticity. Illipe butter adds another layer of cushiony protection. The intense, lush, tropical aroma might take a minute to get used to, but if the aromatic equivalent of a vacation in Bali (and having the softest feet on said vacation) appeals to you, this buttery cream fits the bill.
Margaret Dabbs
Fabulous Feet Exfoliating Foot Scrub
Margaret Dabbs’ award-winning foot lotion is a stellar all-around hydrator, but its antifungal and antimicrobial properties are especially noteworthy if you’re prone to athlete’s foot or an active guy looking to stay fresh. The balm-meets-lotion texture feels rich without being greasy, and a healthy dose of benzoic acid (the same stuff found in OTC treatments) helps fend off bacteria and fungus. There’s also pure tea tree oil to keep odor in check, emu oil for deep hydration, and salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and promote skin renewal. While it’s not a replacement for prescription antifungal treatments, it’s a smart preventive step that happens to leave your feet softer and smoother in the process.
Santa Maria Novella
Foot Cream
Santa Maria Novella might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of foot cream, but the revered Florentine house brings the same old-world apothecary-esque charm and refined luxury to body care as it does to its iconic colognes and candles. The first thing you’ll notice about the foot cream is the scent, an addictive blend of camphor, almond, and suede that’s equal parts gourmand cologne and minty medicinal. Those ingredients also help stimulate circulation and provide a cooling, soothing effect for your soles. The texture leans more balm than cream, gliding on smoothly and hydrating deeply with glycerin, squalane, and a blend of nourishing oils. It’s an indulgence rooted in history, made for modern use, and while foot cream might not be the first thing you’d think to gift, this one makes an elegant case for it.
Aveda
Foot Relief Moisturizing Creme
When it comes to exfoliating foot creams (and yes, a few on this list fit the bill), you don’t want the gritty, rinse-off scrubs you’d find in your face or body wash. Foot creams stay on (which is why chemical exfoliants are the way to go), and Aveda’s Foot Relief is one of the best I’ve tried. It utilizes fruit-derived acids, such as lactic acid from sugarcane and salicylic acid, to gently break down dead skin cells over time, resulting in noticeably softer and smoother feet. It also makes manual tools, such as pumice stones or callus shavers, work more effectively. But this formula doesn’t just exfoliate; it also hydrates, thanks to jojoba and castor oils, while lavender and rosemary oils help keep odors at bay. It’s a smart, hardworking cream that helps shed the dead stuff and leaves your feet looking and feeling more vibrant and renewed.
Dr. Scholl’s
Severe Cracked Heel Repair Restoring Balm
Everyone knows the drugstore MVP when it comes to foot care: Dr. Scholl’s. From inserts to creams, the doc’s lineup is affordable, reliable, backed by clinical know-how, and a staple of many a late-night CVS run. Case in point: the Cracked Heel Repair Balm. Packaged like a deodorant stick, it’s made to swipe directly onto rough heels for targeted relief. While it’s the least “cream-like” formula on this list, it utilizes clinical urea to pull in moisture and soften tough skin. Add in soothing ingredients like shea butter, Epsom salt, and essential oils, and you’ve got a no-frills, highly effective heel fix. Dr. Scholl’s has a deep bench of foot care standouts, from exfoliating scrubs to treatments for flaky skin, but if your heels are crying out for serious TLC, this balm is a worthy addition to your routine.
Burt’s Bees
Peppermint Foot Lotion (3-Pack)
Burt’s Bees may be best known for their iconic lip balms, but their foot creams are also low-key cult favorites. This Peppermint Cream delivers a blast of peppermint and menthol that instantly cools down hot, tired feet. It was the most refreshing formula I tried, with a tingly, wake-you-up sensation and a lotion-like texture that also moisturized effectively. And true to the Bees’ earthy ethos, it leans heavily on natural ingredients. Coconut and olive oils do the heavy lifting in terms of hydration, leaving your feet soft and soothed. After a long summer walk or a day spent on your feet, this is cooling, invigorating, hydrating, and straight-up satisfying foot cream you’ll want to reach for.
Ingredients: Like any sort of hydrating topical, looking at key ingredients is important. Look for deeply hydrating ingredients like squalene and glycerin, which help penetrate deep into the skin for better hydration. Various oils can also be good for antifungal or odor-fighting benefits.
