Best Facial Scrubs For All Skin Types

If you really want glowing and radiant skin, you better stop skipping that most important step – exfoliation. Why? Dead skin cells that pile up on our face make our skin look dull and dry, not to mention rough. It can also clog our pores which, in turn, causes oil to get trapped on the surface of our skin, resulting in acne.

As you age, your skin’s ability to shed those dead cells becomes slower. By exfoliating, you’re getting rid of that layer of dead cells along with any dirt and makeup that might still be there to reveal the new layer, leaving your skin looking rejuvenated. You also get the added benefit of getting an even skin tone. After exfoliating, any moisturizers, cleansers, and skin care products you use will be able to penetrate your skin better.

Of course, the search for the “holy grail” of facial scrubs isn’t going to be easy. Everyone has different skin types, sensitivities, etc. so what works for some may not work for others. So we decided to help you with that search, starting with the 10 best facial scrubs in the market today.

Top 10 Facial Scrubs Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Facial Scrub For Dry Skin

This is a daily facial scrub that contains bearberry, aspergillis and grapefruit as well as rice bran and rice extracts. All of these ingredients are designed to work together to balance skin pigmentation, regulate melanin production, and take away dead skin cells and impurities on your skin. It’s a gentle exfoliant that works wonders on all types of skin. It’s not abrasive at all. It also doesn’t dry out your skin after use. Aside from the fact that it works wonders, you’ll absolutely love this facial scrub is the fact that you only need to use a little for each wash, ensuring it lasts a good long while. And considering it’s very expensive, it’s a very, very good thing.

As an added bonus, it’s not in a tube. You can actually open the bottle and scrape every little bit of it until you’re pretty sure it’s empty. The only problem is that this exfoliant is a powder. You need to mix in water to use it which makes finding the right consistency a bit of trial and error. And if you store it in your shower, you might want to think again as the powder tends to absorb moisture.

 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant also available on EDCSkinCare. Check current price here for 0.45 oz and 2.5 oz here.

2. Philosophy The Microdelivery Daily Exfoliating Wash

Facial Scrub For Acne Prone Skin

If you want an exfoliating product that doesn’t leave your skin raw, then the Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash just may be what you’re looking for. It is gentle enough that it can be used by all skin types and designed to be used to clean your face daily. This facial scrub is sulfate-free and rich in antioxidants. It can help clean your pores, get rid of blackheads, and retain your skin’s moisture level.

Now, don’t worry about not seeing any exfoliating particles in the clear liquid since they are incredibly small. You will feel it as you gently massage it on your face. The product is fragrance-free which is, for us, a big relief because it allows even the most sensitive skins to use it. While it is more expensive than any St. Ives we’ve picked, you do get a good amount of product for the price. And you don’t need to use a lot to remove your makeup and keep your skin looking healthy.

3. Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant

Yes, Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion is really expensive. But it’s a lot cheaper than paying for professional treatment or so it claims. This facial scrub features aluminum oxide crystals that will exfoliate your skin, lactic acid that also exfoliates your skin and softens it, and a botanical blend that contains chamomile, jojoba, and aloe vera to soothe our skin after that slightly abrasive treatment and keep it moisturized.

The smell is a bit citrusy/lemony. Based on what most users have found, this really does work wonders. However, some have reported that the tube is only half full. Also, some have experienced their skin getting dry after using this scrub. As for the price, we’ve already mentioned how expensive it is. A little goes a long way though and it is pretty powerful.

4. Acure Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub

Facial Scrub For Combination Skin

This Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub from Acure features plant-based ingredients such as organic sea kelp, French green clay, organic lemon peel, and Madonna lily stem cells. The scrub is vegan and free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA, formaldehyde, petrolatum, and paraffin. The lemon peel and sea kelp help exfoliate your skin while the French green clay unclogs your pores.

The Madonna lily stem cells, on the other hand, boost cell regeneration. Now, don’t be put off by the color. The dark green paste may seem off-putting but it really does work wonders on your skin, leaving it soft and smooth. However, some do feel that the scrub is too gritty, particularly those with sensitive or dry skin. There have also been reports of allergic reactions.

5. St. Ives Nourished & Smooth Face Scrub and Mask

Facial Scrub for Sensitive Skin

The St. Ives Nourished & Smooth Face Scrub and Mask is, as the name already implies, a 2-in-1 product. You can use it as a scrub to exfoliate your face or as a mask to nourish your skin. It is completely oil-free, no sulfates, and made with oatmeal extract, honey extract, and 100% natural exfoliant walnut shell powder.

It smells a little bit like cocoa butter for those of you who are wondering. What we love about this is the fact that while it exfoliates your skin, it is very gentle on your skin, leaving you with very soft, smooth skin. It doesn’t have a lot of “beads” so it is a bit creamier than our first pick. But for those who wish for a gentler scrub, this may be their thing. It is also hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. Take note though that some users have reported experiencing breakouts for the first few weeks of use before producing results. Also, your skin might feel a bit tight after you use it so you may need to moisturize after this. As for the mask part, it doesn’t really live up to expectations.

6. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

You’ve probably heard about this long before. It is one of the most popular facial scrubs there are. But it’s definitely not for everyone. This apricot scrub from St. Ives contains apricot extract (obviously) as well as 100% natural exfoliants such as walnut shell powder. In case you didn’t know, apricots contain purifying carotenoids and antioxidants. What all that means is that it will moisturize your skin and keep it healthy.

The scrub makes use of corn kernel meal as its exfoliant to get rid of the dead skin cells while promoting cell regeneration, leaving you with soft, brighter skin. The scrub is hypoallergenic and free of any sulfates and parabens. It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t cause blocked pores. While it does clean skin and is pretty effective as an exfoliant, some users have found the scrub a tad too gritty to use more than once or twice a week. For a few, the scrub is too harsh on their skin.

7. Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Facial Scrub For Oily Skin

The AHA and BHA in the Murad Exfoliating Cleanser stand for alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid, respectively. These are more commonly known as glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids which help exfoliate the surface of your skin while also helping reduce wrinkles, and clarify pores. One thing that makes this product stand out is the fact that it can take out dirt on your face, brighten your skin, and keep it moisturized as well.

Your skin won’t be left tight and/or dry after using the product so it works great for most, if not all, skin types and even during winter. This is all due to the addition of Jojoba Beads and Sodium PCA into the formula. While it seems to work great for many users, some might find the chemicals too harsh if they haven’t tried cleansers or scrubs that contain AHA. Also, the price is a bit steep especially if you’re not sure if this is going to work for you or not.

8. Freeman Facial Apple Cider Vinegar Clay Mask + Scrub

As a combination mask and scrub, this product from Freeman is definitely the least expensive product on our list. We love the subtle candy-apple smell of the product. However, some who are sensitive to fragrances may find it overpowering especially if you use it as a mask. The pumice inside the product polishes your skin, getting rid of dead skin cells without causing micro-wounds on your skin. Aside from being extremely affordable, a little product goes a long way with this one too. As a mask, it works for some and not for others. More sensitive skins may find that it’s better as a cleanser.

9. Simple Kind to Skin Facial Scrub

For day-to-day exfoliation, we’ve found that the Simple Kind to Skin Facial Scrub delivers. It contains Pro-Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E which are both great for the skin – rejuvenating it and keeping it smooth and soft. The rice granules are present to provide gentle exfoliation. Take note that this does not do a deep cleansing scrub. It’s more of a maintenance scrub to ensure that you slough away any dead cells and keep your face feeling fresh and smooth. So it may not be as “scrubby” as some users will prefer but it definitely will not cause tearing on healthy skin. There is no discernable scent but some users have reported an unpleasant chemical smell so sensitive noses should take note.

Same price on Walmart.com if you prefer it.

10. Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

Facial Scrub For Blackheads

We don’t know about you but the smell of zesty mint just gives us this feeling of freshness. And that’s what you get with the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub. It features salicylic acid for fighting acne, glycerin for moisturizing your skin, sodium cocoyl isethionate to clean it, and blue spherical beads that gently exfoliate your skin. We love the fact that while it doesn’t have a lot of granules in it, it still leaves your skin soft, smooth, and clean. And in case you’re wondering, it does help in preventing blackheads. It is a cream cleanser which some people do not like. Some users have felt it’s a bit waxy and not a real scrub due to the lack of grittiness.

How to Choose the Best Facial Scrubs: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Choosing a facial scrub that works best on your skin is tricky. The quest to find this “holy grail” is often dangerous (to your skin) and expensive. It’s bad enough that there are numerous choices in the market. But because skin, body chemistry, and preferences are not universal, it’s hard to completely rely on what other people say. What works for some won’t necessarily work for you and vice versa. So, how does one go about choosing when a misstep can cause damage to your face?

Skin Type

The biggest factor that you will have to consider when it comes to choosing a facial scrub is skin type. Despite what a product’s marketing says, there are only a handful of facial scrubs that can be used on all skin types such as the Philosophy The Microdelivery Daily Exfoliating Wash.

Normal Skin

Lucky, lucky you. You can pretty much choose whatever catches your fancy and experiment since your skin is fuss-free. Just make sure to check the ingredients used so you can be sure nothing will trigger any allergies you have (i.e. strawberries).

Oily Skin

A scrub is a good way to take away any impurities on oily skin but you need to remember not to over-exfoliate. Doing so could dry your skin which would lead it to produce even more oil. For your type of skin, you’ll need to make sure that your scrub cleanses your skin but doesn’t overdry it. One ingredient you should look for is salicylic acid (like what is used in Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser) which helps regulate your skin’s production of oil and clean clogged pores.

Sensitive Skin

You’ll need to make sure that you stay away from scrubs that contain too many or too aggressive exfoliating agents. Make sure that you choose a facial scrub that is specifically made for your skin type or one that contains natural ingredients such as the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. A scrub with oatmeal like St. Ives Nourished & Smooth Face Scrub and Mask can work wonders because it is able to soothe your skin. Just make sure to test it on a small area of your body before going all in to see how your skin would react.

Combination Skin

Unlike other skin types, this one’s a bit more complicated since different areas of your face have differing needs. This means that you’ll need a product that can treat both oily and dry areas of your face. Fruit enzymes are great for this skin type because it won’t dry your cheeks after exfoliation but it also helps reduce clogged pores.

Dry Skin

With this type of skin, it is recommended that your scrub should be creamier and contain moisturizing agents to ensure your skin doesn’t dry out after use. Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant may be for you since it contains jojoba oils which are great at soothing and moisturizing skin.

Preference

Some people like it rough and there’s nothing wrong with that. To each his/her own and all that jazz, right? If you’re part of that group, then you may want to use St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub or something similar because it has a lot of grittiness. If you wish for a gentle touch, then you can choose a mild facial scrub with a minimal amount of granules or one that makes use of chemical exfoliating agents such as the Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser.

Once, Twice, or Daily?

Some facial scrubs are designed for everyday exfoliation such as Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Philosophy The Microdelivery Daily Exfoliating Wash. These are gentle enough to slough away dead skin and dirt without irritating your skin. Others, however, are only good for you if you use it once to twice a week such as the Acure Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub and the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub.

Whatever facial scrub you end up choosing, keep in mind that you must always (ALWAYS!) test it first on a small part of your body before using it on your face. Everyone’s skin and chemical makeup are different which means you never really know how your skin is going to react to a product. This is true even for those with a normal skin type. Better safe than sorry.