There are few sensations quite as satisfying as sloughing the dead skin from your body’s surface, revealing the smooth, baby-soft skin of your dreams. Those days when you carve out enough time to complete an everything shower—complete with a luscious shave, a shine-boosting hair mask, and an indulgent body scrub—can make you feel like a million bucks, even while sopping wet.
The latter is the first step we beauty editors will incorporate into our more involved showers, even if we’re short on time. However, not all scrubs are created equal. “A good body scrub should have enough scrubbing particles to feel light exfoliation, but not so abrasive that it compromises the skin barrier,” advises Dr. Kseniya Kobets, MD, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care. “I look for physical or mechanical scrubs that either don’t dissolve (like pumice beads or shells that can vary in size and harshness) or sugar- or salt-based scrubs that are gentler, dissolve with water, and are easier on the skin.” However, that’s not to say that “harsher” scrubs are “bad” for you. If your skin is less sensitive or you’re experiencing keratosis pilaris (or KP, more on that later), a more vigorous scrub might be necessary.
After much testing, we found the best salt scrubs, sugar confections, and chemical hybrids that give you skin so smooth, you’re liable to slip right out of your clothes. While we’d suggest reading the room before doing that last bit, we highly encourage you to read on and shop the body scrubs our editors and experts can’t get enough of.
(Image credit: Vault Stock)
The Best Body Scrubs, at a Glance
Best Overall: Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezzz Exfoliating Body Scrub
Josie Maran
Vanilla Vibezzz Exfoliating Body Scrub
Pros: Hydrating, nonabrasive, addictive scent
Cons: Not ideal for skin with fragrance sensitivities
Size: 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Sugar granules, shea butter, argan oil | Skin type: Dry, normal, combination | Scented: Yes
Who What Wear beauty editor Erin Jahns is quick to recommend Josie Maran’s Vanilla Vibezzz body scrub. An indulgent whip of argan oil and sugar crystals, this saccharine body scrub gently sloughs the skin without stripping the barrier—leaving your skin softer, smoother, and a whole lot shinier post-shower thanks to its hydrating ingredients. Oh, and did we mention that the warm gourmand scent is actually heaven? Thank us later.
Customer review: “This product does exactly what it says! It exfoliates and moisturizes. Did not have to apply lotion to my skin for 48 hours. Cannot express how much I love it.”
Best Salt Scrub: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
OSEA
Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Pros: Gently exfoliating, calming scent, hydrating formula
Cons: Not suitable for sensitive skin, expensive
Size: 12 oz. | Key ingredients: Mineral salt, Gigartina seaweed, shea butter, lavender oil | Skin type: Dry, normal, combination | Scented: Yes
Salt scrubs differ from sugar formulas at an ingredient level, but they’re also better for different skin types. People looking for a more intense scrub to treat rougher areas of the body, like the heels, or to smooth the texture caused by dryness or KP might have better luck with salt, which is generally coarser than sugar crystals. Associate beauty editor Maya Thomas recommends this salt formula for its mineral-rich makeup that gently buffs away dead skin cells, and the infused shea butter and lavender oil that simultaneously hydrates and soothes the newly exfoliated skin.
Customer review: “This is the best body scrub there is. A true treat! It’s so exfoliating and feels great while not stripping the skin. Most of the time I don’t have to add on lotion when I get out of the shower because it feels so hydrating as you wash. Although I do love their body oil, so usually I follow up with that! Must buy! You won’t be disappointed.”
Best Hybrid Scrub: Follain Body Scrub
Pros: Contains both chemical and physical exfoliants, doesn’t strip skin, good value
Cons: Not abrasive enough for tough skin areas (like heels)
Size: 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Hydrated silica, AHA, BHA, kaolin clay | Skin type: All | Scented: Yes, subtly
Both senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider and associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia can’t get enough of this Follain Body Scrub. The lovechild of mineral physical exfoliants (hydrated silica, also found in toothpaste) and chemical exfoliants (a cocktail of lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids, found in every chemical peel), this transformative body scrub is like a shiny, smooth polish for your skin. The physical crystals work hard to slough away dead skin cells while the chemical compounds sweep them away entirely—kaolin clay bringing up the rear with its purifying properties that clean the pores in your resurfaced skin.
Customer review: “I have loved this scrub for years. Makes my skin silky soft, and it even treated my postpartum KP on my arms.”
Best Budget: Tree Hut Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub
Tree Hut
Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub
Pros: Great value for price, hydrates dry skin, restores radiance
Cons: Some shoppers find the scent too strong
Size: 19 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, shea butter, alpha hydroxy acid | Skin type: Dry | Scented: Yes
Not going to lie, these body scrubs can get pretty pricey. If you don’t feel like splurging just yet, then fall in line with the millions of TikTok fans who can’t get enough of Tree Hut’s colorful, prettily fragranced, and most importantly, quite reasonably priced body scrubs. This particular scrub is infused with vitamin C and shea butter for more radiant, smooth skin and a luxurious boost of hydration. Our skin never feels greasy after slathering these on in the shower—just revitalized and moisturized.
