The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (2024)

The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (1)

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You know the saying: Skincare is a marathon, not a sprint. But, there’s still something incredible about seeing near-instant results. The single most rewarding step in my (admittedly thorough) skincare routine is exfoliating. Will you go to bed with a face full of blemishes and wake up looking like an Instagram filter? Of course, not. But while you’re waiting for the long-term benefits to come home to roost, your skin will start to look glowing, radiant, and healthier.

You've got two routes when it comes to exfoliators. Physical exfoliators will use tiny grains or granules to rid the surface of dead skin. Chemical exfoliators, on the other hand, rely on face acids to remove dirt and oils. I’m a chemical exfoliator kind of girl, but even using a gentle scrub from time to time makes me suddenly want to take too many makeup-less selfies. And the truth is, finding any facial exfoliator is hard, and trial-and-error can include unwanted steps like redness, irritation, and a damaged skin barrier. So take the guesswork out of your skincare routine, and here, find the 15 best face exfoliators that treat everything from breakouts, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, and fine lines.

1

Best For All Skin Types

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting % BHA Liquid Exfoliant

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (9)Quick results
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (10)Can leave residue on skin

Enlarged pores? Breakouts? Dullness? If you want an all-in-one skincare exfoliator that works for every skin type (yes, even yours) this product is an excellent choice. Not only does it gently exfoliate your skin without any scrubbing, but it’s also gentle enough for sensitive skin, and hydrates to boot.

Key ingredient: salicylic acid

2

Best For Professional Results

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (12)Very effective
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (13)Not suited for very sensitive skin

If you want the glow that normally only comes from a facialist’s office, give this dupe a try. It’s an intense experience, so proceed cautiously–but when applied correctly, the effects are glowing, smooth, acne-free skin.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid

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3

Best Gentle Scrub

Tatcha The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (15)Softens skin
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (16)Pricey

If you love the feeling of scrubbing away dead skin cells, swap out your abrasive scrub for this gentler version. It comes as a powder, but when you add a few drops of water, it transforms into a deep cleanser that leaves the skin feeling silky soft.

Key ingredients: rice bran and lactic acid

Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (18)Gentle
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (19)Takes time to see results

People with sensitive skin can be justifiably wary of using chemical exfoliators, but this toner was made to be gentle. It exfoliates the skin, while giving it plenty of moisture and antioxidants. You won’t feel even the slightest tingle, but notice how pores, blemishes, and dullness fade away with time.

Key ingredients: mandelic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone

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5

Best For Pores

Shani Darden Skin Care Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (21)Softens skin
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (22)Pricey

Basically a facial in a bottle, this serum targets enlarged pores, acne, and hyperpigmentation, without irritating the skin. In addition to its chemical exfoliators, this serum also uses a slew of soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, green tea, and aloe vera to treat redness.

Key ingredients: lactic acid and gluconolactone

6

Best For Hyperpigmentation

Krave Beauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (24)Quick results
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (25)Can leave skin feeling tight

For smooth skin that’s free of dark spots, this toning liquid makes a huge difference in not much time. Instead of wrecking your skin barrier with too-powerful acids, this brand believes in calming your skin and treating hyperpigmentation, without adding stressors.

Key ingredient: glycolic acid

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7

Best Scrub For Sensitive Skin

La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Scrub

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (27)Gentle
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (28)Small amount of product

We’ve all heard horror stories of scrubs that wreak havoc on sensitive skin. This is the alternative: a gentle, incredibly fine cleanser that was created for sensitive skin in mind. No more micro-tears, only soft, fresh skin.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, antioxidants

8

Best For Scars

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (30)Good for traveling
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (31)Pricey

Intense results await with help from this packet of exfoliator-soaked towelettes. In this two-step system, the skin is given a dose of chemical exfoliators, and then followed up with a soothing pad that stops the acid process and leaves the skin feeling calm. It’s a great choice for anyone who’s looking to treat scars, fine lines, or persistent acne.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid

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9

Best Daily Scrub

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (33)Gentle
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (34)Pricey

Normally, it’s recommended to only use a physical exfoliator once or twice a week, but this version was created to be gentle enough for daily use. The beads are incredibly small and non-irritating, making it a great cleanser for sensitive skin that needs a little help treating blackheads, oiliness, or dullness.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid and phytic acid

10

Best For Oily Skin

Bioderma Exfoliating Facial Gel

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (36)Unclogs pores
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (37)Not suited for very dry skin

When skin overproduces oil, it can lead to clogged pores, blackheads, and white heads. This cleanser gently exfoliates the skin, allowing pores to stay clear and cleansed. It can be used a few times a week, and promises to not increase skin sensitivity.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid and salicylic acid

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11

Best For Glowing Skin

REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (39)Quick results
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (40)May not be suited for very sensitive skin

Glowing skin can be hard to achieve, but this toner uses chemical exfoliants to make your skin beam like you’re wearing the world's best highlighter. If you’ve ever wanted to go makeup-free and still had that radiance, this toner can get you there.

