Best Exfoliating Shower Gels of 2026

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell
Last Updated: 2 Feb 2026

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Exfoliating shower gels are a popular addition to the bathing routines of many individuals. These products typically contain small particles or beads that help to gently scrub away dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling smoother and refreshed. Exfoliating shower gels come in a variety of scents and formulations, making it easy to find one that suits your skin type and personal preferences. While these products are not necessary for everyone, they can be a useful tool for those looking to improve the texture and appearance of their skin.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Dove Advanced Care Gentle Scrub Body Wash Cover #TOP 1
Dove Advanced Care Gentle Scrub Body Wash
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Chemist at Play Exfoliating Body Wash with Acids Cover #TOP 2
Chemist at Play Exfoliating Body Wash with Acids
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea Cover #TOP 3
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Exfoliating Shower Gels

#TOP 1

Dove Advanced Care Gentle Scrub Body Wash

White and Blue
225 ml (Pack of 6)
Dove Advanced Care Gentle Scrub Body Wash Cover
Dove Advanced Care Gentle Scrub Body Wash Body Cleanser shower gel with exfoliating minerals for instantly lotion-soft skin 6x 225 ml

The Dove Gentle Scrub Body Wash offers a refreshing cleanse while deeply moisturising your skin. With its 24-hour Renewing MicroMoisture technology, you can enjoy soft, replenished skin throughout the day. The inclusion of sea minerals gently exfoliates, ensuring your skin feels smooth and revitalised after just one shower. Additionally, this gentle formula is kind to your skin's microbiome and contains naturally derived cleansers, making it an excellent choice for those who care about their skin's health.

What We Like
Deeply moisturising formula
Gentle exfoliation
Kind to skin microbiome
98% biodegradable ingredients
Environmentally friendly packaging

Chemist at Play Exfoliating Body Wash with Acids

Chemist at Play
CHEM-CAP-BW-EXFO-236
Exfoliating
236ml
Chemist at Play Exfoliating Body Wash with Acids Cover
Chemist at Play Body Wash Exfoliating for Dry Rough Bumpy Strawberry Skin with 1% Salicylic Acid 2% Lactic Acid and Ceramides for Men and Women | 236 ml

The Chemist at Play Body Wash offers deep cleansing to remove dirt and pollution, helping you achieve a fresher, cleaner skin. It contains lactic acid, which gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and supple. This body wash also works to improve your skin texture by evening out your skin tone and reducing age spots, making your skin look healthier. Additionally, it is free from harsh chemicals and is vegan and cruelty-free, providing a natural and safe choice for your skincare routine.

What We Like
Deeply cleanses skin
Softens and nourishes
Improves skin texture
Even skin tone
Free from harsh chemicals

Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea

Q+A
Q&A-BC-SALICYLIC-BODY-WASH
250 ml (Pack of 1)
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea Cover
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash (250ml), Sensitive Shower Gel, Body Care, Shower Gel with Green Tea Extract and BHA, Gently Exfoliates, Smoothes, and Softens the skin

The Q+A Body Wash offers a remarkable shower experience designed to invigorate your skin. With its deep exfoliation from Salicylic Acid, it effectively helps to clear blemishes and excess oil, promoting a smoother complexion. You'll love the refreshing Watermelon and Agave Nectar scent, which transforms your daily routine into a delightful escape. Plus, the expert blend of ingredients, including Green Tea Extract, ensures your skin feels soft and rejuvenated after each wash.

What We Like
Deep exfoliation for clearer skin
Refreshing scent enhances shower experience
Softens and smooths skin
Vegan and cruelty-free formulation
#TOP 4

ICAN London Carrot Brightening Exfoliating Body Wash 1000ml

Orange
1 l (Pack of 1)
ICAN London Carrot Brightening Exfoliating Body Wash 1000ml Cover
Ican London Carrot Brightening Exfoliating Body Wash, 1000ml

The ICAN London Carrot Body Wash gently exfoliates your skin, removing dead cells and impurities to leave it feeling smooth and refreshed. Its brightening effect, thanks to carrot extract, helps even out skin tone and gives you a radiant glow. The nourishing formula hydrates your skin, keeping it supple and moisturised throughout the day. Plus, it produces a rich, creamy lather that makes your shower feel like a luxurious experience every time you use it.

What We Like
Gentle exfoliation
Brightens and evens skin tone
Hydrates and nourishes skin
Rich, creamy lather
Large 1000ml bottle
#TOP 5

ICAN London Shea Butter Kojic Acid Body Wash

1 l (Pack of 1)
ICAN London Shea Butter Kojic Acid Body Wash Cover
Ican London Shea Butter With Kojic Acid Brightening Exfoliating Body Wash, 1000ml

The ICAN London Body Wash gently exfoliates your skin with kojic acid, helping to brighten and reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Enriched with moisturising shea butter, it nourishes and softens your skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and smooth. The exfoliating formula is perfect for refreshing your skin while improving its appearance. Additionally, the large 1000ml bottle offers great value, ensuring you have enough product for long-lasting use. This body wash is ideal for daily use all over your body or for targeting specific areas.