Customer review: “This scrub smells amazing and feels so refreshing on the skin! It leaves my body super smooth and soft without being too harsh. The scent lasts after the shower, and it makes my skin feel clean and moisturized. Perfect for self-care days or everyday use. Highly recommend!”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Avène Gentle Body Scrub
Pros: Dermatologist-recommended, hydrating, gently exfoliates
Cons: Pricey for the amount of product, fragrance may be irritating to very sensitive skin
Size: 6.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Cellulose microbeads, shea oil, camelina oil, safflower oil | Skin type: Sensitive | Scented: Yes
In the game of body scrubs, it’s somewhat hard to find a formula that works well on sensitive skin. However, that’s not the case with this hydrating scrub from the French pharmacy brand Avène. “I like the Avène Gentle Body Scrub because it uses gentle microbeads and is infused with multiple plant oils to hydrate the skin,” board-certified dermatologist and Dermstore Medical Advisory Board member Connie Yang, MD, explains. Its cellulose beads are softer on the skin than coarse salt or potentially agitating sugar but still work hard to slough away dead skin and smooth texture. Plus, its thermal spring water and plant oil mixture is super hydrating to dry skin.
Customer review: “Love how gentle of an exfoliant this is, but also that it does the job. I’ve used exfoliants in the past that are either too gentle or too harsh, and this one bridges that gap perfectly.”
(Image credit: Vault Stock)
Best for KP: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
First Aid Beauty
KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
Pros: Clears follicle buildup, exfoliates without stripping the skin, prevents ingrown hair
Cons: Rather small bottle
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Pumice, glycolic acid, lactic acid, bisabolol | Skin type: All, including sensitive | Scented: Yes, naturally
KP is a commonly occurring skin condition where tiny bumps, or “strawberry skin,” arise due to excess keratin buildup in the hair follicles. “Physical exfoliation (along with chemical exfoliation) can be beneficial for keratosis pilaris (rough bumps on arms and legs) and dry, flaky areas—especially on arms, legs, and elbows,” explains Kseniya Kobets, MD, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care. “The First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub is a great option because the formulation includes glycerin—a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the skin—colloidal oatmeal, plus antioxidants like green tea and vitamin E, and hydroxy acids for additional gentle exfoliation,” she adds. “This combination makes the exfoliation feel effective but still cushioned and leaves the skin noticeably softer without that stripped and overly dry feeling.”
Customer review: “I’ve suffered with a small bumpy patch on each shin for about a year. It started last winter where I wasn’t moisturizing as often as usual and my shins got really dry & itchy. After a few weeks, small bumps appeared which became quite raised, and it’s taken ‘til now for them to slowly start disappearing. I used various scrubs & moisturizers religiously, trying to smooth out the area and thought I’d give this a go, and after one use, my skin felt so much smoother. I’ve used it about 3 times now and it’s definitely helped with my skin issue.”
Best for Texture: Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator
Nécessaire
The Body Exfoliator
Pros: Won’t strip skin, calming smell, has both physical and chemical exfoliants
Cons: Not abrasive enough for thick texture
Size: 6.1 oz. | Key ingredients: Volcanic pumice, AHA, BHA, PHA | Skin type: All, including sensitive and KP | Scented: Yes
Thomas also recommends this texture-smoothing scrub from Nécessaire. Yet another physical and chemical scrub hybrid, this formula is packed with volcanic pumice and AHA, BHA, and PHA exfoliants to give the skin a good polish. While she appreciates this scrub for its skin-smoothing properties, it’s also great for preventing the production of ingrown hairs and KP. Plus, its eucalyptus-scented, rich foam makes this scrub lather nicely (which makes us feel cleaner stepping out of the shower) and leaves the skin feeling hydrated. It’s basically an in-shower spa experience.
Customer review: “This lasts forever, so I’m only on my second bottle, but I enjoyed it enough to repurchase. Great scent and a little goes a long way.”
Best for Mature Skin: Herbivore Botanicals Coconut Oil Body Polish
Herbivore Botanicals
Coconut Oil Body Polish
Pros: Hydrating formula, supports cellular repair, nonabrasive sugar crystals
Cons: On the pricey side
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Coconut oil, Moroccan rose, pink clay | Skin type: All, but especially mature | Scented: Yes
The second scrub Yang recommends is Herbivore’s Body Polish, made with coconut oil and sugar crystals. Its crystalline formula helps physically slough away dead skin and impurities while its silky coconut oil blend slathers the skin in a much-needed dose of hydrating fatty acids. Pink clay offers purifying properties that make the skin feel ultra clean, and Moroccan rose helps boost cellular repair in aging skin.
Customer review: “This body scrub is on another level – trust me, I’ve tried to use others instead and nothing compares. The grit is very fine and it leaves your skin feeling moisturized but not greasy. The smell is SO GOOD. I never thought that rose and coconut would be a nice combo…The packaging also makes it feel special and luxurious. This would make a great gift, also.”
