Best Body Scrubs 2022

Best for: Sensitive skin

While it might be all no-frills, no-fuss packaging, the benefits of this derm-approved exfoliant speak for themselves (and with a very reasonable price point too). Loved by experts and editors for its ability to improve ingrown hairs, it also helps smooth and improve bumps caused by keratosis pilaris. Also known as ‘chicken skin’, KP is a condition that affects around 50% of women and, due to an excess production of keratin, it causes skin (mostly on the upper arms) to appear rough, bumpy and red. A winning combination of lactic acid and ground bamboo help gently slough away rough, bumpy areas, encouraging the production of new cells to the surface and visibly improving the appearance of KP. Unlike most scrubs, however, you use AMELIORATE’s formula on dry skin before you hop into the shower by leaving it on for a few minutes and then rinsing off in the shower. 

The hype: “Heralded as a miracle-worker by beauty and skin experts, this £17.50 body scrub is excellent at treating keratosis pilaris, more commonly known as chicken skin. KP is a common skin condition that causes reddish, rough-textured bumps on the skin, which are actually hair follicles blocked up with dead skin cells, a result of a build up of keratin (hair protein) inside the pores.” You Magazine

Best for: Vegan-friendly

You can always count on Molton Brown for a winning fragrance. This perennial favourite earns its stripes thanks to a combination of apricot kernels that polish away dead skin cells and exfoliating bitter orange peel along with the brand’s signature energising bergamot and orange aroma. Filling your bathroom with a heavenly scent aside, this body scrub also promotes circulation, blood flow and skin cell turnover to remove dead skin cells and encourage the healthy production of new ones. Big on fragrance, the formula itself is vegan, paraben-free and gluten-free, making it suitable for all skin types. Top tip: buff in a circular motion if you suffer from ingrown hairs.

The hype: “This is my weekly beauty ritual treat!I love this product and use it every Sunday for exfoliation and it feels like an indulgent treat every week because of the great smell and fresh orange peel in it. My husband also loves it and uses it. ” - Customer review

Best for: Tanning prep

Any expert will tell you that the secret to a great tan (whether fake or real) always starts with a scrub. Why? Exfoliation helps slough dead skin cells and reveal the new skin underneath, making it a lot easier for your skin to absorb self tan application, and a lot more evenly too. Whether it’s prepping your skin for fake tan or simply removing an old one, this beachy-scented scrub by Aussie-born brand, Bondi Sands, ensures your skin stays soft and strokable all year round. It combines naturally-derived exfoliants like Australian sand and Sea Salt to buff away dead skin cells and get it ready for a fresh application of self tan. 

The hype: “Exfoliating your skin before fake-tanning is crucial, but you want to avoid an oil-based scrub, because it'll affect the way your tan develops. Bondi Sands has the solution: this coconut and powdered walnut scrub is completely oil-free (the texture is coarse and almost sandy), meaning it'll slough and smooth while prepping your skin for a fresh application of tan.” - Harper’s Bazaar

Best for: Dehydrated skin

Dry skin? You can apply as much body butter to your skin, but without scrubbing away the dead cells and rough patches, your moisturisers don’t stand a chance. The solution? Look no further than this fresh-scented cleanse and body polish courtesy of Liz Earle to do all the hard work for you... Both effective and gentle on the skin, it takes inspo from the brand’s cult cleanser (a reminder that cleansing should extend below the neck too) and combines foaming agents with sunflower seed, apricot kernel and rice bran to hydrate, exfoliate and moisturise skin for an impressive 48 hours. It also comes with a handy exfoliating mitt that you can use to target rougher spots such as knees, elbows and heels with ease.

The hype: “We love this coveted scrub by the experts at Liz Earle. This 2-in-1 treatment works as a body wash plus a body exfoliator, thanks to the mitt that comes with the product. Choose your level of exfoliation by either gently scrubbing your skin with the mitt, or for a less intense rub, leave the mitt for days that you’re feeling braver.” - The Independent