I would say the end skincare goal for pretty much all of us is having a healthy, smooth, and glowing complexion. I’ll also be the first person to admit that I’ve spent a lot of time and money finding products that will help me achieve said glow. The way I see it, it’s an investment in myself and my health. My wallet may not love me for it, but it will pay off in the long run. The only hitch is that there are so many paths to “good” skin, and it all depends on your skin type. The products you use for your oily skin might not exactly work for your friend with dry skin. If there’s one skincare product we should all be investing in, though, it’s a good exfoliant.
Choosing the right exfoliant for you can be tricky, but you’ll want to focus on your particular skin’s needs. Exfoliating acts as a great way to help slough off dead skin cells, revealing smooth skin, and encouraging skin renewal. If you have oily, acne-prone, or combination skin, it might help to exfoliate more often. For sensitive and dry skin types, however, you might be better off limiting your usage to once a week or even less frequently. Bottom line: Everyone should keep an exfoliating product on hand, no matter their skin type. Even if you’re skeptical, keep reading. We’re sharing the best options you can snag at the drugstore along with some advice from board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD.
First, let’s talk about the difference between chemical and physical exfoliants. “Chemical exfoliants and physical exfoliants have similar goals: to remove surface skin cells,” says Nazarian. “But they use different mechanisms to that, and that’s what sets them apart from each other. Physical exfoliants use mechanical mechanisms to slough dead surface skin cells—’physically’ removing skin. This includes brushes, exfoliating beads, dermaplaning, etc. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, use ingredients that cause the loosening of bonds between skin cells, dissolving them to slough the cells off. The reasoning is similar: remove dead skin cells and enhance cell turnover to uncover newer, fresher, healthier skin cells, often leading to smoother, brighter skin. Thick layers of dead skin cells can accumulate on the skin, dulling its appearance and preventing all the good topicals from absorbing.”
The exfoliant you use should be tailored to your skin type. Nazarian says oily or combination skin types can better tolerate physical exfoliants. “Delicate skin, or people who have other underlying skin conditions such as acne or rosacea tend to do better with chemical exfoliants,” she says. That being said, you can certainly find versions of either that are good for your skin no matter who you are.”
Nazarian also recommends looking for an exfoliant that has hydrating ingredients that can help offset any potential irritation from exfoliating. “Another important consideration is the depth of skin you‘ll be removing when choosing your chemical exfoliants. Different ingredients can remove varying levels of skin. The ones that are most superficial (such as mandelic) are the most gentle. The deeper you exfoliate, such as with glycolic acid, the more aggressive the chemical peel.”
Be wary of over exfoliating, too. According to Nazarian, too much exfoliation will leave your skin red, tender, and hyper sensitive. If you don’t do it enough, however, your skin can become lackluster, rough, and dull. “If you remove the skin faster than it has time to accumulate, and ‘over-exfoliate,’ it’ll be very raw and sensitive,” she explains. “Take it slow and remember to use sunscreen often—removal of the top layers of cells leaves you more sensitive to sunlight, radiation, and burns.”
Pros: Gentle chemical exfoliant that contains 2% salicylic acid, works great for most skin types, doesn’t dry out skin, clears clogged pores fast. Cons: Not available at your local drugstore. Although this chemical exfoliant isn’t exactly available at your local CVS, it’s still pretty well-priced for a high quality BHA product. My skin is usually very sensitive to high concentrations of salicylic acid, but this one is a really gentle formulation and works incredibly well. The Who What Wear beauty team regularly talks about how good this product is and how fast it works to help smooth out your skin tone and unclogs pores. It can also be used up to twice a day and doesn’t dry your skin out. Customer Review: “I cannot believe how quickly this exfoliator cleared up and soothed my angry, persistent hormonal chin acne, I am absolutely floored!…I saw this exfoliator on the page of another product on Amazon that I was looking at and noticed the crazy amount of reviews, and that the overall score was 4.5. Surely there was something about this that could help me, and man….I wish so badly I would have found it sooner! The horrific breakout on my chin that I had been battling for 5 months, is now COMPLETELY cleared in just 6 DAYS of using it morning and night! I just look in the mirror every morning seeing more improvement, and I’m floored. The fact that it doesn’t sting, and feels soothing on the skin is just crazy…”
Pros: Contains fine granules with chamomile oil and olive oil to exfoliate and calm skin, helps the skin maintain healthy barrier function, can be used on the body. Cons: Formula is really thick. “A great physical exfoliant is the Acure Brightening Facial Scrub. The mix of fine physical granules with chamomile oil and olive oil calm and maintain a healthy skin barrier. Although it’s a facial exfoliant, it works beautifully on the body as well.” — Nazarian. Customer Review: “I enjoy a good face exfoliation when I notice I need one. I don’t use it daily so it does not dry my already dry skin up. I enjoy that it does not burn (during or after) when I use it. I rinse well in the shower or else it leaves little residue pieces and then I always use moisturizer well afterwards.”
