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You know all of the 10,000 ways you can take care of the skin on your face—but what about your body? If your current routine stops at body wash and lotion, consider adding a scrub a few times a week. Not only does it exfoliate the skin to reveal a smoother look and feel, but adding in a scrub can keep conditions like Keratosis Pilaris and ingrown hairs at bay. It also makes other parts of your routine—shaving or waxing, using self-tanner—even more effective.
What are the benefits of using a body scrub?
“The benefits of a body scrub is to exfoliate dead skin, reduce scaliness, smooth rough skin, and reduce the appearance of bumpy skin,” says Ayesha Bshero, Head of Product Development, Beekman 1802. Scrubs can also help combat keratosis pilaris (commonly known as chicken skin), or ingrown hairs. “Body scrubs work great for Keratosis Pilaris,” says dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal. “Scrubs help reduce the extent of bumpiness that is seen in KP. Gentle exfoliation can also help ingrown hairs but this must be done cautiously to prevent scarring.”
Can some scrubs be too harsh for sensitive skin?
“I recommend body scrubs no more than 1-2x a week to reduce the risk of redness, peeling, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and even scarring,” says Dr. Lal. “Scrubs with fruit pits fragments, such as apricot, or nut shells, like walnut, are known to tear up the skin and cause inflammation,” says Bshero. “I recommend a scrub that combines a gentle chemical exfoliant like PHAs with a finely ground pumice in order to achieve the best results especially for people with Keratosis Pilaris.”
Here, find the 17 best body scrubs for all skin types.
1
Best For Rough Skin
This body scrub uses goat milk, natural extracts, and a blend of physical and chemical exfoliation to eliminate chicken skin and keratosis pilaris. Any bumpy areas will be soft and supple in no time.
Beekman 1802 Sunshine Scrub, $38, beekman1802.com
2
Best For Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, this body scrub is gentle and never scratches or irritates the skin. You can get a subtle, gentle exfoliation that won't cause any redness or breakouts.
Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator, $30, sephora.com
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3
Best For The Scalp
You can use this scrub on your body or your scalp for a super clean, soft feeling. It uses sugar and coconut oil to soften the skin dramatically without leaving any residue or stickiness.
OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub, $38, sephora.com
4
Best For Glowing Skin
This bar uses bio-degradable wood pulp to gently exfoliate the skin. Nourishing oils and extracts keep the skin hydrated for a glowing, beach-ready body.
Mutha The Nudist Exfoliating Body Bar, $30, mutha.com
5
Best For Bumps
Using a blend of physical exfoliation and chemical AHA exfoliation, this scrub makes quick work of keratosis pilaris and ingrown hairs. It’s safe enough for sensitive skin and leaves you with soft, even skin.
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub, $30, sephora.com
6
Best For Soft Skin
This scrub is almost good enough to eat with a blend of coconut oil, sugar, and crushed seeds. Like everything Sol de Janeiro makes, the scent will transport you to a beach vacation.
Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub, $42, sephora.com
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7
Best For Ingrown Hairs
Bumps and in-grown hairs are no match for this buffing bar. It uses gentle but effective exfoliation to soften the skin, while shea butter adds moisture back.
Soft Services Buffing Bar, $28, softservices.co
8
Best For Irritated Skin
For legs that glisten in the sun, this whipped body scrub takes care of dryness, ingrown hairs, and uneven texture. It uses jojoba oil and blue tansy to soothe inflamed skin.
Truly Moon Rocks Whipped Body Scrub, $20, ulta.com
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9
Best For Hands
You can use this scrub on your body and hands for incredibly soft, hydrated skin. Using coconut oil and shea butter, your hands will never be more manicure-ready.
SheaMoisture Illuminating Hand & Body Scrub, $9, amazon.com
10
Best For A Budget
This extremely gentle scrub has a velvety, whipped formula with fine grains that leave skin buffed, but not irritated. The macadamia and rice milk fragrance is particularly comforting.
Dove Exfoliating Body Polish, $7, walmart.com
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11
Best For An Investment
This all-organic pick promises glowing, rejuvenated skin thanks to a combination of natural exfoliants like pink Himalayan salts, Hawaiian sea salts, sugar, and apricot seed powder. It also works into a really satisfying creamy lather to heighten your at-home spa experience.
Tata Harper Smoothing Body Scrub, $90, tataharper.com
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13
Best For Dry Skin
A delightfully millennial pink scrub that not only looks good in your bathtub but also feels great too. Coconut oil and Moroccan rose hydrate the skin while chunky grains leave you feeling thoroughly exfoliated.
Herbivore Coco Rose Coconut Oil Body Polish, $38, dermstore.com
14
Best For A Gift
Shea butter, pure sugar cane, and coconut oil are the key ingredients that put the “treat” in this body treatment. Use it and its birthday cake scent will leave you smelling like a snack.
Lalicious Extraordinary Whipped Sugar Scrub, $38, nordstrom.com
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15
Best For Body Acne
This trusty, no-frills drugstore favorite contains acne-fighting 2% salicylic acid to prevent breakouts. It both scrubs and lathers into a foam to give you an extra-clean feeling and confidence your skin will be zit-free.
Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub, $10, ulta.com
16
Best For Cult Find
1,100 reviews and 4.5 stars on Amazon don’t lie: This sugar scrub works wonders. It contains a cocktail of skin-saving ingredients like Moroccan oil, safflower seed oil, rosehip oil, and evening primrose oil to refine your skin’s texture and restore elasticity.
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub, $9, target.com
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17
Best For Flaky Skin
Clear away dry, dehydrated skin with this exfoliator made with peach seed powder, sugar, and shea butter. Expect to spend your sweet time in the show thanks to its bergamot, peach, rose, and strawberry-infused scent.
Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Polish, $14, target.com
Kristina Rodulfo
Beauty Director
Kristina Rodulfo is the Beauty Director of Women's Health—she oversees beauty coverage across print and digital and is an expert in product testing, identifying trends, and exploring the intersections of beauty, wellness, and culture. Prior to Women's Health, the Filipino-American, NYC native and NYU alumna was at ELLE.com for four years. As Senior Beauty Editor, she reported and co-produced the Webby Award-nominated documentary Beat: How Drag Queens Shaped the Beauty Industry and hosted the millions-viewed video series "Beauty Haul." She can never decide whether or not to get bangs, feels naked without winged eyeliner, and will never shut up about running the NYC Marathon.
Tatjana Freund
Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor
Tatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.
