8 Best Chemical Exfoliants to Use for Softer Skin in 2025
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Anyone else still haunted by those gritty physical scrubs (looking at you, St Ives Apricot Scrub) that felt like sandpaper on fresh teen skin? I know I am.
But don't let the word 'exfoliant' scare you off. These days, many of us are ditching harsh physical scrubs in favour of chemical exfoliants – and they're a whole different story. In fact, adding a chemical exfoliant to your routine can be a total game-changer.
They tackle a whole bunch of skin concerns – think dullness, hyperpigmentation and even clogged press. Plus nowadays, chemical exfoliants are created to be gentle yet powerful, helping to shed away dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, softer and brighter complexion.
Below we've rounded up the best chemical exfoliants for every skin type and budget, including a newly launched product – the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads – inspired by the cult fave liquid version that's so popular one bottle sells every second worldwide.
We're also big fans of the Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment. With over 1000 five-star ratings, shoppers say it makes a 'noticeable difference' to their skin.
OUR TOP PICKS
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads
Why we love it: They're convenient, travel-friendly and offer instant results.
What to consider: It does create single-use rubbish.
Skin type: All skin types | Size: 10 count
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Senior Shopping Writer
Now you may be thinking – why should I try these toner pads? Why not just stick to the best selling formula that sells every second worldwide?
A few reasons: the toner pads are great for beginners, because they give you more control over how much product you're applying, so it lessens the chance of over-exfoliating and damaging your skin barrier.
They're also super convenient and portable – you can use it on your face but also anywhere on your body that needs some extra attention.
And how do they actually work on the skin? All I can truly say is wow!
The instant glow these humble toner pads give my skin is seriously unmatched. I'm so impressed with the formula, thanks to the 2 per cent salicylic acid concentration – and how easy they are to use, they are a must-have in my skincare routine for smoother and brighter skin.
Why we love it: This is a cult-fave bestseller for over 25 years.
What to consider: Higher price tag than others on the market.
Skin type: All skin types | Size: 100ml
What You Need To Know
If you've ever wondered what a clinical skin treatment from home feels like, Alpha-H's best selling Liquid Gold treatment is about as close as it gets.
Formulated with a unique low-pH delivery system to ensure your skin doesn't fry off, the Liquid Gold Treatment is designed to improve the tone and texture of your skin by gently exfoliating dead skin cells.
This will help increase overall skin luminosity – and who doesn't want that?
Rave reviews from Alpha-H shoppers have named this a 'forever staple', also noting they've seen 'an improvement in skin texture and less breakouts'.
Bondi Sands Buff N Polish Gentle Chemical Exfoliant
Why we love it: Budget-friendly price tag, plus it's also suitable for more sensitive skin types.
What to consider: The formula may not feel as premium as other picks on our list.
Skin type: All skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
For just under $20, you can pick up the Buff N Polish Gentle Chemical Exfoliant from Bondi Sands. Packed with two different types of exfoliating acids – lactic acid (AHA) and polyhydroxy acid (PHA) – it works hard to remove dead skin cells, leaving you with soft, smooth skin.
Five-star rating Adore Beauty shoppers agree, noting this is a 'must have' for a 'gorgeous glow' on the skin.
$10.70 at Priceline
Why we love it: Low price tag.
What to consider: Simple formula, not as premium and complex as others on our list.
Skin type: All skin types, especially those with blemish-prone skin | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
Another budget buy that'll make your wallet happy is the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution from The Ordinary. It's a water-based serum, packed with the perfect concentration of salicylic acid to help remove dead skin cells that can also clog pores.
It's been named a 'game changer' by five-star shoppers, with others commenting that it's 'helped with my skin so much ever since I started using it'.
Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Serum
$169 at Ultraceuticals
Why we love it: Hardworking formula that helps to visibly brighten the skin.
What to consider: Higher price tag and may be too intense for sensitive skin types.
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Senior Shopping Writer
If you're looking for an advanced, exfoliating serum that's really going to work hard at brightening your skin, this pick from Ultraceuticals is a great choice.
I've been using it on and off for the past few months and let me tell you – this stuff is strong, but so good!