Versatility: Just because something is marketed for the feet doesn’t mean you can’t use it wherever else you need hydration. Same goes for topicals that are marketed for other parts of your body. Look for foot creams that can be used anywhere, and vice versa, so body creams that can also work well on the feet.
Texture: Lotions, balms, salves—what’s the difference? It’s texture. Lotions are typically water-based, looser in consistency, more quickly absorbing into the skin without leaving a greasy finish Balms and salves are more similar in that they’re typically oil-based, and sit more heavily on the skin, providing deeper hydration.
How does foot cream differ from regular body lotion or hand cream?
Puza explains that “the skin on the hands and feet is the thickest on the body. The feet, in particular, are subject to excessive frictional forces, which often leads to the skin getting thicker.” As a result, foot creams are typically more concentrated and “often thicker to allow for greater absorption and hydration. Many contain exfoliating ingredients like urea, glycolic acid, and lactic acid to help reduce skin buildup,” he says. “In theory, guys could use one lotion for the body, hands, and feet, but they’d see better results with a dedicated product for each area.” In other words, foot creams may be too intense for skin on the body, and some body lotions may be too ‘weak’ for the feet.
What ingredients should men look for in an effective foot cream?
“Look for hydrating ingredients like squalane, glycerin, and shea butter, as they help draw moisture into the skin and soften rough patches,” says Puza. “For odor control or mild antifungal benefits, exfoliants like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and urea can be helpful, since a buildup of dead, dry skin can make foot odor worse. If your feet are extra dry or cracked, a foot cream with urea can gently exfoliate and renew the skin over time.”
Some essential oils—like tea tree, peppermint, or eucalyptus—can also offer antifungal or odor-fighting benefits, but it’s best “to avoid formulas overloaded with a high concentration of essential oils if your feet are cracked or sensitive.” Subtle scents are a nice olfactory bonus, but as Puza puts it: “If it smells like an overly strong perfume or cologne, it might be doing more harm than good.”
How often should foot cream be applied for best results?
“Ideally, foot creams should be applied daily, which can be unrealistic for most men,” says Puza. “But if you can be consistent—even once a week—you’ll see benefits.” If you’re dealing with seriously dry or cracked heels, though, he recommends applying it daily.
Can using a foot cream help with odor control and overall foot hygiene?
“Absolutely,” he says. “If you don’t regularly hydrate and exfoliate your feet, dead skin builds up. That dead skin can be a nidus for odor and potentially bacteria or fungus proliferation.”
Should we use foot cream year-round?
“Yes! It’s a common misconception that you don’t need to moisturize in the warmer months,” says Puza. “But consistent use of foot creams helps keep your feet clean and odor-free all summer.”
Are there any grooming tips with foot cream to achieve better results?
“I’m a big fan of making things as easy as possible to encourage regular use,” he says. “The best hack? Apply foot cream to clean, dry feet and put on clean socks overnight. If wearing socks to bed isn’t your thing, just keep them on for 30 minutes. Occlusion helps supercharge the foot cream.”
How We Tested
In our curated foot cream list, we wanted to show that different creams or balms serve varying purposes. Some focus on deep repair, others provide a cooling refresh, and some prioritize exfoliation or mega hydration. However, all will moisturize, soothe, and help keep your feet soft and healthy. In testing each one, I can attest that while each shine in their lane, there is crossover—so that cream you’re eyeing for its cooling kick might also exfoliate. Everyone’s needs vary depending on their skin type, season, or whether they’re dealing with very dry skin or cracked heels. That’s why it’s smart to keep a few in rotation and use them consistently. To help answer some of the most common questions about foot cream, we spoke with Dr. Charles Puza, a board-certified dermatologist and content creator based in New York City.
About the Expert
Dr. Charles Puza is a board-certified dermatologist and content creator based in New York City. He practices medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology at New York Dermatology Group and shares accessible, evidence-based content on beauty, health, and wellness with over 2.5 million followers. A graduate of Harvard University and Duke University School of Medicine, Puza is passionate about demystifying skin and health topics through digestible, engaging education for all audiences.
About The Author
