The 9 Best Face Exfoliators of 2026, Compared by Formula

Key Takeaways

• Three ways to exfoliate: Face exfoliators use acids (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs), enzymes, such as Papain, or a physical scrub or powder.

• A labeled acid percentage: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is listed first for stating its Glycolic Acid percentage, at $9 for 100ml.

• Several acids in one serum: U Beauty’s Resurfacing Compound combines Glycolic, Mandelic, and Lactobionic Acids with Retinyl Palmitate and Vitamins C and E, at $228 for 50ml.

• Enzyme and PHA options: Good Molecules, Dermalogica, and e.l.f. build on enzymes, while Medik8 and The INKEY List build on Gluconolactone, a PHA.

• Dermatologist guidance: The American Academy of Dermatology advises matching the method to your skin type, moisturizing right after, and exfoliating less often as the method gets stronger.

• Sun sensitivity: The FDA notes AHAs may increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun and advises sun protection while using them.

Chemical, Enzyme, and Physical Face Exfoliators, Compared

A face exfoliator clears away the buildup that can leave skin looking dull and feeling rough, and choosing the method comes before choosing the brand. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) splits exfoliation into two kinds: mechanical, which uses a brush, pad, sponge, or scrub, and chemical, which uses ingredients “such as alpha and beta hydroxy acids.”

Within chemical exfoliants, the choice of acid sets formulas apart. Glycolic and Lactic Acids are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Salicylic Acid is commonly classed as a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), and Gluconolactone and Lactobionic Acid are Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs). Enzyme exfoliants rely on fruit enzymes, such as Papain from papaya, and usually come as a rinse-off powder or gel.

The nine below were compared on what each brand publishes: the named exfoliating ingredient and any stated percentage, the format, how often the brand says to use it, and the current US price. None of them were tested on skin for this guide, so each entry describes who the product suits.

1. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner - Leave-On Glycolic Acid Toner

The Ordinary’s toner states its Glycolic Acid at 7% in a water-based, leave-on formula, so you know exactly what you’re adding to a routine. The brand suggests applying it once daily, ideally in the evening, and starting at two to three times a week if you’re new to acids. Its own FAQ is direct about fit: “We do not recommend using this formulation on sensitive, peeling, or compromised skin.”

Best for: Readers whose skin already handles acids and who want a labeled Glycolic Acid percentage at a low price

Exfoliating ingredients: Glycolic Acid, 7%

Format: Leave-on toner

Price: $9 for 100ml, $13.50 for 240ml

2. U Beauty Resurfacing Compound - Multi-Acid Serum With a Retinol Ester

If you’d rather fold exfoliation into a serum than add a separate step, the Resurfacing Compound from U Beauty is built for that. Its ingredient list carries three exfoliating acids: Glycolic and Mandelic Acids, both AHAs, and Lactobionic Acid, a PHA. Alongside them sit Retinyl Palmitate, a Retinol Ester, plus Vitamin C as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Vitamin E as Tocopherol.

Sold as a “Holy-Grail Multitasking Serum,” it combines the benefits of up to eight skincare steps, according to U Beauty, and is designed to help visibly improve uneven-looking texture, the look of pores, visible discoloration, and the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The formula is powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™ and made in Italy.

U Beauty directs applying 2 to 3 pumps to dry skin after cleansing, once in the evening or twice a day, and following with a moisturizer. It’s a real investment next to the drugstore entries here, and the 30ml and 15ml sizes give you a way to try it first.

Best for: Readers who want exfoliating acids, a Retinol Ester, and Vitamins C and E in one serum

Exfoliating ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, and Lactobionic Acid (no percentages stated)

Format: Leave-on serum

Price: $228 for 50ml, $148 for 30ml, $88 for 15ml

3. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Rice-Based Exfoliating Powder

Daily Microfoliant is a rice-based powder that activates when it meets water. Dermalogica says it releases Papain, Salicylic Acid, and Rice Bran on contact, so a single rinse-off step pairs an enzyme with a BHA. The brand suggests using it once daily, morning or night, and starting every other day if you’re new to exfoliation or your skin is sensitive. A refill and a smaller 0.45 oz size are also sold.

Best for: Readers who want an enzyme and a BHA in a rinse-off powder

Exfoliating ingredients: Papain, Salicylic Acid, and Rice Bran Extract

Format: Rinse-off powder activated by water

Price: $69 for 2.6 oz, $49 for 1.4 oz, $19.50 for 0.45 oz

4. Medik8 Press & Glow - Daily PHA Toner

Press & Glow is a leave-on toner built on 5.5% Gluconolactone, a PHA. Medik8 describes it as “gentle enough for twice-a-day use - even on sensitive skin,” and suggests starting once a day, noting how skin responds, then building to twice daily. For readers easing into acids, a stated PHA percentage in a toner format is an easy place to start.

Best for: A leave-on PHA step for readers easing into acids

Exfoliating ingredients: Gluconolactone, 5.5%

Format: Leave-on toner

Price: $35 for 200ml, $30 for the refill

5. e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Gentle Peeling Exfoliant - Papaya Peeling Gel

This peeling gel from e.l.f. is applied to dry skin and rinsed off, with Papaya Extract, listed as Carica Papaya (Papaya) Leaf Extract, doing the exfoliating. The brand suggests using it two to three times a week. At $11, it’s an inexpensive way to try an enzyme exfoliant before committing to a powder or an acid, and its ingredient list includes fragrance.

Best for: Trying an enzyme exfoliant at a low price

Exfoliating ingredients: Papaya Extract

Format: Rinse-off peeling gel

Price: $11 for 3.04 oz

6. Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub - Rinse-Off Physical Scrub

Cetaphil’s scrub is a rinse-off cleanser with what the brand calls “microfine granules,” made for daily use. Cetaphil labels it “for combination to oily, sensitive skin” and adds that it “can be used less frequently if desired.” If you prefer a familiar wash-and-rinse step to a leave-on acid, it’s the simplest swap into a routine on this list. Its ingredient list includes a masking fragrance.

Best for: Readers who prefer a daily rinse-off scrub to a leave-on acid

Exfoliating ingredients: Microfine granules (physical)

Format: Rinse-off scrub cleanser

Price: $9.49 for 6 fl oz at Target

7. Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion - Diatomaceous Earth Scrub

Kiehl’s uses “Micronized Shells,” or diatomaceous earth, as the abrasive in this rinse-off scrub, which the brand describes as paraben-free and fragrance-free. The directions call for working it in for about 30 seconds, “but no more than two minutes,” then rinsing with cool water. Kiehl’s also advises: “Do not use within 24 hours of use of other exfoliation products.”

Best for: Readers who want a fragrance-free physical scrub

Exfoliating ingredients: Diatomaceous earth (physical)

Format: Rinse-off scrub

Price: $49 for 2.5 fl oz

8. Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder - Enzyme Powder Without AHAs

Good Molecules pairs Papain, an enzyme from papaya, with Rice Starch and Pineapple and Kiwi Extracts. The brand states the powder is formulated without microbeads, nut shell powders, or AHAs, and it includes 1% Calamine Powder. Like the Dermalogica powder, it activates with water and rinses off, at under a third of the price per gram, and the brand suggests using it up to four times a week.

Best for: An enzyme powder for readers who’d rather skip AHAs

Exfoliating ingredients: Papain and Rice Starch

Format: Rinse-off powder activated by water

Price: $16 for 60g

9. The INKEY List PHA Toner - Low-Percentage PHA and Niacinamide Toner

The INKEY List’s toner pairs 3% Gluconolactone with 3% Niacinamide in a fragrance-free, leave-on formula swept on with a cotton pad. Next to Medik8’s toner, it carries a lower PHA percentage in a smaller bottle at a lower entry price. The brand’s FAQ suggests you “start with 2-3 times per week, then increase to daily if skin tolerates well.”

Best for: Readers new to chemical exfoliation who want a low-percentage PHA toner

Exfoliating ingredients: Gluconolactone, 3%

Format: Leave-on toner

Price: $18 for 100ml

How to Choose the Right Face Exfoliator

Four questions narrow the list quickly.

• Leave-on or rinse-off: Toners and serums stay on the skin, while powders, scrubs, and peeling gels come off with water. Pick the format you’ll actually use on schedule.

• Acid, enzyme, or scrub: The AAD notes that people with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin may prefer a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliator, since mechanical exfoliation may be too irritating for them. Enzymes and PHAs are a common starting point; Glycolic Acid at a stated percentage suits skin that already handles acids. For rough, bumpy-looking patches on the face or body, see the exfoliants for bumpy skin texture guide.

• The directions on the label: Brands on this list range from up to four times a week to twice daily, so follow the frequency printed for the product you buy.

• How your skin responds: The AAD advises: “Be careful not to over-exfoliate, as this could lead to skin that is red and irritated.” Start below the maximum frequency and build up. The AAD also advises against strong exfoliation for darker skin tones and against exfoliating skin that is sunburned or broken.

Frequently Asked Questions About Face Exfoliators

What Is the Most Effective Face Exfoliator?

It depends on your skin and on which format you’ll use consistently. Chemical exfoliants with a stated acid percentage, such as The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner or Medik8 Press & Glow, make it easiest to know what you’re applying. Enzyme powders and lower-percentage PHA toners suit readers who want a milder-feeling step.

Is a Chemical or Physical Exfoliator Better for the Face?

Neither is better across the board. The AAD describes mechanical exfoliation as a brush, pad, sponge, or scrub, and chemical exfoliation as acids, such as Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids. It suggests people with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin may prefer a mild chemical exfoliator. Whichever you choose, the AAD advises applying a scrub or chemical exfoliator in small, circular motions for about 30 seconds, then rinsing well with lukewarm water.

How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Face?

Follow the label first. On this list, Good Molecules suggests up to four times a week, e.l.f. two to three times a week, and The Ordinary once daily after a slower start. The AAD’s general rule is that the more aggressive the method, the less often you should use it.

What’s the Difference Between AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs?

They’re three families of exfoliating acids. AHAs include Glycolic, Lactic, and Mandelic Acids, and the FDA lists Glycolic and Lactic Acids as the most common AHAs in cosmetic products. Salicylic Acid, commonly classed as a BHA, is in Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. PHAs include Gluconolactone, in Medik8 Press & Glow and The INKEY List PHA Toner, and Lactobionic Acid, one of the three acids in U Beauty’s Resurfacing Compound.

Which Face Exfoliator Suits Mature Skin?

Skin changes over time, so start from how your skin reacts to exfoliation now. If visible dryness is a concern, a PHA toner, such as Medik8 Press & Glow or The INKEY List PHA Toner, or an enzyme powder is worth considering before a higher-percentage Glycolic Acid formula.

What Should You Do After Exfoliating?

Moisturize. The AAD notes exfoliation can be drying and advises applying moisturizer right after. If your exfoliator contains an AHA, the FDA advises using a sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and limiting sun exposure while using the product and for a week afterward.