NY Mag: The 9 Very Best Callus Removers

Including foot files, creams, and gels for smooth, sandal-ready skin

Calluses are hardened areas of skin caused by increased friction and pressure. While some function as protection for your joints, they’re not exactly sightly for sandal season, and, in some cases, they can get so hardened that they hurt. “The key is to prevent calluses from getting to the point where they are causing discomfort,” says Marcela Correa, a licensed professional medical pedicurist and the founder of Medi Pedi NYC. “Your feet are your body’s foundation, and the smallest change can throw off your way of life and limit your independence.”

To slough off calluses, Correa and all the other experts we spoke to recommend seeing a professional pedicurist or podiatrist. That’s not always an option, though, so we spoke to them about the best ways to soften your skin at home. Because we’re dealing with removing layers of skin, safety is a big component. If you have poor circulation or diabetes, it’s best to see a professional. And if you don’t, you should still aim for results over time and then work on consistent upkeep. “There is no permanent cure for calluses,” explains Jacqueline Sutera, D.P.M., a podiatrist at City Podiatry. “It’s all about maintenance with gentle filing and daily moisturizing, prevention, and treatment when necessary.” Below, suggestions from Sutera, Correa, and the other eight experts on the best callus removers on the market.

Patchology PoshPeel Pedi

When former Strategist writer Lori Keong spoke to pedicurist Carrie Telles of W Austin’s Away Spa, she was recommended Patchology’s PoshPeel foot mask that “sells like hotcakes at our spa.” The mask contains glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and more botanical extracts in order to deeply exfoliate and encourage the skin to slough off. This makes it incredibly easy to use at home, according to Telles. “You simply soak your feet in bags (or foot-mask socks) and the calluses gradually peel off, leaving your feet very smooth,” she says. Beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton also loves the mask as an alternative to Baby Foot, which was too intense for her feet. Instead, this mask left her skin “absurdly, silkily smooth, with no cracks or dry patches at all” after about eight days of shedding like a snake.

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