Best body scrub and exfoliators to remove dead skin 2021

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

This British-born apothecary brand produces products in small batches. You can immediately feel and smell the freshness when you use this scrub, which contains over 80 per cent of ingredients that have been grown on UK farms.

Filled with halen môn salt, hand-harvested from Anglesey, botanicals, “super” herbs like gotu kola and amla, which adapt to the needs of the body plus a host of fragrant aromatherapy essential oils – this scrub is a real treat to use.

It feels luxurious and has a therapeutic aroma that instantly lifts the spirits. Its oily texture can make the shower slippy, but it glides over the skin seamlessly, exfoliating it to a silky-smooth finish, while laminating it with a lasting veil of moisture – so you can skip the body cream afterwards.

Best: For ease of use

Rating: 7/10

If you’re not the linger in the shower type, this no-frills body bar is just what you need. The soap comes infused with natural sea salt and loofah to buff away dead skin, along with sweet almond and evening primrose oils to soften bumpy areas. It is easy to use and does a good job at softening small patches of roughness. It’s also scented with the Sanctuary’s signature citrus, ylang ylang and sandalwood fragrance. Since the exfoliators in the bar are fine and gentle, you can go ahead and use it on a daily basis.

Best: For relaxation

Rating: 9/10

If your skin, mind and muscles need some TLC, pick this pampering scrub that is formulated to buff away dry skin and ease aches. It is brimming with carefully-selected natural ingredients such as mineral rich Himalayan salts to draw out toxins and a cocktail of skin-loving organic argan, moringa, almond and coconut oils. It also features clarifying lime, blood orange and grapefruit for their skin firming properties, Indian frankincense to boost relaxation along with anti-inflammatory sandalwood and soothing jasmine sambac.

The scrub feels gritty and offers a thorough exfoliation. It also glides over the body effortlessly thanks to the oil content, doing a wonderful job at banishing dryness and soothing tired limbs. It leaves a light veil of oil over the body, which doubles up as a nourishing overnight treatment for the skin. We adore its therapeutic aroma that leaves you in a state of pure relaxation – a great one to use pre-bedtime.

Best: For sensitive skin

Rating: 10/10

Even those with sensitive skin can exfoliate if you use the right scrub. This fast-working, dermatologist approved scrub has a rich and creamy formula that combines biodegradable bamboo granules that gently slough away dead skin, while lactic acid dissolves bumps and ingrown hairs. The addition of shea and coconut butter plus coconut oil means that it doesn’t compromise on hydration. The scrub is designed to be used on dry skin, but those with sensitive skin should use it on wet skin to reduce irritation. It worked particularly well at reducing the look of keratosis pilaris – those pesky bumps at the back of the arms.

Best: For energising

Rating: 8/10

Sugar is a common exfoliating ingredient and a great choice for those with easily irritated complexions. This sugar-infused scrub dissolves beautifully into the skin, it’s also enriched with sweet orange peel, known for its brightening and energising properties, making it a good option for morning use.  The scrub does exactly what it says on the tub – buffs away roughness and leaves limbs feeling silky smooth. The addition of oils means that skin doesn’t feel dry and tight after use, it simply glistens. We also like the added cedarwood oil, which has a potent woody aroma, which pleasantly lingers on the skin after use.

Best: For body and scalp

Rating: 7.5/10

Developed by long-time hair stylist to the Kardashians, Jen Atkin’s multi-tasking scrub can be used on the body and scalp. It has a gently foaming formula and relies on sugar crystals to slough away dead skin. It also uses probiotics to balance the skin’s bacteria levels as well as moisturising coconut oil. The scrub feels quite sticky, however once it comes into contact with damp skin, you do not feel it as much. It’s gentle on the skin, leaving it feeling smoother and softer. Its multi-tasking blend can be used on the scalp to shift product build up and excess sebum. This process felt soothing, but it took a while to wash off. One thing to note is that it has a strong musky scent, which we found a little overpowering.

Best: For mature skin

Rating: 8.5/10

A breakdown of collagen and elastin as we age can lead to crinkly looking skin. Spiked with quartz crystals, rice powder plus lactic and glycolic acids, this creamy scrub is gentle on the skin and works a treat to improve its texture. It is also powered with caffeine to firm, niacinamide (vitamin B3) to strengthen the skin barrier, plus papaya and guava extract to brighten. The combination of ingredients did a great job at eliminating rough areas and gave the skin a more even, firmer and radiant look. Crinkled skin under the arms and around the knees was less visible too. We loved the easy-to-use squeezy tube and the subtle lemon scent.

Best: For dry skin

Rating: 8/10

Dry, dehydrated skin felt super nourished after using this hydrating scrub, which comes enriched with slow-pressed argan oil from Morocco. Argan shell is suspended in a gel formula that gives the body a deep exfoliation and the oil replenishes moisture. It has a warming aroma and doesn’t leave behind any greasy residue, just a pleasant soft sheen – and for an affordable price too.

Best: For softening

Rating: 8.5/10

Packed into a luxurious gold-topped tub, this uber exfoliating treatment relies on an array of naturally-sourced botanicals like pink Himalayan and Hawaiian sea salts, organic sugar, cranberry fibres, apricot-seed powder and argan oil to ward off all traces of rough skin. Designed to be used on dry skin, the densely-packed and slightly gritty paste-like scrub feels comfortable on the skin and we like how it works into a creamy lather.

It loosens up ingrown hairs, making it a great option before shaving. The added argan oil penetrates deeply and drenches dry skin in moisture. It also has a natural, earthy scent (it’s free from artificial fragrance), which is pleasant if you don’t like heavily-scented products.

Best: For body breakouts and blemishes

Rating: 9/10

This mint-scented scrub is loaded with a host of ingredients to battle body blemishes. Activated charcoal draws out dirt and grime, salicylic acid unclogs pores, zinc regulates oil production while manuka branch and leaf oil purifies the skin, giving it a less congested look. To balance things out, coconut water and jojoba seed oil replenishes moisture. We loved using this scrub, not only does it come in a squeezy pouch that is easy to use and eliminates any mess, it has a thick, non-oily texture that doesn’t slip out of the hands. It gives skin an extra clean and super smooth finish, without the residue of some heavily oil-based scrubs.

Best: For firming and detoxing

Rating: 9/10

Commonly used at spas across the UK, this luxe scrub can be used on dry skin once or twice a week. It’s filled with natural sea salts to eliminate dryness along with circulation-boosting grapefruit oil, firming cypress oil, which can help reduce water retention, eucalyptus oil to deep cleanse, plus sweet almond oil to hydrate. It leaves skin feeling cleansed and firm with increased luminosity, and this effect lasts for a couple of days. It smells incredible and will turn your bath or shower time into a full-on spa experience.

A word of warning, however – the addition of natural sea salt means that you may come across small stone particles, so it is not recommended for those with sore or broken skin.