Exfoliation is one of the most satisfying parts of a skin-care routine—it’s hard to beat the feeling of sloughing away dead skin with a body scrub and emerging from the shower slippery and smooth as a beluga whale. Getting those dead skin cells off your body does more than help with the texture of your skin as well. Dead skin actually hinders how well your body lotion works, because it acts as a barrier. Sloughing it off helps your moisturizers work better; it also helps manage keratosis pilaris, brighten skin, and unclog pores. Long story short, it’s a good idea to pick up one of these body exfoliators. There’s an assortment of scrubs and, if those aren’t your jam, there are some exfoliating moisturizers.
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1. Volition Turmeric Brightening Polish
Turmeric extract is one of the superstar ingredients in this face and body scrub. It contains a compound called curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can help nourish and brighten skin. Walnut shell powder and a blend of olive and sesame oils assist by whisking away dead skin cells and hydrating skin, respectively.
2. Necessaire The Body Exfoliator
Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid are a Powerpuff Girls-esque trio of chemical exfoliants that take on dry skin like it’s Mojo Jojo. The scrub also contains bamboo charcoal, which serves as a gentle physical exfoliant. It comes in two scented versions—sandalwood and eucalyptus—as well as an unscented version.
3. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Body Cream
Reveal smoother, brighter skin with this exfoliating body moisturizer. Watermelon seed butter and hyaluronic acid are deeply hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy, and hibiscus AHA serves as a gentle exfoliant.
4. First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA
Keratosis pilaris—AKA “KP” or “chicken skin”—is something that around 40 percent of adults deal with. If you’re dealing with those bumpy keratin plugs, try this top-rated body scrub. It uses a combo of glycolic and lactic acids with pumice buffing beads to loosen dead skin and slough it away while clearing out pores.
5. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel
Bacne and buttne don’t stand a chance against this powerful body peel, which contains a blend of AHAs and BHAs that help unclog pores and get rid of dead skin. The peel also contains aloe and squalane, which help keep skin hydrated and balanced. Plus, it comes in a convenient peel sheet that’s easy to swipe over your entire body.
6. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub
You can’t talk about Sol de Janeiro products without talking about their signature swoon-worthy scent, because wow does it live up to the hype. This scrub also contains crushed cupuaçu seeds and sugar that work in tandem to scrub away dull, dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and soft. Sugar is also a natural humectant, which helps keep skin hydrated.
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