Exfoliators use salt, sugar, ground nuts, or acids and enzymes to polish away dead skin. Our 15 picks are some of the best for dry skin, sensitive skin, and more.
Read on to learn how to do that, and get our recommendation for 15 of the best body scrubs out there.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that while exfoliating may not be for everyone, those interested in exfoliating should do so safely in order to reduce the risk of skin damage.
Body scrubs and exfoliators can be a great addition to your skin care tool kit. They help slough off dead skin cells, giving your skin a more radiant appearance.
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
In selecting these 15 body scrubs, we considered online reviews, active ingredients, and price. All the products on this list are highly rated by people who have purchased them. Most have natural ingredients.
Although they might sound scary, chemical exfoliators use a very small amount of acids or enzymes diluted with a bunch of other ingredients. They’re more commonly used on the face, but you can find chemical body exfoliators as well.
Chemical exfoliators are made with acids or enzymes. They work by chemically (and gently) loosening the dead skin away from newer skin.
When used on your body, they’re usually gentle enough for daily use. However, you’ll want to exfoliate safely , apply even pressure, and not scrub too hard. A good rule of thumb for most skin types is exfoliating about twice weekly.
Most of the exfoliators on our list are physical exfoliators. They rely on a rough texture from sugar, salt, and sometimes crushed nuts to wash away dry skin.
Why we love it: This affordable body scrub leaves skin moisturized with no residue. The essential oils of bergamot and orange give it a pleasing scent. The scrub also contains vitamin E and moisturizing shea butter.
What you should know: If you have any minor scrapes or cuts, this scrub could sting. It also contains fragrance, which could irritate sensitive skin.
Why we love it: This lightly scented body scrub is gentle enough to use every day. It hydrates your skin with cetearyl alcohol and mineral oil while removing dead skin cells with crushed pecan shells.
What you should know: The last ingredient in this scrub is benzyl alcohol, which is sometimes added to cosmetics for its light scent. While it doesn’t affect most people negatively, those with sensitive skin may find it drying.
Why we love it: This all-natural product has gentle, moisturizing ingredients that are beneficial for those who have very dry skin or eczema. One such ingredient is honey, which is a natural humectant. It attracts and seals moisture into the skin. Colloidal oatmeal is another ingredient used here, for soothing itchy dry skin.
What you should know: Eczema Honey recommends doing a patch test before using the product, since some users have reported an allergic reaction. It’s best practice to patch test any new product before using it more widely.
Why we love it: This scrub has organic Australian tea tree oil, which helps keep feet smelling pleasant. Charcoal also helps detoxify, while pumice cleanses and conditions, scrubbing away dead skin from your feet and leaving them softer.
What you should know: Since you have to apply it to dry skin, the product can get a little messy. Reviewers suggest using it in the tub.
Why we love it: This vegan-friendly product foams up as it cleans and sloughs dead skin from your feet, getting your feet ready for lotion. Fans of this scrub enjoy using it every day on their heels to reduce the buildup of calluses. It also contains a blend of essential oils including eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender.
What you should know: The exfoliants in this scrub are all-natural.
Why we love it: Peppermint oil feels cooling as you scrub away roughness, while avocado oil nourishes skin. This foot scrub has slews of glowing reviews, too. One user says it’s great for those who work on their feet all day.
What you should know: Made with apricot seed powder, this scrub is gentle enough to be used all over your feet — even between your toes.
Why we love it: This fine grain Dead Sea salt scrub helps you destress while removing dead skin cells and moisturizing your skin. It’s made with simple ingredients, like argan, jojoba, and sweet almond oil. Lavender and bergamot essential oils provide a light and pleasant fragrance.
What you should know: This scrub is certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Why we love it: This scrub is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin prone to razor burn and ingrown hairs. It has a silky smooth, luxurious feel. The ingredients are all-natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores).
What you should know: Thanks to the rose absolute, this has a floral fragrance that some reviewers love and others aren’t so jazzed about.
Why we love it: It doesn’t take a lot of effort to polish your skin with this vegan, gluten-free scrub, thanks to the Dead Sea salt granules and nourishing oil blend. The ginger scent is really pleasant, and you can pair this scrub with Origins’ other ginger products.
What you need to know: Make sure to stir this scrub before applying or you’ll get more oil than salt. Be careful as the oils can make your shower slippery.
Why we love it: This body exfoliator is a gel that works to slough off dead skin and resurfaces without using physical scrubbing agents like the rest on our list. Instead, it uses a hydroxyethyl urea/aminosulfonic acid compound along with hyaluronic acid, a popular skin care ingredient known for its plumping and hydrating effects.
What you should know: It also contains niacinamide, an ingredient often used for treating acne and eczema, to name a few.
Why we love it: It’s on the high end of our pricing guide, but this scrub is considered a luxury buy. Reviewers say the container lasts for a while, and think it’s worth the splurge. The formula uses three types of salt (New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan sea salt, and red Hawaiian sea salt). It also adds in shea butter and wild gigartina seaweed for nourishment.
What you should know: While most reviewers are totally sold on the texture, one says the salt “chunks” are too big for their liking.
Why we love it: CeraVe is a trusted skin care brand. This bar offers both physical and chemical exfoliation thanks to its use of salicylic acid and jojoba beads. It also contains ceramides, which help lock moisture into the skin.
What you should know: Although it’s gentle, this bar is good for targeting rough and bumpy skin.
Why we love it: This pick is a solid body polish that scrubs using ground pumice, while creamy cocoa butter is added to soften skin. It’s made by a New Zealand-based brand that’s certified vegan and cruelty-free. The company is also certified palm oil-free by Orangutan Alliance. It’s worth mentioning the company’s commitment to using only renewable, biodegradable, and nonpetroleum-based ingredients.
What you should know: This product is said to be good for all skin types. Lime essential oil is used here mostly for fragrance, and it seems most reviewers are a fan of it.
Why we love it: This one is not for the faint of heart. If you’re into natural ingredients and can promise us you’ll use gentle pressure, this all-natural scrub could be the one for you. It’s made from simple, vegan ingredients. Coffee grinds are the key player for exfoliating, along with sea salt for addressing extra dry and flakey skin. Almond oil is added for hydration.
What you should know: The brand makes some bold claims about what it can do, saying that it can also help with breakouts, scars, cellulite, and stretch marks. It does contain helpful, skin-happy ingredients (and it’s possible coffee may help with lowering the appearance of things like cellulite). But many of those common skin concerns require more intense treatments than a body scrub.