The 12 Best Exfoliators for Smooth, Bright, & Glowing Skin
Our Top Picks
Best Exfoliating Scrub: Lancer Skincare The Method Polish Best Peel Pads: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads Best Exfoliating Cleanser: Eminence Organic Skin Care Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser Best Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin: DHC Moisture-Rich Clarifying Peeling Gel Exfoliator Best Exfoliator for Mature Skin: Sisley Paris Exfoliating Enzyme Mask Best Overall Exfoliator: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Best Exfoliator for Dry Skin: Valmont Face Exfoliant Best Brightening Exfoliator: Furtuna Skin Triple Active Exfoliator Best Exfoliator for Uneven Texture: Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Exfoliation Night Resurfacing + Brightening Serum Best Exfoliator for Large Pores: Grown Alchemist Polishing Exfoliator Best Exfoliator for Acne-Prone Skin: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Best Exfoliator for Rough Skin: ISDIN Isdinceutics Essential Scrub
Benefits of Exfoliating
The purpose of regularly exfoliating the skin is to increase skin cell turnover and remove dead skin cells that accumulate on the top layer of the skin. With less dead skin on the surface, the skin isn’t bogged down with skin-dulling and pore-clogging debris, and fresh, new skin cells are able to make their way to the surface. For those who suffer from breakouts or struggle with stubborn dark spots, regular exfoliation of the skin can also help lead to clearer, more radiant-looking skin.
Which Exfoliator Do Dermatologists Recommend?
Dermatologists often recommend various types of exfoliators, depending on the skin type and the overall goal. Some prefer physical exfoliators to buff away dead skin cells, while others opt for chemical exfoliants, such as those based on acids, to help release dead skin cells that are stuck to the skin’s surface. Ultimately, the best exfoliator for you is the one that provides results and adds a visible benefit to your skin.
Best Face Exfoliators
Best Exfoliating Scrub: Lancer Skincare The Method Polish
$80.00
Perfect for targeting dark spots, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles, this daily exfoliating scrub is gentle yet effective in whisking away dull, dry skin cells. After just one use, the skin looks and feels softer, smoother, and brighter.
Key Ingredients: Natural minerals, pumpkin, and pomegranate extracts
Type: Physical
Skin Type: Normal, Combination
Skin Benefit(s): Removes surface debris and dead skin cells, leaves skin feeling renewed
Beauty Insider Tip: The gritty texture is effective on all skin types, even more sensitive skin.
Best Peel Pads: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads
$16.00
Gentle enough for daily use on the skin, these pre-soaked exfoliating pads provide a quick and easy way to achieve smoother, clearer, and glowing skin. Simply swipe one pad across the face, neck, and chest to dislodge dirt, oil, and dead skin cells while refining the skin’s texture for brighter-looking skin fast.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, salicylic acid, methylpropanediol
Type: Chemical
Skin Type: Combination, oily, dry, normal
Skin Benefit(s): Clears and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores, sheds built-up layers of skin for smooth, even tone, absorbs quickly, and helps support a healthy skin barrier
Beauty Insider Tip: This daily leave-on exfoliant has an optimal pH range of 3.2–3.8 for maximum effectiveness without irritation.
Best Exfoliating Cleanser: Eminence Organic Skin Care Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser
$59.00
For a gentle yet effective deep-down exfoliating cleanse, this vegan and soy-free cleanser is the one to reach for. The supercharged purifying cleanser transforms from a gel into an exfoliating wash, lifting away dull skin and removing impurities for a perfectly balanced complexion that’s smooth to the touch.
Key Ingredients: Charcoal, malachite gemstones, blue matcha, peppermint
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Leaves skin invigorated and looking energized, minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores, removes excess oil from the surface of the skin, draws out oil, dirt, and other substances from clogged pores, improves visible signs of aging, increases the skin’s vitality
Beauty Insider Tip: To use, mix a small amount of product with water in your hands, apply, and massage gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, covering the face and neck areas. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
Best Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin: DHC Moisture-Rich Clarifying Peeling Gel Exfoliator
$22.00
Unlike traditional exfoliators, this unique peeling gel binds to dead skin cells and sebum, breaking down into tiny, rolling particles that rinse off the skin's surface. Perfect for sensitive skin, the moisture-rich gel helps to leave the skin soft, smooth, and more supple-looking while also improving discoloration on the surface.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, fruit extracts, flower extracts
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Moisturizes the skin during the exfoliating process to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, visibly improves the skin tone and texture
Beauty Insider Tip: Be sure to avoid using the peeling gel around the eyes, lips, and near the hairline, as the product can be difficult to remove in areas with excessive facial hair.
