When spring/summer hits, and you want to switch to wearing summer sandals, but your feet aren’t quite presentable yet, there’s only one thing for it: exfoliating socks. As you’ll see below, I first put them to the test a couple of years ago, and I’ve been using them ever since.
I used to have cracked heels and corns on my toes (see picture below) that no amount of scrubbing with a pumice stone would get rid of. I didn’t want to fork out on a salon pedicure every week either, so I turned to Footner exfoliating socks. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
What are exfoliating socks?
They are basically plastic socks containing a special solution that will help break down dead skin over time. You use scissors to open the top and slip your feet in them, wear them for 60 minutes and then bin them. That’s pretty much all you need to know for now.
How do exfoliating socks work?
Firstly, you’ll need to soak your feet in water, because that helps with the exfoliating process (damp skin means product will be absorbed better), so if you’re binging on Netflix, that’s a perfect time to do it. Do that for at least 10 minutes.
After that, pat them dry and pop the exfoliating socks on. Most brands will advise you to keep them off for 60 minutes, before removing them and rinsing your feet with warm water.
It’s important to know you won’t see results straight away, once the product soaks into your skin, you have to wait for the peeling process to start naturally, which can take a few days.
How long does it take for the dry skin to peel?
The instructions say it takes five to seven days for the peeling process to start. After five days, I noticed what looked like an air bubble on my sole, and then I started to see the skin detaching itself a bit more every day.
To speed things up, you should soak your feet in water evert day and avoid moisturising them. Whilst it is tempting to peel off the skin, you’re advised against it.
It is worth giving your feet a good rub with an exfoliating scrub after a few days if you notice any lingering bits. For me the whole thing took about 10 days, so bear that in mind if you want to do it before a holiday, as your feet won’t look good in the process.
Who can use exfoliating socks?
It doesn’t matter how little or how dry your feet are, these will get rid of any dead skin. They’re one size fits all; I’m a size 3 so thought they would be too big, but it wasn’t a problem. The skin is delicate after you use the socks though, so sunbathing isn’t recommended.
Also if you are pregnant, nursing, diabetic or have sensitive skin, you can’t use these as they contain alcohol, among other ingredients.
After the treatment
How long do the results last?
Results of the exfoliating socks may vary a little depending on the brand, but I found my feet looked super smooth for about a month, and it took a little longer than that for hard skin to come back (it will take longer if you wear socks as the skin will be protected).
Most brands tell you to avoid using them for three weeks after the last use as skin will be sensitive due to the alcohol content in the formula, and generally speaking they recommend you repeating the process every two to three months.
I’ve only just done this, so obviously my feet are still looking great, but the instructions seem to advise to do this every two to three months, depending on how quickly your feet get dry again. And you need to leave it at least three weeks between treatments because your skin will still be sensitive.
Best exfoliating socks
Footner Exfoliating Socks, £9.99 | Boots
Footner exfoliating socks are also available at Superdrug and Amazon.
Footner Exfoliating Socks makes use of the skin’s natural peeling process to remove dead skin from the feet.
PATCHOLOGY PoshPeel PediCure, £18 at Cult Beauty
The Activating Essence is an Advanced AHA + BHA Botanical Blend featuring Glycolic, Salicylic, Lactic and Citric Acids. These four potent ingredients work together to deeply exfoliate and soften the surface—speeding up cell turnover and encouraging dead skin to slough off.
BeautyPro Foot and Callus Peel with over 17 Botanical and Fruit Extracts (1 Pair), £7.95 at LOOKFANTASTIC
This features over 17 botanical and fruit Extracts; a dual-function foot peel that effortlessly smoothes feet, whilst offering antibacterial action.
Created with an advanced complex of seventeen Natural Plant Botanicals, the single-use socks encourage the elimination of dead skin over seven days.
Skin Republic Foot Peel Mask with Foot Socks 40g, £9.99 at Superdrug
Dual layered booties contain an exfoliating serum packed with Plant Extracts and Alpha Hydroxy Acids for soft, silky smooth feet.
Are exfoliating socks safe?
I spoke to Dina Gohil, from DG Podiatrist, about what she thinks of the at-home foot softening treatment. ‘Exfoliating socks are a great home treatment that are easy to enjoy and people with callus do see results. They are on the whole safe to use however if you are diabetic, pregnant, have sensitive skin, or have any other medical conditions it would be advised to check with your Podiatrist or GP first.’
How can you avoid getting dry hard feet and calluses going forward?
Whilst the exfoliating socks are extremely satisfying, it would be much easier if we didn’t have hard feet to begin with. So we asked Gohil what we can do to keep our feet smooth.
- A good foot cream, with urea in it, will really penetrate into your epidermis which will help bring flexibility and hydration to your skin and reduces hard skin and build up
- Checking that your shoes are the right fit and size for you, as this can actually be a key reason why you are getting hard skin in the first place
- Drying your feet thoroughly after a shower or bath – water can diminish the natural oils on your skin causing them to dry out faster
- Make sure to keep hydrated – water is such a game changer
- Wear the right type of socks to help balance temperature for your feet, the happier they are the less moisture is lost
Buy foot exfoliator products
If you’re still unsure about the foot exfoliating socks, then here are a few more products I rate for dry, cracked feet, from foot scrubs to leave-in masks.
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