The best exfoliating body washes go beyond basic cleansing—they can transform your entire skincare routine. Their effectiveness comes from powerful ingredients. “Exfoliating body washes work best when they contain active components like fruit enzymes, AHAs, and BHAs,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman. “These ingredients help smooth uneven skin and unclog pores.” By gently removing dead skin cells and impurities, they reveal softer, brighter skin.
The benefits don’t end there. Dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi notes that these washes also boost cell renewal and help other skincare products absorb better. When dead skin is removed, moisturizers and treatments can penetrate deeper, making them more effective.
### Vogue’s Top Exfoliating Body Washes
– Best for Strawberry Skin: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub ($12)
– Best Spa-Like: Nécessaire The Body Wash ($28)
– Best for Body Acne: Cetaphil Acne Relief Body Wash ($10)
– Best for Sensitive Skin: Medicube Red Body Wash ($20)
– Best with Ceramides: CeraVe Body Wash with Salicylic Acid ($14)
– Best for Fighting Ingrown Hairs: Soft Services Exfoliating Bar ($28)
– Best with Bakuchiol: Sidia The Body Exfoliant ($46)
Adding an exfoliating wash to your routine is like prepping a canvas—it creates the perfect base for glowing skin. Below, discover top-rated formulas loved by experts and Vogue editors.
—
### Best AHA Blend: Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash
Price: $16 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: “This wash combines glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids to gently remove dead skin,” says Dr. Shirazi. Dr. Brendan Camp adds that regular use leaves skin softer over time. With a blend of proven acids and a hydrating formula, it turns your shower into a skincare treatment.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin
Size: 8.4 fl oz
Fragrance-Free: Yes
Cruelty-Free: Yes
### Best Spa-Like: Nécessaire The Body Wash (Hinoki)
Price: $28 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: “This wash smooths skin with exfoliating acids, while resveratrol calms inflammation and niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier,” says Dr. Camp. The hinoki wood oil adds a luxurious, spa-like scent.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, resveratrol, glycerin, hinoki wood oil
Size: 16.9 fl oz
Fragrance: Naturally derived
Cruelty-Free: Yes
### Best with Ceramides: CeraVe Body Wash with Salicylic Acid
Price: $14 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: “Great for acne-prone skin, this wash exfoliates with salicylic acid while ceramides hydrate,” says Dr. Shirazi. Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture, and niacinamide soothes irritation. Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, it’s ideal for sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
Size: 10 fl oz
Fragrance-Free: Yes
Cruelty-Free: No
—
### FAQs
– Do exfoliating body washes work? Yes, they remove dead skin and improve texture.
– How often should you use them? 2-3 times a week, depending on skin sensitivity.
– Benefits: Smoother skin, better product absorption, reduced breakouts.
Experts Featured: Dr. Dara Spearman, Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, Dr. Brendan Camp.
Now that you know the best options, pick the right exfoliating body wash for your skin and enjoy a radiant glow!Here’s a more natural and fluent rewrite of your text while keeping the original meaning intact:
—
Best with Bakuchiol: Sidia The Body Exfoliant
$46 at Amazon
Why We Love It: This exfoliant uses bakuchiol—a gentle, plant-based alternative to retinol—along with niacinamide and finely-milled rice powder to smooth, brighten, and restore skin without disrupting its natural barrier. The luxurious texture and grounding scent leave skin silky-soft and polished.
Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, niacinamide, rice germ powder
Size: 12 fl oz
Fragrance: Yes
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
Best for Ingrown Hairs: Soft Services Exfoliating Bar
$28 at Soft Services
Why We Love It: This buffing bar is perfect for keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs, or rough skin. It uses fine magnesium oxide and alumina crystals for deep exfoliation, while shea butter, aloe, and jojoba esters keep skin hydrated. Plus, it’s plastic-free and eco-friendly.
Key Ingredients: Magnesium oxide, glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba esters
Size: 3.75 oz (2 bars)
Fragrance: Yes
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
Best for Body Acne: Cetaphil Acne Relief Body Wash
$10 ($9 at Amazon)
Why We Love It: A dermatologist-tested drugstore favorite, this wash contains 2% salicylic acid (the highest OTC concentration) plus glycerin, shea butter, and soybean oil to treat acne without overdrying. The creamy formula is ideal for sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid 2%, glycerin, shea butter, soybean oil
Size: 20 fl oz
Fragrance: No
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
Best with Fruit Enzymes: Kosas Good Body Skin
$22 at BlueMercury or Kosas
Why We Love It: Free of harsh additives, this exfoliating wash relies on fruit enzymes and AHAs (glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids) to gently resurface skin. Glycerin and allantoin add hydration, and you can choose between two naturally derived scents—tropical fruit or orange creamsicle.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, papaya enzyme, pineapple enzyme, glycerin, allantoin
Size: 9 fl oz
Fragrance: Yes (naturally derived)
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
Best for Sensitive Skin: Medicube Red Body Wash
$20 ($16 at Amazon)
Why We Love It: This K-beauty favorite tackles acne, KP, and dryness with salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid. The low-pH formula matches skin’s natural acidity, making it gentle enough for daily use. The fragrance comes from antioxidant-rich herbs.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid
Size: 14.52 fl oz
Fragrance: Yes (herbal blend)
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
This version keeps the original details while improving readability and flow. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!Best for Strawberry Skin: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
$29 (Amazon) | $30 (Nordstrom)
Why We Love It:
First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser is a cult favorite for good reason. Its dual-action formula combines 10% AHA (glycolic and lactic acids) with finely ground pumice beads, providing both chemical and physical exfoliation to tackle keratosis pilaris and rough patches. It’s also enriched with soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, licorice root extract, and bisabolol.
Vogue’s beauty writer Conçetta Ciarlo swears by this scrub as part of her weekly routine: “As someone with thick hair, I’m no stranger to strawberry skin. Alongside my laser hair removal treatments, I exfoliate my legs before shaving to keep my skin smooth—without that strawberry seed look.”
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, pumice beads
Size: 8 oz
Fragrance-Free: Yes
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
Best Prebiotic Wash: Oui the People Clean Slate Lactic Acid Body Wash
Oui the People Clean Slate Lactic Acid Body Wash
$30 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
This body wash is packed with lactic acid, a gentle AHA that smooths skin and helps fade dark spots without disrupting your skin’s natural barrier. It also contains antioxidant-rich purple sea moss and fermented purple rice, which provide prebiotic benefits to keep skin healthy and balanced.
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, purple rice fermentation, purple sea moss, aloe vera
Size: 250 ml
Fragranced: Yes
Cruelty-Free: Yes
—
### Everything You Need to Know
Do exfoliating body washes actually work?
Yes! Dermatologists confirm that exfoliating body washes with active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, or fruit enzymes effectively remove dead skin cells, smooth texture, and unclog pores.
Dr. Noah Gratch, a board-certified dermatologist, explains: “When used consistently, these washes can soften skin, improve texture, and even help with body acne.”
How often should you use an exfoliating body wash?
It depends on your skin type:
– Normal skin: 2-3 times per week
– Sensitive/dry skin: Once a week (to avoid irritation)
– Oily/acne-prone skin: Up to 4 times per week
Dr. Gratch advises: “Pay attention to how your skin reacts and always follow up with moisturizer to maintain hydration.”
The Benefits of Using an Exfoliating Body Wash
Regular use can:
– Remove dead skin cells
– Prep skin for hair removal
– Reduce razor bumps and ingrown hairs
– Improve circulation and even out skin tone
Meet the Experts:
– Dr. Brendan Camp, MD: Double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist.
– Dr. Noah Gratch, MD: Board-certified dermatologist specializing in acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text:
Skin Cancer Specialists
Azadeh Shirazi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in La Jolla, California.
Dara Spearman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with expertise in melanoma and skin cancer treatment.
I’ve made the following improvements:
1. Added a clear heading to introduce the section
2. Simplified the language while maintaining all key information
3. Made the descriptions more parallel in structure
4. Used more natural phrasing (“practicing in” instead of “based in”)
5. Changed “specializing in” to “with expertise in” for better flow
6. Used “treatment” instead of “care” for more precise medical terminology
The revised version maintains all the original information while being more readable and professional.