Days spent walking barefoot at the beach, in the backyard and just about anywhere you can get away with it can leave heels a dry, cracked, ugly mess. To get them on the road to recovery, step up your moisturizing game. Put on lotion twice a day -- in the morning and right before you go to bed, suggests celebrity manicurist Elle. But don't slather on your usual body lotion, she says. "Your feet can handle more than your face or body can." Instead, look for foot creams that contain alpha-hydroxy, glycolic or lactic acid, to exfoliate dead skin, and botanical extracts, vitamins and essential oils to soften the feet and lock in moisture.

Elle would be remiss if she didn't suggest Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Runway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment, which contains AHA and BHA acids, as well as smoothing argan oil and shea butter. We love it because it gives our feet just enough moisture, without being overly slick and greasy. Plus, the minty scent is ultra refreshing. Another good option is Soap & Glory's Heel Genius. This foot cream contains AHA for light exfoliation, plus ultra-moisturizing macadamia oil and allantoin. Just one application and your feet will be noticeably softer.

In order for moisturizers to really work their magic, you first have to get rid of calluses -- the buildup of dead skin cells caused by constant rubbing and friction. The key to making them disappear: regular exfoliation. "Because your feet are more difficult to exfoliate than your body [and less sensitive], you can use a scrub on them a few times a week," says Patricia Martin, director of marketing for Topical BioMedics, Inc., who prefers natural salt or sugar scrubs to slough away dead skin. An editor favorite -- Glominerals Smoothing Salt Scrub. This Dead Sea salt scrub works for your whole body, but I love the lavender mint scent for at-home pedicures.

To buff away calluses without scraping or sanding, Martin recommends a pedicure gadget like the Clairisonic Pedi (a TotalBeauty.com Award winner). It comes with a smoothing disc to use on dry feet and rough patches, and a wet/dry buffing brush head to rub exfoliating products into the feet. Once I got over the tickling sensation, I couldn't get enough of this device, which almost makes me look forward to a foot care routine.

Sweaty, swollen feet and shoes that rub can cause blisters to form. Even though sandals may seem more comfortable than other options in your shoe closet, they aren't the best for your feet. According to Martin, strappy shoes and flip-flops move with every step you take, causing blisters, chafing and other foot pain.