Ranked by ingredients
Best Exfoliants
The 10 highest-scoring of the 20 exfoliants we scored, ranked on what is in the bottle rather than what is on it. Every score comes from the product's own ingredient list; no brand pays to be here.
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medicube$21.00medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad2 high-impact actives: Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid. Loses points on safety: 1 moderate-irritation ingredient: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
Actives: Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Tocopherol
A91 - 2
RoC$38.99RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing 2-Step Peel Pads5 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate +2 more. Loses points on safety: 1 moderate-irritation ingredient: Glycolic Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Phytic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Gluconolactone
A91 - 3
StriVectin$49.00StriVectin Daily Reveal Exfoliating Pads6 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Tranexamic Acid +3 more. Loses points on safety: 1 moderate-irritation ingredient: Glycolic Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone
A90 - 4
Drunk Elephant$68.99Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial3 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Salicylic Acid. Loses points on safety: 2 moderate-irritation ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Milk Thistle Extract
B89 - 5
The Ordinary$8.70The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution1 high-impact active: Glycolic Acid. Loses points on safety: 1 moderate-irritation ingredient: Glycolic Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Panax Ginseng Root Extract
B89 - 6
The Ordinary$8.70The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution3 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid. Loses points on safety: 2 moderate-irritation ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid
B88 - 7
Murad$94.00 · 1.0 ozMurad Vita-C Glycolic Serum3 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Chlorella. Loses points on safety: 3 moderate-irritation ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Hexylene Glycol
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hexylresorcinol
B87 - 8
Bubble$18.00Bubble Deep Dive5 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone +2 more. Loses points on safety: 2 moderate-irritation ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Azelaic Acid, Malic Acid
B86 - 9
COSRX$20.99COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid1 active concentration disclosed on the label. Fragrance-free
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide
B86 - 10
Drunk Elephant$90.00 · 1.0 ozDrunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum4 high-impact actives: Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid +1 more. Loses points on safety: 3 moderate-irritation ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Hexylene Glycol
Actives: Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
B86
10 more exfoliants are scored in the Formulate app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best exfoliant?
medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad by medicube scores highest of the 20 exfoliants Formulate has scored, at 91/100 (grade A). 2 high-impact actives: Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid. Loses points on safety: 1 moderate-irritation ingredient: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil.
How are these exfoliants ranked?
Each product is scored out of 100 on its formula: how well-researched its actives are, whether the label discloses their concentration, the research behind them, and how complete and well-built the formula is. Safety is checked separately — irritants, fragrance, EU-listed allergens, endocrine concerns and pore-clogging ingredients — and only costs points when it falls below 95. No brand pays to be listed.
Are these exfoliants fragrance-free?
18 of the 20 exfoliants scored contain no synthetic fragrance. 13 lost points on the safety check.
Best skincare by type
Educational only. Scores rate a product's formula, not how it will suit your skin. Patch-test new products, and see a dermatologist for persistent skin conditions. Some links are affiliate links; they never affect a score.