Best Exfoliator for Mature Skin: Sisley Paris Exfoliating Enzyme Mask
$155.00
Treat your skin to this exfoliating enzyme mask to reveal a more radiant glow in just one minute. Thanks to a blend of unique ingredients, this powder-to-mask exfoliating formula gently removes dead skin while improving the appearance of pores and refining the skin’s texture, making it appear more uniform in tone and texture.
Key Ingredients: Papain, wisteria, coconut derivative, vitamin B3, lavender, marjoram essential oils
Type: Physical
Skin Type: Dry, mature
Skin Benefit(s): Gently exfoliates the skin, cleanses and purifies, promotes a more even and luminous complexion
Beauty Insider Tip: The fine powder instantly transforms into a rich foaming cream upon contact with water, making it the perfect consistency to double as a mask.
Best Overall Exfoliator: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
$69.00
This iconic exfoliating powder is a must-have for silky smooth skin that boasts a natural glow. Rich in alpha hydroxy acids, use it to polish the skin to perfection without irritation, discomfort, or dryness.
Key Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids, rice bran, papain, salicylic acid, phytic acid, white tea, licorice, colloidal oatmeal
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Removes dulling surface debris and evens skin tone, reveals brighter, smoother skin
Beauty Insider Tip: The gentle-enough-to-use-daily exfoliator activates when combined with water and helps to brighten the appearance of spots and discoloration with continued use.
Best Exfoliator for Dry Skin: Valmont Face Exfoliant
$120.00
Some exfoliators can be too harsh for dry skin, but not this creamy one, which cleanses the skin while infusing it with moisture. The gentle formula gently rids the surface of dead skin cells, leaving the skin feeling soft, comforted, and hydrated.
Key Ingredients: Cellulose microparticles
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Removes impurities and dead skin cells, refreshes the epidermis, leaves the skin feeling silky smooth
Beauty Insider Tip: For more sensitive skin, use the exfoliator on pre-moistened skin and then gently massage it in circular motions before rinsing with lukewarm water.
Best Brightening Exfoliator: Furtuna Skin Triple Active Exfoliator
$115.00
For skin that needs serious resurfacing and retexturizing power, this triple-action exfoliator is the one to reach for. Not only does it clarify, smooth, and brighten the skin, but it also minimizes the appearance of lines while soothing and fortifying the skin.
Key Ingredients: Olive oil, olive leaf water, enzymes, alpha hydroxy acids
Type: Chemical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Clears clogged pores and congestion-causing bacteria, preps the skin, illuminates dull, discolored, and fatigued skin to restore a vibrant glow, minimizes blotchiness, patchy, rough, uneven texture, ruddiness, and prominent pores, smooths the appearance of fine lines and imperfections as it softens rough, patchy texture
Beauty Insider Tip: It’s normal for some natural separation of the product to occur due to the organic ingredients, natural enzymes, and acids in the formula.
Best Exfoliator for Uneven Texture: Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Exfoliation Night Resurfacing + Brightening Serum
$79.00
Designed for use on the first night of a skin cycling program, this exfoliating and resurfacing leave-on serum delivers a trio of exfoliators to even out the skin’s tone and texture without irritation. Developed by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, the skin appears smoother and brighter by morning, with increased firmness and minimized pores.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactobionic acid, gluconolactone, salicylic acid, postbiotics
Type: Chemical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Brightens the look of skin overnight, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and texture, and evens the look of skin tone, hydrates
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply 2 to 3 pumps of the product to clean, dry skin 2 to 3 times per week at night for optimal results.
Best Exfoliator for Large Pores: Grown Alchemist Polishing Exfoliator
$50.00
This lightly scented skin-refining exfoliator works hard while being gentle on the skin to unclog pores and soften the skin for a brighter, smoother-looking complexion. Perfect for those who don’t want to disrupt or upset their skin barrier, this scrub leaves behind a luminous glow that will have everyone complimenting your skin.
