Body Scrub: The best body scrubs from Rituals & Co.

A body scrub does just that: With its fine-grained texture, it scrubs the skin clean, stimulating circulation and regeneration. While many people pamper their faces with facials, body scrubs are neglected. The soothing effects and variety of products are enticingly subtle: Enriched with coffee, salt, flower petals, or exotic oils, they offer various ways to specifically cleanse, smooth, and moisturize the skin.

Body scrub application

A body scrub is best used in the shower : After cleansing with soap, apply the body scrub to damp skin—the body scrub's microgranules work best when combined with water. Massage the texture in with your hand, or gently with a sponge or soft brush. Turn off the water while you shower to conserve water. Rinse off the product thoroughly and then apply a rich moisturizing lotion or body balm. TIP: For sensitive and dry leg skin, apply the scrub before and after shaving.

Best body scrub in the test

Best for a luxurious glow: Dior J'adore Shimmering Scrub

• Why we love it: This glittering gel has a texture unlike any other scrub on this list, leaving skin glowing. It exfoliates more gently and forgoes coarse crystals, instead using soft beads that gently polish the skin. When rinsed off, it transforms into a milky oil that moisturizes and leaves behind the iconic J'adore scent. It also leaves behind golden trails that give your limbs an ethereal glow.
• Main ingredients: 24 carat gold, cotton extract, jasmine
• Effect: Cleansing, invigorating, with the fresh notes of J'Adore Parfum

Best Hybrid Body Scrub: Sol De Janeiro AHA

• What we love: With a creamy, moisturizing base, this scrub helps hydrate skin. It contains both glycolic and salicylic acid. Crushed passion fruit seeds also help remove dead skin cells and dirt loosened by the AHAs and BHAs.
• Main ingredients: Glycolic acid and salicylic acid
• Fragrance: scented with amber, jasmine and musk

Mediterranean scent : Nuxe "Rêve de miel – Deliciously Nourishing Body Scrub"

• What we love: The fragrant blend of the Nuxe Body Scrub provides a 2-in-1 exfoliation. This means: The balm texture, which transforms into an oil upon contact with water, cleanses and then envelops the skin in oils.
• Fragrance: Mimosa, honey and vanilla
• Effect : All skin types. Application: 1-2 times a week
• Main ingredients: Honey, sugar crystals, ground rice grains, valuable plant oils (sunflower, argan, borage), shea butter

Rituals Body Scrub for silky skin – "The Ritual of Sakura"

• Why we love it : The Rituals Body Scrub " The Ritual of Sakura " is one of the best of its kind. The sugar-based scrub cleanses the skin, soothes it with fine oils, and moisturizes it, so that no further care is required afterwards. Free from microplastics, paraffin, and parabens, the body scrub is also gentle in its effect.
• Fragrance : floral, creamy, powdery
• Effect : all skin types, nourishing, moisturizing, cleansing
• Main active ingredients : organic sugar, soothing oils; free from microplastics, parabens, etc.

Invigorating effect – Body scrub with ginger

• Why we love it: The stimulating effect of spicy ginger in Rituals' Body Scrub is an energizing element. Complemented with almond oil, "Ginger" is a soothing booster, especially in the morning.
• Fragrance : Ginger
• Effect : regenerating, invigorating
• Main active ingredients : Macadamia, soy, candlenut and almond oils

Body Scrub for sensitive skin : Biotherm "Biocorps Anti-Roughness Peeling Body Scrub"

• Why we love it: The Biotherm Body Scrub focuses on smoothing uneven and dull skin. The "Biocorps Anti-Roughness Peeling Body Scrub" gently renews even sensitive skin.
• Fragrance : gentle fragrance
• Effect : exfoliating, smoothing, purifying
• Main active ingredients : exfoliates with apricot kernel spheres, salicylic acid, Life Plankton

For very dry skin – Body Scrub with oils

• Why we love it: For extremely dry skin, scrubs with rich oils are recommended, and no more than once a week. Massaged in by hand, the pressure on sensitive skin is easier to control.
• Fragrance : Coconut oil, Moroccan rose
• Effect : Regenerating, caring
• Main active ingredients : sugar, nourishing oils

Body scrub for keratosis pilaris – small red dots, known as sandpaper skin, strawberry skin : First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub

• Why we love it : The formula made the rounds on TikTok last year, garnering praise for its ability to soothe minor bumps associated with keratosis pilaris on arms and legs (the latter sometimes referred to as "strawberry legs"). The buzz around First Aid Beauty's body scrub stems from its 10% AHA and urea—a hydrating ingredient that also helps exfoliate—as well as colloidal oatmeal for its soothing properties.
• Fragrance: Neutral
• Effect : intensive exfoliating, moisturizing
• Main active ingredients : lactic acid, camellia extract, willow bark extract.

