How To Care For Your Feet And Get Summer Sandals Ready | Cult Beauty (2025)

After months of neglect (and maybe one too many missed pedicures), it’s time to show your feet the attention they deserve. Knowing how to care for feet is essential, they carry you through every step whether you're running for the train, dancing late into night, or flowing through a Pilates class— so giving them the proper care is essential.

But what’s the best way to give them the TLC they need? Well, here at Cult Beauty, we’ve rounded up our tips on how to care for feet to keep the soft, smooth and supple... all year long.

In This Article:

• How To Care For Feet
• How To Treat Cracked Feet
• How To Moisturise Feet
• How To Care For Feet FAQs

HOW TO CARE FOR FEET

1.The first step to learning how to care for feet is understanding how to properly wash them. You should be washing your feet everyday (multiple times if you’re prone to sweating). Use your favourite body cleanser and gently wash your feet massaging from in between your toes to your heels.

2.Then it’s time to dry them properly, preferably using a cotton towel. Keeping the skin between your toes dry is paramount in learning how to care for feet as this prevents moisture buildup and in turn fungal infections. Rub your feet with your favourite towel concentrating in absorbing the moisture between your toes.

3.Next, trim your nails. No-one wants long toenails, so keep them short and straight. You can file the sides down to prevent any becoming ingrown.

4.Now it’s time to exfoliate your feet. After months of neglect, your feet are probably covered in dead skin cells so the quickest and easiest way to remove them is to use a mitt and a body exfoliator.

5.For drier, harder skin and callouses you can buff them out. Using a foot file, use your elbow grease and remove the harder skin on your feet. Typically, these are on your heels and the sides of your feet. Be careful not to go overboard though – remember there should be no irritation or redness after you file.

6.And to lock all your hard work in place? Moisturise, moisturise and moisturise with your favourite body moisturiser.

HOW TO TREAT CRACKED FEET

After being overlooked for months, not being moisturising, standing for too long and even wearing open backed shoes, cracked feet is a very common occurrence. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to care for your feet to avoid this common – albeit unsightly- occurrence. The first step to learning how to treat cracked feet is to gently exfoliate. This can be with a physical body exfoliant or if your feet have more hardened skin, using a callous remover. Then, choose a moisturiser packed with salicylic or lactic acid and that is rich and indulgent on your skin. This is because a moisturiser that is also powered by AHA/BHAs to help break down the bond of the thickened skin while also delivering a heavy dose of hydration – both of which are imperative to soft and smooth feet.

HOW TO MOISTURISE FEET

Now you understand how to care for feet and how to treat cracked feet, let’s dive into how to moisturise feet... properly. You may think lathering your toes in any moisturiser will do the trick, but actually picking and choosing the best body moisturiser is the most important part.

Feet need creams that are decadent and rich to up the hydration levels they’ve been lacking. So, choosing a foot cream powered by shea and coconut butter, glycerine and petroleum should be a top priority. Avoid putting moisturiser between your toes and concentrate mostly on the areas that are the driest. This is because the area between your toes is naturally warm, so if a heavy moisturiser is trapped there, there is a high chance you can cause bacteria, fungi and even athletes' foot. Massage your moisturiser into your tootsies – especially on the areas that are the driest. And finally, lock in all that moisture by wearing a pair of cotton socks and doing this process at night before bed.

HOW TO CARE FOR FEET FAQs

How to care for feet as you age?

As we age, the skin on our feet becomes thinner, there’s a reduction in our blood circulation and some may begin to have issues with their joints. That's why learning how to care for feet becomes even more important. As our skin gets drier with age, moisturising and exfoliating our feet is the number one thing we can do to help prevent dry, cracked and uncomfortable feeling feet.

How do I keep my feet moisturised?

The best way to keep feet moisturised is by applying a rich foot treatment before bed and wearing cotton socks on top. The socks lock in hydration and prevent any of the foot cream going onto your bed sheets. Exfoliating feet one-to-two times a week is also important, as is soaking your feet in a bath with some bath salts like de Mamiel’s Soothe Bath Soak.

Why is the bottom of my feet so dry and cracked?

Having dry and cracked feet, typically around your heels, is usually caused by combination of pressure, lack of moisture and thickened skin. Standing and walking on hard surfaces, wearing open-backed shoes, walking barefoot and of course dry, cold environments can all cause you to have dry and cracked feet.

And there you have it, now you know how treat your feet like the VIPs they are. With a little love and the right routine, how to care for feet becomes less of a chore and more of a pampering, self care routine.