It can be hard enough to remember to make facial exfoliation a regular part of your routine, let alone your body. But let this serve as your reminder: Don’t allow exfoliating the skin below your neck to fall by the wayside, either. Just like with your complexion, regularly removing dead, dull skin can make all the difference when it comes to achieving smooth, glowing skin.
There are hundreds to choose from, so to take the confusion out of selecting the right body scrub for you, we handpicked 30 of the most popular options and put them to the test for ourselves. We evaluated each body scrub based on its consistency, how evenly it distributed across the skin, how effectively it exfoliated, and how the skin looked and felt after use. We also consulted with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, to gather more insights on what to consider when buying and using body scrubs. Ahead, we’re sharing the ones that impressed us the most.
Best Overall
Nopalera Cactus Flower Exfoliant
Gentle yet effective
Smoothes uneven texture
Helps strawberry legs
Can leave behind an oily residue
If you’re a frequent self-tanning enthusiast, you’ll love this gentle body scrub from Nopalera. The three-in-one cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturizer cleans, scrubs, and hydrates the skin, while the subtle scent of tangerine oil helps create a calming ambiance. One of our testers appreciated how the scrub got to work on dry skin, uneven texture, and self-tanner splotches without causing irritation. In fact, she said the only thing left in the wake of this scrub was “just beautiful smoothness.” The formula features moisturizing and antioxidant ingredients, like safflower oil, achiote seeds, and nopal, and is housed in a reusable (or recyclable) glass jar. The only caveat is that since it contains several hydrating oils, the formula can leave behind some oily residue. However, it washes off with water, and it doesn’t feel slimy or uncomfortable if it’s left on. And if you like to cut down on steps in your routine, the leftover oil might mean you can skip out on applying moisturizer after using the scrub.
Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, nopal, tangerine oil | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Budget
Tree Hut Sugar Scrub
Generous size
Thick and easy to manage
Provides a healthy-looking glow
Scrub can get stuck on the rim
If you’re looking for a great-smelling, rich scrub to smooth away dead skin without spending a ton, the Tree Hut Sugar Scrub is your best bet. It’s super thick, (so it stays in your fingers as you scoop it out of the tub) and, therefore, is comparably less messy than other options on this list. A tablespoon of scrub can cover one leg, so given that the tub is 18 ounces, you can expect about 36 scrubbing sessions (meaning you get the most out of your money). Each tablespoon contains a ton of exfoliating beads, and we felt like it gave our skin a thorough scrub without being too harsh. We often used it before shaving since we found that the scrub helped us achieve a much closer shave than just shaving cream alone. One thing to note: If the scrub gets caught on the tub’s rim, it can be difficult to screw on and off. Take an extra second or two after using the scrub to remove any bits that might dry up and get stuck.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, mango fruit extract, avocado, safflower, and sweet almond oils | Size: 18 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish
Transitions from grainy to syrupy
Smooths skin
Smells delicious
Very oily so can be slippery in the shower
If you’re going to splurge on an exfoliating body scrub, let it be on this one from Fresh. Consisting of real brown sugar crystals, this formula does a great job of scrubbing away dead, dry skin cells without over-drying. Plus, because brown sugar is a humectant, it actually works to prevent moisture loss, too. We specifically loved the texture—it starts out grainy and exfoliating, but when it comes into contact with water, it becomes almost syrupy and smooth. After use, our skin felt silky-smooth and we loved incorporating it into our weekly shower routine. One thing to note is that because it’s oily and transforms into a syrupy texture, it can make your shower floor slippery as you wash it off.
In addition to the unique texture and how effectively it smooths the skin, we adore the brown sugar scent—it’s fresh, warm, and intoxicating.
Key Ingredients: Brown sugar crystals, ginseng root extract, peppermint, oil blend | Size: 18 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Natural
Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Scrubs with large salt chunks
Lathers on contact with water
Helps buff away roughness
Fresh scent
Can leave behind an oily residue
This standout scrub is so good (and so natural) that it relies solely on a handful of salts, oils, and butters to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. A blend of New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan salt, and red Hawaiian sea salt work in tandem with moisturizing shea butter, olive fruit oil, rosemary extract, and avocado oil to get the job done without drying out or irritating the skin. Best of all, it feels (and smells) amazing. It’s chunky, so it certainly doesn’t lack in the scrubbing department, but it also lathers up nicely when it comes into contact with water in the shower or bath to give the skin an effective scrub without being too tough.
If you don’t like the feeling of a minor oily residue on your skin after exfoliating, this one might not be for you. However, this slightly oily film that’s left on the skin after scrubbing is nice for those who want to keep their skin hydrated but are feeling too lazy to properly moisturize.
