Rejuvenate rough, dull skin with these expert-recommended exfoliants. Cold weather can take a toll on your skin, causing dry, rough, and flaky patches. That’s why it’s important to take care of them with the best body scrubs and scrubs.
Using a body scrub to remove dead skin cells can help heal your skin and take it to the next level. You have to be careful not to overdo it, or you could make things worse. “Physical exfoliants can remove dry patches of skin caused by the winter air and dramatically change the texture of your skin.
“However, overusing a body scrub can make your skin too rough and weaken the skin’s protective barrier,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Over-exfoliation can strip the skin of its natural oils and nutrients, leading to dryness and irritation all over the body.” ”
How to choose the best body scrub for your skin. So how does a body scrub remove dead skin without causing redness or dryness? It’s important to consider various aspects:
Chemical peels. Dr. Engman prefers chemical “peels” containing glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid over physical peels that use particles. These chemical peels, she says, help “effectively exfoliate the top layer of the stratum corneum, also known as the outermost layer of the skin, without the risk of skin damage from vigorous scrubbing with formulas containing abrasive particles.”
Body scrubs. Roberta Del Campo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, likes physical exfoliants and micro-exfoliants. Micro-peels feel pleasant on your skin because they “contain small, less abrasive particles that gently remove dead skin while leaving the healthy skin barrier intact,” she says.
Think about how much you need. Whatever method you use, you don’t need too much: Dr. Engleman recommends applying only a cherry-sized amount to each part of your body. Massage gently (no need to really scrub!), then follow up with a hydrating lotion or cream to lock in moisture.
First, the best dermatologist-recommended body scrubs for your bathing routine:
1. Dove Exfoliating Body Scrub: This silky, dreamy scrub deserves a spot in our 2020 Health & Beauty Awards. “Dove Body Scrub is my favorite (and the one I use in the shower) because its small particle size makes it less abrasive to the skin,” says Shari Marchbein, MD, a New York City dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology. “It contains glycerin, shea butter, and other moisturizing ingredients to gently exfoliate dead skin cells.” ”
2. ASUTRA Rejuvenating Eucalyptus Body Scrub: This silky scrub is based on finely ground Dead Sea salts and infused with soothing aloe vera, nourishing jojoba and argan oils, and energizing eucalyptus oil to add a touch of aromatherapy to your shower experience.
“This product has been a miracle for my skin. “For 14 years, I’ve had three psoriasis patches on my elbows and behind one ear,” one reviewer wrote. “I’ve tried dozens of different things to get it under control. Nothing has ever come close to it until this product came along.
In four days, it was hard to tell that the grapefruit-sized psoriasis patches had appeared on each of my elbows. Nodes. No scale on the skin. No redness.”
3. DERMDoctor KP Dermatologist-on-Duty Formula Body Scrub: For mature skin, chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are the best form of body scrub, says DermDoctor KP, Ph.D. Engelman.
It combines glycolic acid, lactic acid, antioxidant-rich green tea, and botanical particles to exfoliate and restore skin’s radiance. (Use only on sensitive areas of the body where skin is sensitive. If in doubt, patch test first.)
4. First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub:
“It’s a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation, using pumice beads along with glycolic and lactic acids to remove keratinized bumps around hair,” says Corey L. Hartman, M.D., et al. “Licorice root extract and willow bark extract also help soothe and smooth the skin.”
5. Avène Gentle Body Scrub: Your skin will feel luxuriously soft after using this gentle body scrub, which is enriched with camelina oil, thermal water, and shea butter to gently remove dead skin cells while locking in moisture.
It contains biodegradable, non-abrasive cellulose and two sizes of jojoba wax beads to improve skin texture. Plus, the ingredients are nourishing and moisturizing, making skin softer.
6. Paula’s Choice Light Body Treatment 2% BHA: This full-body treatment combines 2% salicylic acid with nourishing, fragrance-free botanical extracts to nourish and smooth skin.
The formula gently exfoliates dead skin cells for a visibly softer, smoother, and less uneven complexion.
7. OSEA Earth Salt Body Scrub “It uses sea salt as the primary exfoliant and is best for people with normal, combination, and oily skin,” advises Dr. Hartman. “Not only does it leave your skin feeling soft, but it also contains shea butter and avocado oil to hydrate the skin.”
