Dryness can surface on the skin at any time of year, and when it does, a few key players (like a good exfoliator) can significantly improve the texture and clarity of your skin. But should you exfoliate dry skin on the face? The short answer is yes. Some of the best face exfoliators for dry skin smooth away dead skin and can also help your collection look more radiant and smooth overall.
An effective sloughing routine doesn’t require a lengthy process or loads of products; instead, consistency and, more importantly, the right ingredients are keys to avoiding stripping or causing irritation to the skin. According to Jeremy Brauer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Spectrum Skin and Laser in New York City, it is crucial to find the right exfoliant for your skin to reap the benefits. Otherwise, your skin can end up drier and more irritated than before.
“Everyone can use face exfoliators, it just comes down to the power of the ingredients,” Dr. Brauer says. “It is important to find the right one for your skin type to achieve the best outcome, whether it be a physical or chemical exfoliator for your skin type.” Ahead, Dr. Brauer explains exactly what to look for in an exfoliator if you’re battling dry skin, but before that, let’s review our top exfoliator picks.
The best exfoliators for dry skin, at a glance:
- Best for dry skin: SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub, $35
- Best pad exfoliator: Skinbetter AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads, $120
- Best foaming scrub: Tatcha The Rice Polish, $68
- Best daily scrub: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $66
- Best fast-acting scrub: Versed Instant Resurfacing Face Mask, $17
- Best for sensitive skin: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher, $48
- Best pro-grade: Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliator, $78
- Best drugstore: Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub, $12
- Best brightening: Ole Henriksen Lemondade Smoothing Scrub, $35
- Best powder: Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Wow Polish Triple Pore-Exfoliating Powder, $49
- Best for acne: Tula Skincare So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub, $35
- Best energizing: Youth to the People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial, $59
- Best antioxidant: Humanrace Enzyme Exfoliant, $46
- Best for dark spots: Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, $54
- Best chemical exfoliator: Kiehl’s Milk-Peel Gentle Exfoliating Toner, $62
Shop the 15 best exfoliators for dry skin
SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub, $35 — $35.00
“This physical exfoliant has a decongesting formula that is designed to clarify, cleanse, and smooth your skin. It exfoliates without being harmful to delicate skin, so it’s a safe option for those with dry or sensitive skin,” says Dr. Brauer. Glycerin and aloe in the scrub also help replenish moisture after pores are purged.
Size: 5 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: hydrated silica, glycerin, aloe leaf extract
Skinbetter AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads — $120.00
Dr. Jeremy Brauer recommends this chemical exfoliator to remedy dry skin. The pad format makes application easy and each is soaked in a combo of a retinoid and a triple-acid blend of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids that increase cell turnover to break up and smooth away dead skin. The formula is gentle enough to use up to three times per week if dry skin gets really bad.
Size: 30 peel pads
Key ingredients: retinoid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid
Tatcha The Rice Polish — $68.00
Mix this duo of Japanese rice bran and papaya enzymes with water to activate the powder and turn it into a frothy foam. The polish is a hybrid physical and chemical exfoliator that gently smoothes away surface-level dead skin and brings fresh skin cells to the surface.
Size: 2.1 fl. oz
Key ingredients: Japanese rice bran, silk, papaya enzymes
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Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant — $66.00
Also rice-based, this powder polisher releases papain, which is rich in alpha hydroxy acids, pore-puring salicylic acid, and rice bran to exfoliate the facial skin at multiple levels. There’s also colloidal oatmeal in the formula to soothe any potential irritation.
Size: 2.6 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: papain, salicylic acid, colloidal oatmeal
Versed Instant Resurfacing Face Mask — $17.00
Versed’s mask works in three parts to tackle the different signs of dryness. Glycolic and lactic acids work in tandem to dissolve flaky skin and fade dark spots. Salicylic acid clears away dead skin that can settle into pores and also takes down redness. Lastly, pineapple and papaya enzymes brighten skin that’s become dull from the dryness.
Size: 3.4 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, papaya and pineapple enzymes
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher — $48.00
Peach & Lily took extra measures to ensure this face polisher won’t irritate skin. While the ingredients are similar to others on this list with rice brand being one of the heroes, the microcrystalline cellulose, used to do the physical exfoliating, has been carefully rounded to prevent any micro-tears or scratches on the skin. There are also fruit extracts to chemically exfoliate and green tea and allantoin to soothe.
Size: 75 grams
Key ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, rice bran, and corn starch
Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliator — $78.00
Kate Somerville’s Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliator is meant to remove buildup from dry skin without having to wait weeks to see results. Use the hybrid formula for two minutes, twice per week and the blend of lactic and salicylic acids, alongside, surface-scrubbing silica will bring out noticeably smoother, brighter skin and better absorption of your other skincare products. A dose of aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E will keep irritation at bay.
Size: 2 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: lactic acid, salicylic acid, silica, papaya, pineapple, pumpkin enzymes
Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub — $12.00
Dr. Brauer notes that anyone can exfoliate the face on their skin, but if you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to pay closer attention to the ingredients. Cetaphil’s Extra Gentle Daily Scrub effectively smoothes away rough patches with the help of microfine granules that aren’t too abrasive. Glycerin and vitamins B5 and E in the formula replenish moisture to help prevent irritation flare-ups.
Size: 6 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: glycerin, vitamins B5 & E
Ole Henriksen Lemondade Smoothing Scrub — $35.00
The lemon sugar scent here will be hard to resist but Brauer suggests limiting your scrubbing to once or twice per week to start and see how your skin reacts. You can up it to three times if needed. To get the most brightening and smoothing from this sugar and lemon peel powder polish, leave it on for two minutes and then rinse. Holy basil and chamomile extracts are also packed into the scrub to help soothe skin.
Size: 3 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: sugar, lemon peel powder, holy basil, chamomile extract
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Wow Polish Triple Pore-Exfoliating Powder — $49.00
The actives in this powder exfoliator are differentiated by color. First, there’s gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) in the white powders which Brauer says is a safe option for sensitive skin to help remove flakiness and retexturize the skin. Teal perlite that helps absorb excess oil where needed. Then purple is where the lactic acid is stored to clear pores and help them look smaller. Mix with water to activate.
Size: 1.5 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: perlite, lactic acid, gluconolactone
Tula Skincare So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub — $35.00
Pink salt, and volcanic sand in Tula’s scrub do the heavy lifting to remove dry skin, while lactic acid and hibiscus flower acid unclog pores. There’s also witch hazel to calm irritation and help pores appear smaller.
Size: 2.89 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: pink salt, volcanic sand & witch hazel
Youth to the People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial — $59.00
This resurfacing treatment taps micro-exfoliants bamboo and diatomaceous earth (hard-shelled microalgae) to do the dead skin removal. At the same time, caffeinated extracts yerba mate and guayusa stimulate circulation to help facial skin look more vibrant and awake.
Size: 2 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: bamboo extract, diatomaceous earth, caffeine, yerba mate, guayusa
Humanrace Enzyme Exfoliant — $46.00
Glycolic, enzymatic, and rice particles work together to gently exfoliate without causing micro-tears or visible irritation. The formula is boosted with pumpkin, papaya, and pomegranate enzymes, which in addition to improving cell turnover, are laced with antioxidants to fight against free-radical damage.
Size: 2.4 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: glycolic acid, sugar cane, sugar maple, lemon, orange, bilberry, pumpkin, papaya, and pomegranate enzymes
Kiehl’s Milk-Peel Gentle Exfoliating Toner — $62.00
“This gentle chemical exfoliant toner with lipohydroxy acid (LHA), refines skin’s texture to reveal smoother, softer, and brighter skin. It is dual-acting that gently exfoliates and dissolves impurities while replenishing the skin’s moisture,” notes Brauer. LHA acts as a salicylic acid replacement to gently clear pores. Swipe on as you would a toner post-cleansing, there’s no need to rinse.
Size: 6.8 fl. oz.
Key ingredients: Lipo-Hydroxy Acid, almond milk
Are physical or chemical exfoliators best for dry skin?
Both physical and chemical exfoliators work to slough off dead skin, and the one you choose should boil down to preference and skin type. Physical exfoliators scrub away dry skin on the surface, whereas chemicals clear pores of gunk and boost cell turnover beneath the skin to get rid of dryness and brighten it over time. “Chemical exfoliants are generally milder than physical exfoliants and are better for people with sensitive skin or darker skin tones that may be more prone to scarring,” Dr. Brauer notes. “Physical exfoliators work to remove dead skin on the outer layer for a smoother appearance and are best for people with oily skin.”
A bit of knowledge on the type of exfoliation you’re going for and which ingredients will get you there is the path to ditching dry skin. “Using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, and citric acid, are safe options for dry skin,” says Brauer. “Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), better known as the “cousins” of AHAs, are also effective for dry skin and removing dead skin properly. Polyhydroxy acid is a safe option for sensitive skin and helps deliver oil to the deep layers of skin, the dermis, to leave patients more hydrated and less irritated.”
How often can I exfoliate with dry skin?
Face exfoliators can be used up to three times per week, but Brauer says that if your skin is more sensitive, you should start with one or twice per week and increase frequency as needed. You’ll want to follow the instructions on each product for proper use. However, Brauer adds that you should apply a moisturizer within minutes of exfoliating so that the moisturizer can penetrate the dermis as quickly as possible. Then seal everything in with a SPF, especially if you’re exfoliating in the morning.
It’s always a good idea to chat with your dermatologist before adding a new product to your routine, but once you’re ready to get glowing, consider these picks a great place to start.
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