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The Best Exfoliating Face Scrub For Softer, Rejuvenated Skin

Latest update: January 31, 2024

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Smooth, moisturized skin is just one routine away.

Many of us dedicate a lot of time and effort to our skincare routine, but often overlook the importance of exfoliating at least once a week. When you exfoliate, you help your skin stay soft and smooth by buffing away and removing dead skin cells. A quality exfoliator may also help your other skincare products penetrate deeper and do their jobs more effectively. But with all the face exfoliating scrubs out there, how do you know the one you choose will actually work?

What is an exfoliating face scrub?

Face scrubs are a skincare product that contain coarse particles to help exfoliate the skin. When you apply a face scrub, the particles rub against your skin to remove all the dirt from your pores and your dead skin cells. Many exfoliating face scrubs used to contain microbeads which ultimately went down the drain and contaminated your water supply. In other words, if you find a scrub that’s still made with microbeads, keep looking.

Unlike a cleanser or serum, exfoliating scrubs are incredibly useful because of their ability to remove dead skin cells and debris that can result in dry patches or clogged pores. Exfoliating face scrubs may also brighten the appearance of skin and keep it smoother for longer.

Exfoliators also help your other skincare products do their job more effectively. By removing your outmost layer of dead skin cells, your serums, moisturizers, and cleansers can work deep beneath the skin surface. 

5 BEST EXFOLIATING FACE SCRUBS OF 2024

1. Exfoliating Face Scrub

by BeautyLux[1]

PROS

CONS

Gently exfoliates dead skin cells


Creates a smooth, silky complexion 


Contains jojoba beads instead of microbeads


Targets skin tone with botanical extracts


Hydrating formula


Vegan and cruelty-free


Free of sulfates, parabens, and silicones


Made in the USA

Frequently sold out online


Only available online

The Bottom Line 

BeautyLux Exfoliating Face Scrub is hands down our number one choice for the best exfoliating face scrub of 2024. This clean and gentle exfoliator contains essential ingredients including vitamin E, jojoba beads, and nourishing castor oil as well as a wide range of antioxidant-rich fruit extracts such as vanilla, coconut, pineapple, and anise to comfort, revive, and calm skin after exfoliation.

Applied directly to the face after cleansing, this high-quality scrub effectively removes dead skin cells and debris leaving your pores clean, and your skin texture silky and smooth. Users reported that their skin was not left feeling overly dry thanks to the addition of castor oil. What our team loves most about Beauty Lux’s exfoliating face scrub is how affordable it is for such a quality, powerhouse product. Plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free making it suitable for people of all lifestyles who are looking for a brightening, exfoliating face scrub.

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This top-rated exfoliating scrub for a glowing complexion is formulated with a blend of nourishing vitamins and fruit extracts, castor oil, and jojoba esters to gently exfoliate, brighten, and rejuvenate your skin.

GRADE

A+

5. Blackhead Eraser Scrub

by Clean and Clear

PROS

CONS

Super affordable


Available at drugstores


Contains jojoba esters

Unpleasant scent


Contains alcohol  


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The Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Scrub comes in last place on our round-up due to its very low price and lack of essential nurturing ingredients. However, it is a super affordable and easy-to-purchase product as you can find it in many drug stores. This product contains alcohol which may be sensitive for some users skin. 

The Bottom Line 

A blackhead eliminating facial scrub is recommended for daily use and contains natural micro-scrubbers for surface skin exfoliation and a deep-down clean.

GRADE

C

Our Choice

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by BeautyLux

Exfoliating Face Scrub 

US made with Premium Ingredients

Packed with Vitamins and Antioxidants

Vegan, Cruelty-Free, and Paraben-Free

Free Shipping on Orders over $50

Based on 3739 Reviews of Primal Harvest

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

Note: The information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with your physician and should not be construed as individual medical advice. The testimonials on this website are individual cases and do not guarantee that you will get the same results. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. 

© 2024 Smarter-Choices.com. 
All Rights Reserved. 

[1] This website is owned and operated by and BeautyLux® brands.

Trademarks utilized on our website belong to their respective owners and no implied or expressed endorsement of our website or services is intended. Rankings can be affected by the relationship Smarter Choices has with our top picks.

Jojoba esters

Vitamin E

Castor oil

IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR:

Sodium bicarbonate

Botanical extracts

Sulfates

Parabens

INGREDIENTS TO TRY TO AVOID:

Microbeads

Silicones

When it comes to taking care of our skin, especially on our face, it’s all about finding the right fit. But for many of us, it’s hard to know where to begin. We know that trying product after product can be exhausting, not to mention expensive! 


Say yes to a brighter, even complexion and smoother-looking skin with our choices of the best exfoliating face scrubs of 2024.

How to choose the best exfoliating face scrub for smooth, silky skin that glows:

What to look for and what to try to avoid

Ingredient TransparencyAlways check that the brand discloses a full list of their ingredients and explains what’s inside their products.

Fair Prices: If you find an exfoliating face scrub formulated with powerhouse ingredients like those listed above at a super low price, this might seem too good to be true. And unfortunately, that’s usually the case. When it comes to your face and skin health, it’s generally a better option not to compromise on quality and choose products that are fairly priced than suspiciously cheap.

Money-Back Guarantee: Why waste your money (and time) on a product that doesn’t work for you? A money-back guarantee shows that the company truly stands behind their products.

Lifestyle SuitabilityAre the products cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and sustainable? These are important factors to consider, especially as more and more consumers are becoming conscious about the types of products absorbed by their bodies. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Unreviewed ProductsIt’s a good idea to choose brands that disclose their verified product reviews. Reviews not only give you a good idea of what the product is really like, but many consumers offer tips based on their own experiences.

Skipping Your ResearchAlways do your research before you buy. Your skin absorbs everything you place on it, so it’s important to choose skincare products carefully. 

Skimping on QualityAs mentioned above, it’s rarely worth it to choose price over quality. Look for high-quality, naturally-derived ingredients whenever possible.

Harsh Chemicals, Parabens, Sulfates, or Silicones: With so many clean beauty products available, there’s no reason to settle on a product that contains potentially irritating or harmful chemicals. It’s important to take care of your face and skin health the right way. Look for labels that specifically mention the exclusion of ingredients like unnecessary fillers or parabens, sulfates, and silicones.

WHAT TO TRY TO AVOID:

Many experts agree that using a high-quality exfoliating face scrub is important for maintaining healthy skin.

People use face scrubs for a number of reasons. Whether it’s for dull, clogged, or aging skin, it’s a good idea to find a face scrub that is also hydrating and nourishing. This may help to balance the dry, raw feeling that can come from exfoliation. These types of face scrubs are typically formulated with botanical extracts and moisturizing oils. But finding the best exfoliating face scrub for you can be a downright challenge. From texture to ingredients, there are just so many things to consider. But, the most important factor to consider overall is the quality.

There are some other considerations to pay attention to when you’re looking for an exfoliating face scrub:

Uneven texture

Clogged pores

Blemishes

Dry patches


Potential signs that say you might benefit from an exfoliating face scrub:

Bumps

Excess oil

Flakiness

Dull, lackluster complexion

Create a radiant, glowing complexion

Unclog pores and draw out impurities

Promote a smooth, silky texture

Lift dead skin cells

Brighten lackluster skin

Even out skin tone

Enhance the absorption of other skin products

A high-quality exfoliating face scrub may:

Include harsh chemicals

Lacks nourishing vitamins

Contain microbeads

Cause skin irritation

Lack proper moisturizing ingredients

Dry out the skin

How some exfoliating face scrubs may not meet your needs:

2. Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

by TULA

PROS

CONS

Natural, high-quality ingredients


Contains superfruit enzymes 


Uses sugar instead of microbeads


30-day return policy


Works for all skin types

Sugar may not be suitable for all skin types


Lacks essential vitamins


No mention of vegan or cruelty-free 

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This natural sugar scrub melts away excess oil, buildup & debris without stripping skin. Probiotic & plum extracts help improve skin smoothness, while superfruit enzymes help to polish pores, leaving skin glowing.

The Bottom Line 

The Exfoliating Sugar Scrub by TULA provides support and nourishment to dull skin and helps to reduce the appearance of bumps and dry patches. Although it contains ingredients such as probiotics and plum extracts, it was lacking essential vitamins like vitamin E. 

GRADE

B+

3. Daily Microfoliant

by Dermalogica

PROS

CONS

Formulated with colloidal oatmeal, rice bran, and papaya


Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free


Paraben and fragrance-free

Price



Powder form can be messy 

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Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant comes in third on our list. We like that it’s formulated with natural ingredients that include nourishing and effective rice bran and papaya, as well as being vegan and cruelty-free. Yet, this exfoliant scrub had a pretty major downside: its price point. The price point may be high for some users. 

The Bottom Line 

Upon contact with water, this powder polishes skin to perfection to help balance uneven skin tones, while calming your skin.

GRADE

B

4. Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliator 

by Neutrogena

PROS

CONS

Lightweight formula


Contains moisturizing hyaluronic acid


Available at drugstores


Price

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Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliator is a solid choice for those looking for an inexpensive, easy-to-purchase product. It contains known hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and is lightweight in texture. However, it may not be suitable for sensitive skin. 

The Bottom Line 

No Money-Back Guarantee


Strong, unpleasant scent 


Not suitable for sensitive skin

This lightweight gel-cream cleanser with naturally-derived skin smoothers effectively removes dirt, oil, and dry surface skin.

GRADE

C+

Microbeads are used in hundreds of products, often as abrasive scrubbers, including face washes, body washes, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies. Microbeads are designed to be discarded down the drain, but because of their small size, they are littered into the environment and have become one of the many types of microplastic debris reported in aquatic habitats.

When used on the skin, microbeads can actually cause abrasions and make the skin drier. They can also make the skin prone to irritation, causing it to look red, blotchy, or rough.

Here’s the good news! A gentler and eco-friendly alternative to microbeads does exist. For example, some products use sodium bicarbonate and jojoba esters that dissolve in water and break upon application.

Why are microbeads harmful?

Who should use an exfoliating face scrub?

Face scrubs can be used by anyone at any age! They are particularly helpful for those looking for smooth and silky skin.

That being said, many of us tend to neglect our skin issues because we don’t know what products to use. Nourishing and exfoliating the face can be beneficial for everyone to help counteract the effects of environmental aggressors, changes in weather, or the inevitability of getting older.

What are the benefits of using an exfoliating face scrub?

More and more people are reaching for an exfoliating face scrub to boost the appearance of smooth, youthful, and brighter skin. Especially those who might feel that their skin looks dull, dry, and bumpy

A major benefit of an exfoliating face scrub is that it addresses one of the most neglected aspects of skin health: dead skin cells. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so, but even then not all of them are removed. Exfoliating face scrubs simply speed up the process to keep your skin smooth, unclogged, and vibrant.

Poor skin care can lead to a range of skin health concerns. Simply cleansing and moisturizing each night is the very least you can do for your face. Adding an exfoliating face scrub 2-3 nights per week may help your other skincare products absorb quicker, taking your skin care game to the next level.

BENEFITSINGREDIENTSBEST OF 2024