17 Best Face Scrubs in 2024

Face Scrubs are a fantastic way to address a host of skin issues, keeping your skin fresh, bright, clear, and youthful.

These scrubs are designed to exfoliate away the top layer of dead skin, including any oily impurities, revealing smooth and fresh skin underneath. A variety of exfoliants are used that offer unique benefits and different depths of skin exfoliation.

Face scrubs can be therapeutic, being especially great for those with tough or dull skin or those dealing with acne and similar skin issues, such as pervasive blackheads.

Scrubs can also ensure deeper penetration of beneficial ingredients either within the scrub or in any follow-up oils, serums, or creams you apply after the face scrub.

If you are tired from a long week, long night, or bad sleep, a scrub is an easy pick-me-up to reach for too. Men and women alike are coming together over the necessity of this often overlooked part of the skincare arsenal.

How to Use Face Scrubs

Recommended usage varies between different scrub products due to the strength of the exfoliant action. Typically, it is not recommended to use these daily. Instead, scrubs are most often used around 1-3 times a week.

Make sure the face is clean and wet, then deposit a small amount of the scrub onto your hand, and rub it into the face in gentle circular motions to buff the face. Avoid delicate areas such as the eyes and mouth.

Some face scrubs come infused with beneficial ingredients that require some time to absorb into the skin; check your product to see if time left on the face is recommended. Otherwise, wash off with a warm face cloth or water, and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Opinions are divided on whether a scrub should precede a face cleanser or whether cleansing should be performed first. Play around with your face care routine to see what works best for you.

Note that it is important you use a scrub that is specified to be used on the face- some full-body scrubs may be inappropriate for the delicate facial skin area.

The List: 17 Best Face Scrubs in 2023

1. Blu Atlas - Exfoliating Scrub

The biggest balance to strike when designing a face scrub is to create a product that effectively removes facial debris without being too harsh, drying, or abrasive.

That is why the number on our list of the best face scrubs had to be the perfectly balanced, natural, and scientifically backed exfoliating scrub from Blu Atlas.

This product leaves you glowing and refreshed, gentle enough for regular use without drying you out.

Key Ingredients

Hello Hibiscus! This scrub is packed with antioxidants provided naturally from the hibiscus flower. These protect the skin from damage from all causes, all while brightening and clearing the skin.

Bamboo extract is next, a powerful deep cleanser with antimicrobial actions that treat acne at its bacterial beginnings. Bamboo extract also calms the skin from any irritation or inflammation while brightening any dark spots.

The super restorative jojoba oil is used to soothe and replenish the skin's moisture barrier. This miracle oil contains crucial fatty acids, along with antioxidants and vitamins E, D, and A. We also love the addition of uplifting caffeine and calming chamomile extract.

Scent-sational Options, Naturally

This fantastic face scrub also comes in three scent preferences - the classic, coconut, and apricot, and even a fragrance-free option for the no-nonsense or sensitive consumer.

We love how Blu Atlas products come with no harmful parabens, phthalates, or sulfates and are vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, all while backed by a board of dermatologists. Your skin is truly in good hands, with a guarantee included.

2. Palmer's Coconut Sugar Facial Scrub

Number two on our list comes from the fan-favorite Palmer's, who has been operating and trusted for over 180 years.

Palmer's is best known for their sumptuous coconut and chocolate-scented skincare products. This scrub is no different, with a concoction of sugary goodness that smells good enough to eat!

Ingredients

Coconut sugar is another wonderful gentle exfoliant that reveals your vibrant skin underneath without causing excessive redness or abrasion.

Deep hydration is given to the skin with luxurious shea and cocoa butters; blended with coconut and sweet almond oils, with high levels of Vitamin E.

Finally, the skin is gently soothed with cooling coconut water and chamomile flower extract to leave you feeling fresh and relaxed.

Clean as Coconuts

We love how this is another formula created with your health at heart, blended with no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, dyes, or mineral oils.

Ethics are also important to Palmers, supporting sustainable production of their cacao and coconut-based ingredients.

3. First Botany Cosmeceuticals Himalayan Salt Detox Scrub

Himalayan salt has taken the culinary world by storm in the last decade. It is now a staple in any kitchen, loved for its particular flavor profile, gorgeous pink shade, and complex mineral profile.

Now it is time for Himalayan salt to take center stage as a key ingredient in this collagen and stem-cell-infused face scrub powerhouse.

Ingredients

Collagen and stem cells have been long hailed for their important role in anti-aging and face rejuvenation. They are associated with smoother skin and the return of elasticity to tired and aging skin.

Lychee fruit essential oil provides an intoxicating scent that is uplifting and vibrant. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Used in combination with the soothing aloe vera and sweet almond oils, your face will receive a true pampering.

