Sure, using a body wash is one way to feel clean, but for me to reach squeaky levels, I need a body scrub that sloughs away the dirt, sweat, and city grime that inevitably builds up throughout the week. The best body scrubs and exfoliators also create a smoother base so that all of my potions absorb more easily and more deeply afterward. While there are mild exfoliators that can be used daily, I prefer to slot them into my routine a few times a week—usually on everything-shower Sundays or anytime I want that deeper, just-buffed feeling.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Scrubs
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A good body scrub should work with the rest of your routine, not against it. When you factor in skin concerns like dryness, keratosis pilaris, and eczema, the ideal exfoliator should slip seamlessly between your favorite body wash and lotion, revealing smooth, even-toned skin year-round. You might have heard that physical exfoliation is too harsh, but it truly comes down to the formula. Some scrubs with large, scratchy granules can cause micro-tears, yet there are plenty of well-designed options that are safe to use and leave the skin feeling refined rather than irritated. Many newer formulas even pair physical and chemical exfoliants, similar to what you might already rely on in your facial routine, for a more even and effective polish.
As board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, explains, body scrubs “help shed dead skin cells on the superficial layer of the skin to reveal a fresher and brighter base.” Certain formulas can even help clear congested pores, allowing your products to penetrate more deeply. “The best part? They work better with other products such as moisturizers to keep your skin baby-smooth and hydrated,” she says.
Below, we curated an edit of the best body scrubs to consider, all vetted by Vogue editors and dermatologists.
In This Story
- How to Incorporate Body Scrubs and Exfoliants
- What to Look for In a Body Scrub and Exfoliator
- What to Keep in Mind When Using a Body Scrub
- What is the difference between a body scrub and an exfoliator?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Nécessaire the Body Exfoliator
- Why We Love It: As one of the more renowned body scrubs in the market, Nécessaire’s option proves efficacious time and time again. The treatment pairs physical exfoliants like volcanic pumice and charcoal bamboo with chemical exfoliation from niacinamide to resurface the skin and help even skin tone. Dr. Spearman notes that this combination can also help treat ingrown hairs and rough bumps. “Although there are two mechanisms of exfoliation, which can be more irritating, this formula is gentle enough for regular use in the shower one to two times weekly. Overuse can lead to irritation, so care must be taken to avoid using it more than one to two times weekly.” And of course, its minimalist packaging screams “they know things!”
- Editor’s Experience: “My every-time recommendation when someone wants to try a good body scrub, Nécessaire’s formula is easy to love. I find that part of the draw to an exfoliating treatment is the accompanying scent, and these are spa-like and comforting. Excellent for an everything shower or skin maintenance.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Bamboo charcoal, glycolic acid, salicylic acid.
- Best For: Evening out rough skin texture with the help of physical and chemical exfoliators.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 180 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Offers both chemical and physical exfoliation | Charcoal and pumice particles can be too rough, the packaging is inconvenient |
| Hydrates without feeling tacky or leaving residue |
Best Body Bar: Soft Services Buffing Bar
- Why We Love It: Founded by Glossier alumni Annie Kreighbaum and Rebecca Zhou, Soft Services’s solutions-first formulas address skin-care concerns with gentle yet effective formulations. This buffing bar, a hero in its lineup, is infused with microcrystals meant to exfoliate dry, bumpy skin. Vogue’s senior shopping editor Talia Abbas is fond of the Green Banana version of the buffing bar, which she says works well on her keratosis pilaris, especially when used consistently and paired with a cold shower.
- Key Ingredients: Magnesium oxide, alumina, glycerin, shea butter
- Best For: Anyone looking to effectively treat keratosis pilaris (KP) and ingrown hairs.
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 3.3 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Mineral microcrystals sweep away dead skin buildup | May feel too abrasive for sensitive skin |
| Creates a smooth base for shaving |
Best Scent: Aesop Geranium Leaf Exfoliating Body Scrub
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- Why We Love It: If you’re in the market for a light, citrusy body scrub, might we suggest this geranium leaf and bergamot fruit oil formula from Aesop. One part status symbol and one part excellent physical exfoliant, it’s plant-based and uses ingredients like pumice and bamboo to gently buff away dead skin cells. While many people steer clear of physical scrubs, board-certified dermatologist Dara Spearman, MD assures us that “though this is a physical exfoliant, the smaller particle size and the formula prevent it from being overly harsh.” She recommends using it only one to two times per week and points out that those with fragrance sensitivities may want to tread lightly, as irritation can occur.
- Key Ingredients: Bamboo stem, pumice, geranium leaf
- Best For: Normal, dry skin
- Fragrance: Yes, citrus
- Size: 180 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Coarse-grain gel exfoliates the skin, luxurious feel and scent | The scrub intensity can overwhelm sensitive skin |
Best Drugstore: Dove Body Polish
- Why We Love It: Dove is always a reliable option—being both affordable and effective. This body polish comes in several variants, which makes it easy to find a scent and texture that suit your skin type. Depending on the formula, ingredients may include hydrated silica as the buffing agent or pomegranate seed powder for gentle exfoliation. “As with their cleansers, this formula is one quarter moisturizing cream, so it still allows for moisturization while exfoliating,” Dr. Spearman explains. The texture is not overly gritty the way some scrubs can be, but it contains enough exfoliating particles to deliver a noticeable effect. She notes that variants containing fragrance may require extra care, and those with sensitive skin may want to test it on a small area first.
