The Best Body Scrubs Will Leave You Flake-Free

When you think about exfoliating, the two F’s probably come to mind—face and feet. But what about everything in-between? The best body scrubs for men give the rest of your anatomy the same kind of exfoliating love you give your mug. After all, dead skin cells aren’t picky—they show up everywhere. I’m talking your back, calves, and (don’t care if it’s TMI) even the ol’ buttocks. Yep. It’s a full-body situation.

Body scrubs are supposed to exfoliate—sloughing off dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and smoothing out those rough, dry patches. If you’re dealing with dry skin (hand raised), body acne, ingrown hairs, or skin that looks a little… meh, then welcome to Scrub City. These gritty little wonders improve your skin’s texture, create a clean slate for acne-prone areas, soften up the usual suspects (elbows and knees), and help your skin absorb moisturizers better.

To help you find the best body scrub for yourself, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best (and gentlest) body scrubs worth trying. Remember: It’s about quality, not quantity. Use them no more than three times a week—your skin’s not a kitchen floor, after all.

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The Best Body Scrubs for Men, According to GQ

Best Body Scrub Overall: AKT The Foaming Body Scrub SC.02 After Thunder

From shower gels to deodorants, this British brand is gradually carving out a grooming space here in the states, as they rightfully should. It’s one of the few brands I trust on my skin, mainly because its products are alcohol-free and don’t rely on synthetic fragrances (aka, no eau de chemical burn).

I’ve been using their body scrub for a few months now—once a week, maybe twice if my skin’s feeling particularly Sahara-adjacent. Just two dollops do the trick; in most men’s grooming routines, less really is more. After rinsing, my skin feels clean and moisturized. The scrub’s three main ingredients—papaya enzymes, rice and sugar exfoliators, and a hit of coffee and green coffee oil—gently shed off dead skin, smooth things out without being too aggressive, and leave my skin glowing.

Best Smelling Body Scrub: Dedcool Body Scrub Xtra Milk

Dedcool is beloved for its gender-neutral, vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic fragrances—and yes, even its laundry detergent smells like it has a skin care routine. One of the brand’s top-sellers across every category is Xtra Milk, a scent built around bergamot, white musk, and amber. It’s designed to be your go-to layering base or a stand-alone.

The body scrub’s rice powder gently buffs away dry skin (exfoliation without aggression), while Kakadu plum delivers a dose of vitamin C to wake up your skin. Coconut oil, aloe, ginseng, and cucumber team up to leave you hydrated, smooth, and slightly smug in the best way. The scent itself? Subtle, lovely, and never overpowering. Pair it with Dedcool’s matching body wash, body lotion, and Xtra Milk fragrance, so you can step out of the shower smelling consistently fabulous—no scent-mixing roulette required.

Best Gel Body Scrub: Aesop Redemption Body Scrub

One of my favorite fragrance brands of all time—scratch that, one of everyone’s favorite fragrance brands—Aesop, makes a body scrub that’s unsurprisingly fantastic. It’s a fine-grain, opaque gel that feels smooth and non-drying, formulated with pumice and bamboo stem to gently exfoliate.

As expected from Aesop, the scent is fresh, earthy, and slightly mysterious—like a pine forest and cloud of clove smoke. The combo of pumice, bamboo, clove, and cedarwood not only buffs your skin to a healthy glow but also leaves you smelling so good. It’s also a natural deodorizing effect, too. Now, fair warning for the sensitive-skinned among us (myself included): The scent is very apparent. I’d suggest using it once every two weeks—or once a month—just to make sure your skin doesn’t file a complaint.

Best Natural Body Scrub: Le Labo Body Scrub

Le Labo will always have a spot in our medicine cabinets—but their coffee body scrub? That belongs far from your toothpaste. This plant-based scrub blends coffee seed powder, sunflower seeds, safflower and soy oils, sugar, caramel, a mild surfactant, jojoba, niacinamide, and vitamin E. It’s free of parabens, phthalates, colorants, and yes—vegan and cruelty-free, too.