Problem-Skin Be Gone

As well as addressing tired and aging skin, this blend is a great choice for those with acne-prone skin.

4. Pacifica Beauty Glow Baby Super Lit Enzyme Scrub

For those looking for an alternative exfoliation mechanism that doesn’t involve physical abrasion, consider this offering from Pacifica Beauty, which uses a combination of enzymes to dissolve dead skin.

This is also a great choice for conscious consumers - this product is vegan, cruelty-free, free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, silicones, and talc, and has packaging made from post-consumer recycled plastic.

Ingredients

Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient for the skin. Favored in many eye creams, vitamin C is associated with brighter skin that appears more vibrant and youthful. It is also an antioxidant, fighting damage and protecting your skin from future injury.

Glycolic and Lactic Acid are used in part one of the exfoliation process, chemically dissolving that layer of dead skin sitting on your face, creating dullness. Pineapple and Papaya Enzymes follow, resulting in fewer dark spots.

Tropical and Ethical

Using these products from Pacifica is like taking a trip to the tropics and basking in the sunshine, sweet fruits, and flowers.

Pacifica is committed to compassion standards that involve advocacy, activism, accountability and care in choosing their packaging and ingredients.

5. ORBUS U Jelly Pack Gel Scrub Unscented

Many people look to Japanese or Korean Skincare for an alternative approach. Orbis started in Japan over thirty years ago and is now based in Malaysia.

Orbus looks to formulate its products with efficiency and minimalism, looking to include only ingredients that are high quality and effective.

This face scrub is gentle, with exfoliating agents nestled in a cooling and calming gel formulation that also acts as a cleanser.

Ingredients

A trifecta of beautifying extracts head off this formula - seaweed extract, peach leaf extract, and cornflower extract. Seaweed extract provides deep hydration, peach leaf phenolic compounds slow aging and calms the skin, and cornflower regulates oil production.

Cellulose beads offer a gentle physical buffer to the skin, allowing these powerful extracts to penetrate your skin.

Aging, Who?

This is a great face scrub for those interested in extra anti-aging benefits and an instant lift to the brightness and tone of the skin. Accordingly, this is a great match for dry or sensitive skin types.

6. Brooklyn Botany Arabica Coffee Scrub

Coffee is the number one choice for a pick-me-up in the morning, so why not use it as a beautifully fragrant pick-me-up for the face? Coffee is packed with beneficial compounds for the skin and body and has a low environmental impact when reaching wastewater.

That is one of the many reasons we love the Arabica Coffee Scrub from Brooklyn Botany, which makes it to number six on our list of the seventeen best face scrubs in 2023.

Ingredients

Arabica beans have long been prized for their high-quality flavor and delicious aroma when roasted and brewed. In addition, coffee beans contain caffeine, which is great for reducing inflammation and boosting blood flow, and caffeic acid, an antioxidant that protects the skin.

After the scrubbing action from the coffee beans, which is recommended to be left on the skin for five minutes, deep nourishment is provided by luxurious shea butter, grapeseed, olive, and almond oils, all rich in vitamin E.

Morning Coffee Shop

We love this natural formulation, with no ingredients we can’t recognize. We love how the sweet notes of coffee and caramel fragrances perform an aromatherapeutic function, rejuvenating and calming your mind.

7. Lather & Wood Exfoliating Facial Scrub

If you’ve got a man in your life that requires skincare from providers that tailor their products primarily to men, consider this exfoliating facial scrub from Lather & Wood Shaving Co.

This is an especially great choice for a man looking for a close and clean shave to reveal smooth and vibrant skin under all that hair, with no bumps or scratches.

Ingredients

Jojoba beads are a fantastic substitute for the plastic microbeads discontinued in most facial scrubs. They are derived from the highly nourishing jojoba oil and provide gentle exfoliation that can be applied as regularly as shaving is required.

Smooth Sailing

The scrub is designed to be used as part of a four-step program for the ultimate smooth shave. Other elements include shaving soap, pre-shave oil, and an ultra-soothing after-shave balm.

8. Formula 10.0.6 One Smooth Operator Pore Clearing Face Scrub

If you’re tired of over-hyped new brands that seem to gain prominence only through strong Instagram campaigns, consider the tried-and-true approach from Formula 10.0.6, created back in 1933.

Bringing consumers into the logic behind the formulation, Formula 10.0.6 outlines what function and results you can expect from each key ingredient.

Ingredients

First on our list of key ingredients is Oat. Oats have a range of fantastic functions, from hydrating the skin to exfoliating, drawing out impurities, and reducing inflammation. They also can help with rebalancing your skin's biome.

Zinc is a fantastic addition for acne-prone or oily skin, keeping any excess in check.

Pumice is one of the classic and most powerful exfoliants, made from volcanic rock. This should be used sparingly, with long-lasting smoothing effects.

