There’s one part of the body that quietly carries the weight of every step. Whether you’re spending hours on your feet at work, hopping across time zones, exploring new places, rushing between meetings, running errands or dancing through late-night adventures, our feet endure more than we may realise. They are your foundation, your connection to the ground, and the keepers of your balance. Yet, they’re often the part of the body we give the least attention to, until they remind us with swelling, blisters, and stubborn dryness. Dry skin and discomfort can build up quietly until they begin to affect how you move, your posture, and even your energy levels. 

Tending to them isn’t just about avoiding blisters or cracked heels; it’s about moving with more ease, energy, and comfort, so you can focus on the adventure itself. One thing remains true: when your feet feel good, everything flows with more ease. While travelling and commuting put your feet to the test, with a little care and intention, you can keep them feeling grounded and supported no matter where your day takes you. Let’s explore how to care for your feet on the go, with rituals and practices that keep them comforted, hydrated and soft.

Why travel takes a toll on your feet

Travel and commuting exposes your body to constant shifts; notoriously dehydrating airplane cabins, long commutes and walking miles, disrupting circulation, leaving feet swollen, achy, and the skin thickened. Daily movement, tight shoes, changes in climate, and unfamiliar terrain exposes your feet to extra stress and friction, leaving the skin vulnerable to dryness and irritation. Your feet, with their thicker skin and thousands of nerve endings, absorb all of this. They hold your body’s weight, absorb impact, and adapt to different surfaces, shoes, and conditions. Neglecting your feet doesn’t just affect comfort, it impacts your posture, energy, and even the way your skin regenerates. Prioritising foot care creates resilience and ensures your body stays balanced and energised no matter how fast life moves.

Step 1: Daily hydration to restore moisture loss

Skin on the feet is naturally thicker, which makes it prone to cracks, roughness, dryness and loss of moisture. A nutrient-rich foot cream that works as a barrier while nourishing deeply and restoring softness is your daily defence. KOBA skincare’s Bottom Up Foot Cream blends with Safou Oil, Shea Butter, and Olive Butter, ingredients that soften, repair, and protect and Vitamin B5, Sweet Almond Oil and Allantoin to exfoliate, protect and lock in moisture.

Together, they help lock in hydration, repair damage, and soften calluses. Safou Oil in particular is a powerhouse ingredient, regenerating the skin’s barrier while protecting against environmental stressors. Think of it as a shield for your feet. so your soles stay supple even on the move. Massaging it into heels, arches, and toes after a shower or before bed helps lock in moisture and keeps feet supple, no matter how much ground they’ve covered.

Pro tip: Apply a thicker layer and wear socks overnight for a travel-friendly “foot mask” that works while you sleep. Massage a cream into your heels, arches and the balls of your feet before slipping on socks for an overnight treatment that leaves feet renewed by morning. 

For days when you’re constantly moving, apply a light layer in the morning before putting on socks or tights, this prevents friction and keeps skin comfortable all day.

Step Two: Support Circulation in Motion

Prolonged sitting can lead to heaviness and discomfort. On flights, long drives or sitting at your desk, try gentle foot stretches and ankle rolls every hour. Gentle movement and hydration can make all the difference. These simple acts keep your feet energised and prevent that heavy, sluggish feeling that can slow you down:

• Stretch and rotate: Slip off your shoes and point, flex and wiggle your toes, roll your ankles in circles, and stretch your calves every hour to stimulate circulation.
  

• Walk it out: Take short breaks to walk up the aisle during long flights or around the office.
  

• Compression support: Slip into compression socks on particularly long days to help reduce swelling and gently keep blood flowing and moving freely.
  

• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water supports circulation and skin elasticity, so sip often.

Good to know: Cabin air on planes is typically less than 20% humidity (drier than most deserts). This makes your skin (especially on your hands, lips and feet) more prone to dehydration during travel. To counter this, apply a rich hydrator like our Feeling Myself Lip Balm, Touch Me Hand Cream and Bottom Up Foot Cream and wear socks to help lock in moisture while in the air. Staying hydrated and getting up to stretch regularly (particularly on long-haul flights) keeps your circulation flowing and your skin feeling soft from take-off to touchdown.

Step Three: Refresh and Rebalance

After long hours on your feet, they deserve a ritual that restores, softens, and renews. Start with a cool water rinse to reduce swelling, or a warm soak with epsom salts or essential oils to ease tension and draw out impurities. This simple act does more than refresh tired soles; it relaxes muscles, helps draw out impurities and tension, creates a pause that nourishes both body and mind, helping you let go of the weight of the day. 

For a deeper ritual, introduce a weekly foot scrub for an indulgent spa treatment at home. When choosing a foot scrub, look for a combination of physical and chemical exfoliants to effectively remove dead skin and smooth callouses. The Margaret Dabbs London Exfoliating Foot Scrub is a personal favourite.

Follow with a slow, intentional massage using the hydrating Bottom Up Foot Cream. Work in circular motions over arches, heels, and toes to restore softness, relieve built-up tension, and soothe the skin. Just a few mindful minutes transform not only how your feet feel, but your entire body too. Think of it as a daily pause, a moment to release everything your feet have carried.

Step Four: Protect and Prevent on the Move

Comfortable, breathable shoes are non-negotiable when life keeps you moving. Invest in breathable fabrics to reduce sweat build up, rotate pairs to avoid overuse and allow shoes to air out. The wrong shoes can make even the most beautiful destination unbearable. Slip-on sandals are useful for airport security lines or hotel stays, but supportive sneakers protect from blisters and strain during long days of exploring. When commuting to work, consider travelling in comfortable shoes and changing into smart wear for the office as these tend to be tighter around the toes. A quick morning ritual, layering foot cream before putting on socks and shoes creates a protective barrier against friction. For busy days, it’s worth carrying blister patches in your bag that can rescue your stride when you least expect it.

Make foot care a grounding ritual

Our feet carry the weight of our days, feeling all the pressure. Taking a few mindful minutes to massage, moisturise, or stretch them calms the nervous system, eases tension, and restores balance.

At KOBA, we believe skincare should be a ritual of self care, moving with you and fitting easily into your daily routine. That’s why our Bottom Up Foot Cream, powered by safou oil, is designed to soften, hydrate, repair, protect, and energise your foundation. Whether crossing borders or navigating city streets, it’s a small luxury that anchors and supports your feet so they can comfortably carry you with each step. Because when your feet feel good, the journey, big or small, feels lighter.