The 9 Best Loofahs of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Lather
  4/5
• Exfoliation
  5/5

Who else recommends it? StyleCraze, Bustle, and Spy all picked the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber.

What do buyers say? 86% of 20,200+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

The AQUIS Double-Sided Exfoliating & Cleansing Back Scrubber tops this list because it does everything a good loofah should do, plus more. It’s essentially a long piece of double-sided fabric with two handles on each end, making it easy to use as a typical washcloth or across my back while holding it by the handles. Unlike many other loofahs I tried, I was able to clean my entire back without much effort.

This loofah has two sides—one is very soft (softer than a washcloth), and the other is grittier. But despite the latter being rough enough to exfoliate the skin, the texture is very fine, so instead of irritating skin, it gently yet efficiently buffs away rough areas and makes skin feel super smooth. It lathers up just as well as my body wash does on its own, if not a little bit better. I also noticed that it’s better at sudsing up compared to my usual loofah. On top of everything else, it can be thrown into the washing machine to clean, making it super hygienic and more environmentally friendly than loofahs that need to be tossed after a few weeks.

Out of all the loofahs I tested, this was my favorite. It was very effective at cleansing and exfoliating, it was able to reach my entire body, and it’s a hygienic, long-lasting option.

Price at time of publish: $14

Material: Polyester and microfiber | Shades: Dark grey, jungle, linen | Size: Large

Best Budget

The Body Shop Ultra Fine Bath Lily

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  2.8/5
• Lather
  3.5/5
• Exfoliation
  3.3/5

Most of the loofah options here are priced affordably, but if you only have a few bucks to spend, this is a loofah to consider. This shower pouf lathers up super well, much more than my body wash does on its own. It’s made of a fine mesh that’s just textured enough to be gentle yet mildly exfoliating. It’s not scratchy whatsoever and is comfortable enough to use daily. But while it was easy to use on most parts of my body, I couldn’t reach parts of my back. The hanging loop is also quite small, so I also wasn’t able to put it around my wrist for easier maneuverability. 

Beware that the low price means it may not be as high quality as other options. Another Byrdie reviewer found the material too rough and of low quality. “It felt like it could unravel at any moment and did not create much of a lather,” said Rachel Lee. Still, it’s super affordable, plus it’s made out of 100 percent recycled material. Overall, this is a great affordable loofah that exfoliates gently and without irritating skin.

Material: Bath lily | Shades: Green, cream, pink | Size: Small

Best for Everday

MainBasics Main Basics Bath Shower Loofah Sponge Pouf

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  3.8/5
• Lather
  4.5/5
• Exfoliation
  4.5/5

For an everyday, super foamy shower, this loofah is the best. My body wash lathered up significantly more than it usually does, making my skin feel clean and soft. Thanks to the fine mesh, it’s not rough on the skin whatsoever, but it has enough texture that it gently exfoliates and softens without irritation.

While our reviewers agreed that the size and texture of this loofah are ideal, the big con is that it’s nearly impossible to clean your upper and middle back with it. Still, we were able to look past this due to how well it works. “Out of all the loofahs I’ve tried, this is the one I prefer to use the most,” says Byrdie editor Olivia Hancock. “It’s durable, affordable, and delivers on its claims of providing exfoliation and a creamy lather. My skin feels noticeably softer and smoother after using this loofah.”

The loofah comes in a pack of three, so you can either share the extras with family or keep them on deck to swap out when needed (replacing every 30 days or so is recommended). The number of loofahs you get for the price, along with the gently exfoliating material, make this a great option for everyday use.

Price at time of publish: $12

Material: Nylon | Shades: Dark gray, rose pink, white | Size: Medium

Runner-Up, Best for Everday

Shower Bouquet Charcoal Bath Loofah

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Lather
  5/5
• Exfoliation
  4/5

A shower pouf makes a great everyday loofah, which is why this is another solid option for your go-to loofah. I found that this charcoal-infused shower pouf produced a ton of lather, way more than my body wash does on its own. It left me feeling clean and ready for the day. Like many other options out there, I could only clean areas I could reach with my hands; however, I appreciated that this loofah is on the larger side, making the washing process much quicker.

It's made of a synthetic mesh, which feels soft on the skin while still providing light exfoliation. The hanging loop is large enough to wrap around your wrist, making it easier to maneuver around the body and hang dry. More importantly, it comes in a pack of four, which is extremely cost-effective considering that you'll need to change this out about once a month.

Price at time of publish: $30

Material: Mesh | Shades: Charcoal gray | Size: Medium

Best Gloves

Earth Therapeutics Organic Cotton Exfoliating Gloves

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  3.5/5
• Lather
  3.5/5
• Exfoliation
  4/5

Unlike loofahs you have to hold, these slip right onto your hands, so using them is as easy as rubbing your hands over your body. Of course, this means you can only exfoliate the places you can normally reach, so I missed the large majority of my back. Still, these get the job done for more easily accessible areas of the body. While they have cotton in the name, don’t let that fool you into thinking these are soft; I’ve used similar glove exfoliators in the past, but none of them have been as exfoliating as these. They feel surprisingly rough right out of the package, but once in the shower with water and soap, the scratchiness lessens.

