ELLE Lab: Best Body Scrubs And Chemical Exfoliants For A Summer Of Softness

Body scrubs are an essential part of any pre-summer, de-scaling beauty routine. Because dry skin and flaky arms (not to mention the inevitable post-tan peeling) just don’t make for a good look.

'Our skin cells turn over at a gorgeous pace when we have youth on our side,’ says skin expert Michaella Bolder. ‘However, our cell turnover depletes and slows as we get older, taking nearly 90 days from our mid 20s.'

'To keep your skin looking and feeling fresh, healthy and glowing it’s imperative to exfoliate the skin every other day,’ she explains. ‘This will help speed up the process of cell renewal and stimulate fresh blood flow that can help reduce poor circulation and improve the skin’s tone.'

Michaella's top tip? 'Using an exfoliator that’s oil based is recommended to prevent drying and scratching the surface of the skin.'

But scrubs aren’t the only option when it comes to levelling up your body care. Did you know that chemical exfoliants can provide a gentler, more convenient alternative to the grittier scrub experience?

Why choose a chemical exfoliant?

Don’t get us wrong, a good scrub is incredibly satisfying. Watching dead skin get sloughed away by microbeads and particles is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. But not all skin is strong enough to withstand the abrasiveness of physical beads, so a chemical exfoliant can be a gentler way to achieve silky, soft, luminous skin.

What’s the difference between a chemical and physical exfoliant?

‘Physical exfoliation uses physical abrasives, such as scrubs or brushes, to physically slough dead skin cells from the surface of the skin,’ explains aesthetic doctor Dr Grace Hula. ‘Chemical exfoliation utilises chemical compounds, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), to dissolve the intercellular glue keeping dead skin cells stuck to the surface of your skin.’

Is a chemical exfoliant or physical scrub better for my skin type?

Well, ultimately it depends on what you’re after from your exfoliant, and frankly how lazy or thorough you are with your body care. (Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of letting our routine get a little lax in winter.)

Physical exfoliation is great for immediate results. Scrubs remove dead skin cells live and direct, which can improve the appearance of the skin's texture and tone instantly. The action of scrubbing can also stimulate circulation and increase the skin's natural radiance.

However, it's important to use gentle physical exfoliants, such as soft bristle brushes and finely ground scrubs, as harsh abrasives can cause micro-tears in the skin. This particularly applies to anyone with sensitive skin, who may want to stick to something smoother.

‘Chemical exfoliants can be gentler and more effective at penetrating deeper into the skin to unclog pores and improve overall skin health,’ Dr Hula explains. ‘AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, work to exfoliate the top layers of the skin, which can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. BHAs, such as salicylic acid, are oil-soluble and can penetrate deeper into pores to unclog them to prevent breakouts.

‘Those with sensitive skin should opt for a fine-grain physical exfoliant or a gentle chemical option, and if you want to target keratosis pilaris (also endearingly referred to as chicken skin) on the tops of arms and legs, a chemical option could do the trick.’

If you’re after something that leaves a little nourishment on the skin, the chemical options are usually leave-on. This makes them a lot more convenient, too, if you’ve already done your hair wash or gym shower before you remember that tomorrow is tan day...

How we test

Our experts tested 13 chemical and physical body exfoliators with the help of 250 of our at-home testers. They reported back on whether the exfoliator improved skin softness, smoothness and hydration, and whether it left a pleasant lingering fragrance on the skin.

Read on for the ELLE Lab edit of the best body scrubs for exfoliating your limbs to seriously soft skin status.