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While exfoliating your face and body is key to getting rid of the build-up of dead skin cells, dirt, and grime, it is especially important this time of year as exfoliators are also filled with ingredients that can help hydrate and moisturize your skin as well.
Regular exfoliation can help with a myriad of skin issues including the reduction of acne and acne scarring, removal of blackheads, keeping dry or damaged skin at bay, reducing pore size, and minimizing the look of stretch marks and dark circles.
If you haven’t yet incorporated an exfoliator into your life, now is the time. Below are some great selling exfoliators of 2024 that will give you a coveted youthful glow in no time. Most of these gentle exfoliators can work wonders for both face and body, and include unique ingredients such as stem cells, collagen, and manuka honey.
Great Selling Exfoliator Models of 2024 in Detail
MAJESTIC PURE Body Scrub — Best Overall
The MAJESTIC PURE Body Scrub is a bright and refreshing body scrub that is perfect for exfoliating, moisturizing, and nourishing your skin. It is made in the U.S., vegan friendly, and never tested on animals. This body scrub provides all the nourishing ingredients you need, such as sweet orange oil, dead sea salt, organic aloe vera juice, and coconut oil.
The scrub is designed to be gentle yet effective when it comes to removing dead skin cells and exposing your skin to enriching minerals and nutrients. The dead sea salt helps to soften the skin while the sweet orange oil has antiseptic properties that provide deep cleaning action. Organic aloe vera juice works to restore moisture in the skin while coconut oil acts as a natural emollient to help prevent dryness, making this the best overall product on the list.
Pros
- Cruelty free
- Uses natural ingredients
- Smells great
Cons
- Can be slippery in bath or shower
Era Organics Scrub — Most Hydrating
This scrub is an all-over anti-aging scrub and rejuvenating mask in one. It works to gently loosen dirt, grime, and dead skin while nourishing your cells leaving only healthy, beautiful skin behind. With a blend of natural and organic ingredients including deeply healing aloe vera, mineral-rich manuka honey, and naturally exfoliating walnut shell, this face scrub will have your skin looking like you just stepped out of a spa.
Pros
- This face scrub can also be used as a leave-on face mask to balance skin tone, and reduce fine lines and age spots
Cons
- Due to the natural and organically sourced ingredients, each batch of products may vary in scent and color
Aveeno Positively Radiant Scrub — Most Exfoliating
This scrub uses naturally derived granules to gently exfoliate and cleanse the skin. Known for its unique moisture-rich soy extract that is included in many of its products, this daily-friendly scrub works to even skin tone and texture for more radiant and healthy-looking skin. Also included are jojoba and castor oils to soften and even out the skin while being soap and oil-free. Gentle enough for daily use, this scrub can be used as a cleanser and exfoliator in one or can be used as your exfoliator prior to cleansing with your favorite face wash.
Pros
- This scrub works on all skin types including sensitive skin
Cons
- This is not a 100% natural product
Neutrogena Microdermabrasion — Honorable Mention
If gadgets and/or facial tools are your jam, then another exfoliation option is this system. This complete system is made for at-home use and is designed to provide the same results at home as any microdermabrasion treatment from a dermatologist’s office. Included in this kit are a microdermabrasion applicator, a one-month supply of rejuvenating puffs, and an attachment head. Each puff is pre-dosed with ultra-fine crystals and purifiers for the perfect degree of gentle exfoliation and when paired with the massaging micro-vibrations, will boost cell turnover for firmer, younger-looking skin.
Pros
- Using three times per week will provide noticeable and measurable results
Cons
- You may experience some redness after use
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub — Most Convenient
This sugar scrub is a gentle exfoliator that packs an amazing moisturization punch. Infused with certified shea butter and an array of natural oils and skin conditioners including evening primrose, safflower seed, sweet almond, avocado, and orange, you will not only reap the intense moisturization benefits but can expect amazing hydration that will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Available in a wide array of scents, the Manago Puree is our fave and will give you a nice aromatherapy experience to boot.
Pros
- Tree Hut products are paraben and chemical-free
Cons
- This scrub is ideal for the body as it may be too oily for the face
Skinfood Black Sugar Mask — Also Consider
This mask is an exfoliating and hydrating mask featuring Brazilian black sugar granules. These granules are rich in vitamins and minerals and work to restore nutrients and moisture back into the skin. With their grainy texture, the black sugar is ideal for scrubbing away dead skin cells to help brighten the skin while their moisturizing qualities will hydrate your skin for a complete rejuvenation package. Use Black Sugar as a luxe face mask and leave it on for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water or simply use it as the first step in your skincare routine to gently exfoliate and follow up with your favorite facial cleanser.
