Checklist · 11 picks · 4 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
Affiliate link.
Your feet carry you everywhere, so give them five minutes a week. The basic routine is simple: a gentle file, then a foot cream, ideally twice a day.
Heel balms and ointments are for cracks, and a foot peel is an occasional reset, not a weekly thing. Every pick here comes from NBC Select's guides to calluses, cracked heels and foot peels, which lean on dermatologists and podiatrists. One rule they repeat: never cut calluses with a blade, and see a podiatrist if your feet hurt. Each card shows the drawback NBC Select called out, like a strong smell, heavy shedding or a cream that's not for open wounds.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you have diabetes, neuropathy, open cracks or foot pain; NBC Select's experts say to talk to a podiatrist or doctor first.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
Pick a budget to see your plan.
Your plan lives in this link. Copy it or email it to yourself so Safari doesn't forget it.
Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 2 on your list · tap one to see your options
Best foot filebudget pick · Bar
Best for a gentle weekly smooth-down
NBC Select's best bar for calluses: Dr. Priya Parthasarathy calls it very gentle and says to use it with mild pressure.
Heads up. NBC Select notes it may shed particles
1 outlet. NBC Select best bar for calluses.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
mid pick · File + pads
Best for thicker rough patches
NBC Select's best file for calluses: a stainless steel file with disposable coarse and fine pads you toss after each use, recommended by dermatologist Dr. Kiran Mian.
Heads up. Not the most eco-friendly
1 outlet. NBC Select best file for calluses.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmLactin Foot Repair Cream | mid | under $15 | rough, flaky skin and calluses | 1 outlet |
| O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream | budget | under $15 | everyday dry feet | 1 outlet |
| CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin | splurge | $15-25 | rough skin on feet and body | 1 outlet |
Best foot creammid pick · 3 oz
Best for rough, flaky skin and calluses
NBC Select's best budget foot cream for calluses and its best exfoliating pick for cracked heels: 15% lactic acid, and Dr. Priya Parthasarathy suggests using it twice a day.
Heads up. Strong smell, it may cause sun sensitivity, and it's not for open wounds
1 outlet. NBC Select best budget foot cream.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Tub
Best for everyday dry feet
NBC Select's best foot cream for cracked heels: a fragrance-free cream with allantoin that Dr. Samer Jaber recommends if ointments feel too thick.
Heads up. Tub packaging
1 outlet. NBC Select best foot cream for cracked heels.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · Tub
Best for rough skin on feet and body
NBC Select's best foot cream for calluses: a fragrance-free cream with salicylic acid, lactic acid and ceramides that dermatologist Dr. Kiran Mian says works on calluses too.
Heads up. Pricier than other options
1 outlet. NBC Select best foot cream for calluses.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair Ointment | budget | under $15 | really dry, cracked heels | 1 outlet |
| CeraVe Healing Ointment | mid | under $15 | overnight heels under cotton socks | 1 outlet |
| Pedestrian Project Cracked Heel Repair | splurge | under $15 | mess-free heel care in your bag | 1 outlet |
Best heel balmbudget pick · Tube
Best for really dry, cracked heels
NBC Select's best cracked heel treatment for intense dryness: salicylic acid and urea, approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, and a favorite of Dr. Annie Chiu and Dr. Samer Jaber.
Heads up. Not for open wounds
1 outlet. NBC Select best for intense dryness cracked heel treatment.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Tube
Best for overnight heels under cotton socks
NBC Select's best ointment for cracked heels: a fragrance-free ceramide and hyaluronic acid ointment with the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.
Heads up. Can feel heavy or sticky
1 outlet. NBC Select best ointment for cracked heels.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · Stick
Best for mess-free heel care in your bag
NBC Select's best balm for calluses: a stick Dr. Priya Parthasarathy recommends for moisturizing rough skin.
Heads up. Doesn't last very long
1 outlet. NBC Select best balm for calluses.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Foot Original Exfoliation Foot Peel | splurge | $15-25 | the classic once-in-a-while reset | 1 outlet |
| Plantifique Foot Peeling Mask | budget | under $15 | a cheap first peel | 1 outlet |
| Patchology PoshPeel Pedi Cure | mid | $15-25 | prepping for sandal season a few weeks ahead | 1 outlet |
Best foot peelsplurge pick · Booties
Best for the classic once-in-a-while reset
NBC Select's best overall foot peel and an editor's pick in its callus guide: you leave it on for an hour, then feet peel over about one to two weeks.
Heads up. Lots of shedding
1 outlet. NBC Select best overall foot peel.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Booties
Best for a cheap first peel
NBC Select's best foot peel for odor: a lactic acid peel with aloe vera and glycerin that takes about 100 to 110 minutes including a soak, then feet peel over one to two weeks.
Heads up. The brand says to patch test first and skip lotion for about two weeks while it works
1 outlet. NBC Select best foot peel for odor.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Booties
Best for prepping for sandal season a few weeks ahead
NBC Select's best foot peel for calluses: it combines AHAs and BHAs, which dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp says help make callused skin smooth and soft.
Heads up. An extra activating step, and the whole process can take a few weeks
1 outlet. NBC Select best foot peel for calluses.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
No. Dr. Priya Parthasarathy tells NBC Select that cutting dead skin with blades is very dangerous and harsh files can make a callus worse. She adds that calluses come back if the cause, often ill-fitting shoes, stays, and that foot pain is not normal, so see a podiatrist if they hurt.
Podiatrist Dr. Alicia Canzanese tells NBC Select not to use a peel on open wounds or cracks, or with an infection like athlete's foot, and podiatrist Dr. Olga Shvets says to avoid them if you have neuropathy (less feeling in your feet), which is common with diabetes. NBC Select adds that pregnant or breastfeeding people and those with eczema or psoriasis should ask a doctor first, and to use a peel once a month at most.
Dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman tells NBC Select to moisturize heels at least twice a day, and Dr. Nkem Ugonabo suggests applying right before bed under cotton socks. Dr. Samer Jaber warns that untreated cracks can get infected, which is a serious risk for people with diabetes.