Not all body washes work the same, and while most will cleanse dirt and grime from your skin while you shower, many won’t address certain issues like acne, dryness and rough texture. That’s where exfoliating body washes come in: They can help remove dead skin cells, get rid of excess oil and reduce dry patches and bumps.
But how do you choose the right one, and how often should you be using it? I asked Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Hadley King Dermatology in New York City, and board-certified NYC cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green about everything you need to know when shopping for an exfoliating body wash. I also gathered options I’ve tried myself and recommendations from experts and NBC Selected editors.
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The best exfoliating body washes
Best overall
Naturium’s viral fragrance-free body wash combines five different alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic, malic and lactic acids, which gently exfoliate away dead skin. I used it over the summer and loved its creamy texture compared to other harsher exfoliating washes I’ve tried, which made it feel gentle on my sensitive summertime skin. I also love how long the bottle lasts; I use two or three pumps per wash daily and it still lasts me around a month.
Best for beginners
This is one of our favorite acne body washes, and Green calls it “an excellent starting point for most people,” especially those with sensitive skin. The body wash has salicylic acid and lactic acid to smooth skin, niacinamide to calm any redness or irritation and ceramides to help restore and maintain your skin barrier, she says. It’s also fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.
Best for acne
This multi-acid body wash comes recommended by Green to help treat dull, flaky skin, which is why we chose it as one of our top 100 acne treatments. It has glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids to clear dirt and bacteria, along with pineapple enzymes to help gently exfoliate. It’s also great for all skin types, but Green warns that the scented formula may not be best for sensitive skin. NBC Selected commerce editor Mili Godio, who’s very prone to back and body acne, says this wash did what others couldn’t: It helped clear her acne without drying out her sensitive skin. “It was hydrating, lightweight and cleared acne by the third week of using it,” she says.
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Best for sensitive skin
Godio’s sensitive skin can sometimes lead to a lot of irritation and redness when using an exfoliant. However, she’s been using this Method body wash for over six months and says it’s one of the only physical exfoliants that isn’t harsh on her skin. It has a mix of physical and chemical exfoliants, like lactic acid and microbeads of bamboo dust. “The beads are super tiny, so they don’t feel too rough, and I can use the body wash every day without worrying about it harming my skin barrier,” says Godio.
Best for oily skin
Dermatologists recommended this body wash from Necessaire in our guide to acne body washes. It has acne-fighting exfoliants like salicylic acid and has niacinamide to help even out skin tone. It’s also great for oily skin since it helps to regulate sebum production, according to the brand.
Best scrub
I tested this body wash for our Cyklar brand guide, and although I was skeptical at first, I liked how smooth my skin felt after using it for several weeks. Godio, who also tested the wash, says it helped reduce bumps and texture on her skin after about two weeks. However, we both agree the chemical-like smell isn’t the most pleasant, so we usually follow it up with a scented body wash.
Most affordable
This Dove body wash, recommended by a board-certified dermatologist in our guide to salicylic acid, is an effective and affordable way to prevent body acne. It has a lightweight gel texture and it’s made with glycerin to keep skin hydrated.
Best for keratosis pilaris
If you’re focused on smoothing out rough texture and uneven skin tone, Green recommends this body wash for its high concentration of glycolic acid, which helps to exfoliate away bumps. It’s especially great for soothing dry, rough patches from keratosis pilaris. It’s also fragrance- and oil-free, and works for all skin types.
Best brightening
Medicube’s Kojic Acid Toner is one of my favorite products to reduce dark spots on my back. The body wash version also has kojic acid, turmeric and vitamin C to help brighten skin, along with AHAs (like glycolic acid) to gently exfoliate, according to the brand. It also has niacinamide to soothe and soften skin.
How I picked the best exfoliating body washes
Here are the key ingredients I kept in mind when choosing the best body washes, based on my experts’ advice:
- Lactic acid and glycolic acid: These are AHAs that help dissolve and remove dead cells from the surface of your skin, making them great for improving roughness and texture, says King.
- Salicylic acid: This is a BHA that is oil-soluble, which makes it particularly useful for clogged pores, acne-prone skin and follicular bumps, says King.
- Urea: The effects of urea depend on how strong the concentration is. At lower concentrations, it helps hydrate; at higher concentrations (usually 30-50%), it has keratolytic properties, which means it helps to shed dead skin and soften thick, rough skin, says King.
- Poly-hydroxy acids: Known simply as PHAs, these acids (like gluconolactone) are best for sensitive skin because they’re gentler chemical exfoliants, which helps lessen the chances of irritation, says King.
- Physical exfoliants: More abrasive particles like sugar, jojoba beads or volcanic pumice can manually remove dead skin, says King. However, she generally prefers smooth, non-abrasive particles over coarser scrubs because the latter can irritate skin and even cause more breakouts. Gentler exfoliants usually have very fine beads, and many transition to a cream or foam as the beads are massaged into the skin.
Do you need an exfoliating body wash?
Since your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells, an exfoliating body wash isn’t technically necessary, says King. “It’s more of a targeted tool than an essential step for everyone,” she says. However, since the skin’s natural shedding process slows with age, it can be a great way to keep your skin smooth and pores clear without adding extra steps to your routine, says Green.
Frequently asked questions
You should use an exfoliating body wash two to four times a week, says Green. Alternate between using exfoliants and gentle, non-exfoliating washes to prevent irritation, and avoid pairing them with loofahs or other shower scrubs, she says. You should also wait 24 hours a
Exfoliating body washes are particularly useful for those dealing with texture, including rough or bumpy skin, keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs and body acne.
- If you have rough, dry skin, use exfoliating ingredients that also hydrate skin, like lactic acid or urea, says King.
- For oily skin prone to body acne or ingrown hairs, King recommends products with salicylic acid because it removes excess oil from your pores, reduces inflammation and prevents new pimples from forming.
- For sensitive skin, look for products that have PHAs or low levels of AHAs and avoid anything with fragrance, which can cause irritation, says King. Those with sensitive skin should also avoid combining multiple exfoliating products to avoid over-exfoliating the skin.
Yes, exfoliating body washes can be safe for sensitive skin as long as you’re using the right formula. Look for body washes with gentler acids and lower concentrations, which are less likely to irritate your skin, and start slowly by exfoliating just a few times a week, says King. Consider fragrance-free formulas with soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal or allantoin, says Green. Both experts warn against using exfoliating washes during skin flare ups, irritation or on cuts and wounds.
Yes, exfoliating body washes are effective, but King warns that your expectations should be realistic. “A rinse-off product can still have an effect because exfoliating acids can interact with the outermost layer of the skin relatively quickly,” she says. “However, a leave-on exfoliating lotion or cream generally has more opportunity for prolonged contact and therefore may provide a stronger or more consistent exfoliating effect.” That said, Green says using an exfoliating body wash consistently over several weeks can still improve skin issues, and suggests letting it sit for one to two minutes before rinsing it off.
Meet our skin care experts
At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Hadley King Dermatology in New York City.
- Dr. Michele Green is a board-certified NYC cosmetic dermatologist.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering beauty, skin care and wellness topics like how to choose the best products for hyperpigmentation and which acne spot treatments can help clear your breakouts faster. For this piece, I interviewed two board-certified dermatologists to find out whether or not you really need an exfoliating body wash.
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