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In the old days, exfoliating your face was about as delicate a process as resurfacing your floors. But the newest generation of products lets you achieve clear, smooth skin without rubbing it raw.
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Below, we rounded up some of the best exfoliators for a velvety, bump-free complexion, including some expert recs from Dr. Idriss and Dr. Hartman.
Our Top Picks:
The Best Overall Exfoliator
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Type: Chemical and physical | Key ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, and malic acid | Best for: All skin types
Say hello to one of Hanna Flanagan’s favorite product empties of the summer. This exfoliating cleanser uses ultrafine beads of jojoba oil to buff away dead skin and improve overall texture, plus lavender extract to help tone and soothe inflammation, and citrus oil to reduce the appearance of pores. The shopping editor especially loves the fact that it’s gentle enough to use three to five times per week and works well with all her other products.
$48 at Amazon
$48 at Dermstore
The Best Drugstore Exfoliator
CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin D | Best for: Normal skin
You might associate salicylic acid with zits. And that’s true — it’s the face acid recommended most for acneic skin, because of its abilities to scoop out dirt and grime from clogged pores. But it can sweep away dead skin cells, too. This cleanser contains salicylic acid as well as ceramides, so it’ll keep your skin moist and make it smoother in the process. It’s fragrance-free and has close to 3,000 five-star Amazon reviews. It can be used on the body or the face (reviewers say it also does great things for keratosis pilaris, a.k.a. chicken skin).
$16 at Amazon
$17 at Ulta Beauty
$16 at Target
The Best Brightening Exfoliator
DERMALOGICA Daily Microfoliant
Type: Chemical and physical | Key ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, salicylic acid, titanium dioxide | Best for: All skin types
This exfoliator has a similar texture to Tatcha’s and very similar ingredients — and it also has the endorsement of Cate Blanchett, patron saint of perfect skin. Like Tatcha’s, it uses rice bran to exfoliate but adds a blend of salicylic acid (most commonly seen in acne products) and soothing, anti-inflammation ingredients like green tea and colloidal oatmeal. Because it comes in a powder, it’s great for travel.
$66 at Amazon
$65 at Dermstore
$65 at Nordstrom
$65 at Sephora
The Best Viral Exfoliator
Versed Doctor’s Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Lactic acid, glycolic acids, salicylic acid, pineapple and papaya enzymes | Best for: Aging skin
This mask has gone viral on TikTok, racking up thousands of views and likes with reviewers for its glossy, glass skin finish-like results. The weekly mask is a powerhouse blend of chemical exfoliants (lactic, glycolic and salicylic acid) and enzymes. As the name implies, the mask promises the kind of results you’d expect from a pro in two to three minutes, with instantly smoother, brighter skin. While it’s not ideal for sensitive skin, reviewers say that it didn’t irritate their skin and sloughed away their dull skin leaving their faces brighter and softer.
$18 at Amazon
$20 at Versed Skincare
$18 at Target
The Best Exfoliator for Makeup
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
Type: Chemical and physical | Key ingredients: Lactic acid, fruit enzymes, aloe vera | Best for: Dry skin
Created by Kate Somerville — one of the busiest facialists in L.A. come awards season — this is a blend of chemical and physical exfoliators. The formula is made up of grains plus nearly every botanical ingredient you’ve ever heard of (honey, papaya, pumpkin ferment), like some kind of Sweetgreen seasonal special. On Sephora, where it has over 2,000 five-star reviews, fans rave about how it turns skin into a smooth canvas for seamless makeup application.
$78 at Amazon
$78 at Nordstrom
$78 at Dermstore
The Exfoliator for Acne-Prone Skin
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea | Best for: All skin types
A favorite of Dr. Idriss’s for oily and acne-prone skin, she says that it’s lightweight and absorbs fairly quickly. Created by cosmetic cop Paula Begoun of Paula’s Choice, this is perhaps the product used most by Cut editors. With a mix of beta-hydroxy acids (a category of acids known for “de-gunking” or cleaning out pores), it keeps skin clear and bright. Salicylic acid, a.k.a. BHA, is an optimal ingredient for this skin type as it has great anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr. Idriss.
