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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Even those with the most devoted skincare routines are sometimes guilty of focusing all their efforts on the face and leaving everything else high and dry. Of course, there's a lot more skin to cover below the neck, and it might have slightly different needs than your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Still, a good exfoliator is a great place to start.
According to board-certified dermatologist Lian A. Mack, MD, there are many benefits to full-body exfoliation. "It promotes cellular turnover, which leaves the skin looking smoother and more radiant," she tells Byrdie. Additionally, she says it can increase blood flow to the epidermis (aka the outermost layer of your skin) so "it looks healthier and more supple."
Meet the Expert
Lian A. Mack, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She specializes in skin conditions as they apply to people of color, as well as various cosmetic enhancements, including injectables and laser treatments.
From scrubs, washes, and wipes to creams, lotions, and serums, whole-body exfoliating products come in a range of formulations. To help you narrow it down, we compiled standout options in every category.
Meet the Expert
Morgan Rabach, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical PLLC, a dermatology and facial plastic surgery practice that she started with her sister, Dr. Lesley Rabach. In addition to her private practice, she is a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Scroll down for the best body exfoliators.
Best Overall
Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator
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Nordstrom
Physical-chemical hybrid
Noticeably superior quality
Scented and fragrance-free options
Expensive
Who else recommends it? PureWow, Self, and Elle all chose Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator.
What do buyers say? 91% of 600+ Nordstrom reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Combining the physical exfoliating benefits of granular charcoal with AHA and BHA superheroes glycolic and salicylic acid, The Body Exfoliator offers the best of both worlds. It comes in two spa-inspired scents, eucalyptus and sandalwood, but there's also a fragrance-free option for those who like to keep it simple.
This hybrid shower scrub is exceptionally luxurious and all-around enjoyable to use. Like all Nécessaire products, you get a feel for the quality just by holding the tube in your hand and twisting off the heavy cap. It's on the pricier side, but considering you only need to use it once or twice a week, it should last you a while.
Price at time of publish: $30
Type: Scrub | Active Ingredients: Bamboo charcoal, glycolic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 6.1 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
Urban Hydration Brighten & Glow Peach & Papaya Body Wash
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Ulta
Budget-friendly
Gentle formula
Noticeable results
Contains PEGs
Since body products cover a lot more area than facial skincare, affordability is ideal. This body wash from Urban Hydration will only run you a few bucks, and you can count on noticeably smoother, more even-toned skin in a single use.
Price at time of publish: $6
Type: Wash | Active Ingredients: Papaya enzymes | Size: 13.5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin
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Amazon
Chemical exfoliating formula
Replenishes skin barrier
Moisturizing
Contains PEGs
May increase sun sensitivity
When it comes to drugstore skincare, CeraVe is pretty much always reliable. This no-nonsense cream sloughs off dead cells with lactic acid and salicylic acid and replenishes the skin barrier with ceramides.
Price at time of publish: $41
Type: Cream | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 12 or 16 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel
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Sephora
Chemical exfoliating formula
Noticeable results
Dermatologist-developed
Expensive
These are the beloved Alpha Beta peel pads from Dr. Dennis Gross—but for your body. These pre-soaked, disposable towelettes contain AHAs glycolic and lactic acid, plus salicylic acid and fruit enzymes, to increase cell turnover, smooth uneven texture, and deliver an all-around healthy glow. They're expensive, but believe us, they work.
Price at time of publish: $58
Type: Pre-soaked disposable wipes | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, fruit enzymes | Size: 8 towels | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Clean
REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum
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Ren Skincare
Chemical exfoliating formula
Naturally scented
Eco-conscious company
Expensive
Prefer clean formulas? This exfoliating serum is for you. Smart Renewal contains a naturally derived, dairy-free version of lactic acid to help your skin shed its outermost layer of dead cells, while probiotics offer a visibly smoother texture.
Price at time of publish: $45
Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, probiotics | Size: 6.8 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA Real Cica 92% Cool Calming Soothing Gel
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iherb
Budget-friendly
Gentle formula
Prevents and heals breakouts
Can dry sticky
We also like this Korean exfoliating gel, which you apply like a serum to dry skin. It contains lactobionic acid (a super gentle polyhydroxy acid or PHA), plus salicylic acid and tea tree extract, to smooth uneven texture and keep body acne at bay. Its hero ingredient, cica, helps calm irritation and heal breakouts.
Price at time of publish: $19
Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Lactobionic acid, salicylic acid, cica, tea tree extract | Size: 10.1 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Sensitive Skin
Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Gentle formula
Nice scent
Contains dyes
Exfoliating sensitive skin can be a tricky dance, but with Mario Badescu, you're in good hands. This budget-friendly body wash contains glycolic acid and fruit enzymes to gently dissolve dead skin cells. To avoid irritation, start by using only once or twice a week.
