If You’re Not Doing This Pre-Shower, You’re Missing Out On Skin Care Benefits

Expect to see an immediate difference in your skin post-application. Our beauty testers say the scrub leaves your complexion brighter, skin texture smoother, and moisture barrier intact, thanks to its rich, creamy texture. No flaky, itchy skin, here. The formula calls on fine sea sand and pumice powder to gently buff the skin, as well as St. John’s wort and echinacea extract for their anti-inflammatory properties. Then for some welcome moisture and a butter-like feel, you’ll find hyaluronic acid, glycerin, olive oil, and sunflower seed oil.

Don’t have time for a body scrub pre-shower? Fold an AHA lotion into your routine post-rinse. You’re already lathering up after your shower, anyway (right?), and this acid-infused formula can play double duty: Along with glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric acids to resurface the skin, marula and shea butters help lock in all that moisture and nourish your complexion. 

Pesky ingrowns are no match for this scrub. It contains a mix of both chemical exfoliators (glycolic acid and lactic acid) and physical granules (jojoba and castor oil beads) to prep your skin for the smoothest shave. Despite its double exfoliation power, the formula remains gentle enough to use on more sensitive areas, like the underarms or bikini line. 

For days you want to pamper all of your senses, look no further than this physical exfoliator. Along with sea salt granules, colloidal oat flour gently buffs the skin until it shines—and the fresh lavender-lemongrass scent is impossible to ignore. Hot tip: Leave the scrub on as a mask for a few minutes; it also contains bentonite clay, which can help draw out any gunk from the pores. 

Don’t sleep on a quality texture mitt. These physical exfoliators stimulate circulation through massaging motions, which helps reduce fine lines and aid in lymph flow to reduce buildup and bloating. We especially love this dual-sided mitt, as it features a wet and dry side to use in or out of the shower. For those who don’t have time to hop under the spray, it’s a game changer.

Yes, this formula does contain glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and bamboo charcoal powder, but it’s actually gentle enough for sensitive skin. It barely has a “scrub” feel at all, unless you use the exfoliator on dry skin and emulsify just a bit while you massage. If you have hypersensitive skin, you might want to opt for the brand’s fragrance-free version—but this eucalyptus aroma is heavenly, if you can handle it. 

Ever slathered an AHA serum on your face pre-moisturizer? Well, here’s a body care version. This gel-serum contains lactic acid and urea to address any textural or tonal concerns you may have, while aloe, centella asiatica, and hyaluronic acid help hydrate and soothe. Apply it on dry (not damp) skin, so the actives can easily penetrate, then layer with your favorite body lotion. 

Dry brushing manually removes dead skin cells from the top layer of skin, improving its appearance and making following topical treatments more effective (plus other benefits, which you can read about here). That said, you want a stiff bristle that’s not too abrasive: We love this 100% vegan number, made from sisal (derived from plant fibers) and beech wood. 

If you’re dealing with keratosis pilaris (KP), a product named “KP Bump Eraser” sounds like a pretty safe bet, no? And it’s not just marketing: It contains pumice buffing beads to physically smooth texture, glycolic and lactic acids to unglue clogged pores, and vitamin E to condition the skin. A bonus: It’s completely fragrance-free, so those sensitive to scent can easily join the party. 

Best for dull skin: Skinfix Resurface+ Glycolic and Lactic Acid Renewing Body Scrub

Skinfix Resurface+ Glycolic and Lactic Acid Renewing Body Scrub

VIEW ON Sephora | $32

Cons

• Might be too abrasive for sensitive skin

Considerations: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Fragrance-free, Physical exfoliator, Chemical exfoliator

Another double-duty scrub, this formula contains both AHAs and naturally-derived BHAs to loosen dead skin cells and polish your complexion. It also contains fruit extracts (lemon and orange) to help brighten the skin, so you’ll notice a pretty immediate glow. 

With 10% lactic acid and 2% salicylic acid, this serum is one potent acne-fighter. If that AHA-BHA blend has you running for the hills, don’t fret: It also contains shea butter, prickly pear leaf juice, and a blend of honey extracts (like propolis and royal jelly) to condition your skin simultaneously. Slather on clean, dry skin, apply body lotion, and wake up to smooth, hydrated skin.