These 15 Foot Peels Are Perfect for When Your Feet Need Some Serious TLC (2024)

If the thought of sandal season makes you shudder, it might be time to reach for a foot mask. “Mask” is a somewhat misleading name for these intensive peel treatments, designed to deeply exfoliate the thick, callused layers of skin on your feet. Not only do they leave your feet incredibly soft and smooth, but with many of them, you’ll actually see the layers of dead skin slough off in the days post-peel. Filed under: Equal parts gross and satisfying.

The key ingredients in many foot masks are AHAs and/or fruit enzymes which give you that dramatic shedding effect, says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Annie Gonzalez. Keep in mind that the shedding process can go on for at least a week, so we don’t recommend doing this the night before a big event or vacation.

We tested 25 of the best foot peels available today roughly once per week for six weeks, taking before and after photos to assess and compare our tootsies’ transformation. We then evaluated our picks based on their key ingredients and effectiveness at softening our soles. At the end of the testing period, these 15 foot masks stood out from the rest.

Our Top Picks

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What We Like

  • Available in two sizes

  • Speeds up cell turnover

  • Free from harmful chemicals

What to Consider

  • Takes 10 days for peeling to begin

Size: 2 pack | Scent: N/A | Key Ingredients: Glycolic, salicylic, citric, and lactic acids | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This star peeling treatment comes in a format that’s common among the foot masks on our list– a pair of disposable booties saturated in its active ingredient-packed formula. In this case, that's an ultra-effective AHA and BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) botanical blend incorporating lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and citric acid, designed to disolve dead skin cells in 60 minutes.

The watery formula felt cooling (in a good way) while we were soaking our feet in the booties, and there was no sticky residue afterward. Big note: do this treatment at least three weeks in advance of any events you have planned. On day 10, our feet began shedding like crazy. The product instructions recommend wearing socks to protect the feet during this phase, which we did and found that it helped contain the peeling. About two weeks later, all the dead skin had sloughed off and our calluses had disappeared. We were amazed to see how effective a single treatment was and have been recommending this mask to our friends and family. It’s our new go-to pre-summer foot mask.

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What We Like

  • Lovely lavender scent

  • Booties are easy to wear

  • Uses natural ingredients

What to Consider

  • Treatment takes 90 minutes

  • Could be stronger

Size: 3-pack | Scent: Lavender | Key Ingredients: Lavender Extract, Glycerin, Allantoin, Chamomile Flower Extract | Cruelty-Free: No

Slip on this budget-friendly pair of booties and leave them for 90 minutes while plant extracts like orange and lemon get to work exfoliating dead skin. It also contains retinol, which helps make good on its promise to leave your skin “baby smooth.”

While the mask is billed as a peel we didn’t experience any overt skin shedding, perhaps because we rinsed our feet quickly after the treatment to remove the slightly sticky residue. We were more struck by the hydration it provides courtesy of olive oil, glycerin, and shea butter, and by the lovely lavender scent. If you have calluses and are seeking a more intense peel, this product will likely be too gentle for your needs, but for light exfoliation and luxurious hydration at an affordable price point, it gets a thumbs up from us.

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What We Like

  • Booties are mess-free

  • Ultra hydrating formula

  • Immediate results

What to Consider

  • Leaves a light residue on skin

Size: 6-pack | Scent: Fragrance-free | Key Ingredients: Shea butter, avocado oil, provitamin B5, bisabolol | Cruelty-Free: No

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to try a peel, an intensive moisturizing mask might do the trick. The Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Repairing Foot Mask is enriched with a plethora of hydrating ingredients, including avocado oil, shea butter, provitamin B5, and bisabolol (a natural chemical found in chamomile, known for its skin-soothing benefits).

Although the instructions said the treatment takes just 10 minutes, we left the booties on for an additional 10 until all the formula was completely absorbed. We noticed our skin looked glowy after removing the booties and felt substantially smoother. Even our calluses became less rough. Although we appreciated the immediate moisturizing effect, our feet gradually reverted to their dry state after a few days. Handily, the product comes in a pack of six, so it’s easy to make it a regular part of your personal care routine.

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What We Like

  • Non-drip and mess-free

  • Gentle enough for sensitive skin

  • Formulated to balance skin's natural moisture barrier

What to Consider

  • Booties are made from single-use plastic

Size: Single pack | Scent: Fragrance-free | Key Ingredients: Colloidal Oatmeal, glycerin, shea butter | Cruelty-Free: No

Despite having “cica” in its name, this foot mask doesn’t actually contain cica (AKA centella asiatica), the green herb that’s popular in K-Beauty formulas. Instead, it utilizes oat extract, glycerin, and shea butter to hydrate and soothe dry, chapped soles. We love that you can find it in practically any drugstore for a wallet-friendly moisturizing treatment.