Because of how textured these are, I actually wouldn’t recommend using them every day for fear of irritating skin. “Because I have dry skin, I don’t foresee myself using them more than once a week,” says Hancock. They also didn’t produce a huge amount of lather compared to other loofahs, but it was still more than my body wash creates alone. Also nice: The cotton has anti-microbial protection weaved in, protecting the gloves from odor-causing bacteria.

Even though my hands are pretty small (I’m a 4.5 ring size, for comparison), I found it difficult to put my hands into the gloves and the fingers, but after the first use, the gloves stretched out and became more comfortable. (They’re also easier to put on if you get them wet first.)

Despite being tricky to put on, they still do a great job cleaning and exfoliating the skin overall. “When paired with a nourishing body wash, they can help buff away dullness and unclog pores,” says Hancock. “For me, these gloves are better suited for occasionally targeted exfoliation rather than regular head-to-toe use. If you’re looking for budget-friendly exfoliating gloves, these are worth a try.”

Price at time of publish: $9

Material: Nylon, cotton, and polyester | Shades: Natural | Size: Small

Best High Tech

PMD Clean Body

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Lather
  3.5/5
• Exfoliation
  4/5

The PMD Clean Body Cleansing Device is unlike anything else on this list. The high-tech, rechargeable device can hardly be called a loofah. With three attachments and multiple settings, it has everything you need in one product; however, it might not be the most ideal option for everyone.

The best attachment for lather is the loofah attachment, which gave me a little bit more suds than my body wash does on its own. For exfoliation, there are a few options: The loofah and silicone cleansing brush very mildly exfoliate, while the actual exfoliation attachment buffs skin more intensely with antibacterial aluminum oxide crystals. All of the attachments were gentle enough that my skin was never red or irritated. I love that this has a long handle, making it an excellent option for reaching the middle of my back, an area that was missed with most other loofahs I tested. 

This device also has bonuses built into nearly every feature. The loofah head is silver-infused, preventing it from harboring bacteria, and the silicone body and cleansing brush are naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and odor resistant. The vibration—dubbed SonicGlow™ Technology—buzzes at 7,000 pulses a minute, which helps clear out pores and tone skin. There are four different settings, one low and one high, and two with a special vibrating pattern. However, when I used the vibration feature, it was a little uncomfortable to hold because I could feel the buzz throughout the handle instead of just concentrating at the end of the device. 

While I was impressed with this device, it also fell short in a few ways. The heads felt too small (except for the massage head), so it took a while to use them over my entire body. It also felt awkward to use at times—the device has some give to it, so sometimes it was difficult to wrangle where I needed it to be. But, if you’re looking for something with all the bells and whistles, this is the option for you.

Price at time of publish: $159

Material: Silicone, aluminum oxide, and more | Shades: Navy, blush, berry | Size: Large

Best Natural

Lather Natural Sea Wool Sponge

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  3.8/5
• Lather
  4.5/5
• Exfoliation
  2.5/5

Made of 100 percent natural sea sponge sourced off the coast of Florida, this pick is nicely large in size, and using it is as easy as wiping it all over your skin. It also lathers well, much more so than my body wash does on its own. It absorbs a lot of water and product, which is the secret to getting that rich, creamy foam when you wring it out. 

When dry, the sponge feels extremely hard and scratchy, but the texture completely changes after soaking it in water. "When I wet this sponge, it becomes incredibly soft and glides across my skin with ease. I can be confident my skin won't be subject to irritation when using this," says Hancock. While I also thought it felt nice and soft on my skin, I found that it lacked any exfoliating properties. You also can't use it anywhere you can't reach with your hands, so it's somewhat limited in that area as well.

Overall, we love this cruelty-free, eco-friendly option (it's sustainably harvested and completely biodegradable, after all), but it's not without its downsides. It's not the best option for exfoliation, and the natural material may not last as long as synthetic loofahs. It could also use a hanging ribbon to make for easier use and to store while it dries.

Price at time of publish: $18

Material: Sea sponge | Shades: Natural | Size: Medium

Best for Back

LuvScrub Mesh Body Exfoliator

3.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Lather
  3.3/5
• Exfoliation
  4/5

Inspired by the founder’s West African Heritage, this loofah is essentially a large swath of fabric, so it’s easy to use however it’s needed. It stretches a ton when wet, so it’s easy to scrub your entire back or use as a traditional washcloth elsewhere, a nice plus.

Crafted from a unique mesh-like wide-weave nylon, it effectively exfoliates the skin while still being gentle; it’s not scratchy or too rough for everyday use. “It feels like it gets a deep clean like I was scrubbing everything clean,” says tester Rachel Lee. “I was impressed with how effectively it exfoliated; my skin felt rejuvenated and so soft after. It noticeably helped with any skin texture/bumpiness!”

It’s not the best option if you prefer a super sudsy shower, but the benefit to this is that it doesn’t soak up a lot of product, meaning less soap gets wasted. Overall, it’s a nice option for doing everything you need a loofah to do. It cleans well, mildly exfoliates, reaches everywhere on the body, and comes in five gorgeous colors. Plus, it’s long-lasting: The brand claims it’s good for up to 18 months.

Price at time of publish: $18

Material: Nylon | Shades: Naked sunset, indiglo, luvender, summer shower, midnight, | Size: Large