10 Best Exfoliators in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed By Dermatologist

To give you a rundown, here are our top 5 picks for the best exfoliators:

1. Best overall: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
2. Best for dull skin and dark spots: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
3. Best for normal skin: CeraVe Renewing SA Face Cleanser
4. Best for more experienced users: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
5. Best for daily use: Cetaphil Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Dr. Aznaida L. Tawagon-Pandapatan, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

Learn more about exfoliators as Dr. Aznaida answers some of the most asked questions on the internet!

Exfoliants are best used at night, twice a week. For those with resilient skin, they can tolerate exfoliants every other night or even nightly.

1. Remove make-up and use a mild cleanser first.
2. Pat dry face with towel.
3. Apply chose exfoliant, avoid the sensitive eye areas, nasal mucosa, and lips.
4. Leave on for 5-10 minutes or as advised by your dermatologist. 
5. Once time is up, use a soft cotton sheet to gently remove the product from the face, avoiding the eye areas, before washing it off completely with mild soap and water.

Always apply a bland moisturizer. Do not apply other harsh products such as those containing alcohol, other acids (in toners), benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids. You may apply your retinoids the 1-2 days after.

The skin naturally exfoliates on its own, but this process tends to slow down as we age. There are also instances when dead skin cells do not shed fully, leaving your skin with dry and flaky patches. Using an exfoliator, especially for rough and bumpy skin, can help speed up the shedding of dead skin cells and encourage the turnover of new ones for smoother and more radiant skin.

Exfoliation can also improve the efficacy of other skincare products you're using, as it can let them penetrate your skin deeper without being hindered by any barrier. On top of that, it can also offer deeper cleansing. It can wash away deep-seated grime and dirt that your cleanser might have missed, and it improves blackheads as well.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Select active ingredients based on your skin concerns and skin type. 
2. Physical and chemical: choose from the two types of exfoliators. 
3. Face or body: check the scope of the exfoliator.

For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.

When choosing an exfoliator, it is necessary to take your skin type into account. This way, you can minimize the risk of irritation, and it can let you achieve your desired result. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, or if you have specific concerns,  know which type of exfoliator is best for you in the section below.

If one of your aims is to reduce dark spots and blemishes and achieve a glowing complexion, opt for exfoliants with ingredients like honey, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, ground almond, and cornmeal. These ingredients are packed with antioxidants that help fight free radical damage. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in wound healing and lightening of acne scars and dark spots. 

Other beneficial ingredients are ginseng and Tasmanian pepperberry, which help with circulation in your skin's blood vessels, leading to an even and radiant skin tone. Aside from that, they have the added advantage of being able to stimulate collagen production. 

If your skin is leaning more on the dry side, it is ideal to look for gentle chemical exfoliators with glycolic acid. Among all alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic acid has the tiniest molecules that allow them to deeply penetrate and exfoliate the skin effectively. It's also good to try exfoliants with nourishing ingredients like Vitamin B, shea butter, ceramides, coconut extract, and aloe vera. 

These ingredients help boost the hydration levels in your skin and add extra value for those with dry skin or those who are prone to developing dry and flaky patches. It's also best to avoid physical exfoliators that can be too harsh and cause microtears in your skin.

Overproduction of sebum clogs the pores and has the tendency to cause acne and blackheads. Hence, your best bet is to avoid exfoliants with comedogenic ingredients like lanolin or argan oil. Instead, look for exfoliators that are infused with salicylic acid. This beta-hydroxy acid does not just get rid of dead skin cells but also deeply penetrates and unclog pores.

Stronger exfoliators are more recommended to people with oily skin than those with dry skin. So if you have oily skin, you can also use physical exfoliants like grain-based scrubs, as long as they're used gently and within the right frequency.

If you both have oily and dry sections on your face, you have a combination skin type. Thus, you can look for chemical exfoliators infused with both AHA and BHA. Salicylic acid can help unclog pores, while glycolic acid can hydrate skin.

It can be tricky to manage combination skin, as you have to deal with the specific concerns of both dry and oily skin. However, one thing is for sure - avoid products that contain alcohol, which can irritate both skin types. Always go for gentle formulations to prevent causing areas of sensitivity.

Exfoliators can be classified as either physical or chemical. Physical exfoliants require manual scrubbing of the skin to get rid of dead skin cells, while chemical exfoliants use acids to break the bonds between the cells in the top layer of the skin. As discussed above, the kind of formulation you choose will depend on your skin concerns.  

While physical exfoliants deliver quicker results, they can be harsh on the skin. If you do decide to go for a physical type, make sure it is fine-grained and gentle. It's best to avoid those with plastic microbeads, as they tend to be more abrasive on the skin, as well as more harmful for the environment. Natural grains like sugar, strawberry seeds, and bamboo granules are a better option. 

On the other hand, chemical exfoliants work without the need for physical scrubbing. They’re considered the gentler option between the two. They are usually composed of chemicals like alpha or beta hydroxy acids that dissolve dead skin cells to reveal the new layer of skin underneath.

While it may seem convenient and economical to just use the same exfoliator for your entire body and face, it might cause more harm than good. Exfoliators formulated for the body tend to contain stronger chemical concentrations that may be too harsh for your face.

The skin in your face is also more delicate than the other parts of your body, so using harsh products may cause irritations and even breakouts. On the other hand, using a face exfoliator for your body may not cause harm, but it might not be that effective as well.

While exfoliation can provide benefits to your skin, it may also cause harm when done incorrectly. Below are some things to keep in mind to make the most out of your exfoliator.

Whether you have normal, oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin, there are skincare products that are specifically formulated for you. Check out these articles featuring various skincare items, such as moisturizers, toners, sunscreens, and Korean eye creams, which you can add to your routine!

Author: R. Victoriano

Editor: A. Mangulabnan

Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.