Get Glowing Skin Fast with These 22 Best Face Exfoliators (2024)

Feeling like you're missing glowy, light-reflecting skin? Wanting to get that social media-loved "glass skin" effect? Try exfoliating your face! Your skin naturally exfoliates itself, but "exfoliants step in when this regenerative process is slowed down and dead skin cells accumulate," says . This can create a thick, rough layer of skin that causes it to appear dull and dry. "The over-accumulation of dead skin can also lead to acne, clogged pores and premature signs of aging," she adds.

You can read more about how we evaluate face exfoliators in our Lab and consumer tests — plus everything you need to know to shop for the best one for you — at the end of this guide. Looking for more ways to get bright, radiant skin? Check out our guides to the best natural, homemade face scrubs and the best vitamin C serums for your money.

Looking for professional-grade results from a peel without having to leave the house? Turn to this Beauty Lab test-winning peel from Dermalogica. It earned top scores for improving skin tone, smoothing skin, brightening skin, improving wrinkles and making pores less visible, with an impressive 100% of consumers agreeing that their skin tone was more even and their skin was smoother and brighter. Meanwhile, 75% of consumers agreed fine lines, wrinkles and pores were less visible. However, some testers found the tubes difficult to open.

GH Beauty Lab testers found this scrub performed best for not causing excessive skin irritation, making it a great pick for those with sensitive skin. The Lab test winner also provided the deepest cleanse and was best at making skin look brighter and more radiant. "Love that it gives a deep feeling of clean but leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized," a tester raves. Take note: The rich color of this scrub can stain your sink, so it may be a bit messy to use.

St. Ives' classic creamy scrub is a multitasking Lab test winner: In testing, it effectively removed dirt, oil and other impurities, reduced the appearance of pores and effectively cleansed and removed makeup. "It made my skin feel clean, moisturized, smooth and healthy," a tester reports. "It gave my skin a glow and made my makeup go on smoother." Note that the coarse particles of this physical exfoliant may be too irritating for some.

A GH Beauty Lab test winner and ranked best for making skin feel smooth and having the ideal level of exfoliation, Zo Skin Health's exfoliating polish performed well in Lab testing across the board. It also scored high for making skin feel soft and look bright as well as removing oil, dirt and other impurities. "Good exfoliation without being too rough," a tester shares, so you can try this on even sensitive skin. However, take note that some consumer testers share it left their skin feeling dry.

In the Beauty Lab's peel test, this at-home pick from Philosophy was the only product to show visible wrinkle improvement via the Visia Complexion Analyzer machine, making it a standout for those with mature skin. Testers also enjoyed that this Lab test winner didn't excessively irritate; it improves skin texture, brightness and tone and diminishes fine lines. "After each use, my skin looked brighter," a tester shares. "It also felt softer and smoother." The scent of this product was polarizing to testers, though.

With a fresh citrus scent, Origins impressed GH Beauty Lab consumer testers for its ability to cleanse skin without causing irritation. One tester said it's the perfect combination face wash and gentle scrub, while another tester who has clogged pores and oily skin shared they saw a visible change after just one week of use. "My face is so soft; I haven't had a soft face in years," one tester raves. Testers noted its light exfoliation, so if you're looking for something deeper, then this may not be for you.

GH's Beauty Assistant has used this IS Clinical cleansing polish throughout the winter without any skin irritation. With super smooth beads, this wash exfoliates but doesn't strip the skin. It also features salicylic acid as a chemical exfoliant. "My skin feels significantly softer after using this," she notes. "It's been gentle on my skin even when it gets dry throughout the winter." However, this is on the expensive side, especially for a face wash.

If you have active acne breakouts, you should avoid using a physical exfoliator that can irritate your skin further. Formulated with the chemical exfoliant salicylic acid, this primer fights breakouts and covers up blemishes at the same time to prepare your skin for makeup. "I like the thick putty texture for smoothing over pores, and it contains pore-blurring spherical powders," says GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. Some reviewers find the texture off-putting, leaving a greasy feeling on their face.

With an impressive 15% vitamin C as well as exfoliating salicylic acid, SkinCeuticals' serum is made with oily, blemish-prone skin in mind. A 2022 GH Beauty Award winner, Beauty Lab data review shows that "this is effective for improving skin's clarity and texture,” says Wizemann. However, this pricey liquid is an investment.

