What Does Exfoliation Do To Your Skin?

Exfoliation is a significant part of every skin care routine. It helps slough off the dirt and impurities from your skin pores, remove dead skin cells, and improve the skin texture. Exfoliation also reduces the appearance of blemishes, blackheads, and scars. Check out our list of the best exfoliators for acne-prone skin below.

15 Best Exfoliators For Acne To Buy Online In 2022

1. Best Anti-Aging:Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

The Paula’s 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a gentle leave-on exfoliant that gets absorbed quickly into the skin. It contains 2% salicylic acid (maximum strength) to promote the skin’s natural exfoliation process by unclogging pores and minimizing their appearance. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles and evens out skin tone and texture. The product is safe for daily use and is perfect for all skin types. Check out the honest review of the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant in this video. Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid Pros

Fragrance-free Paraben-free

Cons None

2. Best Fragrance-Free:Toyo Cure Natural Aqua Gel

This is a gentle exfoliator that does not contain any harsh chemicals. The Toyo Cure Natural Aqua Gel gently removes dead skin cells from your skin, and can also be used on hands, necks, elbows, and heels. The formula is enriched with 90% activated hydrogen water and is free of fragrance, color, and preservatives. It also contains natural ingredients like aloe leaf, gingko biloba, and rosemary extracts. These ingredients help in reducing the appearance of pores and blackheads, and getting a bright complexion. Take a look at this video for a detailed review of the Toyo Cure Natural Aqua Gel. Key Ingredients: Activated hydrogen water, Aloe leaf extract, Gingko biloba leaf extract, and Rosemary extract Pros

Fragrance-free Color-free Preservative-free

Cons None

3. Best Moisturizing:E.ra Organics Revive+ Microdermabrasion Manuka Honey Walnut Scrub & Mask

The E.ra Organics Face Exfoliator promises radiant and youthful skin. It helps in removing stubborn blackheads, and cleansing and minimizing pores. The scrub is enriched with aloe vera, manuka honey, walnut, and vitamin C that boost your skin’s moisture levels. These ingredients protect your skin from free radical damage and premature aging. Regular use of this scrub will help reduce acne and fade the acne scars. The exfoliator can also be used as a face mask to enhance skin tone and radiance. Watch this video of the E.ra Organics Revive+ Microdermabrasion Manuka Honey Walnut Scrub & Mask to better understand the product. Key Ingredients: Manuka honey, Walnut, and Aloe vera Pros

Moisturizing Alcohol-free Paraben-free

Cons

Greasy texture

4. Best For Unclogging Pores:Needcrystals Microdermabrasion Crystals Skin Care Booster

The Microdermabrasion Crystals Skin Care Booster by Needcrystals is a powerful exfoliant that provides anti-aging benefits to your skin. It removes the thick layer of dead skin cells to reveal a healthy and vibrant complexion. The exfoliator stimulates blood circulation, fades blemishes and acne, and unclogs pores. The crystals are made of aluminum oxide and can be used with any microdermabrasion equipment. The scrub is also great for minimizing age spots, wrinkles, and stretch marks. Key Ingredients: Alumina Pros 100% natural crystals Cons

May leave residue

5. Best Non-Comedogenic:St. Ives Radiant Skin Scrub

The St.Ives exfoliating scrub contains pink lemon and mandarin peel that polish away imperfections from your skin to reveal a healthy glow. The scrub provides moderate exfoliation, helps to even out your skin tone, and makes your skin smoother and softer. The exfoliant also contains 2% salicylic acid to help reducing acne, acne scars, and blemishes. The formula is non-comedogenic. Key Ingredients: Pink lemon, Mandarin orange, 2% salicylic acid Pros

Dermatologist tested Paraben-free Non-comedogenic

Cons None

6. Best Cruelty-Free:DRMTLGY Microdermabrasion Scrub

The DRMTLGY Face Exfoliator has a gentle formula that exfoliates dead cells and debris from your skin’s surface. It is enriched with sugar cane, lemon, apple, and green tea extracts. The glycolic acid present in sugar cane removes dead skin cells, dirt, and oil from your pores. The lemon extract clarifies the skin and softens it, while the vitamin C derived from apple provides antioxidants to your skin to minimize environmental damage. The antioxidants present in green tea provide anti-aging benefits to keep the skin youthful. The scrub also helps in reducing acne, acne scarring. Key Ingredients: Sugar cane, Lemon, Apple, and Green tea extracts Pros

Cruelty-free Paraben-free Sulfate-free Easy to use Gluten-free

Cons

May cause allergic reaction

7. Best Oil-Free:Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub

The Clean & Clear scrub deeply cleans out pores and exfoliates the skin to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. It has a non-comedogenic and oil-free formula, which is gentle on the skin. The exfoliator can be used every day to reduce blemishes and acne. Key Ingredients: Glycerin Pros

Suitable for everyday use Oil-free formula Moisturizing

Cons

Contains SLS Contains artificial fragrance

8. Best Paraben-Free:Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant comes in powder form and gets activated when it comes in contact with water. The powder then releases enzymes that accelerate cell renewal to make your skin smooth and bright. The microfoliant is enriched with papain, salicylic acid, and rice enzymes that polish your skin. It also contains rice bran, white tea, and licorice extracts to balance out uneven skin tone and a blend of colloidal oatmeal and allantoin to calm the skin. The product minimizes acne breakouts and has a gentle formula that is safe for daily use. Key Ingredients: Papain, Salicylic acid, Rice enzymes, Licorice, and Grapefruit extracts Pros

Paraben-free Cruelty-free Gluten-free Vegan Artificial fragrance and color-free

Cons

Expensive

9. Best Alcohol-Free:Humane Clarifying Toner

The Humane Clarifying Toner is a 2-in-1 product that helps in reducing acne and acne scars. The toner-exfoliator is enriched with 2% salicylic acid and green tea extract to prevent acne breakouts. It removes excess oil and dead skin cells from your pores. Green tea has moisturizing properties and reduces redness and inflammation, and provides your skin with a dose of antioxidants. It also protects your skin from environmental stress and balances your skin’s pH levels. The gentle formula is safe for everyday use. Key Ingredients: 2% Salicylic acid and Green tea Pros

Mineral oil-free Paraben-free Phthalate-free Alcohol-free Synthetic fragrance and color-free Not tested on animals Formaldehyde-free DEA and GMO-free Triclosan-free

Cons

Might cause allergic reactions Sticky texture

10. Best Hydrating:Touch Microdermabrasion

The Touch Microdermabrasion exfoliator contains micro-crystals that polish your skin. It gives a youthful and glowing complexion by fading fine lines and wrinkles. The a Key Ingredients: Alumna crystals, Allantonin, Chamomile, Green tea, Aloe vera Pros

Paraben-free Sulfate-free Hydrating

Cons None

11. Best For Improving Skin Texture:L’amore Gommage Exfoliating Cream

The L’amore Gommage exfoliating cream restores your natural skin while gently removing unwanted toxins and dead skin cells. The cream has a gel-like texture that gently cleanses, hydrates, and balances the skin pH. It reduces blemishes, blackheads, and acne, improves skin texture, and hydration levels. The exfoliating cream is enriched with cucumber, papaya, radish root, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, pineapple, orange, lavender, melon, and raspberry extracts. All these ingredients provide essential nourishment and antioxidants to your skin to keep it healthy. Key Ingredients: Cucumber, Orange, Raspberry, Papaya, Radish root, Rose, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Pineapple, Lavender, Melon Pros

Hydrating Paraben-free Sulfate-free Alcohol-free

Cons

Strong fragrance

12. Best For Uneven Skin Tone: Acne Free Blackhead Removing Face Scrub

This Acne Free Blackhead Removing Face Scrub contains maximum strength salicylic acid to minimize acne breakouts and remove blackheads. The jojoba oil and charcoal in the formula clarifies your skin and improves skin tone. The scrub also contains m Key Ingredients: Charcoal, Jojoba oil, 2% Salicylic acid, Ceramides, and 2.5% Benzoyl peroxide Pros

Easy to use Fragrance-free

Cons

May cause allergic reaction

13. Best Natural Formula:LilyAna Naturals Charcoal Face Scrub

The LilyAna Charcoal Face Scrub helps clean away dead skin cells and gives your skin a radiant glow. ontains all-natural and vegan ingredients and is free of any artificial fragrances. Key Ingredients: Charcoal, Lavender oil, Tea tree oil, Aloe vera, Sunflower oil Pros

Fragrance-free Paraben-free Vegan Cruelty-free GMP-certified Sulfate-free Gluten-free

Cons None

14. Best Mineral Oil-Free:Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner

The Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore cleaning toner contains 2% salicylic acid and papaya enzymes that minimize the look of pores to reveal a healthy-looking complexion. Moringa and papaya extracts in the formula draw out excess oil from the pores without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. It also contains antioxidant-rich cholrella extract that gently nourishes and soothes damaged skin. Key Ingredients: Moringa, Chlorella, Papaya, 2% BHA Pros

Paraben-free Synthetic fragrance-free Formaldehyde-free Phthalate-free Mineral oil-free Cruelty-free

Cons

Not pH balanced

15. Best For Dark Spots:BeauKON Orange Facial Peeling Gel

The BeauKON Orange Facial Peeling Gel exfoliates your skin to make it smoother and improve your complexion. The formula reacts to the oils that your face produces to remove sebum, oil, and dead skin cells effectively. It is enriched with orange fruit extracts that promote collagen production and neutralize free radicals. The gel also combats dark spots and refreshes your skin. Key Ingredients: Orange fruit extracts Pros

Sulfate-free Paraben-free

Cons

Strong fragrance May cause allergic reactions

The best exfoliators for acne help eliminate excess sebum and dead skin cells. They also unclog pores and treat the root cause of acne while increasing cell turnover. But how to choose the best exfoliator for acne that works? Here are a few important things to consider before buying the best exfoliators for acne to get clear, radiant, and youthful skin.

Things to Consider Before Buying Best Exfoliators for Acne

Chemical Free

Avoid using skin exfoliators that contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals, like SLS, paraben, phthalate, and sulfate, are hard on the skin cells. They cause dryness and breakouts and take away your skin’s natural moisture. Also, avoid exfoliators that contain artificial fragrances, alcohol, and mineral oil.

Non-Comedogenic

Comedogenic cosmetic products clog skin pores and decrease their breathability. This gives rise to issues like acne. Go for the exfoliators that are non-comedogenic and do not clog facial pores. These exfoliators are lightweight and penetrate quickly into the skin, allowing it to breathe freely.

Ingredients

The best exfoliator for acne should have the right ingredients that actually work and improve skin health. Look for salicylic acid, green tea extract, rosemary extract, and vitamin C to eliminate acne. Chamomile, grapefruit extract, and aloe vera should also be used to soothe inflammation.

Other Features

Make sure that your exfoliator is dermatologically tested. It must be gentle and non-drying that suits various skin types without causing any allergy or irritation. The exfoliator should have a mild or no fragrance. No matter which exfoliator you are using, these are a few safety tips that you should keep in mind.

Exfoliation Tips To Keep In Mind

Avoid using an exfoliator every day. Over-exfoliation can cause redness, irritation and further worsen the acne condition. Always use an exfoliator not more than twice a week. When using a physical exfoliator, do not use too much force as it may cause scratches, redness, bruises, and may irritate any active breakout. Avoid exfoliation after bleaching your skin or after laser treatments. Exfoliation makes your skin sun-sensitive. Always use sunscreen to avoid sunburns and other signs of photodamage.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Oyendrila Kanjilal, is a certified skin care coach who recommends regular exfoliation for oily and acne-prone skin to help control acne. The products mentioned in this list have been carefully researched and selected after sifting a host of reliable user reviews online. These best exfoliators for acne help clear pores, remove dead skin cells, and provide a healthy glow to your oily skin. What is the difference between physical and chemical exfoliators? Physical exfoliators are scrubs that have a grainy consistency and remove dead skin cells. On the other hand, chemical exfoliators are facial acids or peels that promote skin cell turnover. Is exfoliating good for acne? Yes. There are several exfoliators including products containing salicylic acid that can reduce the appearance of acne and help in fading acne scars. However, you may want to steer clear of physical exfoliants like textured cloths or scrubs that can cause bleeding or irritate the skin. Does exfoliating worsen acne? No, exfoliation helps in removing dirt, impurities, and dead skin cells that give rise to acne. However, choose exfoliators that are gentle on the skin and would not aggravate cystic acne. How often should I exfoliate if I have acne? While it depends on your skin’s tolerance, a general estimate for exfoliation on acne-prone skin is two to three times a week. Why do I get more acne when I exfoliate? Exfoliation decreases dead skin cells buildup but the friction may inflame your skin leading to redness and breakouts. People with acne-prone skin should opt for chemical exfoliants since they do not require scrubbing. Do dermatologists recommend exfoliating for acne? For acne-prone skin, dermatologists usually recommend exfoliating with a mild and gentle chemical exfoliator. How do I know if I am over-exfoliating? You will know if you are over-exfoliating when your skin feels irritated and you get a burning sensation. Your skin may also become red with the appearance of tiny pimples.

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