Key ingredients: lactic acid and azelaic acid

12

Best For Fine Lines

Dr. Brandt Skincare microdermabrasion age defying exfoliator

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (42)Softens skin
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (43)Pricey

For fine lines, texture, and clogged pores, this product uses a mix of chemical and physical exfoliators to give the skin some radiance and smoothness again. It also contains jojoba oil and aloe vera to soothe the skin and add a boost of moisture. It’s best used sporadically as a treatment to avoid over-exfoliating the skin.

Key ingredient: lactic acid

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13

Best For Acne

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (45)Afforrdable
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (46)Must be applied multiple times a day

Instead of the spot treatments of ye olde days, which mostly dried out the skin, this product actually treats blemishes. Applied a few times a day, oil is controlled, the skin is exfoliated, and any gunk is exposed and absorbed. The best part is, you can wear this underneath makeup, so your plans can continue uninterrupted.

Key ingredients: succinic acid and salicylic acid

14

Best For Smooth Skin

Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (48)Smooths skin
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (49)Not suited for very sensitive skin

Every now and then, a good scrubbing session is called for. There’s a ton of product in this tube, so when used a once a week, it’ll last quite a while. The effects are instantaneous: smooth, clear skin that glows.

Key ingredient: soy extract

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15

Best For Blackheads

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment

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Pros
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (51)Quick results
Cons
  • The 15 Best Face Exfoliators For Clear and Soft Skin (52)Pricey

This intense wash-off treatment uses a combination of physical and chemical exfoliators to banish blackheads, unclog pores, and reveal glowing skin. Simply apply, massage into the skin, and wash off after two minutes. To avoid any sensitivity, this product also contains aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E to calm the skin.

Key ingredients: lactic acid and salicylic acid

16

Meet The Experts

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Desiree Stordahl, Director of Applied Research & Education at Paula's Choice

Dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal

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17

FAQs

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Why is it important to exfoliate your face?

“When we’re young, skin is able to shed effectively on its own without any help,” says Stordahl. “The problem is this natural shedding process slows down and becomes faulty over time due to the toll sun damage and other stressors take on skin.” Dr. Lal adds, "Exfoliation helps skin cells turn over faster. It also helps your products get into your skin more efficiently.”

“One of the most obvious benefits you’ll notice right away is how soft and smooth skin feels,” says Stordahl. “You will also notice skin’s naturally healthy glow comes through more radiantly as the dead layer sloughs away. Chemical exfoliation can even help wrinkles look less exaggerated due to the removal of built-up dead cells. If you’ve experienced any amount of sun damage (which let’s be honest, we all have) you’ll see a visible difference in skin’s overall tone and youthful appearance.”

What kind of exfoliants do you recommend?

“I am a fan of both chemical and physical exfoliants for the face,” says Dr. Lal. “There is a risk of damaging the skin with physical exfoliants if you are extremely aggressive, which is why most dermatologists recommend chemical exfoliants for the face. However, most popular facial exfoliating scrubs often have both physical and chemical exfoliants.”

“Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and polyhydroxy acid (PHA) chemical exfoliants can also hydrate skin while they work their exfoliating magic on skin’s surface, which is a unique advantage,” says Stordahl. “Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliants have the added benefit of penetrating the pore, where they can de-clog congestion and help reduce breakouts and blackheads.”

Can people with sensitive skin use exfoliators?

“People with sensitive skin can absolutely exfoliate—it’s all about finding the right formula,” says Stordahl. “BHA (commonly known as salicylic acid) is the preferred exfoliant for sensitive skin due to its inherent anti-inflammatory properties, which helps calm redness and soothes signs of compromised skin. Those with sensitive skin can experiment with up to 2% concentrations and should start out by introducing it slowly. Make sure the formula is free of unnecessary irritants like added fragrance, SD/denatured alcohol, and menthol—that’s sound advice for anyone, not just those with sensitive skin.”

For people with extremely sensitive skin, try avoiding aggressive scrubs, says Dr. Lal. “I want to maintain the skin barrier, not disrupt it.”

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Tatjana Freund

Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor

Tatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.

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