Reviewed: The Baby Foot Peel for Soft and Smooth Feet (Does It Really Work?)
If your feet are prone to dry skin and calluses, keeping them soft and smooth is a constant struggle. I should know—I tried countless foot creams, foot files, salon pedicures and even high-tech buffing gadgets to keep the rough, dead skin at bay.
But then I heard about Baby Foot from a fellow beauty editor. This was back when Asian beauty products were first becoming popular in the West, and there was nothing else like it. When I found out it made your dead skin shed off like a snake, it sounded gross, yes—but I also couldn’t wait to try it.
Fast-forward to the present, and I’m still Baby Foot-ing a few times a year as my foot maintenance product of choice.
In this review, I’m sharing how it works, how to use it and what results you can expect (including my very own Baby Foot before and after). Look away now if you’re grossed out by feet!
What Is Baby Foot? (At a Glance)
What it does | Chemically exfoliates dead skin on the feet, causing it to shed off within one to two weeks |
Best for | Normal, intact skin without sensitivity, open cuts or sores, or skin disease |
Key ingredients | Lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, salicylic acid |
Made without | Sulfates, silicones, parabens |
Cruelty-free | Yes |
Editor’s rating | ★★★★☆ |
How Does Baby Foot Work?
Ingredients
Here’s a look at the ingredients (none of which were tested on animals):
Aqua (Water), Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Arginine, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citric Acid, Malic Acid (Apple), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil (Camel Grass), Nasturtium Officinale Extract (Watercress), Arctium Lappa Root Extract (Burdock Root), Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract (Soapwort), Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Citrus (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Clematis Vitalba Leaf Extract (Clematis), Spiraea Ulmaria Extract (Meadowsweet), Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail Herb), Fucus Vesiculosus Extract (Bladderwrack), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Chamomile), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Tea Plant), Houttuynia Cordata Extract (Chameleon), Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Nitrate, Glyoxal, Disodium Phosphate, Linalool, Limonene.
From The Skincare Edit Archives
It is the four acids—lactic, glycolic, malic and salicylic—that do the heavy-lifting here. The alcohol acts as a penetration enhancer as well as a skin-softener, which makes those hardened layers easier to remove.
Why does Baby Foot cause such dramatic shedding compared to other acid exfoliants? While the brand doesn’t disclose the percentages of the acids, it’s safe to assume that they are present in much higher amounts than you’d find in products for your face. The soles of our feet have thicker skin than anywhere else on the body, so they can tolerate a higher level of exfoliation.
(By the way, please don’t be tempted to use this solution on your face—you’re bound to get extreme irritation or even a chemical burn!)
How to Use Baby Foot
2. Prepare the Booties
3. Wear the Booties for One Hour
How Long Does Baby Foot Take to Work?
Results and Rating
Is Baby Foot Safe?
For most people, Baby Foot is safe—as long as you use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Here are some frequently asked questions:
- Who should NOT use Baby Foot? You should avoid this peel if you have open cuts or sores, warts, corns or any skin disease affecting the soles of your feet. Also steer clear if you have diabetes or an immune deficiency. People with very sensitive skin may find the strong acids too irritating. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.
- Can you leave Baby Foot on longer than one hour? The instructions suggest one hour—any longer and you’re taking a risk. A lot of Baby Foot reviewers recommend two hours, but I found this way too irritating on the tops of my feet. The skin is thinner there, and became uncomfortably dry and itchy for several days afterward. I think two hours is too long to be in contact with the acid!
- Can you speed up the process by peeling off skin with your fingers or a foot file? It’s tempting to want to “help” the peeling process along, but this isn’t a good idea because you could remove skin before it’s ready. Instead, the brand recommends gently rubbing your feet with your hands after bathing.
- How often can you use Baby Foot? If your feet have a lot of dry skin build-up, you can do a second round after four weeks. For maintenance, use Baby Foot once every two months.
- Did I buy a fake Baby Foot? If you didn’t get results, it’s possible that you purchased a counterfeit product. Make sure the packaging says Baby Foot (not “Baby Feet”) and that the contents match the photos here. Otherwise, the peel could be ineffective or even harmful.
Similar Products
Looking for alternatives? You’re in luck. These are the closest dupes I’ve found, which contain similar ingredients:
- Boscia Fruit Acid Smoothing Foot Peel
- Patchology PoshPeel Pedi Cure
- Starskin Magic Hour Exfoliating Double-Layer Foot Mask Socks
- Tony Moly Foot Changing Magic Peeling Shoes
- Kokostar Foot Therapy
- Grace & Stella Dr. Pedicure Foot Exfoliating Mask
Where to Buy
If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Disclosure for more information.