We found the booties easy to use and mess-free (although we wish they weren’t made of single-use plastic). After the 10-minute treatment, we massaged the remaining formula—which was cooling and much less liquidy than other masks we’ve used–into our feet, ankles, and calves. It left the skin silky soft, but only temporarily. You need to use this product every few days to maintain results, but we didn’t mind since it’s such a short processing time.

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What We Like

  • 16 natural extracts to exfoliate and moisturize

  • Sloughs off dead skin in three days

  • Absorbs completely with no residue

What to Consider

  • Bootie adhesive doesn’t hold together well

  • Treatment takes an hour

Size: Single pack | Scent: Lavender | Key Ingredients: Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, plant extracts | Cruelty-Free: No

If you need an exfoliating product with the strength to tackle even the most stubborn calluses, this peel from Baby Foot is the one for you. The formula contains 16 natural extracts, including powerhouse exfoliators like lactic acid, glycolic acid, and potassium hydroxide.

It completely absorbed into our skin, leaving no residue or film behind, and our feet felt noticeably softer from the moment we removed our booties. Two days later, all the dead skin started sloughing off, revealing soles so silky we couldn’t stop admiring them. Two downsides we noted: The treatment takes an hour and the booties don’t stay on your feet super well, so we recommend doing it as part of your evening wind-down routine.

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What We Like

  • Dermatologist-tested

  • Removed dry skin without being too harsh

  • Moisturizes skin with glycerin

What to Consider

  • The adhesive around the booties was a bit tricky to use

Size: Single pack | Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, Glycolic acid, Glycerin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s a fine line between a peel that effectively sheds skin and one that’s too harsh. This exfoliating mask from Barefoot Scientist is, as Goldilocks would say, “just right.” Boasting a dermatologist-tested formula with AHAs like lactic acid to gently exfoliate and antioxidant-rich fruit extracts to hydrate, it instigates a full skin renewal cycle within a week or two of use.

We noticed our skin began to feel a little tight for a couple of days after the treatment, but on the third day, the peeling process began. The results were impressive; our feet were super smooth and most of the calluses were reduced or vanished altogether.

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What We Like

  • Gentle formula for light exfoliation

  • Moisturizes using coconut and sweet almond oil

  • Easy-to-use booties

What to Consider

  • Took five days for peeling to begin

  • Not strong enough for extremely dry, cracked, or callused skin

Size: Single pack | Scent: Chemical/medical | Key Ingredients: Glycolic and Lactic Acids, Natural Fruit extracts of Grapefruit, Orange and Lemon | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Foot peels can sometimes feel uncomfortable, especially if you have sensitive skin. If that sounds like you, or you just prefer a more gentle approach to treating your feet, this mask is it. As the name implies, the star of the formula is glycolic acid which works to loosen dead skin cells, while citrus fruit extracts soften and condition the skin/ Coconut and sweet almond oils provide an additional dose of silky hydration.

Using this foot mask was a really comfortable experience, from the easy-to-use booties to the cooling, serum-like formula, which didn’t leave a sticky residue when we were done. It was slower to work than most of the products we tested; dead skin only began to come off on day five, but the process was complete by day seven. Although we didn’t notice dramatic peeling, the mask definitely exfoliated the skin and left our feet feeling extremely soft afterward.

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What We Like

  • Plant-based formula

  • Helps soften skin

  • Effective at dissolving dead skin cells

What to Consider

  • Unpleasant tingling sensation

  • Booties only come in a men’s size 12

Size: Single pack | Scent: Menthol | Key Ingredients: Glycolic and Lactic Acids, papaya extract, lemon and orange extracts | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a dramatic foot peel that leaves skin feeling renewed, try Boscia’s Fruit Acid Smoothing mask. The plant-based, cruelty-free formula includes failsafe natural exfoliators such as lactic and glycolic acids, combined with notable fruit extracts including papaya and lemon to condition the skin.

The peeling experience itself wasn’t as relaxing a self-care experience as we’d like. The booties only come in a large size (men’s size 12) which made them feel bulky and the formula had a cold, tingly sensation that we didn’t enjoy. It took about three days for the peeling to begin, but when it did we were amazed by how much dead skin sloughed off, starting with the heels and balls and ending with the toes.

What We Like

  • Made with a blend of fruit acids and extracts

  • Eliminates dry, dead skin, calluses, and cracked heels

  • Easy-to-use booties that stay put

What to Consider

  • Left our feet feeling dry

Size: Two pack | Scent: Various | Key Ingredients: Salicylic, malic and lactic acids, aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As clever and effective as the little booties that come with most of these peels are, some aren’t the easiest to use. Not so with the DEMORA Foot Peel Mask, which comes with super-grippy adhesive tape that creates a snug fit no matter your foot size. The formula itself uses three AHAs for powerful exfoliation–salicylic, malic, and lactic acid–and blends them with soothing, skin-healing aloe vera.

