Pedicures are the best, not just because you leave with shiny toenails but because the dry skin on your heels and toes get cleaned up, as well.
Of course, the global pandemic has made pedicures a luxury not many people are willing to risk right now. That’s why both men and women are turning to foot peel masks.
Kathy Hilton gets a mani-pedi at a nail salon in Beverly Hills, California on January 8, 2020
These peels have been popular for years, but they’ve become even more common as people look for easy at-home self-care options.
If you’ve been curious about foot masks and want to know about how they work, and more importantly, if they hurt, keep reading.
How a foot mask works
A foot mask is really a chemical peel for your feet. You put your feet inside little baggies that contain foot gel, then usually let it sit for about an hour. The following images are provided by Baby Foot.
Place one bootie on each foot and secure them with the included adhesive tape
That means no walking or running errands for up to 60 minutes, so settle in for a couple of episodes of your favorite TV show.
To allow the gel to absorb, keep the booties on for one hour
After the hour is over, simply wipe off any excess foot cream and rinse your feet with water, then you wait.
After an hour, remove the booties and rinse your feet with water
It can take anywhere from three days to two full weeks for the foot peel to complete. During this time, large flakes of skin will begin to peel off your feet removing the callouses and dead skin cells.
At the end of the process, you’ll have fresh smooth skin on your feet and no more cracked heels.
The foot masks work by applying ingredients to your skin that are commonly found in facial chemical peels, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid. These ingredients help strip the dead skin from your feet and leave fresh new skin behind.
Are foot masks safe?
If you’ve never tried a foot mask before, you might be concerned about the safety of the product. For most people, foot masks are safe, and they don’t hurt at all.
In fact, most people find foot masks relaxing and quite satisfying. This doesn’t, however, mean foot masks are right for you.
The ingredients in foot masks can be harsh if you have sensitive skin. It is a chemical peel, after all. This foot care product would not be for you if you have sensitive skin or any sort of skin condition, such as eczema.
A customer healed her hard, dry, cracked feet with Baby Foot’s foot care products
You should also check the ingredient list before applying it to your feet if you know you’re allergic to certain types of artificial fragrances or moisturizers.
Another warning that you might not have a good experience with a foot mask is if you have any open sores or infections. You don’t want to apply the mask to your skin if it’s healing from an injury or if you’ve recently been sick.
In these cases, it’s better to stick to more natural alternatives like pumice stones and exfoliating scrubs. If you do use a foot peel and have a negative reaction, it could cause redness, itchiness, and in a severe case blistering.
That being said, most foot mask reviews are positive, and they’re generally considered safe for a majority of people. If you’re interested in giving one a try, below are a few popular foot mask brands for you to check out.
Which foot mask is the best?
1. Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel, $25 at Baby Foot
Baby Foot is a popular foot mask brand that gained a lot of attention a couple of years back when people started posting pictures of their flaky feet and the baby-smooth result.
This innovative one-hour foot peel treatment is similar to a chemical peel and will make your feet feel smooth and soft, just like a baby’s foot
If you get a weird satisfaction from seeing people peel off thin layers of skin, then you should take a look at the Baby Foot Facebook page.
Fans of Baby Foot’s foot peel masks show of their feet on Facebook
The Baby Foot masks boast of containing 16 natural extracts that are highly moisturizing, so your feet won’t feel dried out after you’ve finished using their product. Plus, you only have to leave the Baby Foot masks on for about 15 minutes instead of a full hour.
2. Boscia Baby Soft Foot Peel, $18 at Amazon
The Boscia foot mask uses fruit-based alcohol and fruit extracts along with AHAs to penetrate your skin and help you shed the dead skin cells.
A natural exfoliating foot peel treatment packed with AHAs and fruit extract to help remove dead skin cell buildup from rough, dry feet
This brand boasts about its plant-to-bottle formulas that are known for being gentler on sensitive skin.
3. Patchology PoshPeel Intensive Foot Peel Treatment, $20 at Ulta
The Patchology PoshPeel PediCure is another foot mask you can count on to clear up your skin and leave your feet feeling hydrated.
Patchology’s foot peel treatment progressively dissolves dead skin on your feet with a combination of powerful acids
Get healthier, clearer skin on your feet in no time with this effective foot treatment.
4. Electric Foot Callus Remover Kit, $14.99 at Amazon
A foot mask might not be for you or perhaps you want something to use in between your foot peels.
Whatever the case may be, an electric foot callus remover kit is an excellent option for naturally removing dead skin and keeping your feet smooth.
Elmchee electric foot callus remover will make your feet look clean, healthy, and attractive
You deserve a little self-care right now, and foot treatment is the perfect solution, so pick out a foot peel or pedicure kit and treat yourself to a little relaxation.
How to use an electric foot callus remover
5. Foot Peeling Mask Set, $6.90 at Amazon
With thousands of reviews and over 100 answered questions, this product from Purederm is one of the most reliable and affordable foot masks available.
The masks contain natural extracts from sugar maple, tea tree, honey, wild roses, coconut oil, and sunflower seed.
Put on some relaxing music, dim the lights just a little bit and feel the tension melt away from your feet while you’re using this foot peeling mask
6. Foot Peel Mask, $27.95 at Amazon
One of the best selling foot peel masks online, Lavinso offers a full refund if you’re not happy with your purchase. If you suffer from dry, cracked feet with callouses, they promise that your feet will be healed in as little as two weeks.
Lavinso’s foot peel mask includes all-natural ingredients and botanical extracts that are safe to use on both men and women
7. One Step Foot Peel Mask, $14.95 at Amazon
With almost 100% 5 star reviews, Aliceva’s foot peel mask uses natural ingredients to drastically change the condition of your dry and tough feet to gentle and silky-smooth.
This simple foot peel mask will help soften aged cuticles, remove dry dead skin and repair coarsely cracked heels
8. Dr. Pedicure Foot Peeling Mask, $20 at Nordstrom
This innovative foot care product from Grace & Stella is designed to completely shed the old, dead, and callused skin right off your feet.
Improve the look and feel of your feet with this peeling mask that removes dead skin cells and provides soothing exfoliating
“I was super skeptical because all other products I have tried never worked and I thought my feet were beyond repair. However, just a few days after I used this foot mask layers of skin peeled right off. My feet/heels feel amazing,” a reviewer recently wrote about the vegan and cruelty-free skincare product.
Feet before and after using Grace & Stella’s Dr. Pedicure foot peeling mask
Credit: Instar / WENN