Skin Exfoliants

When you find the right face exfoliant it’s like a reset for smoother, healthier-looking skin… but it won’t happen with gritty scrubs or abrasive facial tools, which are harsh and limited in their reach. Chemical exfoliants go beyond what abrasive exfoliators can do by penetrating deeper while being gentle on skin and delivering additional benefits that include:

  • Shedding dull, dead skin to unveil your complexion’s natural glow (1)
  • Softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (2)
  • Unclogging pores and clearing breakouts (3)
  • Dramatically smoothing rough, flaky texture (1)
  • Evening out skin tone (4)
  • Enhancing skin hydration (5)

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Exfoliator for Face: Why Do I Need One in the First Place?

When we’re young, our dead skin cells shed effortlessly on their own, but over time, this process slows due to sun damage and other factors, resulting in a build-up on the surface, as well as inside the pore lining (6). This trapped dead skin can leave the complexion looking dull, rough, and flaky. It also exaggerates the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging. For many, it even leads to clogged pores that turn into blackheads, breakouts, and enlarged pores (7).

The best chemical exfoliants put everything in balance again by helping skin shed smoothly like it did when we were younger. This also paves the way for the rest of your skin care to work more effectively.

Which Face Exfoliant is Right for Me?

SKIN PERFECTING 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant tipped over spilling liquid into a handAlpha hydroxy acid (AHA) chemical exfoliants and exfoliating toners stand out for their ability to dramatically smooth and resurface skin. They’re particularly well suited for anyone with normal to dry skin. AHAs leave a hydrated, healthy glow as they soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and minimize rough, crepey texture (2).

Effective AHAs in skin care products include glycolic, lactic, malic, tartaric, and mandelic acids.


Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) chemical exfoliants are incredibly beneficial for those with oily/combination skin OR anyone dealing with clogged pores, blackheads, blemishes, bumpy skin, or enlarged pores (3). Similar to AHA, they also soften the appearance of fine lines and other signs of aging. Additionally, this is the ideal exfoliator for sensitive skin due to its natural soothing properties (7).

BHA also goes by the name of salicylic acid, which is how you’ll see it on an ingredient list.

What About a Body Exfoliator?

Body scrubs that contain gritty particles (think sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, walnut scrubs) end up making skin worse by abrading and eroding its protective barrier (8). The best body exfoliants are gentle on skin and target issues physical scrubs cannot. Recommended chemical exfoliants for body include:

  • Exfoliating lotion to soften and hydrate rough patches of skin on feet, knees and elbows.
  • Body exfoliant to smooth out bumpy skin (what some refer to as “chicken skin” on arms and legs).
  • Body acne spray to unclog breakouts on the chest, back, and bum.
  • Exfoliating toner pads that reduce clogs on the back, face, chest and body while promoting skin health on-the-go.

How Do Chemical Skin Exfoliants Work?

You might expect to see your skin peeling or flaking, but that’s not the case with these types of gentle exfoliators. They work imperceptibly to unglue the bonds of the trapped dead skin, allowing it to slough off without you feeling it. You won’t see the skin shed in that exact moment, but rather the results appear overnight and are maintained with consistent use.

Does Everyone Need Exfoliation Products?

Because dead skin accumulates gradually, most people don’t realize that it’s dulling their complexion and contributing to other issues. Even if you already have great skin, adding this step can help it look even more radiant. Remember, there’s much more to exfoliation than just smoothing skin. The best exfoliators enhance hydration, improve the efficacy of the rest of your skin care routine and target key concerns as highlighted throughout this article.

References for this information:
1. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, June 2018, pages 260-265
2. Molecules, April 2018, pages 23(4), pages 1-12
3. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, August 2015, pages 455-461
4. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, November 2010, pages 135-142
5. Journal of the German Society of Dermatology, December 2012, pages 488-4921
6. Current Translational Geriatrics and Experimental Gerontology Reports, October 2018, 228-237
7. Experimental Dermatology, July 2019, pages 786-794
8. Skin Research and Technology, January 2018, pages 26-30

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