Smooth Talkers: My Favorite Natural Facial Exfoliants

There’s nothing like a good exfoliant that gently leaves your face feeling baby soft. In the green beauty world there are so many options for exfoliation these days, from enzymatic masks to serums with AHA’s, but for the purposes of this post we’re going to stick with scrubs and masks that have physical exfoliants. This is a category that’s worth buying a high quality product that won’t be too rough with your skin. Exfoliating too often or with a really rough material can cause micro-tears in the skin that can lead to irritation and moisture loss. The ones below are some of the best natural facial exfoliants I’ve tried! They get to work without leaving your skin irritated.. Just smooth and glowing.

Natural Facial Exfoliants

Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator

You’re probably not surprised to see this one! It’s a long time favorite of mine and for good reason. It’s dual action formula gives a nice physical exfoliation plus the enzymes work to soften skin and dissolve pore build up. It’s best used as a mask, so I typically leave it on for 30-45 minutes to let the enzymes work their magic and then scrub it off in the shower. I use this once a week.

Leahlani Honey Love Exfoliator

Photography by emmaloo.co

Hard not to love anything from Leahlani, but this especially has so many wonderful qualities that make it next level. Honey Love is a very gentle exfoliator and like the one above, is best used as a mask prior to exfoliating. It’s anti-inflammatory properties plus the healing Hawaiian honey make this a perfect choice for inflamed, breakout prone skin. It also smells good enough to eat!

Ayuna Essence Cream-In-Oil Peel

This one is pricey, but very worth it if you’re up for the splurge. Essence leaves skin super soft, smooth, and moisturized, not to mention it’s one of the most gentle exfoliants I’ve tried. It goes on as a cream with just a slight grit and after a few minutes it gets thick enough that it rolls right off taking any dead skin or build up with it. This is best done over a towel as it can get a little messy with all the little rolls coming off, but it leaves skin SO smooth! If I’m prepping for an event, I usually start with this.

Leahlani Kalima Cleansing Powder

Another very gentle one from Leahlani, Kalima doubles as a cleanser/gentle exfoliator. The rice powder and oat flour polish skin without any irritation. This is a great one to use first thing in the morning to stimulate your skin and get a clean, smooth canvas for makeup application.

Any of these would make a great addition to your skincare routine. Since they all work a bit differently, I rotate what I use based off of what my skin needs. For instance, if I run my hand across my cheek and it feels rough, I know I need some Active Enzyme Exfoliator! If I just want smooth and glowing skin for a night out, Ayuna Essence is my go-to. Each one has a beauty of its own. Spot any favorites or any you’d like to try?

*Affiliate links used. All thoughts and opinions are always my own.