$34 at Sephora
More Tried-and-True Options:
The Best Exfoliator for Damaged Skin Barriers
Beekman 1801 Milk Scrub Oat and Goat Milk Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
Type: Chemical and physical | Key ingredients: | Best for: Sensitive skin
Infused with soothing ingredients like goat and oat milk, this gentle formula uses jojoba beads to buff away dead skin cells and build-up — without damaging the skin barrier or causing micro-tears like other exfoliators on the market. It also helps increase radiance and minimize pores.
$29 at Ulta Beauty
$29 at QVC
The Best Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin
OleHenriksen PHAT Glow Facial Mask
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Polyhydroxy acids, nordic birch sap, pink bentonite clay | Best for: Sensitive and aging skin
“For sensitive skin, I like Ole Henriksen’s PHAT Glow Facial because it’s formulated with PHAs and complimentary ingredients,” says Dr. Idriss. PHAs like gluconolactone, lactobionic, and maltobionic acid are best for this skin type since they are the most gentle of the bunch. Reviewers love the brightening effect and how it clears up acne scarring and fine lines.
$21.95 at Amazon
$52 at Sephora
The Best Pumpkin-Enzyme Exfoliator
Revision Skincare Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
Type: Physical | Key ingredients: Pumpkin enzyme exfoliant, pumpkin and cocoa micro-exfoliating powders, gold Brazilian clay detoxifies | Best for: Clogged pores
Dr. Hartman uses this mask personally, so he really attests to its power. “It uses pumpkin enzymes and cocoa micro-exfoliating powders to exfoliate the skin, plus gold Brazilian clay to help detoxify skin and draw out impurities,” he says. It is fall after all, so if you have the urge to buy something pumpkin related, you might want to make it this. Reviewers rave about the smell and how it doesn’t break them out like typical fragrance-filled products might.
$54 at Amazon
$54 at Dermstore
The Best Exfoliating Mask
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, chickpea flour | Best for: All skin types (especially large pores)
Another of Flanagan’s holy-grail beauty products? This Drunk Elephant resurfacing mask. It’s perfect for those special occasions that require an abundance of skin-care prep and a full face of glam. It’s powerful and can feel a bit uncomfortable — especially if you have sensitive skin — but the 25 percent AHA/2 percent BHA blend will leave your skin looking and feeling brand-new. Flanagan uses it before birthday dinners, weddings, cocktail parties, and any other event where she wants her base to be so smooth and texture-free that the makeup effortlessly glides on top.
$80 at Sephora
The Best Exfoliating Peel
M-61 PowerGlow Peel (30 Treatments)
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin K, chamomile, lavender | Best for: Dull and acne-prone skin
Flanagan swears her pores have become less visible since she started using these peel pads a few months ago. They’re infused with potent glycolic and salicylic acid to exfoliate and clarify, reduce the appearance of pores, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin tone and texture. Even folks with sensitive skin will appreciate these exfoliating peel pads because the formula also has chamomile and lavender to calm and soothe irritation. She has never felt that uncomfortable burning sensation after using them.
$68 at Amazon
$68 at Bluemercury
The Best Enzyme Exfoliator
Sisley-Paris Exfoliating Enzyme Mask
Type: Physical | Key ingredients: Papain, vitamin B3, essential oils | Best for: All skin types
This fast-acting exfoliator is a powder formula that turns into a creamy paste when activated by water, so Flanagan keeps it in her shower and applies for one to two minutes while letting her conditioner soak. The star ingredient is papain, a 100 percent natural-origin enzyme derived from papaya that gently buffs away dead cells for an instantly smoother and more radiant complexion. Sure, it’s pricey, but this product is one of the most worthwhile investments in her routine. Flanagan has been using it one to two times per week for an entire year, and it’s only half-empty.
$140 at Nordstrom
The Best K-Beauty Exfoliator
COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, white willow bark | Best for: All skin types
This is a great introductory exfoliating toner — perfect if you’re nervous about using anything too strong. The gentle formula contains willow bark water and glycolic acid. It also comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle, so you can spray it directly onto your face.