Key Ingredients: Plant actives, bamboo particles, camellia seed, rosehip oil, vitamins C and E
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Gently exfoliates the skin, removes pore-clogging skin cells and impurities, protects against environmental damage, boosts skin radiance, supports a healthy, youthful-looking complexion
Beauty Insider Tip: This exfoliator won’t strip the skin of its much-needed moisture or leave it dry and tight, thanks to moisturizing ingredients rich in fatty acids.
Best Exfoliator for Acne-Prone Skin: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
$153.00
Whether you’re an avid skin exfoliator or a newbie, these presoaked, alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acid-rich peel pads help transform dull, blemished skin in two simple steps. Swipe on the step one pad to gently exfoliate the skin while the second step pad neutralizes acidity and hydrates. The result: perfectly balanced skin that boasts an immediate radiance and fewer breakouts over time.
Key Ingredients: Lactic, malic, and glycolic acids, chamomile, retinol, resveratrol, green tea extract, adenosine
Type: Chemical
Skin Type: Oily, normal, combination
Skin Benefit(s): Speeds up cell turnover to remove dullness, diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, exfoliates skin to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, evens out tone and texture, buffs away dead skin cells to reveal fresh, smooth, younger-looking skin, calms and protects, treats fine lines and wrinkles while also firming skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: The peel is ideal for first-time peel users
Best Exfoliator for Rough Skin: ISDIN Isdinceutics Essential Scrub
$40.00
This daily exfoliating gel cleanser is a godsend for rough skin texture, helping to smooth it out in just 28 days. Additionally, the 2-in-1 scrub promotes healthy skin cell turnover and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores, resulting in more youthful-looking skin.
Key Ingredients: Lavender extract, clary sage extract, Mediterranean olive seed particles
Type: Physical
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit(s): Provides a deep daily cleanse for healthy, balanced skin, removes dead cells, promotes the skin renewal process, reduces clogged pores, refines skin texture
Beauty Insider Tip: Thanks to skin-calming ingredients, the exfoliator also delivers a soothing antioxidant benefit.
FAQs
How often should you exfoliate the face?
Regular exfoliation is important, but it’s also crucial to ensure you’re not overdoing it. On average, exfoliating two to three times per week is ideal, but it really depends on your skin type. Dry and sensitive skin may only be able to tolerate exfoliation once or twice a week, whereas other skin types can handle daily exfoliating.
How to choose the right face exfoliator?
When it comes to choosing the right exfoliator for you, there are a few things to take into consideration:
- The type of exfoliant: Both chemical and physical exfoliators benefit the skin, but certain skin types respond better to some than others. Chemical exfoliators rely on acids or fruit enzymes to break down and dissolve the glue that causes dead skin cells to stick together and stay on the surface. On the other hand, physical exfoliators physically remove dead skin cells from the skin.
- Your skin goals: Exfoliators buff away dead skin cells and increase the rate of skin cell turnover, making the skin softer, smoother, brighter, and less clogged with pore-clogging dirt, oil, and debris. Some exfoliators work to improve breakouts while others address discoloration. Always ensure you understand the ingredients in a product so that you can select one that meets your skin care goals.
- Skin type: Exfoliating with a skin-appropriate product is crucial for reaping the benefits and minimizing side effects. Make sure to also exfoliate your skin according to your skin type, as over-exfoliating can lead to dryness, redness, and a compromised skin barrier.
What's the difference between chemical and physical face exfoliators?
The primary difference between chemical and physical exfoliators lies in the ingredients they use to remove dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliators rely on acids to dissolve dead skin cells, while physical exfoliators use physical agents, such as scrubs, beads, and textured cloths, to remove dead skin cells from the surface. Chemical exfoliators are typically used to improve the skin’s tone and reduce overall dullness for brighter-looking skin, whereas physical exfoliators are more effective in addressing age-related lines and wrinkles.
The Bottom Line
Regularly exfoliating the skin is a skin care step you shouldn’t gloss over. Regardless of which type of exfoliator works best for your skin and provides visible results, you’ll want to incorporate it into your routine a few times a week to truly reap the benefits. Of course, if there’s an exfoliator that dries out your skin, leaves it red, irritated, or inflamed, consider swapping it for one that’s gentle and doesn’t compromise your skin. And always make sure to add a good moisturizer and use sunscreen daily after exfoliation to keep your skin well-protected, healthy, and glowing.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
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