Winter Foot Care: Expert Tips and Products for Soft, Healthy Feet at Home
In the dreary days of winter, your feet often suffer from dryness, calluses, and cracks due to cold temperatures and constant wear of heavy boots and thick socks. "Many of us tend to ignore our feet during the winter months," said Jessica Austin, a manager at Primp & Polish, a small chain of New York-based salons. "But it is definitely a great idea to maintain care even if we are not showing them to the world." For Austin, maintaining foot care includes regular trimming and filing of toenails, foot soaks, exfoliation with sugar scrubs, and using pumice stones or foot files to prevent cracks and thick calluses. While salon pedicures are an option, beauty vlogger and home manicurist Amanda Bella emphasizes that there are numerous easy and affordable ways to replenish your feet without leaving the house.
Essential Products and Tricks for Winter Foot Care
To keep your feet smooth and soft, Austin and Bella shared their favorite products and techniques for professional-level pedicures at home. The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.
Keep a Pumice Bar in Your Shower
Cold winter weather can make feet dry and cracked. While at-home or professional pedicures provide an instant moisture boost, Bella recommends keeping a budget-friendly pumice bar, such as one from Amazon, in your shower and using it daily to maintain soft feet between treatments. "Quickly using this on your heels and soles at the end of each shower will help treat calluses and maintain super soft feet!" she said. A 4-pack is available for $9 at Amazon.
Elevate Your Heel Work with a Luxury Scraper
Though not a budget item, Bella also recommends a luxury foot file from Diamancel. Reviews indicate it removes even the most stubborn calluses and is surprisingly durable for its lightweight design. "This one is a bit more expensive, but will last you years," Bella noted. It costs $47 at Amazon, with similar options available for around $10.
Slip on Moisturizing Socks
"To treat and keep feet soft, a pair of gel-lined moisturizing socks work wonders at night!" Bella said. "Barefoot Scientist makes a fabulous pair." Barefoot Scientist is a small women-led business specializing in foot care products. Enriched with shea butter, vitamin E, and oils like argan, rose, and jojoba, these regenerating gel-lined socks nourish feet overnight. They come in two sizes, are reusable, and hand-washable for $29 at Amazon, with similar products around $20.
Exfoliate with a Sugar Scrub
After using a pumice or file, Austin suggests applying a sugar scrub to exfoliate legs and feet. "Once complete, you will see and feel the difference right away," she said. A mango sugar scrub made in the USA with shea butter, natural oils, mango puree, and real sugar is available for $8+ at Amazon or $10 at Target.
Give Your Feet a Soak
For toenail maintenance at home, Austin recommends soaking feet in warm water for three to five minutes to soften cuticles, making trimming easier and reducing hangnail risk. To upgrade the experience, opt for an Epsom salt bath, such as a tea tree and peppermint version specially made for feet, priced at $18 at Amazon.
Create DIY Night Socks
For a homemade option, Bella advises creating your own night socks. "You can also DIY for similar results by lathering your feet in coconut oil, Vaseline, or Aquaphor and popping them into a thicker pair of socks before bedtime," she said. "Doing this a couple of times a week will help keep them soft and hydrated." Coconut oil costs $10 at Amazon, Vaseline $5.48, and Aquaphor $13.
Upgrade Your Sock Game
In winter, wearing socks all day can lead to sweat, odors, or irritation on dry feet. Bella noted that choosing the right socks is crucial. "We all have different preferences when it comes to socks!" she said. "For day-to-day wear, try to find a pair that's breathable, comfortable, and warm enough for you during the winter months." Lightweight, breathable socks from Hanes with mesh panels for ventilation and temperature-adapting fabric are available for $13 at Walmart or Target, in four color packs for women's sizes 8-12. For those with athlete's foot or seeking more breathable options, consider specialized socks.