The treatment process is simple and mess-free, and we appreciated that it didn’t irritate our skin upon application. It took three days for the peeling process to begin and a total of seven days to reveal nice, soft soles. We do wish it had been a bit more effective on our calluses. It also left our feet feeling dry, particularly following the second treatment (two weeks after the first). Still, we would recommend this as a once-in-a-while beauty maintenance ritual to get your feet super smooth before summer or a big event.

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What We Like

  • Sheds callouses and dead skin

  • Protects your skin from cracking

  • Restores moisture and heals dryness

What to Consider

  • Time consuming process

Size: Four pack | Scent: Various | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glycerol, arginine, 17 botanical extracts | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This self-proclaimed “gross-but-satisfying” foot mask has been doing the rounds on TikTok. Its award-winning formula boasts exfoliating glycolic acid, moisturizing glycerol, and hydrating arginine, an amino acid thought to reinforce the skin barrier. In other words, not only does it tackle dead skin, but it also prevents future dryness and cracking.

With the pre-treatment foot soak and the one-hour mask time, we found this one to be pretty time-consuming. It was ultimately worth it, though. The thick gel was pleasant to use and although it was cooling it didn’t tingle. The majority of the peeling happened during the first four days, particularly while showering, which was convenient in terms of mess. Our feet looked brand new after 10 days. By week six we could have used another peel but with some maintenance (foot scrubs and daily lotion) we think the results could have extended even longer.

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What We Like

  • Gently sheds hardened skin

  • Rejuvenating and soothing formula

  • Results last a long time

What to Consider

  • Booties were hard to secure

Size: Two pack | Scent: N/A | Key Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, salicylic acid, urea, glycerin, royal jelly extract, macadamia seed oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Manual buffing alone isn’t always enough to remove calluses. Enter KISS Super Peel, which uses potassium hydroxide and salicylic acid, two very potent exfoliants, to dissolve really tough skin. They’re combined with intense hydrators such as royal jelly extract and macadamia seed oil to keep your soles feeling soft and supple.

We followed directions and massaged our feet during treatment. The formula wasn’t irritating at all and the gel stayed contained within the booties. Despite boasting some powerhouse moisturizing ingredients, we didn’t find it exceptionally hydrating. However, it did a stellar job of removing calluses so our go-to lotion was able to sink in better. Miraculously, our calluses didn’t reappear and our feet still felt soft an entire month after the first application.

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What We Like

  • Formulated with botanical extracts

  • Super hydrating formula

  • Booties are secure enough to walk around in

What to Consider

  • Slow to absorb

Size: Single pack | Scent: Clean and fresh | Key Ingredients: Green tea, ginko leaf extract, sweet almond and peppermint extract | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When you need softer feet in a flash, this luxuriously hydrating mask from Nails Inc. can help. It blends soothing, protecting green tea, antioxidant ginko leaf extract, and moisturizing sweet almond oil to leave your feet ultra-soft in less than 30 minutes.

We loved the cooling sensation during the treatment and that the booties were secure enough that we could walk around in them–a real rarity for foot masks. When we removed the booties our skin was slick with product; even after massaging it into our feet there was still a residue left behind. We pulled on a pair of socks and found that helped moisturize our feet even more deeply. The next day our soles were baby-soft, and that lasted for about 48 hours.

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What We Like

  • Includes aloe vera to soothe irritated skin

  • Dermatologist-tested formula

  • Rejuvenates and increases the regeneration of skin cells

What to Consider

  • Treatment takes up to 90 minutes to complete

Size: Two pack | Scent: Peach | Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, peach kernel, aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have sensitive skin, the idea of soaking your feet in exfoliants might seem a little unnerving. You have nothing to worry about with this mask though. It uses a blend of AHAs and BHAs to increase cell turnover combined with soothing aloe vera and skin-plumping peach kernel oil. It’s also dermatologist-approved for reactive skin and doesn’t contain harsh or controversial chemicals such as parabens (known endocrine disruptors commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics).

We found the formula a little cooling on the skin at first but not irritating in any way. It took three days for peeling to begin and just over a week before our softer, smoother soles were revealed. The results lasted about a month. With frequent moisturizing, we think they could have remained even longer.

What We Like

  • Fits up to a men's size 11

  • Exfoliates and hydrates dry skin

  • Long-lasting effects

What to Consider

  • Booties could be a bit more durable

  • Chemical smell

Size: Two pack | Scent: Peach | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, apple, papaya, lemon, and aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: No

The booties that come with this mask fit up to a men’s size 11 and have adhesive stickers so you can achieve a nice snug fit around the ankle (aka one size truly fits all). The key exfoliating ingredient here is our old friend salicylic acid combined with a myriad of botanical extracts like papaya and aloe vera to leave the skin silky and supple after just one treatment.

