Our feet do a lot for us. And yet, when it comes to our wellness and beauty routines, they’re often overlooked, which can exacerbate problems down the line.
Although our busy schedules can keep us on our toes, neglecting one of our most frequently used body parts can lead to achy and tired feet, strained toe and leg muscles, bunions and other health concerns.
Fortunately, physical therapist Dr. Karena Wu stopped by TODAY with some of her favorite foot care products to relieve and treat common foot pains. From footwear and all-purpose insoles to odor-busters and partial socks for dry, cracked heels, these picks will help manage any issues and get your feet ready for sandal season.
Keep reading to discover the best foot care products that your feet deserve, according to an expert.
Best foot care products, as seen on TODAY
Superfeet began as a sports science lab in 1977, and these insoles are one of their best sellers. You trim them to align in your shoes, so they'll be a perfect fit.
"These all-purpose cushion insoles I find are a great alternative to expensive custom-made orthotics," Wu says. "I’ve been using these in my daily sneakers; walking through airports, doing a little exercise and basic running around the city. They feel great on my feet because they add cushioning to the sole, but the support is very subtle, and very comfortable when standing and walking."
According to the brand, these washable and reusable heel socks have sold over 2.6 million times. They're designed to treat dry and cracked heels with ingredients like jojoba seed oil, olive oil and vitamin E. Simply throw them on before you go to bed (pro tip: add a bit of lotion) and the gel lining inside hydrates and moisturizes while you sleep. They're comfortable enough to wear overnight, and Wu says they don’t make you feel too hot, since the toes are exposed.
Breaking in a new pair of loafers, flats or sandals this spring? Since they can irritate the back of your heel and your toes, you'll want to keep a pack of these affordable blister bandages handy. They're made with hydrocolloid technology that the brand says helps heal blisters, cuts, scrapes and more while providing extra cushion and comfort.
"I’ve used these with athletes, and these are great with the wound coverage and adhesiveness," Wu vouches. "These stay on better than a regular bandaid because they are waterproof and have a five-day wear time and are designed to not fall off after you shower or walk around."
These "odor busterz" have a baking soda core that's designed to naturally absorb and neutralize stink for up to 60 days, offering a mess-free alternative to sprays and powders. One editor who tested them against other options on the market loves how easy they are to use — just pop them in your stinky shoes to freshen them up.
Pro tip: You can also throw them in your clothes hamper, bathroom cabinets, gym bag, and anywhere else you want to eliminate odor.
Wu tells us that Kane footwear was started by a professional athlete; the brand emphasizes the importance of recovery in your overall wellness. These washable, quick-drying recovery shoes from the brand are ideal for after a workout, while still versatile enough to wear for lounging, beach days or errands. Plus, the shoe gives you just the right amount of cushioning and foot stimulation with the raised footbed nodes.
"The vents are great for air flow, and they are super lightweight and supportive," Wu notes, adding that the shoe has "a wide design to give you more room in the toebox, which is actually great for preventing or managing bunions."
According to Wu, this two-inch massage ball is perfect for self-massage of the feet and hands. It’s lightweight, easy to clean and great for travel. At the end of the day, especially if you’ve walked around a lot, this can offer a bit of relief.
"This is my go-to recommendation for anyone with plantar fasciitis, and it can be used anywhere," Wu says. "The firm rubber raised points are meant to stimulate blood flow when the right amount of pressure is applied."
More foot care products to shop
Experts in our previous foot cream coverage told Shop TODAY that the Flexitol Heel Balm is a must-have product for those with dry feet. It’s thick and non-greasy with 25% urea cream that moisturizes and exfoliates for extra soft skin.
This foot cream from Gold Bond was also previously recommended by experts for its fast-absorbing and highly moisturizing formula for dry heels. The brand attributes these results to its silk peptide matrix, which includes three vitamins and shea butter.
Toe spacers might take some time to get used to, but they work to spread your toes to reflect an ideal alignment of the foot. These flexible spacers provide targeted relief for bunions, ingrown toenails, hammertoes and general toe alignment.
Dry, rough feet? This exfoliating foot mask contains aloe vera, lavender, fruit and vegetable extracts to moisturize and gently remove rough, dead skin.
“Spring is the perfect time to do a deep exfoliation on your feet after months of wearing heavy socks and boots all winter,” adds Wu.
Another affordable toe-separating pick that Wu says she recommends all the time are these spacers from Amazon. They’re made from “a stretchy and squishy material to pull over your toes to relax toe/foot muscles and improve balance, flexibility and mobility,” notes Wu. “They help with general foot and lower leg pain as they allow the toes to spread.”
Traveling soon? These bestselling (and award-winning!) compression socks are effective, durable, and comfortable. According to the brand, the socks offer 360-degree stretch for flexible relief that doesn’t compromise your mobility.
“Shoe insoles help with general foot and lower leg pain as they support the natural foot position, enhance stability, provide arch support, cushioning and sock absorption,” explains Wu.
These editor-loved insoles from Dr. Scholl’s take the stress off those who are on their feet all day. They have a built-in massaging gel, a contour heel and responsive wave cushioning to relieve and eliminate tired feet.
“Compression socks are an easy way to improve circulation, which reduces pain, swelling, inflammation and fatigue from your toes to your calves,” explains Wu. “These socks have cushioning in the heel and toes to prevent friction and blisters, as well as provide arch support and sock absorption, according to the brand.”
If you're planning on getting outdoors more this season, this small-but-mighty roller is a great choice to relieve foot pain. The device deeply massages by just rolling it from front to back with your feet.
Baby Foot’s Original Exfoliation Foot Peel (which is also Shop TODAY-approved) transforms rough feet in just an hour of use. Just soak your feet in the plastic slippers and rinse them with water after use. Over a few days, your dry skin will gently peel off to reveal a smooth canvas.
The brand says their massage ball set was specifically designed for those looking for a deep tissue massage and myofascial and trigger point release. Each ball has a different texture and size to target and relieve specific pains and more.
According to Wu, flat flip flops can strain your feet, but she says this physical therapist-made option can “provide up to one inch of orthotic arch support, and have a tight toe strap so your small foot muscles don’t have to work hard to keep the flip flop on your feet,” she adds. Wu notes that the flip flops should make walking easier, safer, more comfortable, “and better for your kinetic chain (muscle activation).”
"They have deep, cupped footbeds and a soft material that your feet practically sink into," Stessman wrote. "I swear every time I put them on, it’s like my feet are breathing a sigh of relief."
These award-winning recovery slides previously earned a place in our Gifts We Love awards for the instant relief they provide.
"The first time I slid my feet into these slides, my arches instantly felt a wave of relief, being cradled by the cushiony yet supportive footbed," recalls deputy managing editor Jess Bender. "Within about 30 minutes of wearing around my hardwood apartment, my stressed soles and calves felt right back in fighting shape."
If you find yourself on your feet all day, associate editor Allie Wise says this electric foot massager is a must. It has heat, compression, and various deep massaging modes to relax tired and sore feet.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Karena Wu.
- Dr. Karena Wu is a physical therapist and the owner and Clinical Director of ActiveCare Physical Therapy. She received her Clinical Doctorate from Temple University.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