Pros: Great for combination, oily, and sensitive skin, contains micro-fine particles that won’t irritate skin, conditioners and vitamins help mitigate irritation. Cons: Contains fragrance. With superfine granules, this scrub works well for sensitive skin types. It’s formulated with skin conditioners and vitamins to nourish and soften skin as well. Customer Review: “This product is great if you like to use an exfoliant on your face or body everyday. It doesn’t irritate the skin. It smells good [and it’s] not too strong either. It’s a great daily face scrub, I use it everyday [or] sometimes I do every other day.”
Pros: Contains gentle retinol alternative bakuchiol to help renew the skin, vitamin E hydrates the skin, nutrient-rich botanicals nourish dryness. Cons: Strong smell. If stronger actives like retinol irritate your skin or cause dryness, this cleanser might give you the same benefits without any problems. It’s formulated with bakuchiol, which is a gentler, natural alternative to retinol. The cleanser will smooth wrinkles and hydrate (thanks to vitamin E). Customer Review: “I have used Burt’s Bees products in the past, mostly chapstick. I thought I would try the facial cleanser because I just ran out of the one I had and wanted to try something new. I am so glad I got this one because it actually feels like it is moisturizing my face while cleansing it. Most of the time my face is dry after using a cleanser but not with this one. The bottle is also bigger than I thought which was a plus! Its smell was subtle and you could tell they used natural ingredients instead of adding a fragrance which isn’t the best for the face. I highly recommend this product and tell others about it because people are missing out.”
Pros: Contains a blend of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and natural antibiotics to help clear skin, castor oil helps hydrate. Cons: May be too strong for some. Formulated for acne-prone skin, this toner can be used to unclog and tighten pores. It contains salicylic acid, natural antibiotics, and glycolic acid to help keep skin clear and looking fresh. . Customer Review: “Keeps my skin clear and fresh . Part of my regimen.”
Pros: Micro-beads, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid clear out excess oil, speeds up the elimination of impurities, soothes and repairs with laminaria and vitamin E. Cons: May be too strong for those with sensitive, oily skin. When you use Bioderma Sebium Exfoliating Gel, you help keep your complexion free of blemishes while soothing oily and acne-prone skin. Combining potent glycolic and salicylic acid, this exfoliating gel effectively lessens breakouts and controls excess oil on the surface of the skin. Customer Review: “I love this product. It is gentle, effective and has a lovely clean scent. It cleanses and exfoliates but isn’t harsh. I use this almost everyday. It does not cause redness.”
Pros: Fragrance-free, contains a high concentration of glycolic acid to exfoliate skin on the body. Cons: May be too strong for those with extra sensitive skin. “Glytone’s Exfoliating Body Wash is another option for body exfoliation that uses glycolic acid—a good ingredient for the body that can often tolerate stronger ingredients.” Customer Review: “…I love this stuff. It works, doesn’t have a smell that offends, and lathers up really well. It also keeps my skin so that I can keep an eye on skin cancer growths or changes. I use it on my face and body and have been using it since it first came out (mid nineties). It works.”
This scrub not only works to unclog pores and slough off dead skin cells, but it also has acne-fighting benefits, courtesy of salicylic acid. And because it clears out dirt and oil, it can prevent future breakouts.
This exfoliating scrub is gentle enough for everyday use because it has moisturizing soy extract, jojoba, and castor oils. It’s also noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.
CeraVe’s cleanser is a great option for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It’s formulated with salicylic acid to exfoliate and hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin D to smooth and hydrate the skin.
This Versed exfoliant detoxes pores and gently buffs away dead skin cells with superfine microcrystalline, a plant-based, biodegradable alternative to microbeads and a rich blend of black currant and raspberry leaf extract. It’s gentle on sensitive, dry, or breakout-prone skin, making it a great option for most skin types.
