Would you like a brighter complexion? Then try one of the best exfoliators and scrubs for dry skin. Once you leave your 20s behind, your cellular turnover slows down. The result is drier, dull skin. But exfoliating by chemical or mechanical means will make your face more radiant.
Removing the dead skin makes it easier for serums and moisturizers to do their job. And if you use an alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic or lactic acid, they are humectants that attract water. That’s helpful for dry skin. (Meanwhile, beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid are best for oily skin.)
How often should you exfoliate? At most, twice a week. We understand that you’re anxious to get your skin in top condition. In this case, though, slow and steady wins the race.
Following are the top scrubs and exfoliators for dry skin. We hope our reviews help you get your shopping done today.
Best Exfoliators & Scrubs for Dry Skin (2024 Update)
Bliss Micro Magic | Skin-renewing Microdermabrasion Scrub
Pamper yourself with Bliss’s spa-like microdermabrasion scrub. Users say the mild tingling sensation and soft fragrance make it a relaxing experience. It contains tiny particles of volcanic pumice to resurface your face. At the same time, aloe soothes and moisturizes while peppermint refreshes.
Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
If you must scrub each day, try this gentle cleanser. Clarins includes microbeads made of organic cellulose. They are biodegradable, not harmful to the environment. They also take it easy on your skin. This cleanser removes dead cells as well as dirt and makeup.
St. Ives Gentle Smoothing Face Scrub and Mask, Oatmeal
St. Ives blends oatmeal with walnut shell powder, silica, and honey to make this scrub. Therefore, it’s exceptionally kind to dry skin. It’s also free of oils and parabens. They recommend leaving it on for up to seven minutes 3 to 4 times a week.
Borghese Intensive Age Defying Exfoliator
Founded by a princess, the Borghese company offers this Italian spa-inspired product. It’s a foaming scrub that unclogs pores to clear up blackheads. Unlike some exfoliators, this one reduces redness and adds hydration.
LIERAC Gentle Exfoliator
The French laboratory behind LIERAC’s Exfoliator has been developing skincare solutions for over four decades. The secret to this product’s success is a blend of natural ingredients with scientific solutions. It has linseed flower and white clay to remove impurities. Meanwhile, microspheres speed up cell turnover. Finally, jojoba esters and mallow extract ensure that your skin ends up firmer and more elastic.
La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Face Scrub for Sensitive Skin
La Roche-Posay’s pH-balanced scrub relies on minuscule particles of pumice. The texture is milder than a classic apricot or walnut scrub. Moreover, it contains no drying alcohols, soap, or parabens.
Face Wash by Olay, Total Effects Citrus Facial Cleanser and Scrub
Olay’s Total Effects scrub is recommended for all skin types and said to be mild enough to use twice a day. Users who identify themselves as having dry skin say that they like how it doesn’t leave their face tight. Others report that they feel oilier after using it. Olay points out that regular use reduces fine lines and pores.
Clarisonic Mia Prima Sonic Cleansing Face Brush
Clarisonic’s sonic cleansing brush comes highly recommended by spas and dermatologists. It doesn’t tear at your skin or rotate. Instead, it moves back-and-forth to suction up dead skin cells, dirt, and impurities from your pores. Since it’s waterproof, you can enjoy it in the shower.
Vivo Per Lei Matcha Body Scrub – Healthy Green Tea Body Exfoliator
Care for your body as well as your face. This scrub uses green tea, a time-tested remedy for aging. Plus, it detoxifies your skin with grapefruit. You may also find that you enjoy their Devotion Scrub with Dead Sea salt. Unlike regular table salt that sucks up moisture, mineral salt from the Dead Sea hydrates.
Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator
Here’s another exfoliator with a grainy texture due to pumice and wax beads. Some customers say that it’s the least scratchy, most gentle scrub they’ve ever tried.
DRMTLGY Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub and Face Mask
DRMTLGY tackles a variety of problems with this product. First, it serves as either a scrub or a face mask depending on how long you wear it. Second, it clears up blackheads and shrinks pores, which is a big bonus if you have an oily T-zone. And third, regular use will reduce acne scars and other kinds of discoloration. The main ingredients include glycolic acid, fruit extracts, and green tea.
