The 10 Best Exfoliators for Dry Skin in 2026

Dry and flakey skin can be an outright pain, to put it bluntly. While your first thought may be to use a moisturizer, actually using an exfoliator beforehand can make all the difference!

Using the correct product will take your skin from dull and drab to smooth and glowing! I’ve put together the 10 best exfoliators for dry skin, from drugstore and budget exfoliators to toning and moisturising ones. But that’s not all, I’ve covered every type of dry skin, including sensitive and ageing skin.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon and other affiliate programs. This means on some purchases, I make a commission. It doesn’t mean you spend more, it simply allows me to keep this blog going!

1. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution gently exfoliates to restore clear, radiant skin. It smooths uneven tone and texture with regular use.

This water-based toner contains AHA Glycolic Acid, but it’s never harsh or drying—perfect even for dry skin. Tasmanian Pepperberry, ginseng root, and aloe vera add soothing and radiance-boosting benefits, while the pH 3.6 formula ensures effective exfoliation with only a mild tingling.

Affordable, effective, and surprisingly gentle, this is a toner that delivers visible results without the drama.

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2. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

The Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is a gentle powerhouse! Despite being an exfoliator, it feels soft and nourishing on the skin.

This rinse-off cream blends papaya, pineapple, vitamin B3, milk protein, vitamin E, and marine algae to micro-exfoliate, brighten, and moisturize—without any flakiness.

The result? Smooth, radiant, and well-hydrated skin that smells as heavenly as it feels. Perfect for dry or sensitive skin!

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3. Murad Age Aha/Bha Exfoliating Cleanser

The Murad Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is a dry-skin dream! Packed with salicylic, lactic, and glycolic acids plus jojoba beads, it gently buffs away dead skin while smoothing rough patches.

Sodium PCA locks in moisture, keeping your skin plump and hydrated. It’s a cleanser, an exfoliator, and a moisturizer all in one—talk about multitasking magic!

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4. Origins Modern Friction Exfoliator

Exfoliating dry skin doesn’t have to mean scrubbing it raw! The Origins Modern Friction Exfoliator gives you smooth, soft skin without irritation.

Rice starch gently buffs away dead cells, uneven patches, and dullness, while lemon oil brightens and aloe vera keeps your skin calm. No harsh crystals, no musky smells — just the refreshing scent of bergamot and peppermint as your skin transforms. Fine lines? They appear smoother too!

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5. COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid

Other than buildup, you’re in for a treat with the COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid. It gets rid of your whiteheads in the process of smoothing your face.

Formulated with 7% Glycolic Acid (AHA), it gently exfoliates your skin and you with a radiant even-toned complexion. It counts on apple water, which contains natural AHA and glycolic acid, to help dissolve whiteheads and blackheads as well as other impurities in your skin.

The AHA content is powerful enough to clear away dead skin cells and flakes that plague dry skin without irritating it. This stuff is the bomb. It isn’t drying yet will leave your skin glowing. And I mean glowing, not shiny! A must-try for those with dry skin. Read about its sister product- the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid.

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6. Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher

If you’re after a classy addition to your routine, Omorovicza’s Refining Facial Polisher delivers.

It blends exfoliation, mask-like hydration, and peel-like brightening in one. Hungarian moor mud and green microalgae smooth and refine, while copper and fruit extracts help decongest and gently remove dead skin cells.

Superfine natural pumice buffs away flakiness without harsh microbeads, and the creamy texture leaves your skin hydrated, radiant, and spa-ready.

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7. Burt’s Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

There’s no need to be afraid of exfoliating scrubs when we’re talking about the Burt’s Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub. Dry skin can get away with experiencing the wonderful feel of a scrub thanks to the finely ground Peach Stone ingredient that polishes your complexion to a smooth and natural radiance.

It does all of this without the dreadful feeling of sandpaper as you wash your face! The scrub particles are practically invisible! It’s the perfect exfoliating scrub for dry skin. It gently exfoliates your pores to clear them of dirt, excess oil, and dead skin. 

Another plus is that it’s wonderful as an acne treatment. This exfoliator is really helpful with whiteheads, and blackheads, and also in reducing redness. It has a creamy, moisturising consistency, which is great because it doesn’t dry out already dry skin! 

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8. Lancer The Method: Polish

The solution to dry skin is right here in this bottle of Lancer The Method: Polish. This daily polish is a skin resurfacing treatment. It includes pure minerals as well as pumpkin and pomegranate enzymes to gently and effectively remove surface debris and dull, dry surface cells.

This product is a powerful anti-ageing exfoliator that uses natural minerals to sweep away skin debris. It also contains pumpkin enzymes for additional nourishing exfoliation, while the pomegranate enzymes revive your skin and hydrate it at the same time. Infused with Brown Sea Algae which is a source of alginic acid (rich in vitamins and minerals) that helps to balance hydration in your skin.

It also has a warming element to keep your dry skin balanced during the process and has a natural Lavender scent to complete your luxurious daily ritual.

