Hopping in the shower, grabbing one of the best body scrubs, and sloughing away the dirt and grime that’s accumulated on my skin is a ritual that’s particularly precious to me—after a long day, I crave climbing into my linen sheets feeling extra fresh. But physical exfoliation is an act to be relished in, and choosing the right formula is as important as understanding when your body needs that deeper cleanse. (The answer: it’s not every day.) For those who’ve sought out the best body scrubs, you’ll likely know that some may be too harsh (chunky granules can cause micro-tears in the skin); other formulas can leave a film on skin. I value the sensory experience as much the feeling after, so the right scrub should be something that not only leaves my skin soft but also feels good when massaging it in, and better still, smells incredible.
Our Top Picks
- Best Sugar Scrub: Josie Maran Argan Oil + Sugar Balm Body Scrub, $29
- Best Fragrance-Free: Costa Brazil Body Scrub, $88
- Best Body Bar: Soft Services Buffing Bar, $28
- Best for Keratosis Pilaris: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub, $30
- Best Scent: Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub, $38
- Best Coffee Scrub: African Botanics Café Noir Body Exfoliant, $100
Keeping skin-care concerns in mind (dryness, keratosis pilaris, eczema, etc.), the best body scrub or exfoliator should seamlessly slot into your current routine, working alongside your favorite body wash and lotions to reveal smooth, even-toned skin year-round. Board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, explains: “[Body scrubs and exfoliators] are used to exfoliate the skin, helping to shed dead skin cells on the superficial layer of the skin to reveal a fresher and brighter base,” she says. “Some exfoliants even work to clear out congested pores, allowing your products to penetrate deeper into the skin. The best part? They work better with other products such as moisturizers to keep your skin baby-smooth and hydrated.” Below are the best body scrubs to consider adding to your routine, according to Vogue editors and dermatologists.
In This Story
- How to Incorporate Body Scrubs and Exfoliants
- What to Look for In a Body Scrub and Exfoliator
- What to Keep in Mind When Using a Body Scrub
- What is the difference between a body scrub and an exfoliator?
- Meet the Experts
Best Sugar Scrub: Josie Maran Argan Oil + Sugar Balm Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: This body scrub uses sugar granules, which are small and gentle to exfoliate skin. A blend of argan oil and shea butter work in tandem to moisturize, leaving you feeling baby-soft skin when you step out of the shower. Personally, the scent of vanilla helps me relax, which is much needed after a long workday. It’s a rich, gourmand fragrance balanced by warm amber, bergamot, and earthy cedar. Available in travel-friendly and full-fizes, the largest, 13.5-ounce vessel, is also refillable.
- Key Ingredients: Sugar granules, shea butter, argan oil
- Best For: Ideal for anyone looking for gentle exfoliation paired with a warm, soothing scent.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 2 oz, 6 oz, 13.5 oz
Best Fragrance Free: Costa Brazil Body Scrub
Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: As longtime Costa Brazil fans—it’s fragrance and body is one of our favorites—we’re thrilled its coffee-infused exfoliator is available once more. While it starts as a scrub, it transforms from a gel into a lightweight milk that glides smoothly across the body. Like all of the brand’s products, it’s formulated with some of Brazil’s finest ingredients—here, it’s packed with murumuru seeds, rich in vitamins A and C, and sweet almond oil, which deeply moisturizes the skin. It’s also fragrance-free, making it safe for all skin types, even the most sensitive.
- Key Ingredients: Green coffee oil, murumuru, hemisqualane, sweet almond oil
- Best For: A lightweight, fragrance-free exfoliator that leaves the skin feeling soft.
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 7.1 oz
Best Body Bar: Soft Services Buffing Bar
- Why We Love It: Founded by Glossier alumni Annie Kreighbaum and Rebecca Zhou, Soft Services’s solutions-first formulas address skin-care concerns with gentle yet effective formulations. This buffing bar, a hero in its lineup, is infused with microcrystals meant to exfoliate dry, bumpy skin. Vogue’s senior shopping editor Talia Abbas is fond of the Green Banana version of the buffing bar, which she says works well on her keratosis pilaris, especially when used consistently and paired with a cold shower.
- Key Ingredients: Magnesium oxide, alumina, glycerin, shea butter
- Best For: Anyone looking to effectively treat keratosis pilaris (KP) and ingrown hairs.
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 3.3 oz
Best Moisturizing Scrub: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Osea’s body scrub is designed to be an all-around sensorial experience beyond its fragrant appeal. With mineral-rich salts, wild gigartina seaweed, and shea butter, this scrub naturally reveals silky, smooth skin.
