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Face Exfoliators

Ingredient Reports Using Research From
A good face exfoliator is hard to come by. Plenty of products claim to do the job, but some are too severe for your sensitive skin. By knowing what’s in your face exfoliator you can make sure you’ve got the product that’s just right for you.

Best For Face Exfoliators

Indicates ingredients best for exfoliating products.

Good Ingredients

Indicates ingredients with nice to have or neutral benefits.

Unfavorable Ingredients

Indicates ingredient which may be considered unfavorable.

Proactiv+ Skin Smoothing Exfoliator product image
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Proactiv+ Skin Smoothing Exfoliator

12/26 Best Ingredients
7/26 Good Ingredients
7/26 Unfavorable Ingredients
7/26 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
3
  • salicylic acid
    Salicylic Acid. Used to treats numerous skin conditions including eczema and acne. Also has exfoliating properties.
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PMHT0012067
  • polyethylene
    Polyethylene. Abrasive agent
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
4
  • glycerin
    Glycerin. Effects include significant improvement in the hydration of the outer layer of skin, reduction of small wrinkles
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PMID: 22151935
  • vitis vinifera (grape) fruit extract
    Grape. Antioxidant
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
Healing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
  • linoleic acid
    Vitamin F. Emollient, speeds up the skin healing process
  • sodium hyaluronate
    Sodium Hyaluronate. Heals damaged skin
Moisturizing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • glyceryl stearate
    Glyceryl Monoester. Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
Conditioning Ingredients
2
  • cyclopentasiloxane
    Cyclopentasiloxane. Lubricant
  • saxifraga sarmentosa extract
    Saxifraga Sarmentosa. Skin-conditioning agent
Neutral Ingredients
5
  • water (aqua)
    Aqua. Water
  • cetearyl alcohol
    Cetearyl Alcohol. Thickening agent
  • xanthan gum
    Xanthan Gum. Thickening agent
Unfavorable Ingredients
7
Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub product image
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Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

7/17 Best Ingredients
6/17 Good Ingredients
4/17 Unfavorable Ingredients
2/17 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • polyethylene
    Polyethylene. Abrasive agent
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
4
  • sodium laureth sulfate
    Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Surfactant, cleansing agent
  • lauryl glucoside
    Lauryl Glucoside. Cleansing agent
  • laureth 4
    Laureth 4. Surfactant
  • tetrasodium edta
    Edta. Chelating agent, removes unwanted compounds from the skin. Considered safe because it's difficult to absorb through skin
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PMID: 12396676
Conditioning Ingredients
1
Neutral Ingredients
5
  • water
    Aqua. Water
  • carbomer
    Carbomer. Controls consistency
  • glycol distearate
    Glycol Distearate. Thickener, emulsifier
Unfavorable Ingredients
4
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant product image
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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

3/8 Best Ingredients
3/8 Good Ingredients
2/8 Unfavorable Ingredients
2/8 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Neutral Ingredients
3
  • water (aqua)
    Aqua. Water
  • methylpropanediol (hydration)
    Methylpropanediol. Solvent, absorbing agent
Unfavorable Ingredients
2
  • polysorbate 20 (stabilizer)
    Polysorbate 20. Emulsifying agent. occasional reports of hypersensitivity to polysorbates following their topical use. polysorbates have also been associated with serious adverse effects.
    Source: National Institutes of Health - CASRN: 9005-65-6
Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub product image
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Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

5/22 Best Ingredients
13/22 Good Ingredients
4/22 Unfavorable Ingredients
3/22 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
  • sodium cocoyl isethionate
    Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate. Surfactant, cleansing agent
  • peg 6 caprylic/capric glycerides
    Peg-6 Caprylic/capric Glycerides. Surfactant, cleansing agent
Healing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • menthol
    Menthol. Anti-irritant properties
Sunscreen Ingredients
1
  • benzophenone 4
    Benzophenone. Sunscreen ingredient. Considered safe for adults.
Neutral Ingredients
12
  • water
    Aqua. Water
  • glycol distearate
    Glycol Distearate. Thickener, emulsifier
  • synthetic wax
    Emulsifying Wax. Emulsifier
  • ethoxydiglycol
    Ethoxydiglycol. Solvent
  • microcrystalline wax
    Microcrystalline Wax. Binder, stabilizer
  • peg 12 dimethicone
    Dimethicone Copolyol. Silicones are skin conditioning agents widely used in cosmetics.
  • sodium hydroxide
    Sodium Hydroxide. Controls pH levels. Skin irritation or pain if used above concentration limits.
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PubChem CID: 14798
  • sodium lauroyl lactylate
    Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate. Emulsifying agent
  • acrylates/c10 30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
    Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer. Useful for combining ingredients, film forming, emulsion stabilizing, viscosity controlling
  • xanthan gum
    Xanthan Gum. Thickening agent
  • fragrance
    Fragrance.
  • ferric ferrocyanide
    Ferric Ferrocyanide. Blue cosmetics color
Unfavorable Ingredients
4
PCA Skin Gentle Exfoliant product image
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PCA Skin Gentle Exfoliant

6/13 Best Ingredients
1/13 Good Ingredient
6/13 Unfavorable Ingredients
3/13 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
  • polyethylene
    Polyethylene. Abrasive agent
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Moisturizing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
3
  • glyceryl stearate se
    Glyceryl Monoester. Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
  • isopropyl palmitate
    Palm Oil. Moisturizer
  • jojoba oil
    Jojoba. Moisturizer
Neutral Ingredients
1
  • carbomer 940
    Carbomer. Controls consistency
Unfavorable Ingredients
6
Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser product image
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Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

12/35 Best Ingredients
10/35 Good Ingredients
13/35 Unfavorable Ingredients
7/35 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
  • silica
    Silica. Abrasive agent
  • sodium chloride
    Sodium Chloride. Table salt. Used as preservative or abrasive ingredient.
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
2
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
7
  • sodium laureth sulfate
    Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Surfactant, cleansing agent
  • lauramide mipa
    Lauramide Mipa. Cleansing agent
  • tea cocoyl glutamate
    Tea-cocoyl Glutamate. Cleansing agent
  • citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) fruit water
    Orange. Fragrance, cleansing ingredient
  • sodium hydrozide
    Sodium Hydrozide. PH adjuster, cleansing agent. Safe when used in small amounts. Highly caustic when in bigger amounts.
    Source: National Institutes of Health - CID 14798
  • disodium edta
    Edta. Chelating agent, removes unwanted compounds from the skin. Considered safe because it's difficult to absorb through skin
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PMID: 12396676
  • moringa pterygosperma seed extract
    Moringa Seed. Purifying agent
Moisturizing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit
    Shea Butter. Very effective skin moisturizer.
Sunscreen Ingredients
1
  • benzophenone 2
    Benzophenone. Sunscreen ingredient. Considered safe for adults.
Neutral Ingredients
9
  • water
    Aqua. Water
  • cetearyl alcohol
    Cetearyl Alcohol. Thickening agent
  • cellulose
    Cellulose. Thickener
  • glycol distearate
    Glycol Distearate. Thickener, emulsifier
  • cetearyl glucoside
    Cetearyl Glucoside. Emulsifying agent
  • acrylates/c10 30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
    Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer. Useful for combining ingredients, film forming, emulsion stabilizing, viscosity controlling
  • fragrance (parfum)
    Fragrance.
  • phenoxyisopropanol
    Phenoxyisopropanol. Preservative
  • yellow 6 (ci 15985)
    Pigment. Pigment for skin care products.
Unfavorable Ingredients
13
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub, Deeply Exfoliating product image
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St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub, Deeply Exfoliating

7/24 Best Ingredients
9/24 Good Ingredients
8/24 Unfavorable Ingredients
6/24 Natural Ingredients
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Abrasive Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • juglans regia (walnut) shell powder
    Walnut. Abrasive properties
Anti-aging Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Cleansing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
Healing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
1
  • prunus armeniaca (apricot) fruit extract
    Apricot Kernel Oil. Rich in vitamins. Used as an emollient with anti-inflammatory properties.
Moisturizing Ingredients (Best For Face Exfoliators)
3
  • glyceryl stearate
    Glyceryl Monoester. Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
  • zea mays (corn) kernel meal
    Corn Oil. Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
  • cetyl acetate
    Cetyl Acetate. Emollient
Sunscreen Ingredients
1
  • titanium dioxide (ci 77891)
    Titanium Dioxide. Sunscreen ingredient
Neutral Ingredients
8
  • water
    Aqua. Water
  • cetearyl alcohol
    Cetearyl Alcohol. Thickening agent
  • ceteareth 20
    Ceteareth-20. Solvent
  • carbomer
    Carbomer. Controls consistency
  • fragrance (parfum)
    Fragrance.
  • ppg 2 methyl ether
    Ppg-* Methyl Ether. Fragrance. Generally considered safe for use in cosmetics.
    Source: National Institutes of Health - PMID: 19966148
  • phenethyl alcohol
    Phenethyl Alcohol. Fragrance
  • limonene
    Limonene. Fragrance
Unfavorable Ingredients
8
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Effects include significant improvement in the hydration of the outer layer of skin, reduction of small wrinkles
Chelating agent, removes unwanted compounds from the skin. Considered safe because it's difficult to absorb through skin
Skin-conditioning agent, helps smooth wrinkled skin
Abrasive agent
Very effective skin moisturizer.
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, possesses skin protecting properties that reduce skin aging.
Moisturizer
Used to treats numerous skin conditions including eczema and acne. Also has exfoliating properties.
Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
Antioxidant
Natural preservative, chelating agent, removes unwanted compounds from the skin.
Table salt. Used as preservative or abrasive ingredient.
Surfactant, cleansing agent
Skin-conditioning agent, emollient
Effects include significant improvement in the hydration of the outer layer of skin, reduction of small wrinkles
Heals broken or itchy skin
Rich in vitamins. Used as an emollient with anti-inflammatory properties.
Antioxidant properties. Protects against UV rays, has anti-inflammatory properties.
Cleansing agent
Salt from Dead Sea has not been scientifically proven to heal skin conditions, however people from all over the world visit the Dead Sea because of its reputed therapeutic effects.
Abrasive properties
Peeling and skin-healing properties. Used to rejuvenate photo-aged skin.
Sunflower seed oil is used as an emollient. It is a good source of Vitamin E and helps heal dry skin.
Fragrance, cleansing ingredient
Coconut oil based skin-conditioning agent, emollient
Cleansing Agent
Abrasive agent
Skin conditioner, moisturizer
Improves dry skin and is an essential structural components of cell membranes
Oil from coffee seeds has shown to possess antioxidant and anti-aging properties. It promotes collagen production and noticeably improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Surfactant, cleansing agent
Emollient, skin protecting properties
Skin-conditioning agent, moisturizing properties
Moisturizes and heals damaged skin.
Abrasive agent
Cleansing agent
Moisturizer
May improve appearance of wrinkles
Surfactant, cleansing agent
Moisturizer
Used as antioxidant with numerous anti-aging benefits
Antioxidant, skin conditioning, bleaching
Antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial properties
Anti-irritant properties
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer properties. Can suppress contact dermatitis.
Moisturizer
Cleansing agent, safe as used in cosmetics
Heals wrinkles
Surfactant, softening agent.
Heals damaged skin
Exclude Ingredients
Preservative. Considered safe, however cases of eczema and urticaria due to this ingredient have been recorded.
Preservative. Potentially irritating or sensitizing when applied to damaged or broken skin.
Preservative. Could produce allergic contact dermatitis
Cleansing agent. Potential skin allergen
Solvent, conditioning agent. Possible contact allergen
Lubricant. Known potential cause for eczema and allergic reactions.
Antiseptic and preservative. Possibly irritating to skin.
Emulsifying agent. occasional reports of hypersensitivity to polysorbates following their topical use. polysorbates have also been associated with serious adverse effects.
Fragrance. Tightens skin. Anti dandruff. Citrus medica limonum (lemon oil) is found to be potentially phototoxic.
Controls pH levels. Potentially irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
Preservative. Potentially irritating or sensitizing when applied to damaged or broken skin.
Preservative. Could produce allergic contact dermatitis
Fragrance. Skin and eye hazard: Redness. Pain.
Preservative. Not very likely, but could cause contact allergy.
Preservative. Potentially irritating or sensitizing when applied to damaged or broken skin.
Preservative. Potentially irritating to skin, could produce contact dermatitis
Preservative. Symptoms of exposure to this compound include skin sensitivity reactions, contact dermatitis, urticaria and angioedema. It can cause skin and eye irritation.
Cleansing agent, irritating to skin.
Skin healing, moisturizing properties. Potential skin allergen.
Preservative. Potential skin irritant
Fragrance. Sensitizer and contact allergen.
Fragrance. Potential cause for contact dermatitis, classified as strong sensitizer.
Preservative. Negative effects include contact dermatitis and contact allergy
Fragrance. Could cause contact dermatitis and skin irritation.
Fragrance, emollient. May cause irritation and redness. Could exacerbate existing skin conditions.
Preservative. Potential contact allergy.
Lubricant. Known potential cause for eczema and allergic reactions.
Preservative. Potentially skin irritant
Emulsifying agent. May cause skin irritation.
Emulsifying agent. occasional reports of hypersensitivity to polysorbates following their topical use. polysorbates have also been associated with serious adverse effects.
Fragrance. Has been associated with irritant dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and photodermatitis
Preservative. Potentially irritating or sensitizing when applied to damaged or broken skin.
Preservative which can release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is classified as carcinogenic and allergenic.
Preservative. Potential contact allergen

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