What We Like
Gently exfoliates and brightens skin
Hydrates with shea butter
Reduces dark spots effectively
Large 1000ml bottle
#TOP 6

St. Ives Radiant Skin Exfoliating Shower Gel

68474758
No Color
650 ml (Pack of 1)
St. Ives Radiant Skin Exfoliating Shower Gel Cover
St. Ives Radiant Skin Exfoliating Shower Gel (650ml) Pink Lemon and Mandarin Orange Made with Plant-Based Cleansers & 100% Natural Extracts 16 oz Body Wash

The St. Ives Body Wash gently polishes away little imperfections, providing you with radiant skin. Infused with 100% natural extracts of pink lemon and mandarin orange, it offers a refreshing scent while cleansing. The distinctive pink lemons are grown in sunny California, ensuring a unique touch. This body wash also gently exfoliates, helping to remove dryness and leaving your skin feeling clean and rejuvenated.

What We Like
Natural extracts for a refreshing scent
Gently exfoliates and cleanses
PETA certified cruelty-free
Paraben free and dermatologist tested
#TOP 7

FAIR & WHITE Exfoliating Shower Gel with Apricot

FW5SGDE-940
940 ml (Pack of 1)
FAIR & WHITE Exfoliating Shower Gel with Apricot Cover
EXFOLIATING SHOWER GEL | SO WHITE

FAIR & WHITE Shower Gel is designed to revitalise your skin. Its unique SO WHITE formula gently polishes your skin with refreshing Apricot Seed Powder, revealing a smooth and glowing complexion. Enriched with Glycerin and apricot scent, this gel nourishes dry skin and restores its natural radiance, ensuring your skin feels supple and soft. Additionally, it cleanses and revitalises, promoting the appearance of brighter, youthful-looking skin, making it an essential part of your daily shower routine.

What We Like
Eliminates dull skin
Nourishes dry skin
Promotes youthful appearance
Easy to use daily
#TOP 8

Naturium Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash

Naturium
clear
500 ml (Pack of 1)
Naturium Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash Cover
Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash, Soft & Smoothing Cleanser | 16.9 FL OZ / 500 ML

The Naturium Glycolic Body Wash is designed to gently exfoliate and smooth rough or bumpy skin, revealing a softer texture that you’ll appreciate. Suitable for all skin types, you can use it daily not just on your body but also as a facial cleanser, adding convenience to your skincare routine. Its exfoliating formula combines glycolic, lactic, pyruvic, and tartaric acids to remove dead skin cells, while red algae provides hydration, leaving your skin feeling supple and refreshed. Plus, it’s pH balanced, vegan, and dermatologist tested to ensure it’s kind and effective for your skin.

What We Like
Exfoliates rough, bumpy skin
Suitable for all skin types
Can be used on face and body
Hydrates skin with red algae
Vegan and dermatologist tested
#TOP 9

SOME BY MI Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser

SM302
Clear
400 ml (Pack of 1)
SOME BY MI Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser Cover
SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser 400ml - Korean Back Acne Body Wash with Tea Tree - Exfoliating Salicylic Acid Body Wash for Smooth Skin - Korean Skincare Shower Gel

The SOME BY MI Body Cleanser is tailored for those struggling with body acne. It features AHA, BHA, and PHA, which work together to exfoliate dead skin cells and excess sebum, leaving your skin smoother. The micro-bubble technology effectively cleanses pore waste while being gentle on sensitive skin. Additionally, this product is free from 20 harmful ingredients, ensuring a safe cleansing experience for your skin. You can enjoy a refreshing wash without worrying about irritation or harsh chemicals.

What We Like
Effective for body acne
Gentle on sensitive skin
Exfoliates and cleanses pores
Free from harmful ingredients
Improves skin texture

Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea Extract

Q+A
Clear
250 ml (Pack of 2)
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash with Green Tea Extract Cover
Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash (250ml x 2), Sensitive Shower Gel, Body Care, Shower Gel with Green Tea Extract and BHA, Gently Exfoliates, Smoothes, and Softens the skin

The Q+A Salicylic Body Wash is a natural, gentle gel designed to help you achieve smoother and clearer skin. It contains salicylic acid, which works to exfoliate your skin and fight blemishes, making it ideal if you have oily, sensitive, or stressed skin with breakouts. This body wash also goes deeper by unclogging pores, soothing irritation, and supporting hydration, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and more even. Made in the UK with 96.5% natural ingredients, it provides a clean and conscious choice for your body care routine.

What We Like
Gentle exfoliation with salicylic acid
Suitable for sensitive and oily skin
Unclogs pores and soothes irritation
Hydrates and smooths skin
Vegan and cruelty-free formula
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our exfoliating shower gel research, we found 171 exfoliating shower gel products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 32,871 customer reviews through our big data system to write the exfoliating shower gels list. We found that most customers choose exfoliating shower gels with an average price of £7.53.

The exfoliating shower gels are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of exfoliating shower gels, including Dove, Chemist at Play, Q+A, ICAN LONDON, ST. Ives.

Written by
Charlotte Powell Avatar

Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.