We weren’t in love with the scent of this mask, which smelled like chemicals, but the treatment process was otherwise easy and enjoyable. Four days later, the dry skin on our big toe, heels, and pads started to peel. By day seven, our soles were lovely and soft. One mistake we made, however, was deciding to break in a new pair of loafers during the peeling phase–a shortcut to excruciating blisters.

What We Like

  • Supports natural cell turnover to keep your skin healthy

  • Contains natural AHAs to gently exfoliate without irritation

  • Worked faster than expected

What to Consider

  • Left some dry skin behind

Size: Two pack | Scent: Light, fresh | Key Ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Urea, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If dry cracked heels plague you, this mask from Tonymoly will fix you right up. It comes with a formula-saturated treatment patch for the heel and a wrap that goes around the ankle to keep it in place. A combination of AHAs such as lactic and glycolic acids dissolve dead cells and a laundry list of fruit extracts such as apple, grape, and lime, help heal and soothe the skin.

The mask was cooling to the touch, but once we pulled socks on over the wrap we quickly forgot it was there. When our skin began peeling on day four it felt a little scratchy and uncomfortable, but the following day the process was complete. The instructions said the process takes a full week, so we were impressed with the efficiency. We liked that the mask didn’t overly strip the skin, and our heels were noticeably smoother afterward. However, there were still patches of dry skin left over, so we would recommend following up with a second treatment.

We Also Tested

Dr. Scholl's Rough, Dry Skin Ultra-Exfoliating Foot Mask

Infused with exfoliating AHAs, urea (a humectant that draws moisture into the skin) and anti-inflammatory maca root extract, this foot mask takes a multipronged approach to treating dry, cracked feet. Although they fit fine, we found the booties hard to open. The formula itself created a cooling, tingling sensation that we found a bit off-putting because of how long it lasted (an hour after we washed the formula off, our feet were still tingling).

Footner Exfoliating Foot Mask Socks

Despite its hydrating ingredients, we found this one a little drying. On the flip side, our heels began to peel almost instantly and the rest of the foot soon followed. Within a week, a noticeable amount of dry and dead skin had been removed and our feet were much less rough. Next time, we’d use a tool like a pumice stone to enhance results even more.

What to Look for in a Foot Peel

  • Alpha Hydroxy Acids and/or Fruit Enzymes: If your feet are really in bad shape, seek out AHAs and/or fruit enzymes on the ingredients list— which will give you that dramatic, shedding effect, says Gonzalez. If a product contains several AHAs, that’s a pretty good indication that it will effectively dissolve dead skin cells and make way for renewal. Hello, softer soles.
  • Moisturizing Butters and Oils: On the flip side, if your heels are just a little dry or flaky, Gonzalez suggests looking for foot masks that will repair and soften the skin without necessarily causing that level of intense exfoliation. Look for ingredients like sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, which will penetrate dry patches and help protect the skin barrier for reinforcement against cracks and callouses.

FAQ

  • Are foot peels safe?

    According to Gonzalez, foot peels are safe for most people. But a few caveats: “Don’t use any kind of foot peels with acids if you have an open sore on your foot or even a small abrasion. The acid from the peel will get into the crack and be quite painful, and you might also increase your risk of developing an infection,” cautions Gonzalez. You also shouldn’t use these if you’re diabetic or pregnant, unless you clear it with your doctor, she adds.

  • Can you use a foot peel on your face?

    That’s a very hard n-o. Full stop. “The skin on the bottom of the foot is thicker than the skin on the face. Depending on what product you are using for a foot peel, it could be much too strong for your face,” says Gonzalez.

  • Can you use a foot peel on your hands?

    Also no. While the skin on your hands may not be as delicate as the skin on your face, it’s still different than the skin on your feet. Foot peels are for feet, and that’s that.

  • How often should you use a foot peel?

    “It takes a few days for the feet to start peeling and for new skin to become apparent,” says Gonzalez. “Once a month should be the maximum for usage, and many people find they can go longer depending on their rate of cell turnover and how calloused or dry their feet typically get,” she says.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Although she’s all about regular salon pedicures, few things in life bring her as much satisfaction as the shedding that occurs after a foot peel; it’s one of her favorite at-home beauty treatments.

Additional guidance was provided by Dr. Annie Gonzalez, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, FL. Her specialties include both adult and pediatric dermatology and chronic skin conditions.

Byrdie contributor and beauty product expert, Esme Benjamin, updated this article in 2024 and checked that every detail was correct. She analyzed all the foot peel testing insights to make sure that each product deserves a place on Byrdie’s list.

According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any foot peels from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us atcontact@byrdie.comand we will evaluate the product ASAP.

These 15 Foot Peels Are Perfect for When Your Feet Need Some Serious TLC (2024)
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