The Best Body Exfoliators for Rough, Dry Skin

If your shower is only filled with your standard body washes and bar soaps, trust us—you’re missing out. That’s because there’s a whole wide world of exfoliating products that can help you on your journey to softer, smoother skin, especially right now when dry skin is borderline non-negotiable.

As we’ve learned from experts like aesthetician Sofie Pavitt, exfoliation is crucial, since “dead skin can accumulate on the surface, which can lead to the skin feeling dry, dull, and tired,” she explains. “When we slough off that dry skin, it not only improves the texture, fine lines, and overall illumination, but also increases the ability for your products to penetrate on a deeper level.” This is true for your face, so why shouldn’t we be paying the same level of attention and care to the rest of our body?

You know that feeling right after you shave your legs and slather on some lotion? That sinfully soft skin is courtesy of the manual exfoliation from the blade. Now consider that feeling for your arms, back, chest, and everywhere in between—that’s where body exfoliators come in. Whether you prefer the satisfaction of a physical scrub or you’re partial to the highly effective chemical options, like AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs, there’s an option out there for you to help combat dry, dull, or bumpy skin. And considering our bath and shower rituals are a source of much-needed relaxation these days, anything that can help make the experience more luxurious is just fine by us.

PHYSICAL VS CHEMICAL

Physical exfoliators are your scrub options, which can use anything from sugar and salt to nut and fruit powders to gently buff away rough patches and reveal softer, smoother skin below. If you’re partial to baths, this is our preferred option, as all the nourishing ingredients will easily dissolve without causing undue irritation (think UTI or yeast infection… eek). And if you love the satisfaction of a manual scrub, these options are right up your alley.

You can also exfoliate with chemical ingredients like the aforementioned acids, like glycolic, lactic, as well as fruit enzymes. These all work to dissolve the keratin protein bonds that hold dead skin cells together (and can therefore cause rough, uneven texture). Breaking these bonds removes those cells from the skin’s surface, so that you’re left with soft, glowing skin. Many chemical options on the market these days also contain one or two physical ingredients for extra exfoliating benefits.

Curious to try out a body exfoliator for yourself? Check our nine of our current favorites—and don’t forget to follow up with a moisturizing lotion or cream for best results.