Exfoliants — Page 2

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial

The at-home chemical peel that launched a category. Twenty-five percent AHA plus 2% BHA at pH 3.5 delivers professional-strength resurfacing in 20 minutes, with fermented enzymes and recovery ingredients that make the experience dramatically smoother than the numbers suggest. Once weekly, it's the most effective single product in Drunk Elephant's lineup.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Beginner-Friendly Glow Pad

First Aid Beauty exfoliant

Facial Radiance Pads

The AHA exfoliating pads that proved gentle and effective aren't mutually exclusive. A decade-plus on the market, backed by P&G, and formulated with a soothing botanical arsenal that makes acid exfoliation genuinely accessible to sensitive skin. Not the strongest AHA option, but for most people, that's exactly the point.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Drugstore Acne Workhorse

Peach Slices exfoliant

Acne Exfoliating Toner

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner is a solid drugstore 2% salicylic acid treatment buffered with centella, licorice, and panthenol for a gentler feel than most US-brand acid toners at the price. The denatured alcohol keeps it off the sensitive-skin list, but for oily and combination skin battling blackheads and congestion, it's one of the best budget BHA picks available.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

The INKEY List exfoliant

Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum

Thirteen ingredients, $11, and one of the cleanest BHA formulations on the market. The INKEY List strips away everything unnecessary and delivers exactly what acne-prone and oily skin needs — no more, no less.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

ZO Skin Health exfoliant

Complexion Renewal Pads

A clinically credible BHA/AHA combination pad with a thoughtful botanical buffer that's been a fixture in dermatology offices for over fifteen years. The salicylic acid plus glycolic acid plus urea combination is genuinely more sophisticated than typical drugstore acid pads, and the result is a product that earns its professional-channel reputation for clearing congested, acne-prone skin. The alcohol base and fragrance load are real limitations, and at $63 for 60 pads it's a steep step up from drugstore alternatives — but for the right user, it works.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Licorice Brightening Treat

Eminence Organic Skin Care exfoliant

Bright Skin Licorice Root Exfoliating Peel

The smartest product in Eminence's catalog and a legitimately effective at-home brightening peel. The lactic acid plus licorice root extract combination does real work on surface hyperpigmentation and dullness, and the buffered formula keeps irritation manageable. Priced high, fragranced strongly, and not right for sensitive skin.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Budget Resurfacing Powerhouse

Good Molecules exfoliant

Overnight Exfoliating Treatment

A triple-acid exfoliant at a price that borders on absurd. For $6, you get glycolic acid for surface resurfacing, lactic acid for hydrating exfoliation, and salicylic acid for pore clearing — a comprehensive approach that many brands charge ten times more for. It's effective, straightforward, and potentially irritating if you're not careful. Know your skin, and this is one of the best values in skincare.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Drugstore Resurfacing Essential

L'Oréal Paris exfoliant

Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum

Twelve ingredients, 10% glycolic acid, and zero nonsense — L'Oréal's glycolic acid serum is the most minimalist, effective AHA treatment on the drugstore shelf. The soothing aloe and hydrating hyaluronic acid make nightly exfoliation practical, not punishing, and the price-to-potency ratio is outstanding.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Australian Enzyme Brightener

Sand & Sky exfoliant

Enzyme Polish & Exfoliant

A pleasant, well-formulated enzyme polish that earns most of its hype. Rice-starch powder meets papain and stable vitamin C for visibly smoother, brighter skin after a single use, and the Australian fruit extracts aren't just marketing filler. The fragrance is the main drawback — and at $39 for 60g, you are paying a meaningful premium for the Instagram-native aesthetic.

normaloily Paraben Free

The Ordinary exfoliant

Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution

A genuinely clever reformulation that makes BHA exfoliation accessible to dry and sensitive skin for the first time. It trades the instant gratification of a tingling acid for a gentler, sustained approach that works just as well — it just asks for more patience.

drynormal Fragrance Free

$7.50

73/100 Score

No.71

Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel in a soft peach squeeze tube with Joseon dynasty-inspired design

K-Beauty Gentle Exfoliation Favorite

Beauty of Joseon exfoliant

Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel

A gentle, sensory-satisfying peeling gel that delivers real smoothness without the irritation risk of chemical exfoliants. It won't replace your AHA for serious texture concerns, but as a weekly skin-polishing ritual, it's one of K-beauty's most pleasant and accessible exfoliation experiences.

