5 Face Exfoliators That Are Your Golden Ticket to Smoother Skin

Whether you consider yourself skincare-savvy or a novice at best, you’ve probably heard the term “exfoliator” dozens of times. You may have come across an exfoliating routine on your FYP, maybe as a suggestion from your dermatologist, or even labeled on some of your favorite skincare products. No matter where and when you first heard […]Whether you consider yourself skincare-savvy or a novice at best, you’ve probably heard the term “exfoliator” dozens of times. You may have come across an exfoliating routine on your FYP, maybe as a suggestion from your dermatologist, or even labeled on some of your favorite skincare products. No matter where and when you first heard about them, we’re here to tell you that the hype is real: exfoliators truly are the golden ticket to glowing skin. Figuring out the proper exfoliation routine to help you get there, however, requires a delicate balance of methods and products because there are a slew of exfoliator facial cleansers, serums, and treatments to choose from.

Here, we spoke with three experts about why you need a facial exfoliator, the different types of exfoliators, and how often to incorporate them into your regimen. We’re also sharing our top 5 best exfoliators to help you kickstart your path to smoother skin. 

Our top 5 exfoliators, at a glance:

• Best overall: Paula’s Choice, 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $35
• Best for acne: Byoma, Clarifying Serum, $17
• Best for oily skin: Glow Recipe, Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum, $42
• Best for dark spots: Urban Skin Rx, ​​BrighterDays™ Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish, $20
• Best for dry skin: Tata Harper, Regenerating BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $88