TL;DR
The Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezz Argan Oil + Sugar Balm Refillable Exfoliating Body Scrub was our favorite, earning rave reviews for effectively exfoliating without ever feeling gritty or scratchy. On a budget? The affordable Tree Hut Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub is great for targeting rough patches and boasts an addicting scent, too.
We get it: Exfoliation is one of those skincare steps that can easily fall by the wayside. When it’s hard enough to remember to exfoliate your face regularly, paying attention to the skin below your chin and making body exfoliation happen can be really hard. But here’s the thing: the extra step can be a major game changer. Enter the beauty of a good body scrub. Like their facial counterparts, they rely on physical exfoliating particles (think sugar or jojoba beads) to scrub those dead skin cells. Body scrubs also help your moisturizer penetrate more deeply, notes Dr. Debra Jaliman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, making your skin feel oh-so smooth.
There are, quite literally, hundreds of body scrubs to choose from, so we decided to test 36 of the most popular options. We evaluated each on consistency, application, how effectively it exfoliated, and how our skin looked and felt after use. These 12 body scrubs outperformed the rest when all was said and done.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget:
Best for Dry Skin:
Best for Rough Skin:
Best Lathering:
Easiest Application:
Best for Bumps:
Best for Sensitive Skin:
What We Like
Distributes beautifully along skin
Non-gritty exfoliating particles
Pleasant scent
What to Consider
Nothing
Key Ingredients: Sugar, argan oil, shea butter | Size: 2, 6, 13.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Both namesake ingredients, argan oil and shea butter, really lived up to the hype here; the oil base was incredibly moisturizing and even buttery-feeling while using it and after the fact (so much so that our tester skipped applying any body lotion after the fact). Meanwhile, the sugar particles are super small and gentle, not in the least bit scratchy, though still totally effective at smoothing unwanted texture and leaving skin with a bit more glow, too. The icing on the cake? The scent, a gourmand combo of vanilla bean and juniper, was incredible.
Caitlyn Martyn, Byrdie associate commerce editor with oily skin: “I noticed a reduction in the texture of bumps on the back of my arms and I was able to get a smooth shave after.”
Best Budget
Tree Hut Tropic Glow Sugar Scrub
What We Like
Great price point
Exfoliates gently
Beachy scent
Leaves skin feeling very soft and smooth
What to Consider
Texture can be a little slippery
Can be challenging to scoop out of the tub
Key Ingredients: Cupuacu butter, sugar, shea butter, six-oil blend | Size: 18 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
We were big fans not only of the—very—affordable price point of this one, but also of how well it exfoliated. (It quickly became our tester’s go-to for self-tanning prep.) The scrub is sugar-based and slightly gritty but still fine enough that it’s not irritating. Plus, you can easily adjust the level of exfoliation based on how hard you scrub. Any rough spots felt noticeably smoother after. Our tester also appreciated the beachy scent. There were just a few minor drawbacks, namely, the texture can get a bit runny, and it’s in a jar which makes it challenging to scoop out while you’re in the shower.
Ashley, a tester with combination skin: “There is a big difference in how my skin feels after using this scrub—it’s so soft!”
Best for Ingrown Hairs
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
What We Like
Works for KP, bumps, and ingrown hairs
Fast-acting
A little goes a long way
What to Consider
Can get a bit messy
Key Ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids, bisabolol | Size: 2, 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Despite this product’s name, this was actually our fave pick for helping to ward off and treat ingrown hairs. It’s also super gentle and great for areas like the bikini line, where said ingrown tend to crop up. To that point, our sensitive-skinned tester experienced absolutely no irritation while using it. And, as the name suggests, it was also great at reducing those irksome KP bumps as well. Credit the fact that it relies on both pumice buffing beads for physical exfoliation and glycolic and lactic acids for chemical exfoliation. Just keep in mind that it can make your shower a little messy.
What We Like
Includes super hydrating ingredients
Softens the skin
Helps with hyperpigmentation
What to Consider
Packaging could contain more product
Key Ingredients: Bamboo powder, lactic acid, squalane | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
It’s totally understandable that exfoliating dry skin can feel counterintuitive. And yes, if you choose the wrong scrub, it can make things worse. But this is an ideal choice for those with dry skin, largely thanks to the addition of olive-derived squalane, a super hydrating, nourishing, anti-inflammatory ingredient. It relies on bamboo powder to exfoliate, which has a very fine texture that won’t irritate your skin.
We were super impressed both with how nicely it spread across the skin and how lovely it felt, more akin to a lotion than a scrub. The one negative? The jar doesn’t contain a ton of product, although a little bit does go a long way.
Best for Rough Skin
Nopalera Cactus Flower Exfoliant
What We Like
Smooths uneven texture
Gentle yet effective
Helps strawberry legs
What to Consider
Could be slightly creamier
Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, nopal, tangerine oil | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Those who gravitate towards scrubs because of the sensorial experience of, well, getting a good scrub will love this option. While it definitely felt grittier than some others, it still wasn’t overtly irritating, and our tester was thoroughly impressed with how well it buffed off rough patches. It left her skin feeling and looking softer and smoother. However, it’s not particularly hydrating, and because it isn’t super creamy, doesn’t really grip onto the skin particularly well and dissolves quickly when mixed with water.
Alyssa Kaplan, Byrdie associate commerce editor with combination skin: “I like that the scrub feels significant, in the sense that it’s not too gentle. You feel like you’re getting a good scrub.”
What We Like
Lathers on contact
Effectively buffs away roughness
Fresh scent
What to Consider
Can leave behind an oily residue
Key Ingredients: New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan salt, red Hawaiian sea salt | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Love to get a good lather in the shower? This pick, which relies solely on a handful of salts, oils, and butters, lathers up nicely when it comes in contact with water. That makes for not only an enjoyable experience, but also prevents the exfoliating salt particles (which are definitely on the chunkier side) from being too harsh or scratchy. Still, it’s a very effective exfoliant, great for addressing unwanted rough patches. We adored the feel and fresh scent, although it does tend to leave behind a slightly oily residue on the skin, even post-rinsing.
Easiest Application
Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Body Scrub
What We Like
Squeeze bottle is very convenient
Smells like fresh fruit
Dense texture
What to Consider
Can be a bit hard to squeeze out
Key Ingredients: Pomegranate enzyme, sugar crystals, squalane | Size: 6.76 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Between its grainy-yet-goopy (in the best sense) texture, squeeze bottle container, and fruity-fresh fragrance, there’s a lot to love about this scrub. It was incredibly easy to work across the skin, and while you can definitely tell it’s doing its exfoliating job, it’s still very moisturizing. Arguably one of our fave parts was that it’s housed in a squeeze bottle, a game changer when it comes to using it in the shower; the application is truly mess-free. It’s very easy to squeeze out, although the crystal in the formula can occasionally clog up the top if you don’t wipe it off occasionally.
What We Like
Smells like a beach vacation
Gentle enough for regular use
Great for targeting rough and dry patches
What to Consider
Yellow color has a tendency to stain tub
Key Ingredients: Sugar, coconut oil, panthenol | Size: 8.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Tropical, sweet, and akin to a coconut slushie—it was the scent of this scrub that had us totally hooked. It smells amazing not only in the shower but also lingers (in a good way) after the fact, too. And the exfoliating prowess was nothing to scoff at, with medium-sized sugar particles that effectively buffed off rough and dry patches. Still, it was creamy enough that it never felt drying. While it did leave behind some residue, it felt like that was an intentional part of the hydrating qualities. Just keep in mind that the yellow color of the scrub may stain your tub or shower if not rinsed off fully.
Shannon Stubbs, Byrdie commerce writer with combination skin: “The smell is what made me want to keep using the product every day. It smells so good I wish I could eat it! The smell gets even stronger while using it in the shower and lingers on my skin for a bit as well.”
What We Like
Contains very fine crystals to buffing
Easy-to-use solid bar format
Two soaps for the price of one
What to Consider
Should only be used a few times per week
Key Ingredients: Magnesium oxide, alumina, glycerin, shea butter | Size: 7.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Bar soap fans, this one’s for you. While this may look like an average bar soap, there are actually superfine, mineral-based microcrystals hidden inside. Wet the bar, then rub it onto your skin, and you’ll quickly feel the difference; we loved how well it helped banish annoying bumps on our elbows. It was nonirritating as well (and is fragrance-free also), although it does bear mentioning that it’s only meant to be used a few times per week. Also nice: One pack comes with two bars, although we did lament the fact that it didn’t come with any kind of storage tray or case.
Samantha, a tester with combination skin: “This scrub helped alleviate the fine bumps that I have on my elbows and made them feel smoother.”
Best for Sensitive Skin
Necessaire The Body Exfoliator
What We Like
Offers dual exfoliation that’s nonirritating
Three scent options
Chic packaging
What to Consider
Can be messy
Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, charcoal, pumice | Size: 6.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
We’re big fans of this scrub for a variety of reasons. Top on the list: The scrubby, although not overtly gritty texture, super sophisticated packaging, and the fact that it offers two different types of exfoliation. There’s charcoal and pumice for physical scrubbing alongside a trio of acids for some chemical exfoliation too. It’s still a great choice for sensitive skin as it’s not irritating at all. (If you do have sensitive skin, opt for the fragrance-free variant, although there are two scented choices as well.) It can be a bit runny and, as such, tends to get a little messier than we would like.