- Key Ingredients: Gigartina seaweed, mineral salts, shea butter.
- Best For: Revealing silky-smooth skin.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 12 oz
Best Two-in-One: Nécessaire the Body Exfoliator
- Why We Love It: As one of the more renowned body scrubs in the market, Nécessaire’s option proves efficacious time and time again. The treatment pairs physical (volcanic pumice and charcoal bamboo) exfoliants with chemical (niacinamide) to not only resurface skin, but also even your skin tone. Plus, its minimalist packaging screams “they know things!”
- Key Ingredients: Bamboo charcoal, glycolic acid, salicylic acid.
- Best For: Evening out rough skin texture with the help of physical and chemical exfoliators.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 180 ml
Best for Keratosis Pilaris: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: The formula made rounds on TikTok last year, acclaimed for its ability to quell small bumps associated with keratosis pilaris on arms and legs (the latter is also referred to as “strawberry legs” sometimes). Dr. Idriss is a fan of First Aid Beauty’s scrub for its 10% AHA and urea, “a hydrating ingredient that also helps with exfoliation, as well as colloidal oatmeal for soothing properties.”
- Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, camellia extract, willow bark extract.
- Best For: Anyone dealing with KP—otherwise known as “strawberry skin.”
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 8 oz
Best Scent: Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Herbivore’s floral-scented scrub works to combat dryness and dullness through vegan, cruelty-free ingredients like virgin coconut oil, pink clay, and shea butter. Plus, its light coconut-rose scent will leave you smelling divine.
- Key Ingredients: Sugar, organic virgin coconut oil, shea butter, Moroccan rose.
- Best For: Deeply moisturizing skin while sloughing away dead skin.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 8 oz
Best Coffee Scrub: African Botanics Café Noir Body Exfoliant
- Why We Love It: Coffee beans have the ability to resurface skin too—as proven by African Botanics’ scrub. Here, superfine beans combine with volcanic pumice, crushed marula nut shell powder, and a blend of exfoliating acids to provide a gentle refining and firming treatment. Now, your morning cup of joe isn't your only caffeine addiction!
- Key Ingredients: Sugar cane, rose geranium oil, coffee bean.
- Best For: Anyone looking for a non-abrasive exfoliant that also includes AHAs and BHAs.
- Fragrance: No synthetic fragrance
- Size: 200 ml
Best Chemical Exfoliator: Youth To The People 10% AHA + Yerba Mate Smoothing Energy Body Scrub
- Why We Love It: Unlike many body scrubs that require digging into a pot of gooeyness with wet hands, this easy-to-use scrub comes in a convenient squeeze bottle, allowing for effortless application in the shower. Packed with the holy trinity of gentle chemical exfoliants—lactic, glycolic, and mandelic acid—along with physical exfoliators (coffee), this body scrub guarantees results. Plus, it boasts a delightful fragrance, Energy Shift, featuring notes of black pepper, ginger, and velvet woods that can perk you up in the morning. That’s that me, yerba mate.
- Key Ingredients: Yerba mate, lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, caffeine, olive seed powder, jojoba beads
- Best For: Suitable for KP and sensitive skin
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 237 mL
Best for Scalp: Ouai Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub
Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub St. Bart’s
- Why We Love It: A scrub that’s good for scalp and body? Mais, ouai! This one is a favorite for cleansing and replenishing: when applied to your scalp, it reduces buildup, resulting in a cleaner, fresher feeling. On your body, it leaves your skin smoother and softer. You can choose between Melrose Place, which offers a clean, fresh scent, or St. Barths, with its beachy citrus aroma perfect for when you want to pretend you’re OOO.
- Key Ingredients: Sugar crystals, panthenol, glycerin, coconut oil
- Best For: Dry skin and scalp buildup
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 8.8 oz
How to Incorporate Body Scrubs and Exfoliants
When you consider adding one of these to your routine, it’s important to consider how they work with your pre-existing products. Idriss recommends using a scrub in the shower pre-cleanse. On the chemical exfoliant front, she notes it depends on the type. It’s best to stick to the product’s specific instructions, though serums and lotions will likely come into play post-shower—just as you would apply a moisturizer.
Just as you would for your face, avoid over-exfoliating. "[This] can dry out your skin, cause irritated or inflamed skin, and can even be itchy,” Dr. Idriss notes. “Not all skin is created equal, meaning not all skin will react positively to all products.” She advises spot-testing to see how your skin reacts. If you don’t experience any irritation, you can start working it into your routine two to four times a week, depending on your skin type.
