The 3 Best Face Scrubs, According to AuliLifestyle Editors

Face scrub commercials really sell it. We've all seen the footage: A woman lathers up with a scrub, splashes her face with water (without it going everywhere, the lie of our time), and smiles at her fresh, clean skin in the mirror. The reality is, of course, much more nuanced—and given that exfoliation is the key to glowy skin, it's worth it to get into the nitty-gritty before grabbing a random bottle off the shelf.

Physical scrubs with a sandy, powder base are a good place to start for sensitive skin, since the fine grit lets you decide how intense it gets. The more water you mix in, the gentler they get, and they don't have acids (if those make your skin freak out). But if you're dealing with a breakout more often than not, look for exfoliating acids over scrubs. Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) work by dissolving dead skin cells and zit-causing oil without manual scrubbing. And if you have dry skin, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) will help you glow without the heavy lifting. Lastly, for combination skin, derms often recommend a physical-chemical hybrid. The sandy texture removes dead skin cells with friction, while acids and enzymes get rid of oil without bothering your dry spots.

It often takes a lot of trial and error to find which kind of exfoliant works best for your skin, so we turned it over to our staff and narrowed down the options to ones with proven results. Read on for the best face scrubs AuliLifestyle editors swear by.

 

Paula’s Choice The UnScrub Cleansing Gentle Face Scrub

I'm obsessed with the jojoba beads in this product that can slough away a day’s worth of full coverage makeup and leave behind gleaming skin. Face scrubs have a bad rep and usually frighten people like me (who have eczema and desert-dry skin). This product is gentle and gave me baby-smooth skin I had never experienced before.

 

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator

I got this as a sample at Sephora years ago and never looked back. It's my go-to whenever I fall asleep in my makeup and need to fix my face, which usually ends up being around once a week. I rub it on in circles very gently—just barely with my fingertips—so it isn't too abrasive. Paired with that technique, it's one of the few scrubs that doesn't make me red and really improves the texture of my skin.

 

Tatcha The Rice Polish: Classic

The best changes I’ve made to my beauty routines have all involved adding a pretreatment, like putting on Tatcha’s silky primer before my foundation or spritzing on Amika’s heat-protectant spray before curling my hair. Tatcha’s Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder is yet another first first step that’s made a huge difference in my skin-care routine. I pour a quarter-size pile of the powder in the palm of my hand, then sprinkle on warm water to create a foam. I smother it on for about a minute, followed by a rinse with warm water and my face wash (It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser). Since I added it to my routine, my skin has been softer with less redness.