13 Best Facial Exfoliators of 2026, Per Dermatologists

When your skin looks and feels dull, you may feel the urge to reach for something hydrating (bonus points if it has brightening properties). While hyaluronic acid and vitamin C vials can do some good for your skin, I urge you to put them down in this scenario. Because when dullness, uneven texture, clogged pores, and tired skin come together, it’s time to reach for something with a bit more gusto. That, my friend, would be a facial exfoliator.

While your brain may immediately flit to the gritty face scrubs you used in the early aughts, fear not, for these sloughing formulas have grown leaps and bounds in recent years due to the inclusion of chemical actives. New York City-based licensed esthetician Jolie De Feis describes a top-shelf exfoliator as one that cleans out pores and sweeps away dead skin cells while supporting the delicate barrier—aka, not stripping your skin of its moisture and naturally occurring oils at the same time. “That looks a little different for everyone, since some skin [types] can tolerate more intense exfoliation,” she explains.

If the term “exfoliation” already makes you worry for your sensitive, mature, or otherwise irritable skin, the esthetician is here to quell your fears. “These days, there’s a lot of ingredient delivery system innovations that allow for slower release of exfoliating ingredients, which is a much more barrier-friendly approach,” she explains. “[This] makes it possible for people of all skin types to find exfoliants that work.” We did just that by asking dermatologists and medical aestheticians for their tried-and-true facial exfoliant recs. Below, their top suggestions for different budgets, brands, and skin types.

Best Drugstore: Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub

• Formula type: Facial exfoliants are often found in either chemical or physical form. Chemical formulas have actives like azelaic acid, BHAs, or AHAs that clarify from within the dermis, whereas physical formulas include exfoliants like pulverized bamboo, coffee grounds, or sugar granules. Some are even available in hybrid form, like the dermatologist-beloved Sofie Pavitt Studio-Smooth Exfoliating Scrub.
• Ingredients: “Look for formulas that have skin-supporting ingredients, like hydrators and anti-inflammatory ingredients to support the barrier,” says De Feis. She also recommends considering products with “brightening ingredients that can help with skin tone and evenness.”