- Key Ingredients: Pomegranate seed powder, shea butter
- Best For: All skin types
- Fragrance: Yes, fruity
- Size: 15 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating cream texture, gentle, non-gritty feel | Exfoliation is on the milder side |
Best Sugar Scrub: Josie Maran Argan Oil + Sugar Balm Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Josie Maran’s body scrub uses sugar granules, which are small and gentle to exfoliate skin. A blend of argan oil and shea butter work in tandem to moisturize, leaving you feeling baby-soft skin when you step out of the shower. Personally, the scent of vanilla helps me relax, which is much needed after a long workday. The Vanilla Vibezzz scent is a rich, gourmand fragrance balanced by warm amber, bergamot, and earthy cedar. There are two other scents available, plus a fragrance-free version, each available in travel-friendly and full-size offerings—the largest, 13.5-ounce vessel, is also refillable.
- Key Ingredients: Sugar granules, shea butter, argan oil
- Best For: Ideal for anyone looking for gentle exfoliation paired with a warm, soothing scent.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 2 oz, 6 oz, 13.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Deeply moisturizing, comes in a reusable container | Provides only gentle exfoliation, can leave an oily feel afterward |
Best Fragrance Free: Costa Brazil Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: As longtime Costa Brazil fans—it’s fragrance and body is one of our favorites—we’re thrilled its coffee-infused exfoliator is available once more. While it starts as a scrub, it transforms from a gel into a lightweight milk that glides smoothly across the body. Like all of the brand’s products, it’s formulated with some of Brazil’s finest ingredients—here, it’s packed with murumuru seeds, rich in vitamins A and C, and sweet almond oil, which deeply moisturizes the skin. It’s also fragrance-free, making it safe for all skin types, even the most sensitive.
- Key Ingredients: Green coffee oil, murumuru, hemisqualane, sweet almond oil
- Best For: A lightweight, fragrance-free exfoliator that leaves the skin feeling soft.
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 7.1 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gel-to-milk formula provides a luxurious exfoliation | Comes with a steeper price tag |
| Green coffee oil and almond oil deliver antioxidants and moisture |
Best Moisturizing Scrub: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Osea’s body scrub is designed to be an all-around sensorial experience beyond its fragrant appeal. Formulated with mineral-rich salts, wild gigartina seaweed, and shea butter, it naturally buffs away roughness to reveal silky, smooth skin. According to Dr. Spearman, this is a physical scrub that relies on a blend of mineral salts and shea butter to lift away dry, dead skin while leaving the surface moisturized from the shea butter itself. She does note that it contains lavender essential oil, which creates a beautiful scent but can be an issue for anyone with sensitive skin or sensitivity to fragrance.
- Key Ingredients: Gigartina seaweed, mineral salts, shea butter.
- Best For: Revealing silky-smooth skin.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 12 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Mineral salts leave skin polished and smooth, shea butter keeps skin hydrated post scrub | The finish can feel slightly oily once rinsed off |
Best for Keratosis Pilaris: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: The formula made rounds on TikTok last year, acclaimed for its ability to quell small bumps associated with keratosis pilaris on arms and legs (the latter is also referred to as “strawberry legs” sometimes). Dr. Idriss is a fan of First Aid Beauty’s scrub for its 10% AHA and urea, “a hydrating ingredient that also helps with exfoliation, as well as colloidal oatmeal for soothing properties.”
- Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, camellia extract, willow bark extract.
- Best For: Anyone dealing with KP—otherwise known as “strawberry skin.”
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 8 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Provides both chemical and physical exfoliation, helps reduce bumps on the skin | Can leave a slight residue behind |
Best Chemical Exfoliator: Youth To The People 10% AHA + Yerba Mate Smoothing Energy Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Unlike many body scrubs that require digging into a pot of gooeyness with wet hands, this easy-to-use scrub comes in a convenient squeeze bottle, allowing for effortless application in the shower. Packed with the holy trinity of gentle chemical exfoliants—lactic, glycolic, and mandelic acid—along with physical exfoliators (coffee), this body scrub guarantees results. “Despite the acids that can lead to dry skin, this formulation leaves a hydrating finish because of the jojoba oil and glycerin,” says Dr. Spearman. Plus, it boasts a delightful fragrance, Energy Shift, featuring notes of black pepper, ginger, and velvet woods that can perk you up in the morning. That’s that me, yerba mate.
