JiveDash

1

Best Overall Chemical Exfoliant

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

The entire Cosmo beauty team (and like every dermatologist ever) agrees: These peel pads from Dr. Dennis Gross are the GOAT of chemical exfoliants. The pre-soaked pads are packed with a blend of AHAs and BHAs (including glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid) along with vitamin C and retinol to smooth fine lines, minimize the look of pores, fade dark spots, and more.

2

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Dry Skin

Neutrogena Skin Perfecting Daily Liquid Exfoliant, Dry Skin

Cosmo beauty assistant Sami Roberts tested this chemical exfoliator from drugstore skincare brand Neutrogena on her dry skin and has nothing but good things to say about the formula: "I love how the combo of PHAs, AHAs, and hydrating hyaluronic acid smooth my skin texture without every drying me out or causing irritation."

3

Best Inexpensive Chemical Exfoliant

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

"Okay, I know this chemical exfoliant's dark red color looks a little Freddy Krueger, but trust me—your skin will thank you for using it," says Cosmo's freelance beauty assistant Valeriya Chupinina. "It's made with AHAs to brighten your skin tone, plus BHAs to clear out congested pores and blackheads, leaving you with glowy, radiant skin. And can we talk about the price?! It costs like a third of the amount other popular chemical exfoliants out there."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4

Best Chemical Exfoliant Serum

Shani Darden Skin Care Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum

This exfoliating serum is a dream for anyone with dull or uneven skin. It's formulated by Shani Darden (LA's fave celeb facialist) and contains a gentle blend of lactic acid and gluconolactone to resurface skin while you sleep. I like to apply a few pumps on nights when I'm not using my retinoid.

5

Best Chemical Exfoliant with BHAs

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Legit everyone in the beauty world swears by this best-selling liquid exfoliator with 2 percent BHAs, including Cosmo deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger: "This is the only chemical exfoliant I can use on my facial keratosis pilaris without destroying my sensitive skin. I smooth it on clean, dry skin every third night, then layer on a thick moisturizer."

6

Best Chemical Exfoliant Toner

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner

NGL, I love a good exfoliating toner, and this one from Glow Recipe is at the top of my favorites list. Not only does it balance your skin after cleansing, it helps clear away excess oil to make your pores look teeny-tiny (TYVM BHAs and PHAs) and hydrates with a dose of hyaluronic acid too.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Acne-Prone Skin

Tula Breakout Breakthrough Acne Maximum Strength Biodegradable Toner Pads

"My acne-prone needs to be exfoliated three to four times a week if I want to prevent breakouts, and luckily, these chemical exfoliant toner pads from Tula make it easy to do just that," says freelance beauty assistant Valeriya Chupinina. "The combo of and BHAs, azelaic acid, and apple cider vinegar nix dead skin cells, de-gunk pores, and minimize any redness and dark marks."

8

Best 3-in-1 Chemical Exfoliant

U Beauty The Resurfacing Compound

Expensive but most definitely worth it, U Beauty's Resurfacing compound has been a game-changer for my skin. You can use it in the morning and/or at night to smooth, brighten, plump, and protect skin from free radical damage. Think of it as your chemical exfoliant, hydrating serum, and antioxidant serum all in one bottle.

9

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Hyperpigmentation

Hyper Skin Fade and Glow AHA Mask

Cosmo beauty director Julee Wilson swears by this rinse-off face mask for fading hyperpigmentation, like dark spots (from the sun or inflammation) and melasma. "The magic lies in a combo of exfoliating glycolic acid and mandelic acid plus skin-brightening turmeric and soothing niacinamide."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10

Best Chemical Exfoliant Cleanser

SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Gel Cleanser

Exfoliate your skin while you cleanse with this 2-in-1 foaming face wash from Skinceuticals. The gel formula gets rid of makeup, build-up, and excess oil *and* resurfaces and brightens skin with a combo of glycolic and phytic acids. It's designed for daily use, but if your skin is on the sensitive side stick to just once or twice a week.