ArtNaturals Himalayan Salt Body Scrub
The Himalayan Salt Body Scrub is packed with minerals and nutrients. Not only will you feel the tingle as it speeds up circulation and removes dull skin, but it also lifts away toxins. Again, this isn’t the kind of salt that causes dryness. Instead, the scrub softens and smoothes your body with argan, sweet almond, and jojoba oils.
St. Ives Exfoliate & Nourish Facial Oil Scrub, Coconut
St. Ives added coconut oil to make this scrub highly desirable for dry skin. The abrasive particles are made from coconut shell powder. And the creamy texture is full of fatty acids and vitamins to keep your face supple and young.
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub, Tropical Mango
The Tree Hut Sugar Scrub features an excellent ingredient that restores dry skin to health. It’s organic shea butter, one of the best moisturizers available. But that’s not all. There are so many natural emollients and extracts in the formula that it seems more like a face lotion than an exfoliator.
One of the highlights includes mango purée which is rich in antioxidants and vitamins to prevent wrinkles. Next, macadamia seed and safflower seed oils lock in moisture. Then, avocado oil diminishes dark spots while orange oil repairs damaged skin.
Acure Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub
Acure’s Brilliantly Brightening Scrub is kind to sensitive skin. It lacks both sulfates and parabens. Plus, it exfoliates with natural ingredients like green clay, sea kelp, and lemon peel. This vegan product seems to have gained in popularity every time we run across it.
Era Organics Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub & Face Exfoliator
Era Organics puts sugarcane and walnut shell in their microdermabrasion scrub. But it also has aloe, a potent moisturizer. There’s Vitamin C to prevent premature aging and Manuka honey to balance the skin’s pH, too.
Brown Sugar Body Scrub by Majestic Pure
The Majestic Pure Body Scrub can potentially shrink cellulite. To begin, it guards against dehydration with brown sugar. While the sugar crystals buff your skin, they attract moisture to it.
Then, citrus oils add a delicious scent while they add radiance. But prepare yourself for a tingly experience as the scrub has peppermint and ginseng also.
Finally, plant oils like sweet almond, jojoba, and apricot kernel make sure your body feels smooth and soft when you’re done.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Face Scrub
Neutrogena’s foaming scrub does not contain those little plastic beads that are harmful to the environment. In their place, it has synthetic wax and microcrystalline cellulose. Those degrade so that they don’t pose the same risk to wildlife.
The fresh, clean feeling you’ll have after using this scrub comes from menthol. That, combined with the artificial fragrance, might be a little much for sensitive skin. But users say that it doesn’t leave their face dry or tight.
Paula’s Choice-SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant with Glycolic Acid
The AHA Gel Exfoliant is an excellent choice for dry skin. It features just enough glycolic acid to revitalize your face. There’s also green tea and chamomile to clear up age spots and improve elasticity. Like other products from Paula’s Choice, it’s free of artificial fragrances.
Peter Thomas Roth 3% Glycolic Solutions Cleanser
We mentioned glycolic acid earlier because it’s an alpha hydroxy acid. It’s better for dry skin than salicylic acid as it attracts water instead of melting away all the natural oil. Chemical exfoliants like this one dissolve the bonds that hold skin cells together. They’re less risky for sensitive skin than a scrub with abrasive particles.
This cleansing gel has only 3% glycolic acid, making it a smart choice if you’re prone to rosacea, acne, or other issues. It foams away dead skin and impurities in only a minute.
Vivo Per Lei Facial Peeling Gel
The Peeling Gel from Vivo Per Lei combines Dead Sea minerals, calcium, and glycerin. It lifts away dull skin to leave a smooth, polished surface behind. Massage it into your face twice a week, then rinse with water after 30 seconds.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme
The Nip + Fab Extreme pads are perfect for you whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or more. That’s because they use glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid to resurface your face. You’ll end up with plumper skin, fewer fine lines, and less visible discoloration.
ELEMIS Papaya Enzyme Peel
The creamy ELEMIS Peel is an award-winning product and a real crowd-pleaser in South Africa. It contains natural fruit acids from African papaya and Asian pineapple. The fruit juices leave your complexion smooth and bright. Extracts of sunflower and bladderwrack condition and strengthen your skin, too.
Conclusion
We hope you discovered a new exfoliator (or two) to try today. You may find that you look forward to using it each week. Let us know which ones are your favorites as we are always on the lookout for the best skincare products.
Related: Best Face Exfoliators and Scrubs for Mature Skin
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