Sandal season may have begun, but my feet aren’t ready. I’ve been wearing thick socks and heavy boots for a year now, and they’re getting a little worn out—especially on the soles. I know it’s not cute or glamorous to admit this, but no matter how many times I pick up a foot file or rub lotion on them, the cracked skin is still there. Is there a scarier feeling than having your feet stuck in the sheets? I’m not the only one. On TikTok, the topic of cracked feet has been viewed more than 5.7 billion times, while the hashtags #footcare and #dryfeet have 1.2 billion and 129 million views, respectively. The hashtags are filled with fun tips, like Skin Strike, which uses hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, and petroleum jelly to create super soft skin. But the app’s hack uses a very popular ingredient in skincare: glycolic acid. TikToker @calistee racked up hundreds of thousands of likes after showing her followers how to get rid of dry, cracked skin on the soles of her feet. She poured a small amount of The Ordinary’s 7% Glycolic Acid Toner (£11.50)
onto a cotton pad and rubbed it into her feet, before applying a thick moisturiser and putting on a pair of socks. Just two hours later, the results were impressive. I didn’t expect my feet to be glowing
The trick even piqued the interest of Nicola Kilner, CEO and co-founder of The Ordinary, who told R29 that she had tried it herself with fantastic results. However, I had to take it to a skincare expert first.
“Glycolic acid is an AHA (or alpha hydroxy acid) that chemically exfoliates by breaking down the chemical bonds between dead skin cells,” says Dr. Parisha Acharya, a cosmetic doctor at drparis.co.uk. “It helps remove dead skin problems like calluses and softens and improves skin texture.”
Dr. Anjali Mahto, also a consultant dermatologist, spoke about the viral trend on Instagram Live. “If you asked me if glycolic acid would help with dry feet, in theory I would think yes,” she says. “It’s an exfoliating acid, and if you have a lot of tough, dead skin on your feet, a little glycolic acid might help,” Matto goes on to say, noting that the stratum corneum (the top layer of skin) on the soles of your feet might be “very thick.” “If you already have a thick layer of calluses, using glycolic acid might help. It totally makes sense.”
Dr. Acharya recommends using glycolic acid once or twice a week, and following up with a nourishing balm on the other nights. “This combo will help you get ready for sandals in the summer.”
So TikTok users and experts are swearing – but do glycolic acid pedicures really work? I already have a bottle of The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toner on hand. It’s a little too strong for my sensitive facial skin (and doesn’t act like a deodorant, as many TikTokers have claimed recently), but I wondered if it might be the ultimate exfoliant my feet desperately need. I soaked a cotton pad with glycolic acid and rubbed it into my dry skin. I then applied a layer of Flexitol Overnight Foot Cream (£7.49). I put on a pair of thick socks and went to bed, hoping that a few extra hours of sleep would do my feet good. The next morning, the results were great, and my feet felt a little less rough, but I decided to use this technique for the next few nights for best results. My feet are still a little wrinkled (I blame the boots), but the dry, flaky skin is completely gone (finally!), and the soles of my feet feel much smoother than before. As Dr. Mahto mentioned, the skin on our feet is much thicker than on other parts of the body, so I didn’t notice any burning or irritation when using glycolic acid. But as with any active skincare product, there are some precautions, says Dr. Acharya. “First and foremost, it is recommended that you avoid using such ingredients on areas with broken or sensitive skin, severely cracked heels, and irritated skin if that’s your case.” Acharya has another hack. “Soak your feet in warm water at night and apply a nourishing balm on the soles of your feet. Then place bamboo socks over them. Soak again in the morning, and gently massage the hardened skin areas with an exfoliating mitt or pumice stone.” There’s no denying that this trick will completely transform dry, cracked feet. The best part is, any exfoliating toner you have at home (even one you don’t like using on your face) will work just fine. If you’d rather just use lotion, some personal care brands offer special foot moisturisers with exfoliating acids. Try CeraVe SA Renewal Foot Cream (£9.50), which contains salicylic acid to slough away dead skin cells and ceramides for repair. Also check out O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet Exfoliating Moisturising Foot Cream (£9.99), which uses gentle lactic acid as well as skin-softening urea and shea butter to soothe dry soles.