Price at time of publish: $14
Type: Wash | Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, fruit enzymes | Size: 8 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Keratosis Pilaris
Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion
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Amazon
Smooths bumps
Targets dry patches
Replenishes skin barrier
Expensive
Contains PEGs
This body lotion contains a concentrated dose of glycolic acid. Formulated for folks with keratosis pilaris in mind, it promises to smooth out bumps and dry patches without compromising the skin barrier.
Price at time of publish: $44
Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid | Size: 8.4 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Ingrown Hairs
Soft Services Smoothing Solution Calming Gel Exfoliant
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Soft Services
Easy to spread
Multi-use formula
Eco-conscious company
Expensive
If you're looking for something to address ingrown hairs, Soft Services is your best bet. This serum-style body treatment combines lactic acid with urea to gently dissolve dead skin buildup and ultimately prevent little bumps from forming. It's also great for keratosis pilaris and discoloration around the elbow and knees.
Price at time of publish: $34
Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, urea | Size: 5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Lotion
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion
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Amazon
Gentle formula
Re-texturizing
Moisturizing
Reviewers note it burns post-shaving
After trying out this exfoliating body lotion, our home tester said her skin was as slippery-smooth as a dolphin. If that doesn't convince you to buy it, how about the fact that it's substantially more affordable than most other products in the Drunk Elephant lineup? And since you don't need to use it every day, the bottle will last you.
Price at time of publish: $25
Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, tartaric acid | Size: 8 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Wash
Truly CBD Jelly Anti-Blemish Body Cleanser
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Ulta
Prevents and heals breakouts
Gentle formula
Pump bottle
Contains dyes
This shower wash is formulated to clear and prevent body acne. But no matter what you're trying to achieve through exfoliation, you can count on it to get the job done—the pretty green pump bottle doesn't hurt either.
Price at time of publish: $25
Type: Wash | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, retinyl palmitate | Size: 8 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Scrub
Gilded Brightening Body Polish
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Verishop
Increases blood flow
Moisturizing
Physical exfoliating formula
Expensive
While granular formulas are often too coarse for the face, they can be a great physical exfoliant for the body. This premium scrub calls on sea salt to gently polish and stimulate the skin, then moisturizes with a blend of plant oils.
Type: Scrub | Active Ingredients: Sea salt | Size: 6 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Polish
Monat Body Care Exfoliate & Refine Body Polish
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Walmart
Smooths rough patches
Gentle formula
Dermatologist-recommended
Expensive
"An invigorating, revitalizing scrub featuring volcanic pumice and superfruit antioxidants, this gel exfoliator gently removes dead skin cells and smooths rough patches, revealing softer, more radiant skin," says Dr. Mack.
Price at time of publish: $43
Type: Scrub | Active Ingredients: Volcanic pumice, superfruit antioxidants, jojoba oil | Size: 6.7 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Bar
Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
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Glossier
Moisturizing
Naturally scented
Physical exfoliating formula
Expensive
Glossier makes our favorite body exfoliating bar. It offers physical exfoliation through finely milled bamboo powder and replenishes your skin with plant oils so it doesn't feel overly dry or stripped.
Price at time of publish: $15
Type: Bar | Active Ingredients: Bamboo powder | Size: 5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Our top choice is Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator, a luxurious formula that combines charcoal powder with AHA and BHA to offer a hybrid approach to smoother skin. On a budget? Urban Hydration Brighten & Glow Body Wash is a solid choice.
What to Look For in a Body Exfoliator
Chemical Exfoliants
When choosing what type of exfoliant to use, it’s important to consider your needs, preferences, and, most importantly, your skin type. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach is an all-around fan of chemical formulas that include AHAs and BHAs, mentioning that in addition to offering gentle exfoliation, they may also help boost collagen production and help with any pigmentation issues you may be dealing with. Additionally, she says that hydroxy acid-based formulas are safer for those with sensitive skin and that there's less of a chance of stripping the epidermis when using them.
Physical Exfoliants
Want to up your exfoliating power? Reach for a product that contains a mix of both chemical and physical exfoliants to get the best of both worlds. Physical exfoliants can also be great options for many skin types. Dr. Rabach suggests looking for a formula that includes sugar, salt, or sand as its exfoliating mechanism—the gentler, the better. “Mechanical exfoliants are best for refreshing dry or flaking skin on the body,” she says.
Moisturizing Formula
Of course, whether you choose a chemical exfoliator or decide to go the physical route, Dr. Rabach stresses the importance of choosing a formula that also has a moisturizing component to it. This way, the skin will be left plump and not overly dry. Your body will thank you.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a freelance content creator specializing in beauty and lifestyle. For this roundup, she interviewed a board-certified dermatologist for their product recommendations and expertise on full-body exfoliation. After considering nearly 100 options, the featured products were ultimately selected on account of their effective yet mostly non-irritating results. Theresa has personally tested skincare products from several brands on this list, including Nécessaire, Dr. Dennis Gross, CeraVe, Mario Badescu, Drunk Elephant, and Soft Services.
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