We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.
Plus how to apply them without the irritation. Abrasive Testing Machine
Exfoliation is a key skincare step for anyone who wants to smooth uneven texture, minimize the appearance of large pores, and give their skin a bright and dewy glow. But this becomes way trickier when you have sensitive skin. For those with reactive, irritated, or hypersensitive skin, using the wrong face exfoliator, or exfoliating too frequently can lead to inflammation, itching, redness, and discoloration. That's why I chatted with two expert dermatologists—Karan Lal, MD, and Ted Lain, MD —to share their favorite gentle exfoliators for sensitive skin, along with everything you need to know about using an exfoliator on your sensitive skin including how often to use one, the key exfoliating ingredients to keep an eye out for, and more.
Now keep reading for the full list of the best exfoliators for sensitive skin, below, plus our experts must-know tips for proper exfoliation at home.
A great option for dry, sensitive skin types, this exfoliating cleanser uses polyhydroxy acids (or PHAs for short) to gently dissolve dead skin cells. Also in the formula? Water-loving glycerin and nourishing oat extract to provide a moisturizing effect and reinforce your skin's protective barrier too.
THE REVIEW: "My skin is chronically dry and red so I'm hesitant to use anything that exfoliates, but I really liked the results from this," writes a tester, adding that "it makes my skin noticeably softer and more glowy."
Dr. Gross's Original Alpha Beta at-home peel pads are iconic, but likely too irritating for sensitive skin types. Luckily, this milder version for irritation-prone skin exists. The pads are pre-soaked with a blend of gentle acids (like lactic acid and willow bark extract) to resurface skin, plus soothing botanicals to minimize inflammation.
THE REVIEW: "A friend suggested I try this for my sensitive skin and I'm so glad I did," says a tester. "There was a noticeable difference in the texture of my skin after using them just a few times."
This gentle cleanser contains salicylic acid, which is a great exfoliating ingredient for people with acne and clogged pores, says Dr. Lal. "It's also made with ceramides to strengthen your skin barrier and prevent dryness, making it a safe choice for sensitive skin."
THE REVIEW: "I always come back to this cleanser," says a tester. "It’s gentle enough for everyday use, does a really good job at not stripping skin, and helps controls shine and de-gunk my pores too."
This a great and affordable exfoliating face wash for sensitive skin, says Dr. Lal. It uses polyhydroxy acids to provide a gentle exfoliating effect plus brightening niacinamide to even out your skin tone. Use it a few times a week to help reduce the appearance of dark marks and spots and make your skin look brighter and smoother.
THE REVIEW: "This cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin," says a tester. "If you're new to acids, I would say use it just a few nights a week and then work your way up. For those of us who are conditioned to using acids, this can be used relatively frequently."
Another great liquid exfoliator for sensitive skin at a budget-friendly price point? This fragrance-free option from drugstore skincare brand Neutrogena. It uses a combo of PHAs and AHAs to smooth and brighten skin along with hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture for a hydrating and plumping effect.
THE REVIEW: "This is an excellent exfoliator–it doesn't dry out my skin or make it look red and raw but it does make my normally gigantic pores look smaller and less noticeable."
This liquid exfoliator combines turmeric (it's loved for its antioxidant benefits and ability to brighten skin) and soothing oat extract with a powerful (but still gentle) combo of acids, including PHAs, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid. Work your way up to using it a few times a week to fade dark spots and improve your skin texture.
THE REVIEW: "This is a holy grail product no matter your skin type," writes a reviewer. "It reallllllly helped clear up my skin—I had dry, acne-prone skin with dark spots and now it's more back to normal," says another tester.
Anyone with oily or acne-prone skin that's also sensitive will love this exfoliating face serum from Byoma. Inside the bottle: PHAs to gently degunk pores and fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, zinc and blue tansy to help soothe breakouts and inflammation, and a blend of ceramides to support healthy skin barrier function.
THE REVIEW: "I love the way this serum makes my skin feel. The dropper makes it so easy to apply and there is no wasted product or mess. In less than two weeks I started seeing a difference in my skin."
I recommend this face serum to anyone who wants smoother, brighter skin but can't handle using a retinol serum or cream. It contains 9 percent lactic acid (a gentle alpha hydroxy acid) to improve skin texture, fade dark spots and marks, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles...all without the risk of irritation or inflammation.
THE REVIEW: "This stuff is magical and I don’t know if I’ll survive if it’s ever discontinued," writes a tester. "I have always had problematic skin and this is a total game-changer—smaller pores, smoother skin, and zero peeling or redness."
I use a prescription-strength retinoid nightly, so I stick to super-gentle exfoliators—like this face mask from Renee Rouleau—to prevent my skin from getting overly dried out or irritated. It uses papaya and pineapple enzymes to lift away dead skin cells and reduce discoloration, rough texture, and blotchiness.
THE REVIEW: "This mask calms, soothes, and brightens my for a seriously dewy glow," says one tester. " "My skin looks and feels so soft and smooth after I use this—and with no irritation like I get with physical exfoliators," says another reviewer.
Another great option with salicylic acid, this exfoliating toner helps resurface, reset, and rebalance your skin post-cleanse. The 2 percent salicylic acid in the formula is encapsulated, meaning it's released slowly into the skin to minimize the chance of irritating side effects.
