Editors and Derms Agree: These Body Scrubs Will Have You Feeling Like a Straight-Up Seal

Smoother skin, coming right up.

A collage of lifestyle wellness images with body scrubs from Aesop and Nécessaire overlaid.
(Image credit: Vault Stock; Aesop; Dermstore; Nécessaire; Credo Beauty; @dananozime)
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There are few sensations quite as satisfying as sloughing the dead skin from your body's surface, revealing the smooth, baby-soft skin of your dreams. Those days when you carve out enough time to complete an everything shower—complete with a luscious shave, a shine-boosting hair mask, and an indulgent body scrub—can make you feel like a million bucks, even while sopping wet.

The latter is the first step we beauty editors will incorporate into our more involved showers, even if we’re short on time. However, not all scrubs are created equal. “A good body scrub should have enough scrubbing particles to feel light exfoliation, but not so abrasive that it compromises the skin barrier,” advises Dr. Kseniya Kobets, MD, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care. “I look for physical or mechanical scrubs that either don’t dissolve (like pumice beads or shells that can vary in size and harshness) or sugar- or salt-based scrubs that are gentler, dissolve with water, and are easier on the skin.” However, that’s not to say that “harsher” scrubs are “bad” for you. If your skin is less sensitive or you’re experiencing keratosis pilaris (or KP, more on that later), a more vigorous scrub might be necessary.

After much testing, we found the best salt scrubs, sugar confections, and chemical hybrids that give you skin so smooth, you're liable to slip right out of your clothes. While we'd suggest reading the room before doing that last bit, we highly encourage you to read on and shop the body scrubs our editors and experts can't get enough of.

An image of a body scrub against a textured surface.

(Image credit: Vault Stock)

The Best Body Scrubs, at a Glance

Best Overall: Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezzz Exfoliating Body Scrub

An image of Dana Emmanuelle-Jean Nozime in a robe and towel hugging her dog.

(Image credit: @dananozime)

Best Salt Scrub: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub

Best Hybrid Scrub: Follain Body Scrub

An image of Alyssa Brascia holding the Follain Body Scrub.

(Image credit: @alyssabrascia)

Best Budget: Tree Hut Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub

Best for Sensitive Skin: Avène Gentle Body Scrub

Image of a person laying in shallow water.

(Image credit: Vault Stock)

Best for KP: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub

Best for Texture: Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator

Best for Mature Skin: Herbivore Botanicals Coconut Oil Body Polish

Best Post-Shave: Fur Silk Scrub

Best Post-Wax: Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

An image of running water in a bathtub.

(Image credit: @dananozime)

What to Look For in a Body Scrub

  • Scrub type: Most scrubs are either physical—utilizing salt or sugar crystals (or natural exfoliants like pumice)—or chemical, like AHAs and BHAs. “When it comes to physical scrubs, I recommend gentler ingredients like sugar and oatmeal,” says Yang. “These tend to be less abrasive than salt, which is coarser. Although this can be good for thicker areas like the heels.” Chemical scrubs act like a less-severe version of a chemical peel, and many scrubs utilize both to achieve the smoothest skin.
  • Formula: Kobets recommends looking for “humectants like glycerin, soothing plant oils, and moisturizing agents” in the base formula, as these ingredients “cushion” the exfoliants and prevent the skin from feeling tight or irritated. “I want a scrub that leaves the skin smoother and softer immediately, but still gentle enough for regular use, even on more sensitive skin types,” she adds.
  • Skin type: People with dry skin, or anyone experiencing KP, will greatly benefit from using body scrubs in their routine because they quickly improve skin texture. “They can help treat [KP], aka ‘chicken skin’ or ‘strawberry skin,’ by unclogging pores and smoothing out the small bumps caused by keratin buildup,” Yang explains. “They can also improve absorption of moisturizer applied afterwards,” she adds.

How often should you use body scrubs?

Kobets recommends body scrubs “when they’re used thoughtfully,” which means one to four times a month, and not as a daily practice, no matter how tempting the scent may be. “The key is moderation based on your skin and choosing a well-formulated product,” she explains. “Over-scrubbing can disrupt the skin barrier and cause rashes and skin discoloration, so I always emphasize using scrubs no more than one to two times per week and pairing them with hydrating products afterward.”

How do you use a body scrub?

There are no hard-and-fast rules to using body scrubs, but generally, you should use them after washing your skin with bodywash and either before or after shaving. “The best time to use a scrub is after a few minutes in the shower, when the skin has softened with warm water and is more receptive to gentle exfoliation,” says Kobets. “I tell patients to massage in circular motions, rinse thoroughly, and then immediately follow with a hydrating body lotion or cream while the skin is still slightly damp after toweling off. This seals in moisture and helps maintain a smooth, healthy skin barrier.”

Are salt or sugar scrubs better?

The experts say one isn’t necessarily better than the other; they’re just better suited to different skin types. Sugar and oatmeal, as aforementioned by Yang, are better exfoliants for sensitive skin because the ingredients aren’t as coarse as salt crystals. However, salt scrubs can be great for areas with a thicker texture or more buildup (think rough patches or heels).

How We Chose

We decided on the 10 body scrubs above because of their nonabrasive formulas, skin-resurfacing properties, and shower-enhancing abilities. Each product is either personally recommended or comes lauded by dermatologists, whose recs we take to heart (and straight to the store). Each editor-approved product has been personally tested and implemented into our shower routines for at least four weeks in order to gain the most accurate insights.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

Alyssa Brascia
Alyssa Brascia
Associate Beauty Editor, Who What Wear

Alyssa Brascia is an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. She is based in New York City and has nearly three years of industry experience, with rivers of content spanning from multigenerational lipstick reviews to celebrity fashion roundups. Brascia graduated with a BS in apparel, merchandising, and design from Iowa State University and went on to serve as a staff shopping writer at People.com for more than 2.5 years. Her earlier work can be found at InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Shape, and more. Brascia has personally tested more than a thousand beauty products, so if she’s not swatching a new eye shadow palette, she’s busy styling a chic outfit for a menial errand (because anywhere can be a runway if you believe hard enough).

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