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The Best Foot Peel Masks For Seriously Soft Feet
Sandal season is fast approaching.
Sandal season has arrived. There’s no avoiding it: it’s time to prep your feet.
There’s a high chance your last pedicure occurred sometime around spring last year, when the impending doom of yet another lockdown was at least marginally brightened by a spell of sunny weather and a good month of sock-free joy. And while above-the-neck pampering sessions are undoubtedly more fun – facials over foot-scrubbing thank you very much – it’s now time to make up for those months of neglect and deal with the sad state of your toes before exposing them to the big wide world.
Enter: the foot peel. Equal parts grotesque and satisfying, these intensive exfoliating masks (or socks, if you like) will strip away every last layer of dry, cracked skin to reveal a pair of feet so baby-soft, people will think you’re got a rolling direct debit with your pedicurist.
What Is A Foot Peel, Anyway?
Think of a foot peel as an intensive chemical peel, specially designed for your feet. Most come in the form of a pair of highly unattractive transparent socks, each one filled with a serum of alpha-hydroxy-acids, which work by nibbling away at the hard, outermost layers of skin on your heels and soles.
Foot peeling socks generally take a while to work, so stick them on and settle in for an hour of Netflix. Once your time is up, all you need to do is wait for the acids to do their best work, which happens gradually in the days that follow.
We’re not going to lie to you: a foot peel is a disgusting process. Don’t expect to go bare-footed at yoga for the next 10 days: you will be peeling like a snake, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. Sit back and embrace the renewal: some beauty rituals are an endurance sport, but the results are so worth it.
Here, see the best foot peel masks to slip on before the long, hot summer.
The Foot Peel Masks That Really Work
Apparently, there’s over 16 botanical extracts in this one, but that’s not why you’re here: you're here for the ultra-intensive peeling action that’s on the cards.
Stick them on, settle in for an entire episode of 'Love Island', then wait for those calluses and rock-hard heels to make a dramatic exit.
STARSKIN® Magic Hour™ Exfoliating Double-Layer Foot Mask Socks
These ones are slightly gentler than the alternatives, so anyone nervous about extreme shedding should start here.
If you’re concerned about the extreme nature of the original foot peeling socks, try this sensitively formulated option instead. It still packs a punch in the peeling stakes, but leaves skin feeling soft and nourished thanks to the humectants that bolster the acids.
If you’re a Beauty Pie member add these to your next haul stat. If you’re not, why not? From foot peels to silk pillowcases, you can shop your entire beauty haul - from the essential to the luxury - at a snip of the usual cost.
The original, and still one of the most effective, this K-Beauty hero makes light work of the most long-neglected soles. Just be warned: they’re especially slippy underfoot, so don’t expect to be able to walk without risk.
There's nothing posh about sitting around in a pair of serum-soaked socks, but the results this one delivers will make people think you're fancy enough to be on first-name terms with your local nail-bar owner.
Aggressively gendered but redeemingly effective, this might just be the thing that finally makes your partner tackle their rough-as-sandpaper feet.
This fruity foot peel might sound cute, but rest assured the combination of lactic and glycolic acid is not messing around when it comes to softening those cracked, dry heels.
Foot peel masks were born in South Korea, so it’s little surprise that the very best options come from the country. Skin Republic’s peeling solution takes its sweet time to set to work, but patience is a virtue: 7 days of slightly disturbing exfoliation lead to the unbelievably soft, renewed feet.
While you're at it, why not treat your hands too? This kit contains everything you need for a complete Friday-night mani-pedi session.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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