15 Best Exfoliators for Sensitive Skin, According to Dermatologists and Editor Testing

Wanna clear up your acne without totally stripping your skin? This gentle cleanser contains salicylic acid, which is a great exfoliating ingredient for people with acne and clogged pores. It's also made with ceramides to strengthen your skin barrier and prevent dryness, making it a safe choice for sensitive skin.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 8 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, gluconolactone

Glowing customer review: "Wanted to try this cleanser for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I’ve been using this every single day and night for about eight months now. The cleanser works perfectly—it’s non-drying and my skin is totally clear. So I have zero complaints—there’s literally nothing more I could ask for!"

"This was one of the first chemical exfoliants I discovered after learning that physical exfoliants are mostly a no-go," says Heath Owens, senior commerce editor, about this TikTok-famous (and Cosmo Reader's Choice Award-winning!) exfoliant. "I've been using it pretty consistently for about four years now and have perfected my routine for sensitive, combination skin." He recommends applying it twice weekly as opposed to the brand's suggested twice daily, since its salicylic acid-based formula can be pretty drying if you use it too often. On the plus side, that means that this 4-ounce bottle should last you a long time.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 4 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

Glowing customer review: "Wow—this stuff is legit! My skin has never looked this smooth. I struggle with blackheads, enlarged pores, and the occasional fine lines, but this exfoliant handles it all. Plus, it’s gentle enough that I haven’t experienced any redness or irritation."

Dr. Dennis Gross's original Alpha Beta at-home peel pads are iconic but likely too irritating for sensitive skin types. Luckily, this milder version for irritation-prone skin exists. The pads are pre-soaked with a blend of gentle acids (like lactic acid and willow bark extract) to resurface the skin, plus soothing botanicals to minimize inflammation.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 5 treatments
• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, mandelic acid, willow bark extract

Glowing customer review: "I was hesitant because the idea of these sound super scary to sensitive skin. I have rosacea, and my skin is very fussy with what is put on it. I use this once a week so my skin doesn’t freak out (and to save money), and so far so good! My skin is super soft and glowy!"

NGL, my incredibly sensitive skin has never looked better since using this affordable face wash. It uses PHAs to provide a gentle exfoliating effect, plus brightening niacinamide to even out your skin tone. I use it a few times a week to help reduce the appearance of dark marks and spots, and it really makes my skin look brighter and smoother.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 4.2 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Gluconolactone, niacinamide

Glowing customer review: "The gentle exfoliation is a perfect balance, revealing smoother and brighter skin without irritation. I appreciate the innovative use of PHA, making it suitable for daily use. A must-have for anyone seeking an effective and gentle exfoliator."

Acne-prone sensitive skin can be especially difficult to treat, since you need a product that's strong enough to reduce breakout-causing sebum production without causing further irritation. Olivia Truffaut-Wong, editor, loves this serum for its gentle yet effective salicylic acid-infused formula. "It's so enjoyable to use," she says. "It doesn't sting or dry out my skin at all." Bonus points for being noncomedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 1 fl oz
• Key ingredient: Salicylic acid, mandelic acid, lactic acid

Glowing customer review: "I am shocked by the near instant results I saw by the first day! My skin looked less congested, the texture was better, some cheek redness I had been experiencing was toned down, and my face just feels soooo smooth now! The fine lines on my forehead are less pronounced too, which is a nice bonus."

As someone who's wary of physical exfoliants, I was shocked that Dermalogica's unique microfoliant left my skin with zero redness or irritation. Part grainy scrub, part chemical exfoliator, this internet-famous product comes in the form of a rice-based powder that—once mixed with water—transforms into a creamy paste packed with natural sources of AHAs and BHAs, as well as resurfacing papaya enzymes. The result: a truly satisfying scrub that won't leave your face red and raw.

• Type: Physical and chemical
• Size: 2.6 fl oz
• Key ingredient: Salicylic acid, papaya enzyme, rice powder

Glowing customer review: "This is a staple in my routine. I use this product every morning. My skin is sensitive, so it’s difficult to find a daily exfoliant that isn’t irritating. This product is awesome and worth the money!"

Found: a gentle exfoliating toner to help resurface, reset, and rebalance your skin post-cleanse. The 2 percent salicylic acid in this one is backed by gluconolactone and glycolic acid to clear blackheads from the inside out—and without leaving your skin feeling stripped or dried. I use this bb twice a week, and it's the only product that's helped clear up my stubborn AF blackheads.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 3.4 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, gluconolactone, glycolic acid

Glowing customer review: "This toner is so nice. It's definitely not like other salicylic acid treatments that dry out your skin. This actually feels moisturizing. Not oily or anything—just soothing and smooth. My skin is also sensitive to products, but this doesn't burn at all."

Augustinus Bader's bougie af skincare line is a favorite among celebs for its rejuvenating TFC8 complex: a blend of amino acids, peptides, and vitamins that claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines. The Essence combines TFC8 with a triple threat of AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs to gently exfoliate while encouraging cell turnover. I loved how this serum/toner hybrid absorbed quickly into my skin, and left it feeling smoother without causing any redness. It also adds a boost of lightweight hydration thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 3.38 fl oz
• Key ingredient: Phytic acid, salycilic acid, gluconolactone, hyaluronic acid

Glowing customer review: "I have tried all the luxury products on the market and this is by far my favorite, hands down! After just a few uses I noticed a visible change in my overall complexion and an improvement with my large pores. I will definitely buy again and again."

The star ingredient in this liquid exfoliator: turmeric, which is beloved for its antioxidant benefits and ability to brighten skin. Combine that with soothing oat extract and a powerful (but still gentle) trio of acids—including PHAs, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid—and you get this illuminating solution, which you can use a few times a week to fade dark spots and improve your skin texture.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 4 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Turmeric root extract, glycolic acid, gluconolactone, mandelic acid

Glowing customer review: "I've tried a fair amount of toners before and this is definitely one of my top picks!! I've only been using it for about a week now and have already noticed that my skin is glowier and my skin tone is more even. I love that this is gentle enough to use daily without any irritation!"

This exfoliating face mask from all-natural skincare brand Tata Harper contains a blend of AHAs to gently lift dead skin cells and boost your skin's radiance without causing irritation. It's free of common skin allergens like essential oils, alcohols, and synthetic fragrance and is infused with soothing botanicals like calendula extract, making it solid choice for sensitive skin.

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 1 fl oz
• Key ingredient: Lactic acid

Glowing customer review: "The thing I love most about Tata products is that they are all-natural but give incredible results. This mask does not irritate my sensitive skin and gives me a subtle glow after I use it."

For a more even complexion, check out these editor-loved lactic and glycolic acid peel pads from m-61. "These are life-changing!" says Mackenzie Dunn, senior commerce manager. "I love that they come in easy-to-use towelettes and are powerful without being irritating (thank you chamomile!). They're particularly great for hyperpigmentation and pore size and seriously do give you a nice radiant glow"

• Type: Chemical
• Size: 10 treatments
• Key ingredient: Glycolic acid, lactic acid

Glowing customer review: "These have changed my face. I have hyperpigmentation from adult acne breakouts. Within the first 48 hours, my husband noticed a difference in the texture of my skin and remarked that it felt 'smooth like a baby’s bottom.' Within a month, I saw a marked improvement in the size of my pores as well as the visibility of my acne scars."

Another exfoliating ingredient that's suitable for sensitive skin? Enzymes. They gently remove dead skin cells, debris, and buildup to reveal fresh, glowing skin. And you can get your enzyme fix in this exfoliating cleanser, since the powder-to-foam formula is designed specifically for sensitive skin.

• Type: Physical and chemical
• Size: 2.6 oz
• Key ingredients: Enzymes, ascorbic acid

Glowing customer review: "This is one of the rare products that makes a difference in my skin after one use. It exfoliates really gently—once you rinse it off you can immediately see that your skin is brightener and more even-toned."

Listen, I don't like to just throw the term "holy grail" around, but... this oat and goat milk scrub is truly a holy grail product for me. It uses jojoba beads to oh-so-gently slough away dry, dead skin (instead of the super-harsh microplastic beads found in many scrubs) and leaves you soft to the touch, thanks to lactic acid-packed goat milk.

• Type: Physical and chemical
• Size: 3 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, jojoba seed wax

Glowing customer review: "Great for sensitive skin is an understatement. This feels very nourishing and leaves your skin feeling well hydrated and silky smooth. The exfoliating bits in the cream is a nice touch that helps remove dead skin. It’s very gentle on your skin and does not dry it out, like most facial washes."