While I wouldn't recommend this for more sensitive skin types, I will say that I notice a visible difference to my skin after using it. It's formulated with a powerful complex of mandelic acid, niacinamide, hydroxyresveratrol and acetyl zingerone to really improve the look of discolouration and dark spots. This is the perfect exfoliating serum if you want something that's going to brighten too.
BEST FOR ACNE
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
$13.70 at The Ordinary
Why we love it: This is one of The Ordinary's bestsellers, nicely priced at under $14.
What to consider: Probably only best to use in your night time routine.
Skin type: All skin types | Size: 100ml
What You Need To Know
The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner is a water-based toner that's gentle enough to be used daily, while also working hard to improve the overall look of the skin.
Glycolic acid helps to smooth skin texture, improve skin tone and enhance glow and luminosity, which are all great for acne-prone skin types.
It's racked up over 800 five-star ratings on The Ordinary's website, with shoppers saying it helps them get a 'glass look' to their skin.
Urban Jungle Swipe Right Liquid Exfoliant
$42 at Sephora
Why we love it: Especially formulated for more sensitive skin types.
What to consider: May not be strong enough for those looking for intense exfoliation.
Skin type: All skin types | Size: 150ml
What You Need To Know
Urban Jungle's Swipe Right is formulated with PHAs, which is the more gentle version of AHAs and BHAs, so this liquid serum is great for those who want a super gentle yet effective exfoliation.
There's also added allantoin to help encourage exfoliation, while vitamin E and geranium flower oil give the skin some extra love.
Viviology Liquid Exfoliant
$55 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: Includes sweet cherry extract to help refine and brighten the skin at the same time.
What to consider: Higher price tag than others on our list.
Skin type: Most skin types | Size: 200ml
What You Need To Know
For those who aren't as confident to step into the world of chemical exfoliants, this one from Viviology is a great first step.
It's gentle yet effective at removing dead skin cells, while also containing a bunch of hydrating ingredients to really give your skin some extra love.
Formulated with a blend of AHAs, PHAs, sweet cherry extract and niacinamide to help brighten, while native Australian plant extracts provide extra hydration.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT
When choosing chemical exfoliants to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Price: We've got picks from as little as $10, so you don't have to break the bank when it comes to clearer and smoother skin.
Formula: Chemical exfoliants come in a range of forms – whether that be serums, creams, liquid toners, or even toner pads like the new release from Paula's Choice.
Ingredients: There are three main types of exfoliating acids – BHA's, AHA's and PHA's – and they're all suited to different skin types and skin goals.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of chemical exfoliants available, it's impossible to test every product out there. Our content is based on a range of different types of research – the team's first-hand experience with products, hours of research, scouring through pages of consumer reviews or information, and advice from experts we trust – including Deborah Kilgoure, the Director of Global Skincare Knowledge at Paula's Choice.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DO I NEED TO USE A CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT?
'Our skin has a natural exfoliation process that can get faulty over time due to age and
environmental stressors,' explains Deborah.
'When this process stops performing at its peak, the results can be dullness, dryness, clogged pores, breakouts, and more visible signs of ageing.
'Chemical exfoliants like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid) help to gently dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells, allowing them to shed more effectively. This process reveals smoother, brighter, and healthier-looking
skin. It also supports skin barrier by way of better cell turnover.
'Chemical exfoliants also allow other skin care products to absorb better, boosting their
effectiveness and maximising overall results.'
CAN I USE A CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT EVERY DAY?
No, it's not recommended to use a chemical exfoliant everyday.
If you're a beginners, it's recommended to start with using it once a week, gradually increasing to two or three times a week at most – it all depends on how well your skin reacts to it.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT?
As the name suggests, physical exfoliants use abrasive materials to manually remove dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, rely on exfoliating acids to renew the skin for you.
Generally speaking, chemical exfoliants are considered gentler and more effective. Some physical exfoliants can be too harsh, leading to micro-tears and long-term damage to your skin barrier.
