Foot cream is care designed for the soles and heels, where the skin is thicker and under more strain than on the rest of the body. You choose it according to what your feet need right now: light everyday hydration, a richer balm for the heels or a feeling of freshness after a long day. You will find the range in the category foot creams, for example the Whipped body butter Lipa, and our Advisor will make the choice easier.
Why do feet deserve special care?
Our feet carry us all day, and yet they are the part we most often forget in body care. The skin of the soles has a thicker horny layer than elsewhere on the body and very few sebaceous glands, so it gets its moisture mainly from the outside. On top of that come pressure, friction in shoes, hot showers, dry air and long hours on your feet. That is why it is worth giving your feet a little extra time and choosing a foot cream that is richer than a body lotion, yet still pleasant. Just like your face, your feet appreciate regularity, which turns them into a pleasant part of your evening ritual. You can find a detailed routine for very dry heels in the article Cracked heels: gentle care that is worth it.
Which foot cream to choose according to your needs?
Foot creams differ in texture and composition, so it is worth knowing what to expect from each type. Lighter lotions and butters are suited to everyday care, thicker balms to the moments when you want to give your heels more. Cooling products with menthol bring a feeling of freshness after a long day. The table below gives you a rough overview of three types, based on the ingredients on the product pages. It is not a rule, only an aid to start from when choosing. The same cream may not suit you in both summer and winter, so it is perfectly fine to keep two products at home: a lighter one for ordinary days and a richer one for when your feet need more attention. You do not have to buy everything at once, start with one and see how you get on with it.
| Type | What it suits | Ingredients according to the product page | Example from our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light lotion | everyday hydration after a shower | water, rose water, sunflower oil, squalane, hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10 | Body lotion with Q10 Lipa 150 ml |
| Whipped butter | an evening ritual for drier feet | sunflower oil, shea butter, mango butter, tocopherol, parfum | Whipped body butter Lipa 150 ml, made in Slovakia |
| Thick cooling balm | heels and thicker skin, a feeling of freshness | petrolatum, paraffinum liquidum, paraffin, lanolin, menthol, salicylic acid, extracts of oak bark, horsetail and tea tree, parabens | Cream balm for cracked heels 10 ml, an imported product in our range |
The body lotion and butter are our own products, designed for the whole body, but thanks to their richer texture you can use them on your feet too. Body lotion with Q10 Lipa is lighter and suits every day, while the butter suits the evening. The thick heel balm is an imported product built on a classic base of petrolatum and paraffin. It contains menthol, which brings a cooling feeling, and salicylic acid, which is used in cosmetics for gently loosening a thickened horny layer. It is therefore a different type of care from plant butters, so choose it consciously, according to the ingredients that suit you. Take a look at the Cream balm for cracked heels.
How to read the ingredients of a foot cream?
As with other cosmetic products, the ingredients are listed in order from the highest share to the lowest. In plant butters you will find oils and butters first, for example sunflower oil or shea butter. In thick balms these are usually petrolatum, paraffin or lanolin, which form a protective layer on the surface of the skin. Neither is better or worse, they are two different approaches, and each suits a different skin type and a different kind of ritual. Also look at whether the ingredients include parfum, preservatives or salicylic acid, which may not suit every skin. There is one more important thing: the name on the packaging is not the ingredient list. If the name promises a particular ingredient, always check that you can also find it in the list of ingredients.
How to use foot cream?
It is best to reach for it in the evening, when you can allow yourself to slow down, and to use it after a shower or a bath in warm water. The skin is softer then and takes in care better, and you have a natural moment when the day is ending and you are in no hurry. Follow the instructions on the label and keep to these steps:
- Pat your feet gently dry, especially between the toes, and rather do not apply cream to those spots, so that they stay dry.
- Warm a small amount of cream in your palms so that it melts pleasantly.
- Massage it in with slow movements from the heel towards the toes and give extra attention to the heels.
- If you like, pull on cotton socks so that the care is not rubbed off during the night.
- With a new product, first try it on a small area and see how your skin reacts.
Such a ritual does not take long, yet it can become a moment for yourself. Sit down, breathe calmly and enjoy the scent and the touch. Your feet are most grateful when you give them attention regularly, and not only when they start to complain. You can complete the ritual with a warm tea, quiet music or a few minutes without your phone, so that you truly slow down. You can also reach for cooling products during the day if they tempt you with freshness after long standing, and keep the thicker balms for the evening. If redness, burning or itching appears after application, stop using the product and talk to a professional.
When to talk to a doctor?
Foot creams are cosmetics that give the skin moisture, softness and a pleasant feeling. They do not replace an examination or treatment. If your feet hurt for a long time, swell, feel heavy or tired for no obvious reason, if wounds, deep cracks or a change of colour appear on the skin, or if you have diabetes or circulation problems, turn to a doctor. A professional can judge what your feet really need and advise you what is suitable for them. Even the best foot cream does not replace an examination, so it is worth getting in touch in good time, not only when the condition gets worse. You can find an overview of the professional literature, for example, in a search of studies on moisturising the skin of the feet (source: PubMed database).
Did you know…
Did you know that the name on the packaging is not the ingredient list: the real ingredients are in the INCI list, where they are given from the largest share to the smallest?