sensitivenormal Fragrance Free

Luxury Acid for the Botanical-Curious

Tata Harper exfoliant

Resurfacing BHA Glow Serum

A botanically-routed multi-acid serum that earns most — but not all — of its luxury price tag. The fruit AHA and willow BHA blend resurfaces with less sting than its clinical competitors, but the citrus essential oils are a real hazard for sensitive skin, and you're paying Vermont farm-lab prices for what's ultimately still an acid serum.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Skincare's Viral Disruptor

The Ordinary exfoliant

AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

The most democratizing product in modern skincare — a genuinely powerful 30% acid peel for under ten dollars that delivers visible results competitive with products costing four to ten times more. Not without risks for the uninitiated, but for experienced acid users, the value is nearly without equal.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

K-Beauty Weekly Glow Ritual

Dr.G exfoliant

Brightening Peeling Gel

A long-running K-beauty peeling gel with real enzymatic exfoliation under the satisfying cellulose-ball theater. Cheap, effective as a weekly glow ritual, and widely loved in its home market. The fragrance and alcohol content are the main reasons it isn't suitable for sensitive users.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Clean Beauty Acid Peel

Herbivore Botanicals exfoliant

Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum

One of the few 12% AHA leave-on serums in the clean-beauty aisle that actually takes its acid load seriously, with a willow-bark BHA element, natural vitamin C from Kakadu plum and a rose-water-and-aloe base to soften the impact. Real resurfacing product, not a gentle exfoliant — respect it accordingly.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Revolution Skincare exfoliant

Multi Acid AHA + BHA Peeling Solution

Revolution's Multi Acid Peeling Solution is a competent, near-identical clone of The Ordinary's AHA 30% + BHA 2% at a meaningfully lower price. For budget acid users who want a real at-home peel and can handle aggressive concentrations, this delivers exactly what it promises. The undisclosed pH and the citrus extracts are fair criticisms, but the value proposition is hard to argue with.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

K-Beauty Cult Favorite

Neogen exfoliant

Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon

The K-beauty dual-texture peel pad that helped define the category — a three-acid AHA blend (glycolic, lactic, tartaric) wrapped in a cotton gauze pad with a textured physical-exfoliation side. Brightening and satisfying to use, but the denatured alcohol, fragrance, and citrus oils give it a bigger irritation footprint than the modern sensitive-skin category would tolerate. Still a legitimate pick if your skin can handle it.

oilycombination Paraben Free

K-Beauty Cult Favorite

Neogen exfoliant

Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

The resurfacing-focused sibling to Neogen's Bio-Peel Lemon pads, with the same three-acid AHA core wrapped in a red-wine-and-berry antioxidant story. The dual-texture gauze format remains satisfying, the brightening effect is real, and the $27 price is reasonable. The dated formula — denatured alcohol, fragrance, and added dyes — keeps it firmly out of the sensitive-skin recommendation zone.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Budget Blackhead Buster

Revolution Skincare exfoliant

2% Salicylic Acid & Fruit Enzymes Serum

Revolution Skincare's 2% Salicylic Acid & Fruit Enzymes Serum is a capable, affordable BHA that pairs standard 2% salicylic with papaya and mango enzymes for a dual-action exfoliation approach. For oily and congested skin it's an easy budget pick — the alcohol denat. and witch hazel content make it less ideal for dry or reactive skin.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Pharmacy-Grade Home Peel

Bioderma exfoliant

Sebium Night Peel

A smartly formulated overnight peel that delivers professional-grade glycolic acid with an unusual amount of biological sophistication — prebiotic microbiome support, sebum-quality correction, and barrier-recovery ingredients. Best suited for oily and combination skin types willing to commit to the 4-week cycling protocol. The fragrance inclusion is a miss.

oilycombination Paraben Free

The OG K-Beauty BHA Pad

COSRX exfoliant

One Step Original Clear Pad

The pad that launched a thousand imitators still holds its own as a gentle, no-fuss BHA entry point — its 14-ingredient formula and willow bark water base offer honest if modest exfoliation, though anyone battling serious acne will need something with more firepower.

oilycombination Paraben Free

First Aid Beauty exfoliant

KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub

The KP Bump Eraser is the rare body scrub that actually earns its cult status — the 10% AHA and pumice combination delivers genuinely transformative results for keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs, and rough textured skin. It's not the gentlest option, but for anyone who's tried everything else for their stubborn arm and leg bumps, this is the one that actually works.

normaloily Fragrance Free

Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pioneer

Murad exfoliant

Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel

A genuinely innovative take on the daily peel format — the bi-phase design that exfoliates and nourishes simultaneously is more than a gimmick. Five acids (including the strategic addition of tranexamic acid) deliver comprehensive resurfacing, while jojoba oil and holy basil keep things from getting punishing. The fragrance-free formula shows welcome restraint.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Stubborn Texture Liquid Exfoliating Treatment

Twelve ingredients, seven percent AHA, and zero pretense. Neutrogena stripped the liquid exfoliant concept down to its essentials and priced it at a fraction of the category leaders. It won't win any packaging awards, but your skin texture will thank you within two weeks.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Insta Swipe Lemon Honey AHA Pads

A friendly, well-priced glycolic and malic acid pad that delivers a genuine next-morning glow and lands in the sweet spot for Gen Z shoppers who want a clean-beauty acid without the aesthetic baggage of older toners. The inclusion of lemon peel oil is the one real misstep, and the jar packaging is less practical than the formula deserves.

combinationoily Paraben Free

Gentle Triple-Acid Innovator

Youth to the People exfoliant

Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant

A thoughtfully engineered triple-acid exfoliant that prioritizes inclusivity over intensity, delivering gentle multi-level exfoliation backed by a generous antioxidant complex. The gentle approach means patience is required, but for the right skin type, the payoff is a refined, clearer complexion without the drama.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Gentlest Exfoliation Entry Point

Anua exfoliant

Heartleaf LHA Moisture Peeling Gel

A supremely gentle peeling gel that delivers satisfying tactile exfoliation with near-zero irritation risk. The LHA is more of a label claim than a meaningful active at its trace concentration, but the cellulose-based gommage format genuinely smooths and brightens skin for those who cannot tolerate chemical exfoliants. An honest product for a specific audience — just know what you are buying.

sensitivenormal Fragrance Free

Drugstore Blackhead Slayer

Biore exfoliant

Pore Unclogging Scrub

One of the few drugstore scrubs that's actually worth its shelf space — a real 2% salicylic acid product in a soft-bead wax base that respects your skin barrier more than its age suggests. For oily, blackhead-prone users it's a legitimate cheap staple. Sensitive skin should pass, and no one should confuse it with a complete acne routine.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Triple-Acid Texture Reset

Glossier exfoliant

Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector

Solution is Glossier's sharpest skincare product — a 10% triple-acid exfoliant that delivers real, visible results for texture, pore congestion, and dullness. The AHA/BHA/PHA combination is intelligently formulated, and the niacinamide inclusion shows genuine formulation sophistication. But this is not a product for everyone — sensitive and dry skin types should look elsewhere.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Sunday Riley exfoliant

Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment

Good Genes delivers undeniable instant radiance and a uniquely luxurious AHA experience — but at $85 for an undisclosed concentration of lactic acid wrapped in lemongrass oil, you're paying a significant premium for the sensory ritual and cult status as much as the exfoliation itself.

normaldry Paraben Free

K-Beauty Cult Classic

Amorepacific exfoliant

Treatment Enzyme Peel

A genuinely innovative K-beauty cleanser that transforms a pinch of green tea enzyme powder into a luxurious brightening foam. The per-use cost is surprisingly reasonable for a $68 jar that lasts half a year, and the gentle enzyme exfoliation suits nearly every skin type. Fragrance allergens are the main mark against an otherwise excellent formulation.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Luxury Green-Chemistry Scrub

Grown Alchemist exfoliant

Polishing Facial Exfoliant

Grown Alchemist's Polishing Facial Exfoliant is a cushioned, luxurious physical scrub built around biodegradable PLA spheres and konjac fiber rather than the harsh particles that give scrubs a bad name. It's gentler than most physical exfoliants, notably scented with essential oils that won't work for every skin type, and priced well above drugstore alternatives — a sensory indulgence for ingredient-literate shoppers rather than a performance-driven treatment.

normalcombination Paraben Free

At-Home Derm-Grade Resurfacer

No7 exfoliant

Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator

A brilliantly simple physical exfoliator that does one thing and does it exceptionally well. Pharmaceutical-grade aluminum oxide crystals in a moisturizing cream base deliver professional-grade resurfacing at home for under $18. No fancy actives, no complicated routine — just immediate smoothness and brightness that has made this a No7 bestseller for over a decade.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

K-Beauty Pore-Clearing Cult Classic

Numbuzin exfoliant

No. 4 Pore Zero Peeled Egg Toner Pad

A cleverly designed dual-sided exfoliating pad that pairs gentle PHA and LHA acids with physical texture for satisfying pore-clearing results. The ethanol and fragrance are unwelcome additions to an otherwise smart formula, but oily and combination skin types chasing that 'peeled egg' smoothness will find this delivers.