THE REVIEW: "I can normally never use exfoliating products regularly because my skin is so sensitive, but this is the exception," writes a tester. "I use it nearly everyday and it really helps decongest my pores and keep my skin clear."
Dr. Lain says physical exfoliators are typically too aggressive for sensitive skin types, but this option from PCA Skin is the exception. "It contains cellulose, a very gentle physical exfoliator, plus a combination of soothing and hydrating ingredients, making it one of the few suitable physical exfoliators for sensitive skin," says Dr. Lain.
THE REVIEW: "This gives my skin a nice glow and leaves it feeling so soft without being too abrasive or over-drying," reads a review. "I have fairly sensitive skin and have had no problems using this."
"With lipohydroxy acid as the primary exfoliating agent, I trust this face wash for sensitive skin types," says Dr. Lain. Think of lipohydroxy acid as a salicylic acid's more chill cousin—it gently exfoliates, decongests skin, and eliminates excess oil, but is unlikely to cause skin irritation or flaking.
THE REVIEW: "I love this face wash for my oily skin," says a reviewer. "It gets rid of all my buildup and clogged pores and makes my skin feel soooo smooth too. And it's never caused irritation for me either."
This exfoliating face mask from all-natural skincare brand Tata Harper contains a blend of AHAs to gently nix dead skin cells and boost your skin's radiance without causing irritation. It's free-from common skin allergens like essential oils, alcohols, and synthetic fragrance and is infused with soothing botanicals like calendula extract, making it solid choice for sensitive skin.
THE REVIEW: "I really like this mask," writes a tester. "I have super sensitive skin and it works really well to smooth and brighten my skin with minimal irritation."
Another exfoliating ingredient that's suitable for sensitive skin? Enzymes. They make skin cells less cohesive, which, in turn, makes it easier to remove dead skin cells, debris, and buildup and reveal fresh, glowing skin, says Dr. Lal. Get your enzyme fix in this exfoliating cleanser—the powder-to-foam formula is designed specifically for sensitive skin.
THE REVIEW: "This is one of the rare products that makes a difference in my skin after one use," writes a tester. "It exfoliates really gently—once you rinse it off you can immediately see that your skin is brightener and more even-toned."
Liquid exfoliators are having a moment. Get in on the trend with this luxe option for sensitive skin from Soho Skin. It uses lactic and mandelic acids to gently exfoliate, succinic acid to balance oil levels and prevent whiteheads and blackheads, and glycogen to hydrate skin so it looks super dewy.
THE REVIEW: "I'm obsessed with how this exfoliator makes my skin look." says a tester. "My pores are smaller, my skin feels smoother, and I never get that tingly feeling like I do with other exfoliating products."
Both Dr. Lain and Dr. Lal agree that gentle chemical exfoliators are generally the better choice for sensitive skin. "Chemical exfoliators and physical exfoliators, aka face scrubs, both remove dead skin cells, but in different ways," says Dr. Lal.
Chemical exfoliators use acids to loosen the "glue" that holds together dead cells on the surface of the skin without being abrasive or creating micro-tears in the skin like a scrub. "It's easy to overdo it with a physical exfoliator, adds Dr. Lain, whereas a chemical exfoliator (with the correct ingredients for sensitive skin) is difficult to overuse and cause irritation.
How often you exfoliate will depend on the type of exfoliator you're using, but as a rule, aim to exfoliate at least once a week if your skin can tolerate it, says Dr. Lal. That said, there are some sensitive skin conditions—like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis—where I would not recommend exfoliating at all, says Dr. Lain.
"Since the scale or dryness of these conditions is a result of the inflammatory process and not a cause of the process like it is in acne," Dr. Lain says, "exfoliation will not achieve any results besides worsening symptoms."
My favorite exfoliating ingredients for sensitive skin include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, polyhydroxy acid, and lactic acid, says Dr. Lal. Polyhydroxy acids are the best for patients with sensitive skin. I recommend patients start with these and then work their way up," says Dr. Lal.
Both our experts agree that if you have *extremely* sensitive skin or are new to exfoliating, go with a short-contact exfoliator—like a cleanser or rinse-off mask—instead of a leave-on face toner or serum. The less time a product spends on your skin, the more mild (and less potentially irritating) the exfoliating effect will be.
Fragrance (you'll often see it as "parfum" on an ingredients list) is a common skin irritant—especially if you have sensitive skin. Avoiding it in your exfoliator (and all of your skincare, tbh) is an easy way to prevent unwanted redness and inflammation.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best lasers for acne scars. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to exfoliators for sensitive skin. She regularly tests and analyzes exfoliators for sensitive skin for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and estheticians to assess new formulas, brands, and technologies.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.
Um, These Zit-Zapping Body Washes Are Super Legit
The Safest Ways to Remove Facial Hair at Home
Your 101 Guide to Laser Treatments for Acne Scars
19 Genius Serums That'll Smooth and Firm Your Skin
These Bath Gift Sets = Immediate R&R
25 Face Serums For Supremely Glowy Skin
Found: The Most Effective Dark Spot Correctors
The Holy-Grail Makeup Removers You Need RN
The Skincare Deals Post Prime Day >>>
9 Serums That Are Basically Filler in a Bottle
Add These K-Beauty Prime Day Deals to Your Cart Rn
I Slathered My Whole Face in Aquaphor for 30 Days
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
CE Certification Abrasion Test Equipment ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.