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9. Mother Made Exfoliating Aqua Peeling Gel Face Scrub

Geared towards sensitive skin, this mild physical and chemical exfoliating treatment relies on a powerful tandem of natural cellulose and botanical extracts to gently polish smoother, brighter skin to the surface.

It gently exfoliates with a cocktail of fruit and botanical extracts that buff away dead skin cells while finely milled natural cellulose provides a light scrub effect to your routine.

Infused with hyaluronic acid and trehalose, it helps your skin retain moisture, protecting it against dryness. The vitamin C it contains helps to brighten your skin. And who knows dull skin better than those with dry conditions? You and this product, of course!

It is also infused with green tea extract to calm down overheated and irritated skin, while allantoin helps to make your skin smooth and soft. As you can see, it’s packed with the good stuff you and your dry skin deserve.

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10. Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

On the lookout for a super-effective 2-in-1 exfoliator/cleanser combo? Well, lucky you, ’cause the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser is the one you need! It’s a gentle exfoliating cleanser containing orange extracts that whisk away makeup, embedded impurities, and dry, flaky surface cells to reveal glowing skin.

In one quick, easy step, the Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser softens, refreshes, and revives radiance. It is infused with moringa seed extract that leaves your skin soft, radiant, and refined. This cleanser also has gentle eco-friendly silica microbeads to help remove impurities and clear clogged pores.

Clarins’ Anti-Pollution Complex helps fight signs of ageing! It’s simply a multitasking exfoliating cleanser that’s as quick as it is gentle. And you’ll love how it is free of side effects for your dry skin!

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Exfoliating tips: Do’s & Don’ts

1. Steer clear of mechanical exfoliators. I’m talking about exfoliating brushes, exfoliating sponges, exfoliating gloves, and of course exfoliating scrubs! (Not the Burt’s Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub though). Sorry if I burst your bubble there!

While you just got that new Foreo face scrub, it may not be the most helpful for your dry skin. This is because the process is drying and it can lead to microtears. Chemical exfoliators, however, are great for dry skin. These are your acids, AHA and BHA.

2. Use cotton pads for exfoliating liquids and warm water for washable, cream exfoliators. For dry skin, it’s a must that you let the product do its job without being counterproductive through the way you apply and remove the product.

So it’s better to stay safe and cautious. No need for a face scrub or glove as mentioned above when spreading your exfoliator onto your face.

3. Always wear sunscreen after exfoliating! Now I’m not saying this because sunscreen is a must (which it is), but more so because you’ve just exposed your dry skin to chemical exfoliators (AHAs and BHAs).

These are acids that make your skin more susceptible to sun damage albeit their amazing benefits. It makes UV rays’ penetration into your skin much more damaging than before using acids, so it is imperative that you use sunscreen.

Why You Need To Exfoliate Dry Skin

1. Helps increase skin cell turnover

Healthy skin completely renews itself every 25 to 30 days, but this period gradually increases with age. When your skin-cell turnover rate slows, your complexion appears dull, sallow and aged.

Exfoliating speeds up the turnover rate to reveal newer, fresher, and healthier skin that’s radiant instead of dull.

2. Improves skin’s texture and appearance

Have you ever suffered from a sunburn that later left you with a blotchy tan and perhaps peeling skin? This is a vivid example of uneven texture and tone.

Without exfoliating, the same effect is at play on your complexion, just on a lesser scale. Exfoliating helps smooth different areas of skin for a more even look and feel.

3. Helps lighten hyperpigmentation

Whether you’re addressing age spots or a generally uneven skin tone, exfoliating is your go-to treatment. Exfoliating naturally increases your skin cell turnover rate, which helps to shed areas of darkened skin more quickly, resulting in visibly brightened skin.

4. Helps moisturisers and serums to absorb deeper

If you want to get the most effective results from your moisturiser or lotion, then exfoliating is an absolute must.

Without exfoliating, the active ingredients in these products have to penetrate through an increased thickness of dead skin cells before they reach the cells they can affect.

5. Exfoliating helps to fight signs of premature ageing

This is where those chemical exfoliants really set themselves apart. In fact, all types of exfoliants help to reduce signs of premature ageing but chemical exfoliators do that bit more!

What To Look Out For

A high-quality exfoliator is an important part of your skincare routine! With exfoliating, you can get rid of excess oil and reduce skin imperfections, among other benefits.

For people with dry skin, however, it is often a different story. Using the wrong exfoliator will result in irritation and redness. Your exfoliator needs to contain hydrating and non-irritating ingredients.

That is why you shouldn’t exfoliate more than once to twice a week. This will prevent any premature damage. It will also likely result in a more naturally paced exfoliating and recovery for your skin.

More importantly, you need to choose the right exfoliator. For dry skin- moisturising, cream-based physical exfoliants (scrubs), and chemical exfoliants containing glycolic acid or lactic acid are your go-to. It’s a plus if that acid-based exfoliator is also in a cream form!

My Thoughts

I hope you’ve learned more about exfoliating your dry skin, and more importantly what products you can use to exfoliate your dry skin with this list of 10 of the best exfoliators for dry skin!

There are loads that can do the job of exfoliating and more. And now all you gotta do is decide which one is the right one for you!

Hollie xx

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