oilycombination Paraben Free

AHA BHA Lemon Toner

Tocobo's lemon toner is the rare TikTok viral product that's genuinely useful, but also genuinely polarizing. You get a legitimate 5% glycolic acid toner at an affordable price, wrapped in a lemon-aromatherapy experience that resilient skin will enjoy and sensitive skin should avoid entirely. The trace BHA is more marketing than function, and the citrus essential oil load is the formula's biggest liability.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Cult Classic Exfoliant

Kate Somerville exfoliant

ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

The cult-classic exfoliant that earned its reputation honestly — few products deliver this dramatic a transformation in two minutes flat. Powerful enough that it demands respect and careful use, with an essential oil blend that limits who can safely enjoy the experience.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Clinical Glycolic Pioneer

Peter Thomas Roth exfoliant

10% Glycolic Solutions Moisturizer

A clinical-grade 10% glycolic acid leave-on moisturizer from the brand that helped pioneer AHA skincare in the 1990s. Now discontinued, it remains a reference point for potent yet wearable glycolic acid treatment — effective for texture, fine lines, and dullness, with good supporting ingredients to mitigate the high acid concentration. A loss for the glycolic acid devotees who relied on it.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Budget-Friendly Buffer

Bulldog Skincare exfoliant

Original Face Scrub

A gentle, well-priced physical scrub that respects your skin more than most men's exfoliants on the shelf. The triple-exfoliant approach with aloe and shea butter is thoughtfully formulated, though the broader skincare world has largely moved toward chemical exfoliation for good reason.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Professional-Grade Home Peel

COSRX exfoliant

The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel

A genuinely potent multi-acid peel that delivers professional-grade resurfacing at home — 35% total acid content across four acid types creates multi-depth exfoliation that you can feel working and see in the mirror after one session. This is COSRX's most ambitious acid product and it earns the respect its concentration demands.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste

A thoughtfully constructed hybrid exfoliant that marries finely milled quartz particles with a lactic acid assist, wrapped in Aesop's unmistakable aromatic signature. Genuinely useful for weekly maintenance on normal-to-combination skin, but the luxury price and essential oil load make it a niche pick rather than a universal recommendation.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Reformulated Cult Scrub

Dr. Brandt exfoliant

Microdermabrasion Renewing Age-Defying Face Exfoliator

A thoughtful reformulation of the cult Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion scrub that trades aluminum oxide crystals for softer wood-cellulose beads and adds a real glycolic + lactic acid backbone. The new version is gentler mechanically but works harder chemically — more aligned with modern derm thinking, still burdened by a fragrance load and a steep price.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Derm-Developed Peel Pioneer

Exuviance exfoliant

Performance Peel AP25

A pedigreed at-home peel that delivers genuine clinical-grade exfoliation thanks to its three-acid formula and built-in neutralizer system. The results — smoother texture, brighter tone, tighter pores — are real, but the per-treatment cost and irritation potential keep it firmly in the enthusiast lane rather than the everyday essentials drawer.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Dual-Acid Pore Clearer

Peter Thomas Roth exfoliant

Max Complexion Correction Pads

A potent, no-compromise dual-acid exfoliant that combines maximum-strength salicylic acid with 10% glycolic acid for serious pore-clearing power. The results for acne and congestion are real and fast, but the formula comes with outdated baggage — alcohol, fragrance, and parabens — that a 2026 reformulation should address.

oilycombination Vegan

Clean Exfoliant Cult Favorite

Youth to the People exfoliant

Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner

A smartly engineered dual-AHA exfoliant that delivers genuine resurfacing power with a clever time-release mechanism, though the price asks a lot for what's ultimately a short ingredient list. Best suited for oily-to-normal skin types chasing a weekly glow-up.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

$38.00

62/100 Score

No.105

Exuviance Triple Microdermabrasion Face Polish tube with triple-action exfoliating treatment

Triple-Action Resurfacing Treatment

Exuviance exfoliant

Triple Microdermabrasion Face Polish

A genuinely innovative triple-mechanism exfoliant that delivers real at-home resurfacing results by combining professional-grade crystals, glycolic acid, and papaya enzyme in one treatment. The science is sound and the pedigree is impeccable, but the fragrance inclusion and aggressive combination limit its appeal to resilient, non-reactive skin types.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Budget Blackhead Fighter

Clean & Clear exfoliant

Blackhead Eraser Facial Scrub

An honest, no-frills drugstore scrub that delivers decent surface exfoliation and acne-fighting salicylic acid for under $8. Don't expect miracles on deep blackheads, but as a maintenance tool for oily, congestion-prone skin, it gets the basics right at a price that doesn't sting.

