A spray-on treatment that prevents blisters and chafing.
Don't let the packaging or name fool you — this spray-on treatment works for anyone of any gender wearing any type of shoes. PreHeels creates a protective barrier on the skin to prevent chafing and blisters caused by everything from heels to loafers. I use this all the time in the city, and though I find myself needing to reapply it every few hours, it really does work.
Metatarsal pads and and cushions that prevent blistering on the ball of the foot.
I have a pair of heeled sandals that I love wearing in the city, but they have an unfortunate seam that blisters the life out of the ball of my foot. These metatarsal gel cushions were a godsend — the last time I wore the sandals without them, I almost threw my pair into a fire.
The anti-slip cushions stick to the shoe itself, but this pack comes with a set of two additional slip-on protective pads that are great for wearing with close-toed shoes that have have a similar seam issue.
Adhesive pads that keep stiff backs from eating up your heels.
Every time I buy a new pair of loafers or flats with stiff backs, I make sure to buy a pair of these adhesive heel pads that I stick along the inside of the shoe to prevent the inevitable sting of breaking them in. Though I usually pick mine up from the drugstore, I plan to order a pack of these on Amazon because they're way cheaper in bulk.
Alternatively, you can just preventatively wrap your heels in large Band-Aids.
An anti-blister balm for localized protection.
I've never personally used this, but there are a ton of positive reviews on Amazon about how well this works (228 out of the 332 reviews have five stars). Similar to the brand's BodyGlide anti-chafing stick, this one can be used all over the feet to prevent friction, and is small enough to pop in your purse or pocket for safekeeping.
A Hydrocolloid bandage that can both protect blisters and prevent them from happening
These Hydrocolloid bandages are designed to soak up blisters and keep the area protected from bacteria, but they're also strong enough to be worn as a preventative measure to avoid blisters altogether.
