An effective body scrub can be the fastest way to feel clean, massaged all over damp skin and rinsed off to reveal smoother, glowing limbs. Especially in the summer, when dull skin or dry patches become more visible, and it's an essential step for self-tanners, as unbuffed skin can cause tanning products to cling to drier areas.
When heatwaves hit, constant sweating can leave skin feeling sticky and clammy, making a manual body scrub a good investment. Buffing away dead skin cells, suncream, and deodorant can be the quick fix your complexion needs. Fortunately, there are loads of body scrubs to shop for, made with finely milled salts, enzyme powders, and botanical scents.
Top Picks for Every Preference
As a beauty journalist obsessed with silky smooth skin, I use a body scrub religiously twice a week, so I know exactly what works. Here are my handpicked all-time greats, from budget-friendly high street picks to luxurious body treatments worth the splurge.
Naturium KP Scrub & Mask is the most transformative body product I've found. This abrasive scrub in a thick paste (make sure to give the tube a good squeeze when pouring) is made to be spread all over, left for a few minutes, then rinsed off. Made with jojoba esters, pumice, and AHA, BHA, and PHA chemical exfoliants, it's fragrance-free and leaves skin smoother and softer fast. One use and you'll feel like a new person.
Q+A AHA Exfoliator Body Scrub is a gentle option from affordable brand Q+A. It has a delicious coconut, amber, and vanilla scent that smells like luxurious perfume, with enough abrasiveness to polish limbs without being scratchy or harsh. The blend of AHAs, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and upcycled corn is in a creamy base that spreads easily and rinses off quickly.
Gentle and Versatile Formulas
Alpha-H Smoothing AHA Face and Body Scrub is dual-purpose and the gentlest of all. It contains very fine bamboo stem particles, glycolic acid, caffeine, and macadamia seed oil, which lightly slough off dead skin cells without wincing. It's a great everyday scrub that isn't overly abrasive and suits sensitive, eczema-prone skin, with a refreshing peppermint scent.
Joonbyrd Violet Haze Body Scrub is perfect for those who love sticky-sweet, gourmand scents. Made by consultant dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, the main exfoliant is sugar and chia seeds in a base of plant-derived butters and oils, giving a thick, rich, creamy texture that lathers nicely without itchiness. The creamy, chocolatey, floral fragrance is so good you could eat it.
Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub has been around for years but remains a regular in my routine for its creamy, skin-smoothing texture, fresh scent, and speedy exfoliation. It comes in a convenient tube, avoiding the hassle of opening a tub with wet hands. One use is all you'll need to see a difference in skin texture.
Grown Alchemist Smoothing Body Exfoliant may look alarming as a black gel, but it's one of the best for sensitive skin and doesn't stain the shower. The scrub is made from volcanic pumice particles, peppermint, bergamot, and kalin clay, which buffs skin to a smooth, silk-soft finish while absorbing excess oil and hydrating skin in need of TLC.
