The Best Body Scrubs for Smooth, Soft, and Radiant Skin

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We tend to spend most of our time, money, and effort on our faces, but the skin below the chin deserves the same TLC to look smooth, luminous, and healthy. Body-care brands have arrived along with elaborate body routines. The options available are extensive, from exfoliating cleansers and moisturizers that double as treatments (hello, retinol body lotions) to red light therapy devices that promise to firm and smooth. They can be helpful, but if you're looking for a streamlined body-care routine, experts suggest zeroing in on a hydrating body wash and an effective body scrub. Scrubs exfoliate the skin, buffing off dead skin cells, dirt, and impurities. "Regular use of a body scrub can promote cellular renewal, smooth skin texture, and reduce buildup," says Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Scrubbing also helps the products you apply afterward work better, too. "Exfoliation allows topicals to penetrate more evenly and deeply, allowing for increased or optimal performance," says Vanessa Coppola, skin expert and founder of Bare Aesthetic MedSpa.

To get the most out of your body scrub, apply it on clean, damp skin, recommends Coppola: "Rub in a circular motion with gentle pressure—scrubbing should never be painful or irritating." How often you exfoliate depends on your skin type. Those with sensitive or dry skin should start exfoliating once every other week and build up frequency as tolerated. Others can get away with it once or twice in the same week.

Now that you're caught up on best practices, keep reading to find out the best body scrubs on the market, according to experts.

Softening Butter Salt Scrub

"I really love this scrub because it combines salt and minerals from the Dead Sea with natural emollients, oils, and algae," says Coppola. "It feels heavenly and is alcohol-free so it won't dry out skin."

Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub

Coppola recommends this pick for dry and sensitive skin. "It's a finely milled medium-texture scrub that contains hydrating ingredients such as shea butter and virgin coconut oil," she says.

KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10 Percent AHA

Shirazi likes this formula because it's both a physical and chemical exfoliant, so it works double-duty to help smooth keratosis pilaris, the skin condition that causes dry, tiny, rough bumps. It contains glycolic and lactic acids to exfoliate and brighten, pumice beads to physically slough away dead skin, and bisabolol extract to calm and soothe irritated skin.

Vinosculpt Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub

"Formulated with natural moisturizing ingredients like honey, organic grape water, and grape seed oil, this scrub leaves skin smooth and hydrated," says Shirazi.

Anti-Aging Body Scrub

This 2-in-1 body exfoliator and oil-based treatment contains plum kernel oil to hydrate, vitamin E to protect against oxidative stress, and vitamin F to support a healthy skin barrier. After each use, your skin looks and feels softer, smoother, and more glowing.

Exfoliating Body Polish with Macadamia & Rice Milk

You can't go wrong with this $7 option. It contains macadamia to physically exfoliate and rice milk to counteract any potential irritation that might come from scrubbing. It's creamy and easily spreads across the body while leaving skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.

Manuka Honey Shower Body Exfoliator

Manuka honey is loaded with amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants to restore skin's glow and prevent inflammation and irritation. The moisturizing formula won't leave you feeling dry or stripped.

Morning Glory

Coffee grains are infused into this bar to invigorate the senses and exfoliate the skin. Cocoa butter and fatty acids nourish.

Buff It Out AHA Exfoliating Body Scrub

A creamy and affordable body scrub that combines lactic and glycolic acid as well as microfine pumice to exfoliate. Over time, you'll notice smoother texture, a more even tone, and fewer breakouts.

The Body Mitt

A body mitt is great for super sensitive skin, plus it does the work for you without having to invest in another product. It's made with bamboo and other natural fibers to gently exfoliate the skin and remove impurities.

Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub

Get a true head-to-toe experience with this scalp-friendly scrub. It's made with sugar crystals to gently exfoliate, panthenol and glycerin to moisturize, and coconut oil to nourish and soften the skin. It can be used on all hair and skin types and is safe for color-treated hair.

Bom Dia Body Scrub 10 Percent AHA BHA Resurfacing Complex

Whether you experience bumpy skin, blemishes, or strawberry skin, this exfoliating scrub will retexturize to give you soft-to-the-touch skin. It contains glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids—a trifecta of exfoliating acids. It also has crushed maracuja seeds to polish.

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