oilycombination Paraben Free

K-Beauty Nostalgia Pick

Holika Holika exfoliant

Smooth Egg Skin Peeling Gel

An iconic 2013-era K-beauty peeling gel whose cultural influence outpaces its actual exfoliation power. The 'dirt crumbs' you see are mostly cellulose theater, but the gentle rubbing action does leave skin noticeably smoother and the sub-$15 price keeps it tolerable as a fun weekly texture tool. Just don't confuse it with a real exfoliant.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Drunk Elephant exfoliant

T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

The exfoliant that launched a thousand clean-beauty dupes — and still holds its own a decade later. The multi-acid blend is genuinely sophisticated, the botanical buffer system is thoughtful, and the results are real. But at $90 for one ounce, this is the most expensive way to get glycolic acid onto your face, and the irritation potential limits who can actually use it.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Cult Classic Physical Scrub

Dr. Brandt exfoliant

Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Cream

A genuinely effective, genuinely aggressive physical exfoliator that has earned two decades of cult status by using actual aluminum oxide crystals rather than the softer beads most 'scrubs' rely on. The immediate smoothing is real, but modern derm guidance has moved toward chemical exfoliation, and the price and fragrance load make it hard to recommend enthusiastically in 2026.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Clinical-Grade Glycolic Resurfacer

SkinCeuticals exfoliant

Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight

A clinically validated 10% glycolic acid overnight treatment that delivers real results — smoother texture, brighter tone, reduced fine lines — backed by SkinCeuticals' research pedigree. But at $96 for what is essentially well-formulated glycolic acid in a cream base, the price-to-ingredient ratio is the hardest thing to swallow about this product.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

SkinCeuticals exfoliant

Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

Micro-Exfoliating Scrub is SkinCeuticals' legacy physical exfoliant, built around microfine aluminum oxide crystals in a soothing cream base. It delivers immediate smoothness and is better-formulated than most drugstore scrubs, but the physical-exfoliation category has largely been superseded by chemical alternatives that work better for most skin types.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Luxury J-Beauty Exfoliant

Tatcha exfoliant

The Texture Tonic

A beautifully packaged gentle AHA toner that delivers a pleasant glow and subtle texture refinement, but its heavy essential oil load and luxury pricing make it a tough sell when more effective, skin-friendly exfoliants exist at a fraction of the cost.

oilycombination Paraben Free

California Clean Glow-Getter

Kopari exfoliant

California Glow Enzyme Face Scrub

A pleasant-to-use dual-action scrub that delivers instant glow through enzyme and physical exfoliation in a coconut-rich base, but the high per-ounce price, small size, and presence of polyethylene microplastics undercut its clean beauty credentials.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Pore-Focused Derm Scrub

Dr. Brandt exfoliant

PoresDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator

A pore-focused twist on Dr. Brandt's classic microdermabrasion formula, adding salicylic acid and caviar lime extract to the alumina base for a three-layer exfoliation attack. Effective for oily, congested skin, but the alcohol denat and menthol content, fragrance load, and $58 price make it a harder recommendation than a well-formulated daily BHA at a fraction of the cost.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Old-School Drugstore Scrub

Acure exfoliant

Brightening Facial Scrub

A holdover from the walnut-shell era of drugstore exfoliation, with all the problems that implies. Skin feels smoother immediately, the price is fair, and a long fanbase swears by it — but dermatology has moved on for good reasons, and most users would be better served by a chemical exfoliant.

oilynormal Fragrance Free

Nuclear Option for Stubborn Pores

Paula's Choice exfoliant

BHA 9 Treatment

A precision weapon for stubborn blackheads, milia, and clogged pores that laugh at standard 2% BHA — devastatingly effective on the right targets but far too potent for casual use. The tiny bottle and premium price demand that you have a specific, persistent problem before investing.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

$46.00

38/100 Score

No.117

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub 6 oz orange tube

Drugstore Icon (Contested)

St. Ives exfoliant

Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

The most famous drugstore scrub in America, and the one dermatologists wish would finally retire. Walnut shell particles are the defining ingredient, and they're the defining problem. Nostalgic, cheap, and sensorially satisfying — but not a product that holds up under modern scrutiny.

normaloily Pregnancy Safe

Controversial Drugstore Classic

St. Ives exfoliant

Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub

A drugstore scrub that's been grandfathered into the category by nostalgia rather than formulation merit. Walnut shell particles and citrus peel oils are exactly what modern dermatology recommends against for facial exfoliation, and the 'brightening' claim is built on fragrance, not evidence. Cheap, but not good.

normaloily Pregnancy Safe

★★★★★

4.1 (8,500)

$5.00