Body Scrub with Salicylic Acid for Acne, Pimples, and Dull Skin : The Ordinary "Direct Acids Body Care"

• Why we love it: This salicylic acid body serum has been specifically tested for body use and features a nozzle applicator that allows for precise application of the formula, even to specific spots with breakouts. The addition of 0.5% salicylic acid stimulates the natural exfoliation of dead skin cells, leaving skin smoother and pores unclogged, preventing breakouts.
• Fragrance : neutral
• Effect : cleansing, invigorating. Application with shaker bottle and nozzle applicator.
• Main active ingredients : Salicylic acid (5%), Sarcosine (softening effect), Glycerin

Body scrub with tea tree oil for acne-prone skin – best body scrub with tea tree oil

• Why we love it: The body scrub with "Tea Tree Oil" from Australia is considered the best product when it comes to cleansing the skin with natural tea tree oil. The scrub is recommended as a treatment not only for pimples, but also for ingrown hairs and rough skin.
• Fragrance : Tea tree oil, citrus
• Effect : Gentle cleansing, relieves itching, care for pimples on the body
• Main active ingredients : Tea tree oil, Lemon Myrtle, 100 percent natural active ingredients

Detox effect – with magnesium, frankincense and lavender

• Why we love it: The "Detox" body scrub from Saint Charles creates a soothing and purifying feeling. With natural Zechstein magnesium, salts, and lavender.
• Fragrance : Lavender, orange oil, frankincense
• Effect : Cleansing, relaxing
• Main active ingredients : oils, genuine Zechstein magnesium, sea salt scrub

What are the benefits of using a body scrub?

A good body scrub apparently accelerates the sloughing off of dull, dead skin cells and reveals a more radiant complexion. This allows you to get more out of your body lotions and creams, as they can penetrate the skin better. "I recommend using them on specific occasions—for example, before shaving (to prevent pesky ingrown hairs), when preparing for a special occasion, or when your skin simply needs an extra boost of renewal," says Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa in VOGUE UK, a doctor specializing in personal care. "They're especially beneficial before activities like applying self-tanner or during the change of seasons, when your skin may need extra attention." Additionally, massaging body scrubs into the skin can promote the transport of stagnant lymph, reduce water retention, and minimize the appearance of cellulite.

What to look for when using a body scrub

• Different particle sizes : Physical exfoliants (e.g. salt or sugar scrubs) with different particle sizes effectively remove dead skin cells from the thicker areas of the body, thus ensuring a smoother skin texture and improved circulation.
• Natural oils rich in essential fatty acids: These oils help restore and strengthen the skin barrier after exfoliation by locking in moisture and reducing transepidermal water loss.
• Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs): Ideal for sensitive or dry skin types, PHAs gently exfoliate the surface without compromising the skin barrier, making them an excellent base for a facial scrub.
• Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs, such as salicylic acid): Particularly beneficial for oily or acne-prone skin, BHAs penetrate pores to dissolve excess sebum and reduce blockages.
• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs, such as glycolic and lactic acid): AHAs provide deeper exfoliation by breaking the bonds between dead skin cells, helping to brighten dull skin and improve overall tone and texture.

How often should I use a body scrub?

"A weekly body scrub contributes to healthy skin while preventing potential damage from over-exfoliation," says Dr. Anna Persaud , a biochemist and founder of the luxury skincare label This Works, in VOGUE UK. However, for scrubs containing gentler polyhydroxy acids, she recommends increasing the frequency to two to three times per week. For particularly thick or calloused skin, such as on the soles of the feet, more frequent use may be sufficient. Monitor your skin's response and reduce use if sensitivity occurs.

Which body scrub is best for keratosis pilaris?

Kerastosis pilaris, also called "strawberry legs" or "chicken skin," is caused by keratin deposits in the hair follicles. Dr. Kemi points out that chemical peels can be helpful because they dissolve dead skin cells. They are therefore a safe way to unclog pores that cause kerastosis pilaris (and also acne).

Physical peels without active ingredients, on the other hand, are best suited for treating the surface texture. "Because they combat superficial dryness, I recommend them for people with generally healthy skin who just want a little shine," says the expert.

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