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Dry, cracked heels, are typically not a serious aliment, but when they go untreated they can start to become uncomfortable and even painful. Luckily, the best foot creams for cracked heels work by moisturizing your feet and creating a barrier to help prevent future moisture loss. By incorporating foot cream into your skin care routine, you can help heal your skin and reduce the appearance of painful, fissured heels.
However, foot creams are not all alike. Ingredients can vary from product to product and have a big impact on the item's overall effectiveness. Some formulas utilize high concentrations of humectants, like glycerin and allantoin, to attract and lock in moisture, while others use the derm-favorite ingredient urea to promote smoother, softer skin. Products with those ingredients will be particularly effective.
You may also want to consider a foot cream that harnesses botanically derived ingredients, like tea tree and peppermint oils, to refresh and pamper your feet naturally. And if you're dealing with extra-dry skin on the sole of your foot in addition to cracked heels, an exfoliating cream that removes dead skin from your feet might be the best option for you.
But that's a lot to consider. So, without further ado, here are the absolute best foot creams for dry, cracked heels, so you can say goodbye to painful feet for good.
1
The Overall Best Cream: O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream
One of the active ingredients in this fast-working cream by O'Keefe's is allantoin, a lab-created moisturizer that promotes healing. It’s also high in glycerin, a humectant that helps draw in and protect against moisture loss in the outer layer of skin. Fans of this cream say they've seen results in as few as a few days (while others say a few weeks), which is likely why this is one of the most popular foot creams on Amazon. It even has a 4.5-star average rating with over 7,000 glowing reviews.
Buyer review: "I recently started to get these deep cracks in my heels which was a new experience for me. I tried using a pumice to remove any callouses, used heel balms, and coconut oils. None of it worked. I ordered this lotion based on the reviews and after 4 days of using this every morning and night, my cracks were 99.9% gone. I've continued to use every evening and the cracks have stayed away. This stuff works miracles and I cannot recommend it enough!”
2
Best All-Natural Foot Cream: The Yellow Bird All Natural Foot Cream
This lovely foot cream by The Yellow Bird consists of just 10 naturally derived ingredients, including coconut oil, shea butter, rosemary extract, and essential oils like peppermint and tea tree, which work together to hydrate cracked heels and lock in moisture. Tea tree has natural antibacterial properties and peppermint is refreshing, so the combo can help your feet feel and smell better. To top it off, the lavender in this formula contributes to its calming, herbal scent.
Buyer review: "I absolutely LOVE this foot cream! After trying hundreds of foot creams and ointments, [finally]...I found this. My feet were cracked, painful, calloused. I have used this every night for the past week and my cracks have healed. The calloused skin is softening and the pain in my feet is gone! Thank you so much for this amazing and affordable foot cream. I also used it on my hands and arms too...I LOVE IT!”
3
Best Exfoliating Cream: Flexitol Heel Balm
While most foot creams work best if you exfoliate before applying them, this Flexitol Heel Balm is a product that handles both exfoliation and moisture in a single step. Its rich but not greasy formula contains exfoliants like glycolic acid and a 25% concentration of smoothing urea that's clinically proven to help your feet shed flaky, dead skin. Meanwhile, other ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter penetrate the remaining skin to increase moisture, restore balance, and soften your dry cracked heels. The result is better moisturized and nicer-feeling feet in as little as one day's time, according to the manufacturer.
Buyer review: “This product is a miracle. I’ve had problems with my heels being thick, dry and cracking my whole life. I get regular pedicures and have used many products over the years, with minimal improvement. A few weeks with this and my heels were healed. I use it regularly now and my heels are soft. I wouldn’t have believed such a change was possible.”
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You May Also Want: An Aloe-Infused Heel Stick That Amazon Reviewers Love
While not technically a cream, this aloe-infused gel stick works wonders on cracked and peeling heels. Not only is it packed with aloe to soothe your skin, but this gel stick has Shea and cocoa butter to moisturize and tea tree oil, which is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic. Simply roll this stick over your cracked heels daily, and you'll see results after a few weeks of use (although some eager reviewers say they saw results within days).
Buyer review: "This stuff is AMAZING! I’ve only been using it for about 3 days but the difference it has already made is incredible! I am the worst at putting lotion on my feet, so they tend to be dry and cracked, but this is really convenient and I’ve been using it twice a day! I have tried other creams for your feet and none of them have worked! This stuff is giving me confidence in my feet that I haven’t had in years, definitely will be a must have!”
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You May Also Want: These Socks That Moisturize Your Feet
These heel sleeves slowly delivers therapeutic oils to your feet while you wear them. Infused with vitamin E, Shea butter, and aloe vera, these socks will help repair your cracked heels with repeated use. Wear these a few days a week as you sleep at night, and your cracked heels will start to heal before your eyes.
Buyer review: "Bought after reading many reviews and trying many other products without any working well. These are definitely worth the buy. After 2 nights of wearing my heals are soft and do not hurt. Wish I would of bought these years ago. If you have dry cracked heals, definitely buy these!”
Still looking for answers? We've got you covered.
What is the fastest way to heal cracked heels?
If you're one of 20% of adults in the US who experience cracked heels, it can be easy to want a quick fix. The best approach, however, is a multi-faceted one that you stick to over time. If you want to heal your cracks more quickly, you might want to use a few products. Find a foot cream or heel balm that you love, then pair that with moisturizing socks you can wear at night, and try to choose shoes that will protect your heels during the day.
Why do I get cracks on my heels?
Your heels are more likely to crack when the skin is not only dry, but is also put under pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a few additional factors that can make you more likely to get cracked heels, including wearing shoes that expose your heels (like sandals) and cold, dry winter weather.
What can I put on cracked heels?
There are a number of good remedies for cracked heels, and to some extent, it comes down to preference. Rich, thick moisturizers are always a good choice, while exfoliators can help slough away dead skin. Whatever you choose, it's important to stick to a routine and moisturize often to combat cracked heels.
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