Best Body Scrubs of 2023 to Get Smoother Skin

Best Overall

Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator

4.8

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Who else recommends it? Best Products, Self, and Prevention all picked Nécessaire's The Body Exfoliator.

What do buyers say? 91% of 600+ Nordstrom reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

This just may be one of the best scrubs we've ever used, hands down, a team Byrdie fave for the ideal scrubby, though not abrasive, texture. It's a result of the combination of bamboo charcoal and pumice that mechanically exfoliate. There are also glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids in the mix to further up the exfoliating benefits. The fragrance-free variant is a great choice for sensitive skin, though it also comes in sandalwood and eucalyptus scents. All three are sophisticated, as is the chic and minimalistic packaging.

Price at time of publish: $30

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 6.3 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Illuminating Hand & Body Scrub

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You'll get plenty of bang for your buck with this scrub. It's an awesome body exfoliator, for sure, though per the name, it's also incredibly effective for use on dry, chapped hands; credit the addition of vitamin E, coconut oil, and lots of fatty acids. At this price, go ahead and pick up two so that you can keep one in the shower and one by your sink.

Price at time of publish: $9

Active Ingredients: Vitamin E | Size: 12 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish

4.7

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There are a plethora of great body scrubs to be found at the drugstore, but check this one out. In true Dove fashion, it contains one-quarter moisturizer, giving it a lusciously creamy, almost whipped-like texture. While it comes in three other scent variants, we're partial to the relaxing lavender fragrance of this one, which is great to use pre-bedtime.

Price at time of publish: $7

Active Ingredients: Calendula oil | Size: 10.5 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Dual Exfoliant

African Botanics Café Noir Body Exfoliant

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When it comes to exfoliation, you can go one of two routes. There's physical or mechanical exfoliation, which involves using some type of particle (sugar, salt, seeds) to scrub off dead skin. Then there's chemical exfoliation, which uses various acids to dissolve dead cells. It largely boils down to a matter of personal preference, but if you want to get skin that's silky smooth, seeking out a product that combines both methods is a good way to go. Enter this formula. It touts both coffee beans and crushed Marula nut shell powder, as well as a blend of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids so that you get the best of both worlds.

Price at time of publish: $100

Active Ingredients: Black coffee beans, Marula nut shell powder, alpha hydroxy acids | Size: 6.76 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dry Skin

UpCircle Coffee and Lemongrass Exfoliating Body Scrub

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It can sometimes feel like exfoliating dry skin may just dry it out even further—and sure, if you choose the wrong scrub or overdo it, that can indeed be the case. But exfoliating is even more imperative when you're dealing with dryness, and this pick is amazing for parched skin. It contains shea butter, which is great for hydration, and relies on gentle coffee grounds to exfoliate and polish the skin, leaving it smoother and brighter, says New York City dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman of one of her top picks.

Price at time of publish: $20

Active Ingredients: Coffea arabica seed powder | Size: 7 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Keratosis Pilaris

Skinfix Resurface+ Glycolic Renewing Scrub

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Are you dealing with keratosis pilaris (also called KP, and are those annoying bumps on the backs of your arms)? The bad news is there's no treatment for it. The good news is that regular exfoliation, particularly with this formula, can help. It acts as a mechanical exfoliant and chemical peel in one. Biodegradable bamboo polishers do the physical scrubbing, while glycolic and lactic acids tackle the rest.

Price at time of publish: $32

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid 7%, lactic acid 6% | Size: 8 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Differin Acne Clearing Body Scrub

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No, you can't scrub away acne. (In fact, over-exfoliating can exacerbate acne.) Although, the right type and amount of sloughing are important for helping to keep pores clear. Enter this effective scrub, which is still gentle enough that it can be used daily. It combines hydrating vitamin E exfoliating beads along with oil-dissolving salicylic acid and radiance-boosting glycolic acid, great for not only keeping blemishes at bay but also warding off the appearance of leftover, telltale dark marks.