A top performer across categories in GH Beauty Lab testing, Mary Kay's at-home peel also holds the Good Housekeeping Seal. From earning the best scores for improving texture and minimizing the appearance of pores to achieving a perfect score for not causing redness, this chemical peel did very well in Lab testing, though it didn't stand out to our consumer testers as a favorite. It uses glycolic acid to exfoliate yet was least likely to sting in testing as well, so you can try this on dry, sensitive skin. "It did not irritate my skin," one tester explains. "It was easy to use and my skin looked brighter after one use."

Accelerate cell renewal with Pixi's glycolic acid exfoliating toner. This liquid is also one of Butler's favorites. "It's easy to incorporate in a nightly skincare routine to gradually exfoliate skin and prevent congested pores," she shares. It includes other soothing ingredients like aloe vera and urea to prevent irritation as well. Though there are many online reviewers who love this product and consider it their holy grail, some report breakouts after using the toner.

Dealing with blackheads? Try this gentle Paula's Choice product, a multitasking salicylic acid treatment that helps to refine the appearance of pores, minimize breakouts and exfoliate the face sans redness. GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek loves this toner, sharing that it "does a really good job of keeping blackheads at bay and minimizing the appearance of pores." Some online reviewers would like better packaging, noting that the bottle tends to leak, so make sure to screw the cap on tightly.

What's better than a fresh face? A fresh face that smells great. This citrusy cleanser does more than just wash your face. The sugary scrub is filled with naturally-derived botanical oils and extracts such as coconut, lemongrass, sweet orange, chamomile, calendula and lavender. GH Beauty Director April Franzino loves this wash, sharing that "this formula intensively buffs skin, leaving it baby-smooth." As a strong exfoliant, it may be best to start slow with this pick to avoid irritation.

Made with polishing jojoba beads, this GH Beauty Lab test-winning and expert-loved exfoliator earned the best consumer score for reducing the appearance of pores and not overdrying skin. "My skin felt so soft after I used it and I could look in the mirror and see a difference after the first use," one tester shares. "By the end of the week I felt like my skin looked brighter, tighter, clearer, smaller pores, smoother." Some testers didn't love the smell, though.

Sometimes, the splurge is worth it. Case in point: La Prairie's pricey at-home peel, a GH Beauty Lab test winner. Aptly named, it's recommended to use this peel for three minutes once a week. In Lab testing, an impressive 100% of testers reported no peeling or flaking after application; the exfoliator also earned top scores for improving skin tone and radiance, as well as brightening and smoothing. The salicylic acid-based peel works quickly, with one tester reporting, "I saw immediate results — my skin looked smoother and brighter as soon as I washed off the product."

Naturopathica's cherry enzyme and lactic acid-based face peel promotes radiant skin without irritation, even for sensitive skin. Franzino loves this exfoliator as well, sharing, "This peel gives skin a brightening, smoothing refresh and is such at treat to use thanks to the fruity-sweet scent. Plus, it didn't irritate my eczema-prone skin." Some online reviewers looking for a stronger exfoliant feel they didn't see a significant change in their skin after using this.

Featuring both glycolic and citric acids, smooth on Neutrogena's liquid exfoliator to fight skin dullness and congestion. The GH Beauty Award winner helps even out skin tone over four weeks of daily use, according to Beauty Lab data evaluation. "My skin appears clearer and more even," shares an online reviewer. "Plus, my skin doesn't become overly oily. It also seems to be reducing my occasional breakouts." Some other reviewers say it leaves a residue on skin, so keep an eye out for that.

Exfoliating has never been easier, thanks to this Beauty Lab test winner. Swipe one of these peel pads on your face for quick and convenient exfoliation. In Lab testing, L'Oréal Paris' brightening pads earned the best score for ease of use, as well as top scores for brightening skin and improving wrinkles. One tester shares that they were "incredibly easy to use, weren't harsh and there was no horrid smell. Love how smooth they make my skin feel." For some pads, they seemed to be overly wet, leaving a little too much product lingering on some testers' faces.

Make exfoliating easy with swipe-on, no-rinse pads like these from SkinBetter Science. "Exfoliating peel pads in general tend to be stronger than using a wash," Dr. Castilla says. However, this moderate strength peel pad "combines acids with a retinol without being overly harsh on the skin," she explains. The easy-to-use pads can just be swiped onto your face to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Note that for a pack of 30, this is a pricier option.

Dr. Castilla recommends this Glytone face wash for those looking for a "very gentle cleanser," she says. It's "easy to incorporate into your skincare routine and works well for most skin types," she adds. The face wash is made with glycolic acid yet still feels gentle on skin according to many online reviewers, though some feel it's a bit drying.