Key Ingredients: New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan salt, red Hawaiian sea salt | Size: 12 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Scent
Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Body Scrub
Gritty, dense texture
Squeeze bottle is convenient to use
Smells like fresh fruit
Can be hard to squeeze out
Between its grainy-yet-goopy texture, squeeze bottle container, and (best of all) its fruity-fresh fragrance, there’s a lot to love about this scrub. With a perfect ratio of exfoliating flakes and goop, this formula from Biossance is easy to work across the skin and does an excellent job of smoothing away dead skin cells. You can feel the grains in this formula, but they’re not front and center, giving a bit of the spotlight to squalane and the other moisturizing elements. In addition to an ideal distribution, the formula itself goes a long way and doesn’t clump up. It’s also housed in a squeeze bottle, which is a total game changer when it comes to ease of use in the shower and a mess-free application. As for the scent, it’s reminiscent of a bag of fresh market fruits and is clean and distinct without being overpowering. We didn’t have an issue squeezing the product from the bottle, but some say the crystals can clog the top a bit, making it difficult to dispense.
Key Ingredients: Pomegranate enzyme, Sugar crystals, Squalane | Size: 6.76 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Spa-Like Experience
Necessaire The Body Exfoliator
Offers dual exfoliation
Three scent options
Chic minimalist packaging
Can make a mess in the shower
This just may be one of the best scrubs we’ve ever used. A Byrdie team fave for the ideal scrubby (though not abrasive) texture, this formula actually doubles down on the exfoliation. How? A combination of bamboo charcoal and pumice mechanically (aka physically) exfoliates, while glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids chemically dissolve dead skin cells, rough patches, and more. The fragrance-free variant is a great choice for sensitive skin, though it also comes in sandalwood and eucalyptus scents (a perfect choice for a spa-like ambiance in the shower). All three are sophisticated, as is the chic and minimalist packaging. Since the scrub is on the finer side (as opposed to gritty), it’s gentle on the skin and can be easily distributed from the mouth of the squeeze bottle—you don’t have to flex your muscles. The one thing we didn’t love about it was that the texture can be runny. Though it doesn’t waste too much product, you’ll want to be extra careful when squeezing it out so that you can savor every last bit of it.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, charcoal, pumice | Size: 6.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Dry Skin
Oui the People Full Disclosure Body Polish
Feels like an exfoliating lotion
Exfoliates and softens
Helps with hyperpigmentation
Small for the price
It can sometimes feel like exfoliating dry skin may just dry it out even further—and sure, if you choose the wrong scrub and overdo it, then that can indeed be the case. But exfoliating is even more imperative when you’re dealing with dryness because it helps to remove flakes and allows you better penetration of your moisturizers, and this pick is amazing for dry, parched skin. It contains bamboo powder (which has a superfine texture that naturally exfoliates skin), lactic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid that smooths uneven texture), and olive-derived squalane (a deeply nourishing, anti-inflammatory agent). During testing, we loved that it spread across the skin with little to no work required. The grains stay together so you don’t lose too much scrub as you massage it onto your skin, and a little goes a long way, ensuring you get your money’s worth. After using it, our skin felt smooth and hydrated.
Key Ingredients: Bamboo powder, lactic acid, squalane | Size: 4.2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Dual-Purpose
Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub
Can use on face and scalp
Foams nicely
Has a fresh, floral scent
Gel texture
The sugar-based scrub is just as effective at removing dry patches from your body as it is removing dead skin and product build-up from your scalp. Your scalp is skin, after all, so it needs just as much care as the skin on your face and body; regular scalp exfoliation can help ensure your hair stays strong and healthy. In addition to its other uses, this coconut-blend and probiotic-infused multitasker is effective on all hair textures. We were initially skeptical of the gel-like formula, but once it mixed with water, it foamed up slightly, which, combined with the heavenly rose-musk scent, made for a delightful exfoliating experience.
Key Ingredients: Sugar, Coconut oil, Probiotic blend | Size: 8.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Coffee-Based
SNP Cafferonic Body Scrub
Great for sensitive skin
Smells like cocoa butter
Gentle
Could be grainier
It’s hard to put this scrub into words because the unique texture transforms in seconds upon contact with the skin. It starts off as a cream with just a few coffee grains visible, but when you apply it to the skin, it becomes transparent, leaving a balmy finish and a slew of coffee grains in its wake. The smooth consistency of the scrub makes it easier to apply than any other scrubs we’ve tested, thanks to its serum-like base. Unlike other coffee-based scrubs, it’s ideal for sensitive skin types because the grains are quite gentle, and it helps skin feel softer, more supple, and hydrated. If you prefer an intense scrub, this one might be too gentle for you, but if you’re looking for subtle exfoliation, it’s absolutely worth giving a try.
