I'm Breaking Up With Dry Winter Skin for Good Thanks to These Deliciously-Scented Body Scrubs
11 editor-approved picks for baby-butt soft skin year-round.
Dry skin is my worst enemy in the wintertime. There's nothing worse than the feel of scaly, itchy, and rough skin, but like clockwork, that's what I deal with the moment the temperature takes a dip. Sure, I can apply any number of body lotions, creams, and butters, but it doesn't do much good when there's a layer of dead skin cells in the way. That's why the best body scrubs are my cold weather saving grace.
Body scrubs are an essential first step in my everything shower, especially during the dry winter months. Not only do they exfoliate, but they also have a number of other benefits—they can prevent ingrown hairs and clogged pores, treat keratosis pilaris, even tone, and smooth skin texture. Many of the best body scrubs have luxurious scents that are just as good as my favorite perfumes, too.
If you want skin as smooth as a dolphin's, consider one of the editor-vetted body scrubs below. With picks from Sol de Janeiro, Dove, Osea, and more, each one ticks all of my boxes on texture, ingredients, and scent. Use one of these body scrubs in your shower and you can kiss dry, rough winter skin goodbye.
As Sol de Janeiro's biggest fan, I refuse to go without this body scrub in my shower. Like all of the brand's products, it smells incredible, with a rich, sweet fragrance of vanilla and black plum. Exfoliating AHA and BHA are the hero ingredients in this not-too-gritty formula—they retexturize skin to even tone and prevent clogged pores and ingrown hairs. All in all, consider this a facial for your entire body.
Ringing in at $8, you get a whole lot of bang for your buck with this body scrub. It's likely the creamiest pick on this list, thanks to a light and fluffy formula that's 25 percent moisturizing ingredients. So while you gently buff away dryness, you're also deeply nourishing skin. It's the perfect pick if you prefer a less gritty formula and you love warm, brown sugar scents.
One whiff of this fruity-scented pick and you'll immediately be whisked away to a sunny tropical island. Aside from its luxurious fragrance, this formula is a fan favorite for its gentle scrub, which lathers well and melts into the skin. Sephora reviewers have used the words "life-changing," "must-have," and "the greatest" to describe this scrub, and once you try it for yourself, you'll realize that they are not exaggerating.
A little goes a long way with this recently-launched body scrub. A small scoop is all I needed to give my legs a good scrub down. I was most impressed, however, by how soft and smooth my skin felt after stepping out of the shower. It felt like I had just applied a rich moisturizer, so you can count on this pick for a boost of hydration.
If you're in the market for an intense scrub that does not hold back, look for one with a salt base, such as this bestseller. Its gritty texture is just what you need to banish ultra-dry, bumpy skin. With the addition of shea butter and nutrient-rich seaweed, your skin is left nourished and glowing. A lavender scent makes this scrub even more of a spa-like treatment.
I've been a fan of this formula since I was a baby beauty fan in middle school, and it still holds up. My favorite from the many different scents has to be Tropic Glow, a warm, summery blend of almond, amber, and sandalwood. Essentially, this pick has everything you want in a body scrub: gentle, yet effective exfoliation, a hydrating, non-stripping feel, and a great scent.
These buffing bars may be small, but boy, are they mighty. With mineral microcrystals and a softening soap base, they polish away rough skin and bumps, leaving behind a moisturized feel. Although they're a milder version than the original Buffing Bars, I'd say they still pack a powerful punch of exfoliation. What's more, the creamy vanilla and orange scent is nothing short of a treat.
Isle of Paradise may be known for its self-tanning products, but don't sleep on the brand for its body care, especially its body scrub. For starters, I love its packaging—more scrubs should come in mess-free tubes! Its texture is just right, too, as it's not too grainy, but not too gentle. To top it off, it has vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten skin, plus I'm a big fan of its tropical scent.
All of my fellow gourmand lovers will fall for this scrub, which comes in a convenient squeeze tube. Think of this formula as a cross between a luxurious body wash and a scrub—it lathers nicely to cleanse, but includes a gentle grittiness to exfoliate.
For a no-frills approach to exfoliating, you can't go wrong with First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser. It was made specifically to tackle keratosis pilaris (aka, chicken skin), so you can expect a fragrance-free formula that's gentle enough for sensitive skin. Using AHA chemical exfoliants, it almost instantly smooths bumps and reduces the appearance of strawberry skin.
If there's one thing better than a multi-use product, it's a multi-use product that smells divine. This bar is a two-for-one exfoliating soap, so you can tackle rough, dry skin and cleanse all in one go. Its fresh, zingy peppermint scent is like a cup of joe for your senses, too, so this bar is a must for your morning routine.
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