Glowing customer review: " I keep this in my shower for the days I feel like I need to buff away some dead skin and oil. It doesn't make my combo skin feel dry or irritated like other exfoliators, and when I wash it away, my skin feels so smooth. Exfoliating can be tricky if you have sensitive skin—if you use one that's too strong you can literally burn your face off and if you don't exfoliate at all, well, hello clogged pores and dullness.

Enter Cetaphil's Healthy Radiance Cleanser—it uses PHAs think of them as AHAs less-intense cousin to gently dissolve dead skin cells for a mild exfoliation that's perfectly safe for easily irritated skin types. Glowing customer review: "I have tried every exfoliator for my dry and acne-prone sensitive skin and nothing has worked besides this," reads a review.

If you're dealing with hyperpigmentation like dark spots, sun spots, or melasma this is the face exfoliator mask for you. It uses a combo glycolic acid and mandelic acid to nix dulling dead skin cells and fade discoloration for an overall brighter, more even looking skin tone.

Glowing customer review: "I am a skeptic when it comes to face masks—I have spent so much money on products that do literally nothing—but the combo of acids like make this feel more like a weekly chemical exfoliant treatment. I actually started seeing some of my dark spots fade after using it for a month.

Very few skincare products can truly give instant results, which is why I always find this exfoliating face mask from facialist Renee Rouleau so damn impressive. Smear the berry-colored gel onto clean skin, let it sit for up to 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and then check yourself out in the mirror.

I promise you'll be genuinely shocked at how clear, glowy and smooth your skin looks. Glowing customer review "This berry-colored chemical exfoliant is magic for clearing out pores, resurfacing skin, and eliminating discoloration. I'm obsessed with it makes my skin look and feel. The OG liquid face exfoliator, P50 Lotion is loved by editors, facialists, and dermatologists alike and has inspired a whole wave of copycat products.

The iconic French formula is full of exfoliating acids and has a cult-like following thanks to its ability to dramatically improve skin tone, texture, and clarity. I had horrible acne, huge pores, and uneven texture and now my skin is so glowy, plump, and almost clear.

I noticed a difference after about a month. The best product to exfoliate your face will always depend on a few things, including your skin type and condition, your current skincare routine , and your skincare goals, says Pacitti. Exfoliators can be found in various formats and formulas, from rinse- off cleansers and masks to leave-on serums and toners.

In general, sensitive skin types may do better with rinse-off exfoliators that have shorter contact time with the skin, where skin types that are used to exfoliation will be able to tolerate a leave-on exfoliator.

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports.

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Skip to Content Celebs Style Beauty Lifestyle Shopping. sign in. Here's a quick preview of my favorites: Our top picks for best face exfoliator of 1. Best Chemical Face Exfoliator Dr. Best Face Exfoliator for Uneven Skin Texture Dr.

Best Extra-Strength Face Exfoliator Drunk Elephant T. Pros Gentle enough to be used daily in my testing experience Excellent for brightening and evening out your skin tone.

Cons Requires a cotton pad for application too messy to use just clean fingers IMO. Formula: Leave-on liquid Skin types: All Chemical or physical exfoliator?

Pros Clinically proven to improve skin's tone and texture Comes in three different intensities for various skin types. Cons Single-use packaging isn't sustainable. Formula: Peel pad Skin types: All depending on the intensity you choose Chemical or physical exfoliator?

Chemical Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, resveratrol, green tea extract Glowing customer review: "I just finished my first box of 35 and my skin is smoother and clearer than ever," writes one tester.

Pros Contains soothing ingredients to help combat irritation. Cons Reviewers say it is hard to figure out how much product to use at first. Physical Key ingredients: Rice powder, allantoin, green tea extract Glowing customer review: "Makes your skin feel so clean a refreshed!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Pros Smells incredible, per testers myself included Made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients. Cons Testers say it's easy to over-use, which can cause skin irritation. Formula: Rinse-off mask Skin types: All Chemical or physical exfoliator? Chemical Key ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, lactic acid Glowing customer review: "I don't recommend eating this mask, but it's hard to resist given how good it smells.

Pros Especially good for removing patches of rough, dry skin Helps makeup go on smoother. Cons Likely too aggressive for sensitive skin. Formula: Rinse-off mask Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator? Both Key ingredients: Bio-fermented polish, pomegranate enzymes, glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, coconut oil Glowing customer review: "Love the resurfacing enzyme polish…not too harsh on skin but does an excellent job of removing dead skin.

Pros Gentle enough to be used daily, IMO Contains soothing ingredients to minimize irritation. Cons Won't fully remove waterproof or longwear makeup. Formula: Cleanser Skin types: All Chemical or physical exfoliator: Chemical Key ingredient: Glycolic acid, grapeseed extract, green tea extract, aloe leaf juice.

Pros Combines chemical and physical exfoliating ingredients. Cons May be too harsh for dry, sensitive skin types Pricey for a face wash.

Formula: Cleanser Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, acne-prone, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator? Both Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, jojoba beads Glowing customer review: "I love that this cleanser has AHAs and BHAs.

Pros Made without essential oils, silicones, dragrances, dyes, and drying alcohols Combines AHAs and BHAs for dramatic resurfacing results. Cons A few testers said they disliked the smell. Format: Rinse-off mask Skin types: Combo, oily, acne-prone, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator?

Chemical Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid Glowing customer review: "Absolutely love this product!!! Pros Many testers say they see an improvement in their skin after just a few applications Has hydrating and soothing benefits making it a great choice for dry skin.

Cons Some testers say it can cause peeling around the eyes and mouth. Format: Face serum Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, dull, sensitive Chemical or physical exfoliator? Chemical Key ingredients: Lactic acid, licorice extract, prickly pear Glowing customer review: "I was really surprised to see an overnight difference!

Pros Ideal for congested, acne-prone skin Only needs to be used for 10 minutes twice a week to see a result. Cons Testers say it can make your skin red and tingly if overused. Format: Rinse-off liquid Skin types: Combo, oily, dull, acne-prone Chemical or physical exfoliator? Chemical Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid Glowing customer review: "This product has made my skin feel so smooth!

Pros Vegan and Leaping Bunny-certified Pads are large enough to be used on the body as well. Cons Tub is huge and a bit bulky. Format: Peel pads Skin types: Dry, combo, dull, sensitive Chemical or physical exfoliator? Chemical Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, gluconolactone, ectoin Glowing customer review: "I have always suffered from hyperpigmentation and been struggling with fading the marks.

Pros Ideal for skin that's prone to blackheads and whiteheads Award-winning formula is loved by editors and dermatologists. Cons Needs to be used sparingly at first, especially by sensitive skin types.

Formula: Leave-on liquid S kin types: Combo, oily, acne-prone Chemical or physical exfoliator? Pros Way more gentle and non-abrasive than other face scrubs on the market. Cons Reviewers complain that the size of the bottle is small.

Formula: Face scrub Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator: Physical Key ingredients: Pumice particles, thermal spring water Glowing customer review: "I normally avoid exfoliating scrubs because I have sensitive skin with rosacea, but this one gave my skin a nice glow and very soft feel.

Pros Helps resurface and refine skin without flaking or irritation. Cons Takes weeks of consistent use to see a visible difference in skin. Formula: Face serum Skin types: Dry, combo, sensitive Chemical or physical exfoliator?

Chemical Key ingredient: Lactic acid, gluconolactone, hyaluronic acid Glowing customer review: "My sensitive skin can't handle a physical exfoliant, so I need to go something a little more low-key like this to get rid of dead skin cells and debris.

Pros Powder formula is travel-friendly Comes in four variations classic, deep, gentle, and calming. Cons Some reviewers say the packaging dispenses too much product. Formula: Powder Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator?

Both Key ingredients: Japanese rice bran, green tea extract, lactic acid Glowing customer review: " I keep this in my shower for the days I feel like I need to buff away some dead skin and oil. Pros Gentle, fragrance-free formula is ideal for sensitive skin types.

Cons Not designed to unclog pores or fade discoloration like other exfoliators. Formula: Cleanser Skin types: Dry, combo, sensitive, dull Chemical or physical exfoliator? Chemical Key ingredients: Polyhydroxy acid, niacinamide Glowing customer review: "I have tried every exfoliator for my dry and acne-prone sensitive skin and nothing has worked besides this," reads a review.

Pros Helps fade dark spots and melasma A great choice for minimizing acne marks and scars. All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Glamour contributor Macaela MacKenzie is also a huge fan. Formulated with salicylic acid, this workhorse cleanser has long been derm-recommended for those dealing with sensitivity and acne.

She particularly likes this exfoliating cleanser for those with oily skin. Chang explains. The goal is to exfoliate without stripping. I reach for it when I'm having a breakout or after a particularly sweaty workout and my skin never feels stripped.

For people who find peels too harsh or irritating, this mild version may do the trick. It's free of the typical acids, instead using papaya enzymes to exfoliate. Sunday Riley serums are a classic for a reason: Not only do the skin care products work, but they're also super gentle.

Hartman, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, tells Glamour. A makeup artist once told me to apply this before primer to help foundation glide on smoothly and I have never looked back. By Brittany Romano. By Ana Morales.

By Elizabeth Logan. It's gentle but still makes a noticeable difference for my dull, sleep-deprived skin. Arora and Dr.

Chang particularly likes this one for acne-prone skin. Another gentle exfoliating option for oily skin is La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner. Arora, MD , a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, tells Glamour.

For combination skin, Dr. Sodium PCA, a humectant, helps draw moisture into the outer layers of the skin. Exfoliation doesn't occur in a vacuum. With this dual-phase treatment, it happens alongside moisture; one phase sloughs off dead skin cells via papaya, pineapple, and cranberry enzymes, while the oil phase pairs squalane with a blend of meadowfoam and jojoba seed oils.

It pairs salicylic acid—which is oil-soluble, allowing it to clear pores and tackle blemishes—with jojoba beads that buff away dead skin. Retinol is like long-term exfoliation.

Hartman, who points to this serum as one of his favorites. Take a look at our list of best retinols for major results in your skin care routine.

Glamour commerce writer Andrea Navarro considers this exfoliating face wash her go-to skin care product for tackling rough texture. Even the best exfoliating products may cause redness among people who are already prone to it.

This facial scrub is the exception. If you're looking for something comparable to an in-office chemical peel at home, Dr. Chang likes Neostrata's Smooth Surface Glycolic Chemical Peel.

But its effects are immediate. New York City dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD , formulated this mask to deliver near-instant brightening. Wu turns to it when she needs extra brightening, which comes courtesy of the combination of lactic, glycolic, and tranexamic acids the latter works from within the skin to target excess pigment production.

They use a combination of glycolic and lactic acids to exfoliate, while cucumber extract calms skin. If you're down to splurge, Dr.

Arora is a fan of Skinceuticals Retexturing Activator. This facial exfoliator serum helps to support a healthy skin barrier thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid.

Fermented kombucha will leave skin feeling soft. The latter breaks down dead skin cells while the former acts as a humectant to draw moisture into the outer layers of the skin.

Azelaic acid also multitasks, killing the bacteria that causes acne and treating the inflammation behind skin conditions like rosacea. It's one of Dr. Chang's favorite exfoliators because it also hydrates thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture into the skin, for an overall plumped and hydrated effect.

Just add water to this powder exfoliant, which turns into satisfying foam. Hojicha is a type of green tea. Not only does it have lactic acid, but it also uses a combo of mung beans and oats to gently buff away dead skin, leaving it brighter but not at all irritated.

Think of this as boot camp for your skin. Rather than long-term, the serum is meant to be applied 30 nights in a row ahead of a big event.