Pros
- This product can be mixed with water or toner if necessary to help reduce any skin irritation
Cons
- As with all exfoliating products, use a light hand when applying
Buyer’s Guide: Selling Exfoliators
How to Choose the Right Face Exfoliator for Yourself
The key to choosing the right exfoliator for yourself is to understand what your skin needs. Here are some factors to watch out for:
Skin type
Each skin type has its own requirements. Individuals with dry skin do not get good results with stripping cleansers. Similarly, oily skin hates moisture-promoting skin products. That's why you have to have a better understanding of your skin type in order to select the right products for it. If you have dry skin, you should invest in moisture-retaining products like hyaluronic acid. It absorbs moisture from the surface and plumps the skin. Likewise, people with oily skin prefer stripping exfoliators that help reduce oil production in the pores.
Type of exfoliator
There are two types of exfoliators - chemical and physical. As the name suggests, physical exfoliators remove dead cells and debris using physical properties. These contain ingredients like powders and beads that remove dead particles from the skin as you scrub one over your face. They take away the dead cells revealing the smooth, healthy, and glowing skin underneath.
Chemical exfoliators, on the other hand, are produced with bond-breaking compounds. In simple words, these exfoliators separate healthy skin from dead cells using chemical substances. They break the bond between the two and scrub away the dead skin as you wash your face.
You should carefully assess both types and choose the one that suits your skin the best.
Oil-soluble or water-soluble
Skin exfoliators can further be classified as water-soluble and oil-soluble ones. As the name indicates, water-soluble exfoliators dissolve water particles while leaving behind oils. Similarly, oil-soluble ones get rid of oils and wash them away.
So naturally, an oil-soluble exfoliator is a good option for oily skin. It dissolves the excess oils and leaves behind smooth and clean skin. Whereas a water-soluble exfoliator works amazingly for individuals with dry skin. It cleans the skin without stripping its natural oils.
You should understand what your skin requires and choose an exfoliator accordingly.
Do's and Don'ts of Exfoliating
Exfoliating is an essential step if you want to achieve baby-like skin. However, there are some do's and don'ts of exfoliating that you should know about. Have a look!
For dry skin
If you have dry skin you should avoid alcoholic products because it further strips your skin of natural oils. Look for an exfoliator with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, ceramic, and coconut oil that exfoliate and moisturize your skin to keep it healthy. It's also a great idea to exfoliate once or twice a week and follow it up with a large quantity of moisturizer.
For oily skin
Oily skin is more tolerant to exfoliating than dry skin, hence you can safely exfoliate it up to five times a week. However, be sure not to overdo it and apply some moisturizer after exfoliation as Look for products with high alpha or beta acid, and salicylic or glycolic acid content.
For normal skin
Normal skin can tolerate exfoliation two to three times a week and it has the most options. You can exfoliate physically with a brush or washcloth, or even try natural products like granular sugar and walnut shells. Try them out and see how your skin reacts.
For combination skin
Combination skin has oily T-zone and dry cheeks hence most of the exfoliation should be directed towards the T-zone area. After exfoliation applies moisturizer focusing on the dryer parts of your face to even out the effect.
DIY Easy-to-Make Exfoliator Recipes
If you are uncertain about using chemical-based products on your skin, here are some recipes for DIY natural exfoliators:
Coffee scrub
A study conducted in 2011 found that caffeine helps diminish the appearance of cellulite. That's why coffee is a popular component in many scrub recipes. The tiny granules gently remove the dead skin plus its irresistible aroma.
You can make your own coffee scrub by combining half a cup of coffee grounds with 2 tablespoons of hot water. Add one tablespoon of warmed coconut oil. Mix thoroughly. Add more coffee or oil to obtain the right consistency.
Brown sugar scrub
Brown sugar is an affordable product that is great for skin exfoliation. To make its scrub, mix half cup brown sugar in half cup oil (coconut, jojoba, almond, etc.). Mix thoroughly. Add more to get the consistency right. You can also mix in your favorite essential oil for fragrance.
Green tea sugar scrub
Green tea is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For making green tea scrub take two tea bags to hot water and let them steep until cool. Mix the tea into the brown sugar scrub we discussed above. If the scrub is too crumbly, add more oil. If too soggy, add more sugar. Keep mixing until reaching the desired consistency.
Conclusion
Skin exfoliation keeps your face looking fresh and glowy. The best-selling exfoliators remove the dead skin from your face revealing the new and healthy skin underneath. We rounded up the top skin exfoliators in 2022 and also provided a buying guide to help you make the right choice. Use this guide to assess the recommended products and choose the one that suits your skin the best.