Key Ingredients: Coffee powder, caffeine, hyaluronic acid | Size: 8.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Bumps
Kopari KP Body Bumps Be Gone
Helps clear pores
Works quickly
Chemical and physical exfoliation
Not ideal for very sensitive skin
If you have keratosis pilaris (aka KP), which is a skin condition that appears as bumps on the backs of your arms, regular exfoliation can help. Not only does this formula from Kopari use both chemical and physical exfoliation to smooth the skin and treat KP, but it’s also helpful for clearing clogged pores. Pumice buffing beads do the physical scrubbing, while glycolic and lactic acids tackle the rest. Jojoba seed oil then helps lock in deep hydration and prevents any irritation. Although the scrub has noticeable exfoliating particles, we found that they’re not abrasive enough to cause any pain or discomfort. After using it, our skin felt smooth, with an improvement in redness after each use as well as a reduction in bumps.
Key Ingredients: Pumice, kactic and glycolic acids, jojoba seed oil | Size: 8.45 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Non-Abrasive
Avène Gentle Body Scrub
Very gentle and hydrating
Easy to use and dispense
Non-greasy
Has less dramatic effect than other scrubs
You can exfoliate if you have sensitive skin—you just need to be a little more careful and use an exfoliator for sensitive skin. Enter this formula from Avene: it’s a super gentle version of the rest of the exfoliators on this list. It relies on teeny-tiny jojoba beads for a very gentle exfoliation (so much so that it feels like a body wash). Meanwhile, the brand’s patented thermal spring water plus a trio of nourishing oils help to impart hydration (without the greasy residue). It feels similar to a body wash with some exfoliating grains in it. As someone with eczema, one of our testers loved the product and found that it exfoliated nicely, but the oils made sure she didn’t experience irritation. Plus, because it’s only meant to be used once or twice a week, one bottle lasts a while.
Key Ingredients: Avene thermal spring water | Size: 6.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Ingrown Hairs
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
Works for KP, bumps, and strawberry skin
Fast-acting
A little goes a long way
Not ideal for sensitive skin
Dealing with annoying ingrown hairs? One of our testers, who frequently experiences ingrown hairs, says that this product from First Aid Beauty is especially helpful in treating and preventing more from forming. Because it’s relatively gentle, she’s able to give her skin a good scrub without having to worry about causing scrapes or microabrasions. As a result, she was able to target all of the dead skin and ingrown hairs that had been bothering her.
She has “very sensitive skin that does not take kindly to most things” and yet experienced no irritation when using this one. In fact, this formula actually helped irritated skin heal faster. We also loved how effective it was at minimizing KP; it worked to reduce bumps and leave our skin feeling much more smooth.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids, bisabolol | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Where We Stand
Our best overall pick is the Nopalera Cactus Flower Exfoliant since it tackles dry patches and bumps yet features nourishing, skin-loving ingredients like safflower seed oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil to keep the skin calm. There are tons of great wallet-friendly options out there, too, like the Tree Hut Sugar Scrub, which is a great-smelling, rich scrub that smooths away dead skin and offers a calming moment of spa-like rejuvenation.
How We Tested
Byrdie editors did extensive research on popular body scrubs, taking expert recommendations and consumer reviews into account before choosing 14 to test out first-hand. Each tester evaluated the products based on consistency, how evenly they distributed across the skin, how effectively they exfoliated, and how the skin looked and felt after use. Those that impressed us the most across the attributes appear on this list All tests were performed in The Lab, our Manhattan product testing facility.
What to Look For in a Body Scrub
- Ingredients: Ingredients are an important part of any formula. After you’ve checked for potential allergens in a product’s ingredient list, look for softening, hydrating, and nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil (which are in the OSEA Salts of the Earth Body Scrub, for example). These ingredients help keep the skin soft and supple, which is key after scrubbing abrasive particles all over.
- Type of Scrubbing Particles: According to Jaliman, the main thing to consider (aside from the ingredients) is the scrubbing particles. Sugar-based options, like the Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish Exfoliator, are more hydrating and less harsh, making them a good pick for those with sensitive skin. “Salt scrubs are good for those with very dry, rough skin who need deep exfoliation,” she explains. The options don’t end there. Other exfoliating particles worth your while are jojoba beads, which are typically gentler, as well as more abrasive nut or seed shells, like those found in the SNP Cafferonic Body Scrub.
- Scrubbing Particle Size: Size matters here. Fine particles (like the ones in the Necessaire Body Exfoliator) are gentler on the skin, while larger-sized particles (like the ones in Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub) can be too abrasive on some skin types.
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. Currently, she has the Differin product (which she uses to ward off backne), the Avene product, and the Necessaire product all stashed in her shower.
Caitlyn Martyn is a staff commerce writer 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."