Some of our favorite body scrubs of 2025 are from Nécessaire and Tree Hut.
You know that feeling when you haven’t washed your hair in a couple of days, your legs are fuzzy, and you just feel like you need a good, long clean? Well, friends, it may be high time for an “everything shower,” as the kids say. As the name suggests, everything showers are reserved for when scheduled time to do it all: exfoliate and shave, cleanse your face while soaking in a hair mask in addition to regular ol' shampooing and conditioning. First order of business? Breaking out the best body scrub (which you shall learn about shortly). After all, full body exfoliation is not only one of life’s greatest pleasures, it’s also healthy for your skin. Removing all those dead surface skin cells makes way for a softer and smoother surface underneath while encouraging skin cell health.
Choosing a body scrub might sound easy, especially compared to other skin care products (like sorting out the best face serums for your particular skin type). The truth is, scrubs have different consistencies, fragrances and exfoliating ingredients that make them a better or worse fit for your particular preferences.
I'm a big fan of in-spa body scrubs, but I'm equally happy to get my scrub on at home. For this story, I tested more than a dozen of the highest-rated body scrubs. Keep reading to see the five I've rated best for maintaining soft, smooth skin — then clear your calendar to take an everything shower of your own!
Update, August 27, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for best body scrub remains unchanged.
To find the best body scrubs on the market, I drew on more than a decade of experience as a beauty editor with a deep passion for skin care and personally tested 15 different options. I evaluated each scrub based on several key factors: texture (was the exfoliation effective without being overly abrasive?), ingredient quality and performance (did my skin feel noticeably softer afterward?). I also considered visible improvements in skin smoothness and whether the scrub clogged my tub or not — a real problem with some of the thicker, poorly formulated products.
Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Triple Action AHA Body Scrub: I really wanted to like this, but it was a fail for me (sorry, Rihanna!). While I loved the cherry-scented formula, it was way too slippery and kept falling off of my body before I got to actually scrub it on my skin. My dog even thought it was something edible and literally jumped into the tub.
What are body scrubs?
Body scrubs are products that use physical exfoliants (some also have chemical exfoliators) to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. This results in a whole slew of benefits, ranging from smoother and softer skin texture to a reduction in dark spots, lesser risk of ingrown hairs, prevention of breakouts, reduction of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, stimulation of blood flow, encouragement of collagen production, and better penetration of lotions, body creams and moisturizers.
How often should I use a body scrub?
Most experts advise against using a body scrub more than once or twice a week due to the risk of over-exfoliation, which can lead to redness and irritation and make your skin more vulnerable to damage. If you have sensitive skin, it’s especially important not to go overboard.
Do I have to worry about microbeads in body scrubs?
In the past, face and body scrubs contained little plastic spheres known as microbeads, which were dangerous to the planet and ended up in rivers, lakes and oceans. Thankfully, in 2015, then-President Barack Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act into law, banning them from being used in personal care products. Nowadays, brands use natural microbead alternatives such as sugar, jojoba beads, pumice powder, coffee grains and more.
What ingredients should I look for in a body scrub?
Body scrubs typically contain gentle natural exfoliants like pumice powder, sugar, salt, etc., but additional exfoliants in the form of AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acids, can level them up. They're especially helpful if you are dealing with skin issues that require an extra boost of exfoliation, like KP. Natural moisturizing ingredients, like plant butters and botanical oils, ensure skin is hydrated and nourished after scrubbing the dead skin cells away.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.