Price at time of publish: $15

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid 2% | Size: 8 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Sensitive Skin

Avene Gentle Scrub

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Yes, you can exfoliate, even if you have sensitive skin—you just need to be a little more strategic in your sloughing. Enter this formula, a super gentle version that relies on teeny-tiny jojoba beads for very gentle exfoliation (so much so that it feels like a body wash). Meanwhile, the brand's patented, soothing thermal spring water and a trio of nourishing oils help to impart hydration. Plus, because it's only meant to be used once or twice a week, one bottle lasts quite a long time.

Price at time of publish: $24

Active Ingredients: Avene thermal spring water | Size: 6.7 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Natural

Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub

4.4

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This standout scrub is so good (and so natural) that it nabbed a coveted Byrdie Eco Beauty Award in 2019. On that note, it boasts a clean and minimal ingredient list, relying on naturals such as sugar for exfoliation, and coconut oil and shea butter for hydration. The sugar crystals deliver the best level of exfoliation; the subtle, sweet-smelling rose scent is just a bonus.

Price at time of publish: $50

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, sugar | Size: 8 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Foaming

Kyn Care Sugar Cookie Foaming Sugar Scrub

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Not only will these foaming sugar scrubs from Kyn Care leave your skin oh-so-smooth and soft, but they're super fun to use, too. They're available in a wide variety of drool-worthy scents (think: sugar cookie, cupcake frosting, and salted caramel), but the brand was founded as a remedy for eczema, so you can trust it's gentle enough for sensitive skin. Plus, the brand is entirely vegan, cruelty-free, and handmade, so you can feel good using each product.

Price at time of publish: $19

Active Ingredients: Sugar, glycerin | Size: 8 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Multi-Tasker

OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub

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Byrdie Senior Editor Holly Rhue sings the praises of this do-it-all formula. The sugar-based scrub is just as effective at sloughing off dry patches on your body as it is at removing dead skin and product build-up from your scalp. (Because your scalp needs just as much TLC as the skin on your face and body, and regular scalp exfoliation can help ensure your strands stay strong and healthy.) It also foams up ever so slightly when mixed with water, which, combined with the heavenly rose-musk scent, makes for a delightful, enjoyable exfoliating experience.

Price at time of publish: $38

Active Ingredients: Sugar, coconut oil, probiotic blend | Size: 8.8 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Salt Scrub

M3 Naturals Himalayan Salt Body Scrub

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Salt is one of the oldest and most commonly-used exfoliating ingredients out there, and it's the star of the show in this scrub. Jaliman is a fan: "It's great at removing dead skin but also helps to remove bacteria, too," she says. (It's also a go-to for Amazon shoppers, who repeatedly rave about how well it exfoliates without ever over-drying skin.) To that point, since salt can be drying, we appreciate that there are moisturizing oils and aloe in the base for hydration purposes.

Price at time of publish: $40

Active Ingredients: Himalayan salt, collagen |  Size: 12 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Sugar Scrub

Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub

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For those who naturally have drier or more easily irritated skin, sugar is the best exfoliating ingredient. It still scrubs but is also innately hydrating. "This sugar-based option is gentle enough even for sensitive skin and contains argan oil and shea butter for hydrating purposes," says Jaliman. The affordable price, subtle rose scent, and pretty pink color don't hurt either.

Price at time of publish: $11

Active Ingredients: Sugar, shea butter, natural oils | Size: 18 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Coffee Scrub

Drunk Elephant Sugared Koffie Almond Milk Body Scrub

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Whether or not you like to sip a cup of coffee—or two—in the morning, you'll appreciate that this scrub contains coffee seed oil. The oil is a good source of caffeine, a choice ingredient for stimulating circulation (and also helping to temporarily minimize the look of cellulite, making this a nice choice for booty buffing). Sugar does the scrubbing part of things, while almond milk helps to hydrate the skin. If it sounds like it smells delicious, you're right; it does. The fragrance is reminiscent of a yummy latte in the best way possible.

Price at time of publish: $28

Active Ingredients: Sugar, coffea arabica (coffee) seed oil | Size: 9 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes