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The best body scrubs for glowing skin

Want soft and smooth skin? Body scrubs will give you that. Shop the best body scrubs on the market from brands like OUAI, First Aid, Dove and Soap and Glory.

Published Nov 30, 2023
8 min. reading time
six body scrubs including KP, OUAI, Skinfix, Kate Somerville, OGX and Sol de Janeiro

Body scrubs are an essential part of any skincare routine. They provide body exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and revealing the fresh, glowing skin underneath. 

And now that we’re moving into the colder months, moisturizing and exfoliating is key to softer, smoother skin.

But with so many body scrub brands out there, how do you choose the right one? The good news is, we've done the hard work for you by compiling a list of the best body exfoliators available. Find out which body scrubs you should add to your cart for soft and hydrated skin.

Read more: Shop the best body lotions

Find the best body scrubs

Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Body Scrub in a pink tub
Best exfoliating scrub
Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Body Scrub
$42 at Sephora
purple bottle of First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10- AHA
Best for Keratosis Pilaris
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA
$30 at Sephora
OUAI St. Barts Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub in a white tub
Best luxe pick
OUAI St. Barts Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub
$40 at Sephora
Tree Hut Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub in clear tub with brown lid
Best budget option
Tree Hut Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub
$8.39 at Ulta

Best exfoliating scrub

Pros & Cons
  • Gentle and effective polishing

  • Has a rich, luxe feel

  • Lasting scent

  •  Scent may be overpowering for some

The Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia body scrub is power-packed with a unique, 10% resurfacing complex made up of AHAs, BHAs, and crushed Maracujá seeds. This blend delivers a chemical exfoliation that deeply cleanses and refines your skin.

The body scrub is especially perfect if you are preparing for a special event and want youthful vibrancy from every inch of your skin. And it's not just about the visible results. The scrub takes the sensory experience to another level with its rich and luxurious feel.

Pros & Cons
  • Exfoliates rough and dry skin bumps

  • Suits everyday use

  • Vegan, cruelty and gluten-free

  • Scent may be too ‘clean’ for some

Take action against rough and dry skin bumps with the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser body scrub  This powerful body scrub removes dry, rough patches to reveal smoother, more luscious skin underneath.

At its core lies a mix that's rich in Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). This wonder ingredient acts as a potent exfoliator to erase small bumps known as Keratosis Pilaris or 'strawberry skin'. It effectively cleanses the skin surface and goes deep to unclog and clear the pores, leaving skin that looks and feels exceptionally smooth.

Users rate this body scrub a 4.3 average star rating out of 1,960 reviews, so you know it works on dry and bumpy skin.

Pros & Cons
  • Scent is tropical and favored by users

  • Gentle yet hydrating

  • Relieves dry and itchy scalp

  • Pricier than other body scrubs

The OUAI St. Barts Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub is an all-in-one solution for your skincare needs. Its primary ingredient is sugar, an effective natural and gentle exfoliator that removes product buildup from your scalp and skin. It also nourishes dry skin, leaving it visibly smoother and more vibrant.

One of the key features of this product is its versatility. You can use it in the shower as a body scrub, or apply it to your scalp before shampooing for a deep, refreshing cleanse. This scrub’s scent is inspired by the tropical paradise of St. Barts, with has notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose and Baltic amber.

Best budget option

Tree Hut Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub in clear tub with brown lid
Photo: Ulta
Pros & Cons
  • Affordable price

  • Vegan, paraben, sulfate-free

  • Nourishes and balances skin

  • Shimmer may not be favored by everyone

Want soft skin with a subtle shimmer? The Tree Hut Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub will give you that.  

It's more than just a scrub; it's a tropical getaway packed in a jar, ready to transport you to an exotic paradise with its key notes of almond, golden amber, and ustralian sandalwood. Some users say its scent is a dupe for the Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia body scrub.

This exfoliating body scrub with sugar and guarana is designed to buff away dull, dry skin, leaving your body feeling soft, smooth, and rejuvenated. Its blend of ingredients like shea butter and six-oil blend of avocado, macadamia, sweet orange and evening primrose oils works together to deeply nourish and balance your skin's hydration, restoring your natural glow. 

You also get a firming effect with cupuaçu butter that helps prevent dry skin and restore the feeling of elasticity.

Best sugar body scrub

Pros & Cons
  • Very affordable price

  • Paraben and oil-free

  • Vegan

  • Milder scrub that doesn’t feel abrasive

  • Might not be exfoliating enough for some

Dove’s Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub is an essential product if you want smooth, radiant skin. Exfoliation, though often overlooked, is a crucial step in any skincare routine. This scrub allows you to gently buff away dry, dull skin, revealing a fresh and glowing layer beneath.

The main ingredients, brown sugar and coconut butter, are both natural exfoliators and moisturizers. The sugar granules help to slough off dead skin cells, promoting skin rejuvenation. Simultaneously, the coconut butter deeply moisturizes and nourishes the new skin, leaving it soft and supple.

Pros & Cons
  • Affordable price

  • Tube packaging is easy to use

  • Reduces bumps and ingrown hairs

  • Moisturizes skin

  • May be a bit drying for some

This Soap & Glory The Scrub Of Your Life Body Scrub is your ticket to smooth and radiant skin. It will remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling fresh, vibrant and renewed.

The scrub’s formula is enriched with skin-loving ingredients including shea butter, vitamin E, mandarin peel and quillaja saponaria extract, ensuring a deep and nourishing cleanse every time you use it. Dermatologically tested and suitable for all skin types, it’s subtly floral scented with rose and bergamot. 

It’s a favorite with users, chalking up 4.7 average stars out of 403 ratings. Often used as a pre-tan prep, it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth and does a great job at reducing bumps.

Pros & Cons
  • Two-in-one as a shower gel and exfoliant

  • Very affordable price

  • Sulfate-free

  • Moisturizes, cleanses and softens skin

  • Not as exfoliating as some may prefer

Discover a gentle exfoliating experience with OGX's Sensitive + Pink Sea Salt & Rosewater Sulfate-Free Soothing Body Scrub. A unique blend of calming rosewater and lightly buffing sea salt in this liquid body wash lends a therapeutic caress to your everyday shower routine. 

Suitable for all skin types, this body scrub is sulfate-free and lathers into a rich foam for soft, clean skin. Reviews mention the enjoyable fragrance, gentle exfoliation and affordable price. garnering it a 4.5 average star rating.

Best scrub with natural ingredients

Pros & Cons
  • Very affordable price

  • Paraben and phthalate-free

  • Scent may not be for everyone

The Shea Sugar Scrub Shea Butter & Almond by Dr. Teal's is. enriched with natural ingredients such as shea butter, sugar, and essential oils that exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving you with a silky-smooth skin finish.

Shea butter delivers deep hydration, making it an excellent choice for dry skin. Sugar granules work to gently remove dead skin cells, revealing a brighter, more refreshed complexion underneath. Sweet almond oil and macadamia seed oil are the unsung heroes in this product, enhancing its moisturizing properties and helping to keep your skin soft and supple.

Best skin polishing scrub

Pros & Cons
  • Less than 1% synthetic fragrance

  • Clinical-grade exfoliator

  • Paraben and cruelty-free

  • Not suitable for daily use

Need a strong, effective scrub for ultra-dry skin? This Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub is a clinical-grade skin smoothing treatment that will give you smoother, more radiant skin in just three minutes.

The pumice in the scrub acts as a physical exfoliator, smoothing, and buffing rough, bumpy skin while the lactic and salicylic acids work chemically to polish and refine the outermost layer of your skin. This combination of physical and chemical exfoliation ensures a thorough, satisfying scrub.

But it doesn't stop there. The scrub also contains papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes, which provide an enzymatic exfoliation to reveal naturally glowing skin. This trio of fruit enzymes not only boosts your skin's natural radiance but also leaves a refreshing, tropical fragrance.

Pros & Cons
  • Suits dry, combination and oily skin

  • Lightens dark spots

  • Vegan, gluten and cruelty-free

  • Doesn’t suit sensitive skin

Acting as a double-duty body peel, this scrub is enriched with glycolic and lactic acids, which are significant components for polishing and refining the skin's surface. It also brightens and smoothens rough, bumpy, and crepey skin, which is often caused by Keratosis Pilaris (KP).

Whether you have normal, dry, combination, or oily skin, this renewing body scrub is designed to work wonders. It specifically targets those pesky dark spots, dry areas, and uneven texture.

It has an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 745 reviews and users say it works well on exfoliating any bumps, leaving soft and smooth skin.

Best sea salt scrub

Pros & Cons
  • Affordable price

  • Can be used on face

  • Exfoliates and smoothens skin

  • Scrub may be too dry on application

If you’re familiar with sea salt scrubs, then you’d know that salt from the Dead Sea is highly nourishing and contains minerals that plump, brighten and smoothen skin. 

This Lovery Dead Sea Salt Scrub has the sweet scent of lavender while restoring your skin’s youthful vibrancy. Infused with essential minerals like magnesium and calcium, this scrub enhances your skin's elasticity, making it feel softer and smoother.

Enriched with Shea butter and jojoba oil, the scrub safeguards your skin's moisture levels, while Vitamin E offers protection against harmful free radicals. A highlight of genuine Dead Sea salt is that it not only exfoliates your skin to perfection but also gives it an all-natural, radiant glow. 

Pros & Cons
  • Allergy tested and hypoallergenic

  • Natural silica beads

  • Hydrates and resurfaces skin

  • Product lasts a long time

  • Not for use on face

  • Leaves residue in shower area so it’s best to clean after use

Looking for a more potent body scrub to improve keratosis pilaris? The KP Duty Dermatologist Formulated Body Scrub is an innovative and cutting-edge product designed to significantly aid in the improvement of dry, rough, bumpy skin concerns, including keratosis pilaris.

Whether you're struggling with dry patches or persistent bumps, this scrub can be a game-changer in your skincare routine. It’s free from synthetic fragrances and is paraben and gluten-free, which is safe for sensitive skin.

The body scrub is also easy to use, meaning you can incorporate it into your regular shower routine two to three times a week. Just apply and rub the scrub in circular motions on the areas that need exfoliating, then wash it off.

FAQs

Which body scrubs get our stamp of approval?

We stand by all the body scrubs on our list and they each deliver great results depending on your skin type and needs. But if you need more help in narrowing it down, we would recommend the Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Body Scrub and the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA.

If you’re after a luxurious spa-like experience, the Sol de Janeiro scrub will leave your skin smooth and radiant while delivering a luxe, spa experience with its scent. 

For a powerful solution for rough and dry skin, the First Aid Beauty scrub with its alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) effectively tackles small bumps and leaves skin exceptionally smooth. 

Both of these products offer a unique blend of ingredients and impressive results, making them a worthy addition to any skincare routine.

So why wait? Start your journey to smoother, more radiant skin today with the best body scrubs that are approved by our editors!


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Prices updated on 11/30/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.

Sherelyn Goh Professional Headshot
Written by
Sherelyn Goh

A former women's lifestyle magazine editor, Sherelyn Goh has worked with all things beauty, health, style and travel and finds a thrill in discovering and testing new products. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she enjoys food, travel, working out and cooking.

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