Foot Softening Gel, 300 ml

A foot softening gel sold under the Starky name, from its skin care range. Its Arabic name, printed large on the front of the jar, is Kaab El Ghazal; the Arabic line under it calls it a gel for the care of the heels and feet, and the English line calls it “Foot Softening Gel”. The jar names four ingredients: urea, shea butter, glycerin and panthenol. It does not say how much of each the gel contains, and the front gives no full ingredient list, no size and no maker's address. It comes in a clear plastic jar with a red screw lid, so you can see the gel itself: red and clear. The jar holds 300 ml.

What it is for, in the words on the jar: the Arabic lines promise “deep moisture and softening for dry, cracked heels” and “noticeable softness from the first use”. These are the maker's claims. In plain terms, it is a moisturising gel for dry, rough heels and dry skin on the soles and sides of the feet: used regularly, it leaves them feeling softer and smoother. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. The front of the jar gives no directions, so this is the usual way a foot gel is used: in the evening, on clean, dry feet, take a little gel with dry fingers and rub it into the heels and the dry skin on the soles until it sinks in, then put on cotton socks for the night. Use it every evening until the heels feel softer, then two or three times a week. Wash your hands afterwards. If the directions on the pack differ, follow them.

The difference from an unlabelled tub in a bazaar is what you can check for yourself: a brand name and a printed label. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over. When it arrives, look on the jar for the full ingredient list and the expiry date.

It is for external use only: do not swallow it. Try a little on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely. Do not put it on broken skin. If it stings or the skin turns red, wash it off with plenty of water. If you have diabetes or numb feet, ask a doctor before you use any foot product, this one included. Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree, so skip it if you have a nut allergy. The front of the jar names only four ingredients, so if you have other allergies, ask a doctor before you use it. Gel on the soles makes floors slippery: put on socks before you walk on tiles. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Close the lid after each use and keep the jar out of direct sun and heat. Keep water out of the jar: take the gel with dry fingers. A gel counts as a liquid at airport security. At 300 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the lid screwed down tight and the jar sealed in a zip bag.

Who it suits: anyone with dry, rough heels and feet who wants a simple gel for the evening, for example after days in sandals. Skip it if you have a nut allergy, if your skin reacts easily and you need to read the full ingredient list first, or if you travel with hand luggage only.