Fourth Generation Magic

Formula 10.0.6 is a family-owned business that has passed into the hands of the fourth generation. Environmental responsibility is important to this family. If you appreciate tradition, hard work, and vision, this could be the face scrub for you.

9. Liyalan Turmeric Body Scrub

Turmeric is a super-spice, backed with benefits for the skin and body, with long-standing use in India in cooking and other applications.

Number nine on our list of the seventeen best face scrubs takes advantage of the many beneficial properties of turmeric, creating a beautifully vibrant facial scrub.

Ingredients

Turmeric contains numerous anti-oxidants that protect the face from damage and restore the skin profile. It is also a powerhouse against inflammation while also having uplifting properties.

Turmeric has a recognizable bright yellow color. Take care not to overuse this product to avoid any unwanted facial staining. In addition, take care not to stain your external environment upon application, including any towels or clothing.

Full Body Detox

We love that this scrub is suitable for use on various parts of the body, including your hands and feet, as well as areas away from sensitive regions. Results include tighter pores and smooth, moisturized skin.

10. Sun Bum Brightening Face Scrub

Sun Bum made its way into the skincare scene with revolutionized sunscreen products that were silky instead of sticky and with pleasant, gentle aromas. Sun Bum is at it again with a brightening face scrub that harnesses sun-loving fruits and sugar.

We love that this is another product free from nasties, including sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, or formaldehyde. This gentle formula may be suitable for daily use in some skin types or 2-4 times a week for more sensitive faces.

Ingredients

First up, as a gentle physical exfoliant, this product utilizes organic cane sugar. Like coffee, this choice is gentle on the ecosystem and face alike.

Next, the physical exfoliation is followed by fruity enzyme action through papaya and pineapple enzymes. As well as dissolving topical impurities, these enzymes calm inflammation and fight acne-causing bacteria.

Vitamin C is our final ingredient choice, responsible for the brightening effects experienced on the skin. Vitamin C also provides vital protective action as an antioxidant, fighting free-radical damage and environmental toxins.

Gentle and Fresh

If you’re looking for a gentle product that can be used frequently or on sensitive skin, this offering from Sun Bum is a great choice.

The mix of pineapple, mango, and papaya extracts, along with some fragrance, provides a fresh and uplifting scent that is not overpowering.

11. St Ives Radiant Skin Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub

St Ives has been the go-to for many in the face scrub scene for years with their classic apricot scrub, and they continue to deliver.

Typically St Ives Facial Scrubs tend to sit on the stronger exfoliant side of the spectrum, so they are best used around once a week. This particular offering is described as medium strength.

Ingredients

Walnut Shell Powder is created by finely processing walnut shells. It is an effective exfoliant that leaves skin smooth without any damage.

If you love citrus, this face scrub will put you in heaven, containing pink lemon fruit extract, lemon peel, and mandarin orange peel extract. These add a refreshing kick to the face while also providing some gentle chemical exfoliation and lightening the face.

Skin Safe

St Ives is a true tried-and-trusted company when it comes to face products, especially scrubs. All their exfoliants are 100% natural, and each product is free from oil, parabens, and cruelty and has been tested by dermatologists as non-comedogenic.

12. Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub

Number twelve on our list of the seventeen best face scrubs in 2023 is another gentle yet effective formula, with exfoliants suspended in a cooling gel formula.

This product is consistently highly rated, with those with oily or combination skin able to use the product two to three times a week, while those with dry or sensitive skin are advised to pull back to once a week.

Ingredients

Exfoliation is primarily achieved with Ecuadorian ivory palm seeds that have been finely ground into small buffing particles.

A brightening and evening of the skin tone are achieved with ginger, the spicey and rejuvenating root known for anti-inflammatory and immune functions.

A combination of aloe vera and ginkgo leaf is used to soothe, hydrate, and heal the skin. Ginkgo also has antibacterial properties that can fight bacteria that lead to acne and similar skin issues. In addition, aloe vera's many benefits lead to brighter, more youthful skin.

Over 50 Years

Mario Badescu has been creating high-quality skincare products for over half a decade, starting as the work of one man selling out of a New York City apartment.

Their philosophy focuses on botanicals, fresh fruit, and natural ingredients, as well as matching skin care to skin analysis and needs.

13. Tree of Life Essential Green Tea Facial Scrub

This little tub of goodness is absolutely packed with a range of natural extracts, juices, and oils that will bring radiance to your face and a swing in your step. Green tea is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tree of Life is based in the US, comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and creates paraben and cruelty-free products. This makes the product a great choice for those on a tight budget, not willing to risk a product that may not work for your skin.

Ingredients

Where do we start with this one? Pumice, the natural volcanic rock derivative, and jojoba oil beads provide exfoliation. A boost to blood flow of the face is provided by green tea and caffeine. Green tea has fantastic healing, anti-aging, and skin-evening properties.

Herbal extracts abound in this product, including dandelion root, gotu kola, wild geranium, horsetail plant, and radish root. These are rounded off with the healing, refreshing, and moisturizing aloe vera juice.

Finally, warming oils in this blend include jojoba, candlenut tree seed oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. These will leave your skin feeling both smooth and hydrated after application.

Get Up and Go

This facial scrub contains all the ingredients required to turn a sleepy morning into a get-up-and-go kind of morning. Along with caffeine and green tea, the product is refreshingly herbal, inducing a gentle tingling when applied to the skin that feels invigorating.

14. Hand in Hand Sugar Scrub Tangerine & Lily Poppy

The philosophy from which Hand in Hand was born is inspiring. To help fight water-borne diseases, Hand in Hand donates a soap to Third World countries for every soap bought. This is their "give one, get one" policy.

If you want to get a great facial scrub with rave reviews while supporting a great cause, you might want to consider number fourteen on our list of the best face scrubs.

Ingredients

Sugar is the primary exfoliant in this face scrub. Another fantastic advantage to using sugar is that it acts as a humectant, pulling moisture from your environment and depositing it into the skin for extra hydration.

Organic coconut and sunflower seed oils are used in this blend to provide vitamin E and fatty acids while also providing antimicrobial action.

Aromatic and Ethical

The scent of this facial scrub is unique, with citrus notes from fresh tangerine and heady and sweet floral notes from lilies.

The aromatic sensation can be enjoyed with a clean conscience as a vegan and cruelty-free formulation is contained in their ‘infinitely recyclable’ packaging.

15. M3 Naturals Charcoal Scrub Collagen + Stem Cell Infused

If you’re looking for a powerful scrub that attacks the signs of aging, detoxifies the skin, and provides action against acne, this offering from M3 Naturals could be the choice for you.

M3 Naturals is a small skincare company based on the sunny coastline of Florida. They are advocates of body positivity and combine pure quality ingredients with the latest research in stem and collagen, all while proudly manufacturing in the USA.

Ingredients

Activated Charcoal is a powerful detoxifying agent. It draws impurities out of the skin and provides anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory action to help in the fight against acne and related skin issues. Charcoal is a great way to ensure a truly deep cleanse.

Collagen is an important building block in the skin, retaining the structure that keeps the skin taut, elastic, and lifted. The infusion of collagen and stem cell technology in this face mask encourages collagen production within the skin for powerful anti-aging action.

Spa Quality at Home

This scrub is best conceptualized as a full spa facial treatment - cleansing, balancing the PH of your face, detoxifying, treating signs of aging and inflammation, and tightening pores.

This product offers the luxury of a spa treatment within the comfort of your own home.

16. Acure Brightening Facial Scrub

This offering from Acure is another facial scrub that is absolutely packed with beneficial botanicals that your skin will just love and comes highly rated by happy customers.

Acure looks to uplift and empower customers with high-quality formulations that contain no nasties, such as parabens, sulfates, paraffin, mineral oils, or formaldehyde, and are vegan and cruelty-free.

Ingredients

Exfoliation action in this facial scrub is provided primarily from walnut shells and lemon peel.

Natural extracts abound in this product, including chlorella, wild cabbage, and kelp. Floral additions include chamomile, rosehip, and calendula, with fruit additions of blackberry, pomegranate, and acai berry extracts.

This product is also packed with fragrant, soothing, and uplifting oils such as sage, olive, spearmint, lemongrass, and lavender oils. Finally, there is rooibos plant, french green clay, and turmeric extracts too.

Herbal Goodness

All these bountiful botanicals work to brighten the overall complexion of the face, as well as detoxify and treat inflamed skin.

17. DRMTLGY Microdermabrasion Scrub Renew

Our final offering on our list of the seventeen best face scrubs in 2023 is the Microdermabrasion Scrub from DRMTLGY. DRMTLGY looks to provide high-quality medical-grade skin care, offering products to layer into the ultimate skincare program.

This scrub reduces the appearance of scarring, pigmentation, and fine wrinkles, shrinks pores, smooths texture and tone, and protects the skin from free-radical damage.

Ingredients

The main exfoliant action in this scrub comes from the gentle buffer, sugar cane extract, combined with the enzymatic action of lemon fruit extract.

Apple fruit extract provides vital antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental damage, smooth skin tone, and fight the signs of aging. It is super hydrating too. Green tea extract brightens the face, evens skin tone, and fights bacteria on the skin.

Restore, Renew

If you are looking for a face scrub to reset your day and restore your vibrancy and vitality, this is an excellent choice for you.