Tired of seeing dry and callused skin on the bottom of your feet? Using foot scrubs as part of your normal skincare routine can help prevent and treat several conditions including those! The skin on your feet is more prone to showing signs of wear and tear, after all. But how do you know which foot scrub to pick?
That's why we did the research for you, backed by a board certified dermatologist. We created a list of the 9 best foot scrubs out there to address different foot concerns, including our top choice, Oleavine's Theratree Exfoliating Scrub. Also read to see our buying guide full of tips on which ingredients work best for calluses, dry skin, fungal infections, and more.
Quick List - Top Foot Scrubs
Dr. Levy is a board certified dermatologist practicing in NYC and Westport, Connecticut. She has expertise in treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. She has an interest in skincare and takes a personalized approach to all of her patients.
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Maybe you're still on the fence about getting a foot scrub, but here's why you should consider getting one! Foot scrubs can take care of obvious issues like helping to remove dead skin and calluses to give feet a smooth and healthy appearance.
But with some beneficial ingredients described in the buying guide below, a foot scrub can even take care of issues like unpleasant smell, bacteria, and some fungal infections. Foot scrubs can also relieve tired and achy feet by stimulating circulation. If you struggle with any of these issues, a scrub could be just what you need in your routine!
Pretty much everyone can use a foot scrub. They can help remove dead skin, thin out calluses, and leave the feet feeling clean and refreshed. They also can help treat fungus and athlete's foot by removing the thick scale, which will allow antifungal medication to work better. They do not need to be used daily to get the full benefit but can be used a few times a week.
Not all foot scrubs work for all foot conditions. While some moisturizers are great for cracked heels, others work on with sensitive skin. Likewise, gentle exfoliants won't work on tough calluses but will do a great job of getting rid of dead skin cells.
Like moisturizers, different types of exfoliants work best for specific skin conditions. Brown or white sugar granules are light and gentle, helping smooth out the skin and slough off dead skin cells. Gentle exfoliants also work best on sensitive skin, as well as ingredients like baking soda, which works particularly well for rashes and itchy skin.
However, if you've got calluses or peeling skin, you'll want stronger, coarser exfoliants like Epsom or sea salt, seeds (apricot, jojoba, and more) and pumice stone granules. These are commonly found in foot scrubs when other exfoliants like sugar aren't present.
For thicker calluses, aim for a physical exfoliator, especially an exfoliator with larger granules. These large granules can literally break through hyperkeratosis, which is what creates foot calluses.
Look for scrubs with lactic acid if you have dead skin or chapped feet. The acids will help with skin turnover. For best results, use a hydrating foot cream after the scrub to keep the skin smooth and hydrated. The exfoliated skin will absorb these moisturizers better.
Along with the exfoliating agents, some of the most important ingredients in any good foot scrub are moisturizers. These ingredients help the skin on your feet retain moisture after a bath or shower, heal dryness over time, and give the skin a healthy, smooth appearance.
Olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter help lock in moisture after bathing and prevent your skin from drying out. If you're suffering from cracked heels, try a scrub with both Vitamin E and coconut oil. The combination will heal dryness and cracks with regular use. Cupuacu butter and white tea can moisturize without irritating sensitive skin.
If you're struggling with particularly stubborn calluses, I recommend a scrub that's oil-based and creamy. This will penetrate the calluses better.
Additionally, oil-based ingredients can be very hydrating. And while I usually recommend against using coconut oil if you have acne, it's totally fine to apply a coconut oil foot scrub. Your feet don't have hair follicles, so even if you're acne-prone, the scrub won't irritate that area.
If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet for long periods, you'll want to make a peppermint foot scrub one of your staples, since it's a popular ingredient for aches, pains, and soreness. Another common essential oil is tea tree oil, which can kill some bacteria and fungi that can cause itching, redness, and athlete's foot.
Other essential oils like lavender and rosemary are less common in foot scrubs, but when added, these can provide stress relief. The oils remove tension from your feet and relax your mind. As a bonus, lavender oil can promote your skin's production of collagen and help it heal wounds faster.
Concerned about germs, odor, or bacteria? Tea tree oil, like we mentioned before, along with honey, have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. That means they can help eliminate smells, itching, and redness caused by some bacteria or fungus like athlete's foot. Foot scrubs that contain these ingredients can often double as a face wash, as tea tree oil is also commonly used to fight excess oil and acne.
Looking for a way to invigorate or perk up your senses? Look for a foot scrub with citrus oils or scents like lemon and lime. During the winter, exposure to citrus scents can help alleviate feelings of seasonal depression caused by lower levels of vitamin D.
If your feet are exposed to sweaty and moist environments, you may be at risk of developing athlete's foot. Tea tree oil is a great natural antibacterial and antifungal that can help prevent the development of this infection as well as treat mild foot skin infections.
If you're suffering from athlete's foot, you can use a scrub that contains tea tree oil in combination with a topical antifungal over-the-counter or prescription medication.
As foot scrubs can also help remove the thicker scales that the fungus causes, using a foot scrub will help any medication penetrate more efficiently into your skin.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oleavine Theratree Exfoliating Scrub | ![]() | Best Foot Scrub to Help Treat a Variety of Concerns | |
2 | Odor-Eaters Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub | ![]() | Best to Tackle Smelly Feet | |
3 | Vaadi Herbals Foot Scrub | ![]() | Best Natural Scrub to Treat Athlete's Foot | |
4 | First Botany Cosmeceuticals Tea Tree Oil Body and Foot Scrub | ![]() | Best to Soothe Aches and Itching | |
5 | Mineral Me California Foot Magic Scrub | ![]() | Best for Targeted Areas | |
6 | Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Cooling Foot Scrub | ![]() | Best for Summer Sandal Season | |
7 | Formula 10.0.6 Tahitian Vanilla Bean Shea Sugar Scrub | ![]() | Best to Exfoliate in the Shower | |
8 | OPI ProSpa Exfoliating Sugar Scrub | ![]() | Best for Sensitive Skin | |
9 | The Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Pumice Foot Scrub | ![]() | Best to Soften, Smooth and Refresh Tired Feet |
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This foot scrub has dirt-absorbing bamboo charcoal and bacteria-fighting tea tree oil. It's gentle enough to use daily on your feet, and it can also be used less frequently on your body or face.
The majority of reviewers liked how well the scrub exfoliated dead skin cells on their feet. They said that it was able to fight odors and left a deep-clean feeling. Note: although this can be used as a face scrub, some said the pumice was too harsh for them.
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From the familiar foot odor-fighting brand, Odor-Eaters' scrub is focused on just what you'd expect. It promises to treat smelly feet by removing the dead skin which is food for the bacteria that cause odor, as well as attacking the bacteria themselves using tea tree oil.
To top it off, baking soda and charcoal absorb sweat, oils, dirt, and stinkiness! Reviewers say it works great and it works fast. It's especially popular with those who wear boots all day, have sweaty feet, or do sports. Buyers recommend it for the whole family.
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Vaadi Herbals Foot Scrub's all-natural ingredients include deeply moisturizing kokum butter. The lemongrass oil in the scrub has antifungal properties, which makes it a great choice for those fighting or trying to prevent athlete's foot.
Some thought it could exfoliate better, but appreciated how well it moisturized their skin. Other reviewers liked how soft the scrub made their skin feel and enjoyed the lemony scent.
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This foot scrub can work on rough, dry callouses while alleviating aches, pains, and pesky foot odors. It contains ingredients like jojoba oil to help keep your skin smooth and soft. The natural exfoliants are Dead Sea salt and Epsom salt.
Some reviewers thought it had a greasy feel. However, most reviewers were impressed with the scrub's ability to get rid of dead, dry skin, athlete's foot, and itchy, irritated skin. They also liked how the scrub made their feet softer and smoother.
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These sugar cubes make it easy to target specific areas of your feet or body. Just pick one up, and use it like a mini pumice stone to rub over your calluses or rough spots until it dissolves. It's available in this relaxing lavender scent, or you can choose lemon, rose, orange, and watermelon!
Reviewers say these little cubes are the perfect size to use on your feet. They found that the texture removed dead skin well and left their feet soft.
Pros:
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Pumice, jojoba seeds, and apricot shells work to break up dry and rough skin, while tea tree oil disinfects and takes away unpleasant odors. With a cooling effect from mint but few moisturizers, we think this is a good lightweight scrub for summer.
Some reviewers stated the scrub did not seem to remove calluses or work as well on more severe cases. They did like how they felt as if their feet were getting a massage when using this scrub. It made their skin feel clean.
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If you're looking for a foot scrub to keep handy in your shower stall, try this one. It won't take up much space, and the exfoliation isn't too intense for regular use. But since it uses pumice, it also isn't too weak to tackle rough skin.
Reviewers love it, especially how the scent is lighter than some other peppermint scrubs. They also say it helps with dry feet but doesn't leave an oily residue, and most of all, it softens their hardworking feet.
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Formulated for sensitive, dry skin, OPI ProSpa Exfoliating Sugar Scrub gently sloughs away dead skin cells and peeling skin. Used in both spas and homes, this scrub is also designed to help prevent signs of aging.
The majority of users reported an improvement in their skin after using the scrub just once. Reviewers liked the lighter lemon and sugar scent and said it made an immediate difference in their skin's texture. They also liked that the scrub moisturized and exfoliated at the same time.
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The Body Shop's foot scrub contains pumice to smooth away the thickest of calluses and dead skin, and soothing peppermint oil to help calm tired feet. You'll be able to give your feet a smoother appearance and enjoy the refreshing scent.
Some reviewers didn't appreciate the strength of the peppermint smell, but the majority agreed it exfoliated well. They loved how this foot scrub helped smooth out rough calluses and gave their feet a softer feel.
Still have some questions about foot scrubs? Dr. Levy took the time to answer this commonly asked question with her expert insight!
Dr. Levy says, "Since foot scrubs are exfoliators, they can dry out the skin. So, you only want to use your foot scrub occasionally. I recommend exfoliating your feet once every other week, or two to three times a week if you have the thickest type of calluses.
For feet that are simply tired and slightly overworked, once a week should provide enough benefit. If you have calluses but also have dry feet, use a foot cream or emollient after the scrub."
Most of us don't think about our feet until they start to hurt or look terrible, but don't let it get to that point! Here's some more information on ways to care for your feet.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Oleavine|Theratree Exfoliating Scrub
No. 2: Odor-Eaters|Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub
No. 3: Vaadi Herbals|Foot Scrub
No. 4: First Botany Cosmeceuticals|Tea Tree Oil Body and Foot Scrub
No. 5: Mineral Me California|Foot Magic Scrub
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