Best Gentle Exfoliation
Isle of Paradise Confidently Clear Body Polish
What We Like
Cream-to-foam formula
Very moisturizing
Helps with dryness and dull patches
What We Don’t Like
Leaves behind a residue
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid | Size: 7.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Despite the fact that this pick combines both chemical (glycolic acid) and mechanical (perlite, a mineral), our tester still found it surprisingly gentle on the skin. It wasn’t irritating or the least bit drying; rather, it effectively targeted dullness and rough patches and was incredibly moisturizing. The cream-to-foam formula takes about a minute to lather up, but once it does, spreads and applies beautifully. Some of the exfoliating particles do have a tendency to cling to the skin, even after rinsing, but that was the only downside.
Derek, a tester with combination skin: “Most body scrubs tend to leave my skin feeling stripped or dry, but my skin actually felt softer and more moisturized after using this one. Simultaneously, the formula was super gentle on my skin.”
What to Look For When Buying Body Scrubs
Body scrubs are an essential shower step to keep our skin smooth and supple. To determine which body scrub is right for your skin, we suggest considering the following factors.
- Ingredients: After you’ve checked for potential allergens in a product’s ingredient list, look for softening, hydrating, and nourishing ingredients such as shea butter and jojoba oil. These ingredients help keep the skin soft and supple; an important addition given that the scrubby and abrasive particles that do the exfoliating work can oftentimes be drying.
- Type of Scrubbing Particles: According to Dr. Jaliman, one of the main things to consider is the particular type of scrubbing particles in a scrub. Sugar-based options are more hydrating and less harsh, making them a good pick for those with sensitive skin. On the flip side, “Salt scrubs are good for those with very dry, rough skin who need deep exfoliation,” she explains. Other exfoliating particles worth mentioning are jojoba beads, which are typically gentler, as well as seeds, nuts, shells, and minerals, which tend to be slightly rougher.
- Scrubbing Particle Size: Size matters here. A good general rule of thumb: Fine particles are gentler on the skin, while larger-sized particles can be too abrasive on some skin types.
How We Tested Body Scrubs
Below are the features our team of editors and contributors evaluated over four weeks to determine our top picks.
- Consistency: While most shower scrubs are known for having a grittiness that you have to, well, scrub to get clean, we noted if the texture was also creamy or gel-like. We also observed which scrubs spread easily over our skin, as well as which ones maintained their consistency when exposed to water. Lastly, we took note of the size of each scrub’s exfoliating particles, as some were finer and gentler than others.
- Exfoliation: A key factor in our testing was how effective each scrub was in exfoliating our skin—arguably the most important quality of a body scrub. We evaluated which scrubs significantly reduced rough patches and which formulas were gentle enough for regular use (as opposed to the ones that felt too harsh).
- Application: No matter how effective a scrub on our testing list may have been, if it didn’t apply well it was a no from us. As such, we noted how easy each formula was to rinse off and if it left any residue behind. We also paid attention to any tingling, warming, or cooling sensations we experienced when using the scrubs.
- Skin Look & Feel: As the last step in our testing process, we observed whether our skin felt smooth, moisturized, or irritated after using each scrub. Those of us with skin issues (like uneven texture or dullness) also made sure to say if a scrub mitigated the problem.
FAQ
What do body scrubs do?
Body scrubs remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin softer, more and more radiant. In doing so, they also help any moisturizer you use after the fact penetrates better, says Dr. Jaliman.
How do you use a body scrub?
Dr. Jaliman suggests cleansing first, as this helps prep the skin for exfoliation. “Apply a generous amount of the scrub all over the body and gently rub it in a circular motion,” she recommends. “Rinse it off after a few minutes and towel-dry your skin. Then apply a moisturizer immediately after use.” As a general rule of thumb, aim to use a body scrub once or twice per week—less if your skin is very sensitive.
Are body scrubs safe for sensitive skin?
Yes, as long as you choose the right one. Dr. Jaliman says to look for gentle exfoliants in formulas that contain extra moisturizing ingredients. Steer clear of coarse, dry scrubs. And remember, less is more. Start by exfoliating weekly, gradually increasing the frequency if and when your skin can tolerate it.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She uses a body scrub at least once a week. The Necessaire product featured on this list is currently stashed in her shower (she prefers a squeeze tube), although she has tried many others on the list.
Caitlyn Martyn is an associate commerce editor at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty. An avid product tester, Caitlyn likes to try the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, and wellness to let readers know what’s worth it and what’s not. She has tried several body scrubs on this list from brands like Necessaire, Fresh, and Kopari.
In order to gain more insights about what to look for when buying a body scrub, contributors also consulted with Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist. She's an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai and the author of "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist."