© ChillaII

Oh this is embarrassing. In order for me to review this product, I have to tell you a secret. Something I don’t mention often on the blog just so I can hopefully sweep the problem under the carpet. But I guess I can’t keep the cat in the bag for long because even though the season for sandals and slingbacks is almost over, you might still be able to catch me in one.

You see, folks, I have just about the driest and most calloused heels in the world.

It’s something I’m very ashamed of. I’m embarrassed to go on escalators because I fear people would look at my cracked heels. I’m so embarrassed about it up to the point where I actually file my heels first before going for pedicures (you know how they say you don’t clean before the cleaners come? Yeah, I try to “fix” my heels first before pedicures just so the manicurist don’t see how bad my heels are). The ONE time I didn’t sort my heels out first prior to a pedicure, the nail tech told me “Err miss, you’ll need two sessions to 100% smoothen your heels out. It’s too hard; I can’t fix it in one.” This was after the poor girl filed her brains out on my feet.

I inherited this problem from my dad. I grew up seeing his grotty heels and mum was always complaining how scratchy and disgusting they were :P. I laughed along, not thinking that in just a few years, I too would suffer this problem. If you think it’s usually a men’s problem, I implore you to take a look at my brother’s heels. Look at my husband’s heels. Both of them have baby smooth heels. They don’t wear home slippers nor are they arsed to put foot cream on yet they don’t have a single callous on their heels. I’m obsessed with wearing home slippers; I apply foot cream religiously yet I only make a dent on my callouses. Sigh.

I’m always searching for a miracle in foot creams. I don’t need baby smooth heels (I’ve lost all hope the callouses can be eliminated just with foot creams); I just need to soften the area so that I don’t scratch my own legs (and the husband’s) with my feet. I’ve tried almost all foot creams by Scholl. I’ve tried the ones by mainstream brands. They’re okay but the effect doesn’t last. The softness is usually gone by the next morning. The callouses become so bad that when the skin split, it bleeds and I won’t be able to walk due to the pain.

So when I was offered the opportunity to try Uriage’s Keratosane 30 Gel Creme that I’ve heard good things about, I was like, GIVE IT TO MEEEEE!! What can I say? Desperate times, people. Desperate feet.

I’m so used to rich creamy foot creams that when I saw this light gel, my enthusiasm went pffft for a bit. Then I remembered how typical rich creamy creams have disappointed me so I persevered and applied this on my heels. It doesn’t absorb quickly; in fact, you’ll have to really rub it in to the lines and callouses. I use slightly bigger than a pea-sized amount per foot.

As the gel doesn’t absorb quickly, I had to be careful of how I walked around the house. In fact, for the first hour, I had to tiptoe around the house just so I don’t leave greasy marks behind. I also had to elevate my feet when I was sleeping so that I don’t muck the sheets up.

Does that mean this foot gel cream is given a thumbs down? Au contraire! The next day, my feet is finally soft again! I won’t say it’s baby smooth and soft skin (that would be the miracle I was praying for) but it definitely softened the callouses to a high degree thanks to its high concentration of urea (30%). So stoked at the results, I continued to apply them continually during the day. Even though the skin is still very peely, it’s not as dry as it was before and I no longer need to hide my feet from my husband. No more scratching his legs and mine!

This doesn’t just go on the feet. You can use the Keratosane 30 on any parts of your body that are very dry and thickened with callouses. I like to use this on my elbows and knees too. Thank God I don’t have callouses on them but they sure could use some loving with an extra emollient cream.

If you’re looking for a highly effective foot cream for your dry and cracked heels, I highly recommend the Keratosane 30. Even though I didn’t show you photos of my feet (sorry, my heels may have improved but sadly, they’re still too icky to put on the Internet), I can tell you that it has saved my grotty man-feet. I can’t even tell you how pleased I am with this product. I can’t wait for pharmacies to do discounts on Uriage just so I can stockpile these at home. 😀

Uriage Keratosane 30 Gel Creme retails at $19.95 for 30ml and is available at selected pharmacies nationwide (click here for stockists) and Adore Beauty.

What I like about it: Fragrance-free (don’t have to worry about accidentally using it on your face ala Mean Girls :P), highly effective on softening calloused skin especially dry and crack heels

What I do not like about it: Doesn’t absorb quickly so have to be carefuly on not walking with heels touching the floor lest I leave grease marks all over the floor.

Do you also suffer from dry and cracked heels? How do you deal with them? Help meeee!

Note: This product was provided for editorial consideration. Bless you people with baby smooth feet!