- Editor’s Experience: “The packing of this, sleek and housed in a convenient tube, makes me want to keep it stocked in my shower at all times. its chemical and physical exfoliation blend gets my skin super-soft instantly after each use. Perfect to quickly buff and polish without dryness.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Yerba mate, lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, caffeine, olive seed powder, jojoba beads
- Best For: Suitable for KP and sensitive skin
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 237 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A sustainable formula, uses a 10% AHA blend to noticeably smooth the skin | Scrub can be quite gritty |
Best Dry Scrub: Pattern Dry Exfoliating Body Scrub
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- Why We Love It: Unlike many of the scrubs on this list, this option from Pattern is a true dry scrub, meant to be applied before your skin touches water. Dr. Spearman recommends using it one to two times a week to get the benefits of exfoliation without stressing the skin. “It is great for those who want exfoliation and hydration in one step,” she says, although the formula may be a bit intense for very sensitive skin. The base combines dead sea salt and magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) to gently lift away dead skin and dullness. It is balanced with a blend of coconut oil, Abyssinian seed oil, and sweet almond oil, which soften and hydrate. Vitamin E rounds out the formula and leaves the skin feeling smooth and luminous.
- Key Ingredients: Dead sea salt extracts, epson salt, coconut oil, mango seed butter, sweet almond oil
- Best For: Dry skin, uneven texture
- Fragrance: Yes, bergamot
- Size: 8 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gentle on the skin, both exfoliates and hydrates with sea salts and oils | May feel too abrasive for sensitive skin types |
Everything You Need to Know
How to Incorporate Body Scrubs and Exfoliants
When you consider adding one of these to your routine, it’s important to consider how they work with your pre-existing products. Idriss recommends using a scrub in the shower pre-cleanse. On the chemical exfoliant front, she notes it depends on the type. It’s best to stick to the product’s specific instructions, though serums and lotions will likely come into play post-shower—just as you would apply a moisturizer.
Just as you would for your face, avoid over-exfoliating. "[This] can dry out your skin, cause irritated or inflamed skin, and can even be itchy,” Dr. Idriss notes. “Not all skin is created equal, meaning not all skin will react positively to all products.” She advises spot-testing to see how your skin reacts. If you don’t experience any irritation, you can start working it into your routine two to four times a week, depending on your skin type.
“Depending on the type of body scrub or exfoliant you’re using, it is usually best to slather moisturizer onto the area that you applied the product to, as well as your whole body to help lock in moisture,” Dr. Idriss explains.
What to Look for in a Body Scrub and Exfoliator
Before deciding on a product, it’s important to understand your main skin concerns. For example, if you’re someone with visibly flaky skin, a scrub may be more beneficial. When dealing with dullness, a chemical exfoliant can help reveal naturally glowing skin. For those with hyperpigmentation, you’ll want to ensure ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide are blended in the formula. But regardless of what you choose, you’ll want to go with a product that nourishes while helping with cell turnover in order to avoid irritation. This could include ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, vitamin E, or rose water.
What to Keep in Mind When Using a Body Scrub
- Skin Type: For those with sensitive skin, board-certified dermatologist Marissa Garshick suggests opting for gentle physical exfoliants like polishing powders or scrubs containing small particles such as sugar. It’s important to avoid products with large, irregularly shaped granules, as these can exacerbate skin irritation. Dr. Garshick also notes that individuals with sensitive skin can benefit from scrubs containing gentle chemical exfoliants such as lactic acid. For those with skin conditions such as keratosis pilaris or eczema, Dr. Garshick recommends choosing scrubs specifically designed for these issues. These specialized scrubs often contain soothing and moisturizing ingredients in addition to exfoliating agents and are less likely to be harsh on the skin. “For example, those with keratosis pilaris may benefit from an exfoliant, but it should not be too abrasive, as that can lead to skin irritation,” she adds.
- Scent: While the scent of a body scrub can be soothing, it’s important to consider sensitivities. Dr. Garshick advises that if you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, opt for fragrance-free or naturally scented scrubs to minimize the risk of irritation. Alternatively, if you prefer a scented option, choose scrubs with essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus, which not only provide a relaxing aroma but also offer additional skin benefits.
- Type of Exfoliant: The type of exfoliant in a body scrub can significantly impact its effectiveness and suitability for your skin. Dr. Garshick explains that physical exfoliants like sugar or salt are effective for removing dead skin cells but can be too harsh for sensitive or damaged skin. On the other hand, chemical exfoliants, such as those containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), can provide a gentler exfoliation by dissolving dead skin cells, making them ideal for sensitive skin or those with conditions like KP. Either type can be massaged over rough patches to reveal radiant skin.
What is the difference between a body scrub and an exfoliator?
A body scrub may be considered a type of exfoliator, but there are also other options for removing dead skin cells. Dr. Garshick explains that a body scrub typically acts as a physical exfoliant, manually sloughing off dead skin when massaged onto the skin. These scrubs often include moisturizing ingredients like oils or butters, providing a dual-action treatment of exfoliation and hydration. Additionally, some body scrubs may contain chemical exfoliants. The term exfoliator encompasses both mechanical or physical and chemical means of exfoliation. Chemical exfoliators contain active ingredients that dissolve dead skin cells without the need for manual scrubbing. Dr. Garshick notes, “While body scrubs mainly provide exfoliation through physical action, exfoliators include a wider variety of products that achieve smooth skin through different techniques.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to body scrubs, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, packaging, and the body-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Shereene Idriss, MD is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.
- Marisa Garshick, MD is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.
- Dara Spearman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who specializes in melanoma and skin-cancer care.
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