The 6 best facial exfoliators to unclog pores and banish stubborn texture, per our beauty team

For smooth and brighter-looking skin, these are the facial exfoliators to add to your weekly routine...

A selection of the best facial exfoliators featured in this guide, from Paula's Choice, Murad and Pixi , in a pink watercolour paint-style template
(Image credit: Paula's Choice, Murad and Pixi)

Tackling everything from dullness to congested pores and unwanted texture, the best facial exfoliators are an effective step to have in your skincare routine, but with a few iterations out there - from physical scrubs to chemical exfoliants - finding the right formula is key.

Like that of the best cleansers and best face moisturiser, an exfoliator is regarded by many to be one of the cornerstones of an effective skincare routine. They're designed to slough off dead skin to reveal brighter, even and smoother-looking skin, unclog pores and even reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, they're also fairly low-maintenance and easy to incorporate into your regime, as most of us only need to exfoliate twice a week - as any more so can be too intensive.

That said, with the sheer amount of formulas out there, from granular scrubs to AHA-powered toners, finding a facial exfoliator that aligns with your skin type is no easy feat. Thus, our team have tested an array of options to bring you the six best...

The best facial exfoliator products, as chosen by our beauty experts

When it comes to the question of how to exfoliate your face, there are two types of exfoliation, mechanical and chemical, and while they vary in their process, each can reward you with similar benefits.

Mechanical or physical exfoliation removes dead skin cells with a little help from a tool (think brush or sponge) or a scrub. Then there's chemical or enzymatic exfoliation, which gently dissolves dead skin cells with the help of PHA skincare, AHAs or BHAs, such as lactic or glycolic acid.

With this in mind, our beauty team have tested an array of options from gentle scrubs to BHA-powered toners, to help you find the best facial exfoliator for your skin type and needs....

How we tested the best facial exfoliators

Like with the best face masks, our beauty team - all of whom have different skin types, ranging from combination to dry - either trialled these facial exfoliators over a period of weeks (following the usage and safety guidelines of each product for best efficacy), or have shared their reviews of toners and scrubs that have been long-standing favourites in their routine for some time - and thus, we can vouch for their benefits.

Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson's hand is pictured holding two of the Best facial exfoliators featured in this guide: the Pixi Glow Tonic and Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial, in front of a white wall

(Image credit: Future/ Pixi/Murad)

How to choose the best facial exfoliator for your skin

Considering there are so many products to choose from, to the uninitiated, selecting the best facial exfoliator may seem a bit daunting. However, if you follow the AAD's advice and tailor your product choices to your skin type, you can't really go wrong.

  • Those with sensitive skin and acne-prone skin types can sidestep irritation by being gentle: a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliator, as needed, should do the job.
  • Stronger chemical treatments (or mechanical exfoliation) can often be tolerated by those with thick or oily skin to achieve great results.
  • Those with darker skin tones, or anyone who notices dark spots on their skin post-burns, bug bites, or acne breakouts, are recommended to avoid strong chemical exfoliation, as it can result in the formation of dark spots.
Courtney Leiva

Courtney Leiva is a seasoned lifestyle writer with nine years of experience under her belt. She graduated from The Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2012, and since graduation, she has been actively contributing to major news outlets such as Refinery29, Women's Health, Yahoo! Lifestyle, HelloGiggles, NewBeauty, and more. 

Courtney initially started off covering beauty news, but as she has grown her career over the years, her health, home, and shopping pieces can now be seen on BuzzFeed, The Daily Beast, and Huffington Post

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