Best Post-Shave: Fur Silk Scrub
Pros: Safe for allover use, hybrid formula, safe for sensitive skin
Cons: On the expensive side
Size: 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Jojoba beads, glycolic acid, lactic acid, clary sage oil | Skin type: Sensitive | Scented: Yes
Associate beauty editor Sabrina Talbert can’t sing enough praises for Fur’s Silk Scrub. Yet another hybrid formula, this product utilizes both chemical (lactic and glycolic acids) and physical exfoliants (jojoba beads) to give your skin a good scrub on all levels. “It melts away just enough that I can buff away dead skin without feeling like I’m doing more harm than good,” she explains. “As it starts to melt away, it leaves my skin feeling super soft.” Talbert also adores the scent—which she describes as “earthy and gender-neutral”—as well as its extra benefits, such as treatments for KP, hyperpigmentation, and ingrown hairs. “I like to follow it up with the original Fur Oil… It’s my go-to final touch,” she adds.
Customer review: “Been loving the Fur Silk Scrub. Super gentle but really effective. It smooths out rough spots, helps with ingrowns, and feels so nice on the skin. Safe to use everywhere, even post-shave. Leaves my skin soft, fresh, and glowy.”
Best Post-Wax: Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub
Aesop
Geranium Leaf Body Scrub
Pros: Prevents ingrowns, exfoliates without stripping the skin, purifies pores
Cons: None we can think of
Size: 6.2 oz. | Key ingredients: Bamboo stem, pumice, geranium leaf oil | Skin type: All | Scented: Yes
Thomas also recommends this detoxifying scrub from Aesop. It only makes sense that the brand that makes some of our favorite hand soaps would deliver in the shower department, and deliver, it did. This physical exfoliant, powered by bamboo stem, pumice, geranium leaf oil, and mandarin orange, gently sloughs impurities, dead skin cells, and residue from shaving and waxing sessions to prevent ingrown hairs. It’s a great addition to anyone’s everything shower for an ultra-luxurious experience.
Customer review: “Texture is great. Some exfoliants have granules that are either too sparse or irregular and sharp. This is neither. It’s very consistent and smells great.”
What to Look For in a Body Scrub
- Scrub type: Most scrubs are either physical—utilizing salt or sugar crystals (or natural exfoliants like pumice)—or chemical, like AHAs and BHAs. “When it comes to physical scrubs, I recommend gentler ingredients like sugar and oatmeal,” says Yang. “These tend to be less abrasive than salt, which is coarser. Although this can be good for thicker areas like the heels.” Chemical scrubs act like a less-severe version of a chemical peel, and many scrubs utilize both to achieve the smoothest skin.
- Formula: Kobets recommends looking for “humectants like glycerin, soothing plant oils, and moisturizing agents” in the base formula, as these ingredients “cushion” the exfoliants and prevent the skin from feeling tight or irritated. “I want a scrub that leaves the skin smoother and softer immediately, but still gentle enough for regular use, even on more sensitive skin types,” she adds.
- Skin type: People with dry skin, or anyone experiencing KP, will greatly benefit from using body scrubs in their routine because they quickly improve skin texture. “They can help treat [KP], aka ‘chicken skin’ or ‘strawberry skin,’ by unclogging pores and smoothing out the small bumps caused by keratin buildup,” Yang explains. “They can also improve absorption of moisturizer applied afterwards,” she adds.
How often should you use body scrubs?
Kobets recommends body scrubs “when they’re used thoughtfully,” which means one to four times a month, and not as a daily practice, no matter how tempting the scent may be. “The key is moderation based on your skin and choosing a well-formulated product,” she explains. “Over-scrubbing can disrupt the skin barrier and cause rashes and skin discoloration, so I always emphasize using scrubs no more than one to two times per week and pairing them with hydrating products afterward.”
How do you use a body scrub?
There are no hard-and-fast rules to using body scrubs, but generally, you should use them after washing your skin with bodywash and either before or after shaving. “The best time to use a scrub is after a few minutes in the shower, when the skin has softened with warm water and is more receptive to gentle exfoliation,” says Kobets. “I tell patients to massage in circular motions, rinse thoroughly, and then immediately follow with a hydrating body lotion or cream while the skin is still slightly damp after toweling off. This seals in moisture and helps maintain a smooth, healthy skin barrier.”
Are salt or sugar scrubs better?
The experts say one isn’t necessarily better than the other; they’re just better suited to different skin types. Sugar and oatmeal, as aforementioned by Yang, are better exfoliants for sensitive skin because the ingredients aren’t as coarse as salt crystals. However, salt scrubs can be great for areas with a thicker texture or more buildup (think rough patches or heels).
How We Chose
We decided on the 10 body scrubs above because of their nonabrasive formulas, skin-resurfacing properties, and shower-enhancing abilities. Each product is either personally recommended or comes lauded by dermatologists, whose recs we take to heart (and straight to the store). Each editor-approved product has been personally tested and implemented into our shower routines for at least four weeks in order to gain the most accurate insights.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