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News.com.au
19 hours ago
- News.com.au
The most common question I get asked about my 5 year sobriety
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News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
‘You're the first person to ask me about that': Glennon Doyle on body image, resilience and Ivanka Trump
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And so that tour that we did with the We Can Do Hard Things book, I think reinvigorated a lot of us and just reminded us there are still a lot of people here who care, and who will not stand for what's going down right now here. Listen to the full interview with Glennon Doyle on Something To Talk About below: Stellar: You have used your platform to advocate for many causes, including speaking out against the Trump administration, particularly during the election campaign in 2024. Recently Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka posted on Instagram a picture of herself holding your memoir Untamed. How did that moment sit with you? Glennon Doyle: You're the first person to ask me about that. My team sent it to me. I was stunned. I just didn't process it completely. I can tell you honestly that my best guess is she didn't read it all the way through. 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News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Why former Ramsay boss sees EMVision's portable stroke detection tech as game-changing
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Leading stroke centres in Australia and the US are taking part in the trial including Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, Houston's Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic in Florida. EMV is also advancing a strategy to drive ongoing device innovation, refine its algorithms and generate data to support potential expansion of indications to include traumatic brain injury (TBI). This work forms part of EMVision's Continuous Innovation Study, which has received ethics approval to start scanning patients with suspected stroke or TBI at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital – both high-volume, comprehensive stroke and level-one trauma centres. Interest in advancing medical innovation Monaghan brings nearly 30 years of experience across hospital, corporate, and international roles at Ramsay. Before becoming CEO in 2020, she served as group chief of staff for Ramsay's global operations, gaining deep operational and strategic insight into the healthcare sector in both Australia and overseas. Monaghan also held the role of group head of marketing and public affairs, where she led the company's marketing, brand and communications strategy during a period of significant global expansion that saw Ramsay become one of the world's leading private healthcare operators. "I'm passionate about enhancing patient care through emphasising and embedding research and clinical trials into operations," Monaghan said. "I drove the expansion of clinical trials at Ramsay because I could see how this made a difference to clinical outcomes and people's lives. "At any one time, we had more than 250 clinical trials being undertaken at Ramsay facilities. "I am really interested in getting research to implementation and giving people hope and that has been a big passion of mine and what I love about medicine." Monaghan emphasised that whether it's drugs or devices, the goal is the same – to test and prove their impact, ultimately improving not just mortality rates but quality of life for people living with the burden of disease. "I've seen it with cancer drugs, robotic technology and that is what attracted me to EMVision. "It is health innovation with purpose and impact." World-renowned clinical team Monaghan noted EMVision's impressive technical, clinical and leadership team. She joins vastly experienced clinicians, medtech and business leaders on the board. The company's clinical advisory group also includes world-leading clinicians, working to address a strong clinical need. "EMVision have world-leading neurologists advising them along with huge luminary hospitals in the US like Mayo and Mt Sinnai, which are now scanning and enrolling patients,' she said, noting there are around 12.5 million strokes globally each year with 6.5 million dying annually. "It is a big burden of disease and one in four people globally over 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime, which has increased 50% over the past 17 years. "With stroke every minute counts and the outcome is heavily influenced by how quick the treatment is delivered. "Both the emu and First Responder will fill a gap where CT is just not practical and means the clinician who needs to make a quick treatment decision can do that effectively." She added that in the future there will also be interest in how the devices could be used to promptly diagnose TBI. "That is down the track, but it has great potential with studies underway at the John Hunter and the Princess Alexandra Hospital that will allow us to begin evaluating traumatic brain injury using our technology." Australia's global edge in health innovation Mongahan said Australia had long punched above its weight in health innovation, producing homegrown companies that have made a global impact. From hospitals to high-tech medical devices, the nation has cultivated a strong foundation in scientific research and clinical excellence – factors that continue to drive international success. She pointed to ASX-listed healthcare heavyweights such as Ramsay, blood products leader CSL (ASX:CSL), hearing implant pioneer Cochlear (ASX:COH), diagnostics and imaging specialist Sonic Healthcare (ASX:SHL), and sleep disorder device manufacturer ResMed (ASX:RMD) as world-class companies. "I have always admired how fantastic Australia is with healthcare and it's because we have such well-trained doctors and good scientific research," she said. "They've all been amazing, admirable companies which have been able to successfully transition overseas. "I think it's exciting how Australia has always performed so strongly in the health field, driven by world-class scientific research and highly trained medical professionals." At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While EMVision is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.