The 11 Best Body Scrubs for Silky-Smooth Skin

Best Overall

Nopalera Cactus Flower Exfoliant

$32 at Nordstrom $32 at Shopbop.com $32 at Credo Beauty

Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, nopal, tangerine oil | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re a frequent self-tanning enthusiast, you’ll love this gentle body scrub from Nopalera. The three-in-one cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturizer cleans, scrubs, and hydrates the skin, while the subtle scent of tangerine oil helps create a calming ambiance. One of our testers appreciated how the scrub got to work on dry skin, uneven texture, and self-tanner splotches without causing irritation. In fact, she said the only thing left in the wake of this scrub was “just beautiful smoothness.” The formula features moisturizing and antioxidant ingredients, such as safflower oil, achiote seeds, and nopal, and is housed in a reusable (or recyclable) glass jar. The only caveat is that since it contains several hydrating oils, the formula can leave behind some oily residue. However, it washes off with water, and it doesn’t feel slimy or uncomfortable if it’s left on. And if you like to cut down on steps in your routine, the leftover oil might mean you can skip out on applying moisturizer after using the scrub.

Best Budget

Tree Hut Sugar Scrub

$23 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $9 at Target

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, mango fruit extract, avocado, safflower, and sweet almond oils | Size: 18 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re looking for a great-smelling, rich scrub to smooth away dead skin without spending a ton, the Tree Hut Sugar Scrub is your best bet. It’s super thick, (so it stays in your fingers as you scoop it out of the tub) and, therefore, is comparably less messy than other options on this list. A tablespoon of scrub can cover one leg, so given that the tub is 18 ounces, you can expect about 36 scrubbing sessions (meaning you get the most out of your money). Each tablespoon contains a ton of exfoliating beads, and we felt like it gave our skin a thorough scrub without being too harsh. We often used it before shaving since we found that the scrub helped us achieve a much closer shave than just shaving cream alone. One thing to note: If the scrub gets caught on the tub’s rim, it can be difficult to screw on and off. Take an extra second or two after using the scrub to remove any bits that might dry up and get stuck.

Best Splurge

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish

$69 at Sephora $39 at Ulta $39 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Brown sugar crystals, ginseng root extract, peppermint, oil blend | Size: 18 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re going to splurge on an exfoliating body scrub, let it be on this one from Fresh. Consisting of real brown sugar crystals, this formula does a great job of scrubbing away dead, dry skin cells without over-drying. Plus, because brown sugar is a humectant, it actually works to prevent moisture loss, too. We specifically loved the texture—it starts out grainy and exfoliating, but when it comes into contact with water, it becomes almost syrupy and smooth. After use, our skin felt silky-smooth and we loved incorporating it into our weekly shower routine. One thing to note is that because it’s oily and transforms into a syrupy texture, it can make your shower floor slippery as you wash it off.

In addition to the unique texture and how effectively it smooths the skin, we adore the brown sugar scent—it’s fresh, warm, and intoxicating.

Best Natural

Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub

$48 at Ulta $48 at Nordstrom $48 at Bloomingdales

Key Ingredients: New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan salt, red Hawaiian sea salt | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This standout scrub is so good (and so natural) that it relies solely on a handful of salts, oils, and butters to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. A blend of New Zealand solar salt, pink Himalayan salt, and red Hawaiian sea salt work in tandem with moisturizing shea butter, olive oil, rosemary extract, and avocado oil to get the job done without drying out or irritating the skin. Best of all, it feels (and smells) amazing. It’s chunky, so it certainly doesn’t lack in the scrubbing department, but it also lathers up nicely when it comes into contact with water in the shower or bath to give the skin an effective scrub without being too tough. 

If you don’t like the feeling of a minor oily residue on your skin after exfoliating, this one might not be for you. However, this slightly oily film that’s left on the skin after scrubbing is nice for those who want to keep their skin hydrated but are feeling too lazy to properly moisturize.

Best Scent

Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Body Scrub

$28 at Sephora $30 at Biossance.com $28 at Kohls.com

Key Ingredients: Pomegranate enzyme, sugar crystals, squalane | Size: 6.76 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Between its grainy-yet-goopy texture, squeeze bottle container, and (best of all) its fruity-fresh fragrance, there’s a lot to love about this scrub. With a perfect ratio of exfoliating flakes and goop, this formula from Biossance is easy to work across the skin and does an excellent job of smoothing away dead skin cells. You can feel the grains in this formula, but they’re not front and center, giving a bit of the spotlight to squalane and the other moisturizing elements. In addition to an ideal distribution, the formula itself goes a long way and doesn’t clump up. It’s also housed in a squeeze bottle, which is a total game changer when it comes to ease of use in the shower and a mess-free application. As for the scent, it’s reminiscent of a bag of fresh market fruits and is clean and distinct without being overpowering. We didn’t have an issue squeezing the product from the bottle, but some say the crystals can clog the top a bit, making it difficult to dispense.

Best for Spa-Like Experience

Necessaire The Body Exfoliator

$30 at Amazon $41 at Sephora View on Necessaire.com

Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, charcoal, pumice | Size: 6.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This just may be one of the best scrubs we’ve ever used. A Byrdie team fave for the ideal scrubby (though not abrasive) texture, this formula actually doubles down on the exfoliation. How? A combination of bamboo, charcoal, and pumice mechanically (aka physically) exfoliates, while glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids chemically dissolve dead skin cells, rough patches, and more. The fragrance-free variant is a great choice for sensitive skin, though it also comes in sandalwood and eucalyptus scents (a perfect choice for a spa-like ambiance in the shower). All three are sophisticated, as is the chic and minimalist packaging. Since the scrub is on the finer side (as opposed to gritty), it’s gentle on the skin and can be easily distributed from the mouth of the squeeze bottle—you don’t have to flex your muscles. The one thing we didn’t love about it was that the texture can be runny. Though it doesn’t waste too much product, you’ll want to be extra careful when squeezing it out so that you can savor every last bit of it.

Best for Dry Skin

Oui the People Full Disclosure Body Polish

$52 at Amazon $48 at Sephora

Key Ingredients: Bamboo powder, lactic acid, squalane | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It can sometimes feel like exfoliating dry skin may just dry it out even further—and sure, if you choose the wrong scrub and overdo it, then that can indeed be the case. But exfoliating is even more imperative when you’re dealing with dryness because it helps to remove flakes and allows you better penetration of your moisturizers, and this pick is amazing for dry, parched skin. It contains bamboo powder (which has a superfine texture that naturally exfoliates skin), lactic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid that smooths uneven texture), and olive-derived squalane (a deeply nourishing, anti-inflammatory agent). During testing, we loved that it spread across the skin with little to no work required. The grains stay together so you don’t lose too much scrub as you massage it onto your skin, and a little goes a long way, ensuring you get your money’s worth. After using it, our skin felt smooth and hydrated.

Best Dual-Purpose

Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub

$40 at Amazon $40 at Sephora $40 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Sugar, coconut oil, probiotic blend | Size: 8.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The sugar-based scrub is just as effective at removing dry patches from your body as it is removing dead skin and product buildup from your scalp. Your scalp is skin, after all, so it needs just as much care as the skin on your face and body; regular scalp exfoliation can help ensure your hair stays strong and healthy. In addition to its other uses, this coconut-blend and probiotic-infused multitasker is effective on all hair textures. We were initially skeptical of the gel-like formula, but once it mixed with water, it foamed up slightly, which, combined with the heavenly rose-musk scent, made for a delightful exfoliating experience.

Best for Bumps

Kopari KP Body Bumps Be Gone

$20 at Amazon $28 at Ulta $28 at Target

Key Ingredients: Pumice, kactic and glycolic acids, jojoba seed oil | Size: 8.45 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have keratosis pilaris (aka KP), which is a skin condition that appears as bumps on the backs of your arms, regular exfoliation can help. Not only does this formula from Kopari use both chemical and physical exfoliation to smooth the skin and treat KP, but it’s also helpful for clearing clogged pores. Pumice buffing beads do the physical scrubbing, while glycolic and lactic acids tackle the rest. Jojoba seed oil then helps lock in deep hydration and prevents any irritation. Although the scrub has noticeable exfoliating particles, we found that they’re not abrasive enough to cause any pain or discomfort. After using it, our skin felt smooth, with an improvement in redness after each use as well as a reduction in bumps.

Best Nonabrasive

Avène Gentle Body Scrub

$23 at Amazon $30 at Dermstore View on Aveneusa.com

Key Ingredients: Avene thermal spring water | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

You can exfoliate if you have sensitive skin—you just need to be a little more careful and use an exfoliator for sensitive skin. Enter this formula from Avene: it’s a super gentle version of the rest of the exfoliators on this list. It relies on teeny-tiny jojoba beads for a very gentle exfoliation (so much so that it feels like a body wash). Meanwhile, the brand’s patented thermal spring water plus a trio of nourishing oils help to impart hydration (without the greasy residue). It feels similar to a body wash with some exfoliating grains in it. As someone with eczema, one of our testers loved the product and found that it exfoliated nicely, but the oils made sure she didn’t experience irritation. Plus, because it’s only meant to be used once or twice a week, one bottle lasts a while.

Best for Ingrown Hairs

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub

$28 at Amazon $12 at Sephora $30 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids, bisabolol | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dealing with annoying ingrown hairs? One of our testers, who frequently experiences ingrown hairs, says that this product from First Aid Beauty is especially helpful in treating and preventing more from forming. Because it’s relatively gentle, she’s able to give her skin a good scrub without having to worry about causing scrapes or microabrasions. As a result, she was able to target all of the dead skin and ingrown hairs that had been bothering her.

She has “very sensitive skin that does not take kindly to most things” and yet experienced no irritation when using this one. In fact, this formula actually helped irritated skin heal faster. We also loved how effective it was at minimizing KP; it worked to reduce bumps and leave our skin feeling much more smooth.