$20 at Amazon
$20 at Dermstore
$20 at Ulta Beauty
The Most Potent Exfoliator
Biologique Recherche P50 PIGM 400
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, gluconolactone | Best for: Oily skin
This is an extremely potent chemical exfoliator — so much so that beauty editors refer to it as “Jesus in a bottle.” There are seven different P50 products, all with slightly different names. The original is the strongest but may not be best for sensitive skin. The skin-care obsessives on Reddit consider P50 PIGM 400 a holy-grail product because it’s gentle yet sturdy — ideal for people with hyperpigmentation issues and those who struggle with skin tone. “There’s no denying it smells awful, but it’s worth the odor and the price tag,” says Dr. Hartman. “It keeps your skin hydrated and moisturized while making it really bright.”
$36 at Rescue Spa
The Best P50 Exfoliator Dupe
Pixi® skintreats Glow Tonic
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, ginseng, aloe vera | Best for: Sensitive skin
Considered a gentler dupe to P50, this has cult status in the U.K., where it’s often sold out. With 5 percent glycolic acid, it’s strong enough to be effective but not irritating. Former Cut beauty editor Ashley Weatherford swears by it. (It comes in a more potent pad form as well.)
$18 at Ulta Beauty
$15 at Dermstore
$15 at Target
The Most Gentle Exfoliator
TATCHA Rice Enzyme Powder
Type: Physical | Key ingredients: Japanese rice bran, complex of rice, green tea, algae, amino acids, AHAs | Best for: Large pores
This very gentle physical exfoliator from Tatcha comes in an easily transportable powder. Add a little water and the formula transforms into a milky lather with grains of soft Japanese rice bran. The grains are so delicate that you might wonder, Is this even working?, but the proof is in the aftermath, when your skin will feel soft and not at all tight. It’s also a favorite of Meghan Markle (she gave it to guests at her baby shower).
$68 at Sephora
$68 at Tatcha
$68 at Amazon
The Best Affordable Exfoliator
THE ORDINARY Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid tasmanian pepperberry | Best for: Oily and acne-prone skin
Trust the Ordinary — the minimalist, direct-to-consumer Everlane of skin care — to make exfoliation easy. This is made of straight-up glycolic acid, one of the smallest types of acid molecules, making it incredibly effective because it can penetrate the skin so well. It’s also wildly affordable.
$13 at Ulta Beauty
$13 at Deciem
The Best Exfoliating Serum
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Lemongrass, lactic acid, arnica | Best for: All skin types
This cult serum is another great chemical exfoliator, with almost 1,000 five-star reviews at Sephora. If you’re wondering what gives the product its yeasty smell, that would be lactic acid, the star ingredient. A potent acid that’s less irritating than glycolic acid, it’s derived from milk and comes with great humectant moisturizing properties.
$122 at Amazon
$122 at Nordstrom
$122 at Dermstore
$85 at Skinstore
$122 at Skinstore
$85 at Sephora
$85 at Sephora
$85 at Target
$43 at Saks Fifth Avenue
$122 at Anthropologie
$122 at Ulta Beauty
The Best Fast-Acting Exfoliating Cleanser
Glossier Cleanser Concentrate
Type: Chemical | Key ingredients: Grapes, amino acid surfactants, AHA blend | Best for: Oily skin
Fans of the Milky Jelly Cleanser will enjoy this deeper cleansing exfoliator. The key to making this blend of gentle exfoliators (lactic and malic acids) work is the 60-second rule. Not familiar? The concept popularized by aesthetician Nayamka Roberts-Smith is simple, cleanse your face for a full 60 seconds instead of your usual rush and rinse. In that time, the foamy cleanser works into a rich lather, buffing away dull skin and moisturizing.
$21 at Glossier
$21 at Sephora
Best Refillable Exfoliator
Humanrace Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator
Type: Chemical and physical | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, fruit AHAs, rice particles, pumpkin enzymes | Best for: All skin types
With the launch of his brand Humanrace, Pharrell Williams finally gave the people what they wanted: the secret to his ageless skin-care routine. As it turned out, one of his secrets was “exfoliating like a madman” and rinsing with cold water. The buzzed about Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator packs the power of 8 percent glycolic acid, AHAs derived from fruit, micro exfoliating rice particles and exfoliating enzyme. So you too can exfoliate like a star.
$46 at Humanrace
$46 at Goop
Our experts:
Lauren Adhav , 2024-03-04 20:50:00
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