11

Best Sheet Mask with Chemical Exfoliants

ZitSticka Press Refresh Hydrogel Exfoliating Sheet Mask

Deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger recommends this exfoliating sheet mask to all her friends who are dealing with clogged pores and breakouts."It uses salicylic acid and glycolic acid to break down dead skin cells while gently exfoliating the surface of your skin for clear, brighter skin over time.”

12

Best All-Natural Chemical Exfoliant

Tata Harper Clarifying AHA + BHA Mask

"This is literally the first thing I grab when I feel a whitehead coming on," says beauty director Julee Wilson. "The clarifying formula (it combines AHAs, BHAs, purifying clays, and organic plant extracts) immediately stops the pimple in its tracks. Plus, the tiny quartz micro-crystals leave my skin feeling super-duper smooth."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Body

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum

Body bumps, dry skin, rough patches, sun spots...this powerful body serum can help address them all. It contains lactic acid and salicylic acid to exfoliate along with shea butter and honey to up moisture levels so your below-the-chin skin feels super soft and supple.

14

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Sensitive Skin

Cetaphil Healthy Radiance PHA Cleanser

Now 38% Off

A solid chemical exfoliant for even the most sensitive of skin types, this sulfate-free cleanser gently whisks away dead skin cells thanks to PHAs. It's even got a little bit of anti-inflammatory niacinamide in there too. The result? Skin that's soft, smooth, and zero percent irritated.

15

Best P.M. Chemical Exfoliant

Epi.Logic By Dr. Jeanniton Double Feature Retinol + AHA Overnight Facial

Using a few drops of this potent exfoliating serum before bed is like hitting the reset button on your face. It uses a combo of retinol (the gold standard when it comes to anti-aging ingredients) to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production, squalane to reverse skin dryness and dehydration, and 10 percent lactic acid to boost your glow.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

16

Best Extra-Strength Chemical Exfoliant

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial

This at-home chemical exfoliant is definitely strong (so not the best option if you have sensitive or easily irritated skin) but the results from just one use are impressive, says beauty assistant Sami Roberts.“I love that it contains a bunch of different acids—including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and salicylic—to really get in there and clean out my pores, smooth rough texture, and give my skin a bright, even glow.”

17

Best Cult-Classic Chemical Exfoliant

Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion

You can't talk about chemical exfoliants without talking about Biologique Recherche's P50. The iconic liquid exfoliator is loved by celebs, facialists, and editors alike for it's ability to break down dead skin cells, unclog pores, enhance skin-cell turnover, and hydrate and balance your skin barrier too. There a few different versions of P50, including one for sensitive skin, hyperpigmentation-prone skin, and dry skin, so finding a formula to suit your skin's specific needs is super easy.

18

Best Night Cream with Chemical Exfoliants

Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Night Cream

Anyone with dull, dry skin can benefit from using this exfoliating night cream. Inside the jar: brightening viniferine (a natural alternative to vitamin C) and papaya enzymes plus resurfacing glycolic acid, which is pretty much an ideal combination for fading dark spots and evening out your skin tone.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19

Best Chemical Exfoliant Mask

Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel

This exfoliating face mask is the beauty brainchild of celeb facialist and product formulator Renee Rouleau—plus Demi Lovato is a huge fan—so you know it's a good one. Smear the jelly-like formula over clean skin, let it sit for up to 10 minutes, and then rinse. You'll be amazed at how soft, smooth, and glowy your skin will look after.

20

Best Chemical Exfoliant for Your Eye Area

Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream

Most chemical exfoliants are too strong to be applied on delicate eye skin, which is why you need to use a product specifically formulated for the eye area like this eye cream from Mario Badescu. It contains glycolic acid and nourishing shea butter and vitamin E to smooth fine lines and crow's feet without causing burning or irritation.

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram. 

Watch Next

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLvSpqapp5yewaK6jZympmejqcatsYybnJqtpK58o7HArquyZ5dohnV9kHFucWeSmsC1ecKhnKahk5a5brHXn6aloZGjwbR7