8 Best Chemical Exfoliants to Use for Softer Skin in 2025
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
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.
Sign up for our weekly shopping newsletter to get the best deals, shopping tips and guides delivered straight to your inbox.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Why former Ramsay boss sees EMVision's portable stroke detection tech as game-changing
Former Ramsay boss and new EMVision director Carmel Monaghan believes its early stroke detection tech can transform lives Monaghan says EMVision is filling a gap in the market which could improve stroke outcomes Leading stroke centres in Australia and US taking part in pivotal trial for EMVision's first device, the emu bedside scanner EMVision's newest high-profile board director Carmel Monaghan believes the company's technology for early detection of stroke has the potential to "transform people's lives". Monaghan, who has joined the EMVision board as a non-executive director, stepped down this month from Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC) after five years as CEO of Ramsay Australia. Ramsay is Australia's largest private hospital operator and offers a range of multidisciplinary healthcare services along with extensive operations internationally. "EMVision is filling a gap in the market, and I've been impressed with the level of research undertaken over the last seven or eight years to bring rapid portable stroke sensing and imaging to point of care, which will really transform people's lives," Monaghan told Stockhead. "We know that time is brain in stroke diagnostics so getting quick, easy access to that neurodiagnostic solution can lead to a much-improved outcome." EMVision is currently undertaking a pivotal trial to support US Food and Drug (FDA) de novo (new device) clearance for its first commercial device – the emu bedside scanner – which is designed to rapidly diagnose stroke at the point-of-care. If granted clearance emu is anticipated to become the predicate device for its second device, First Responder, allowing an expedited 510(k) FDA pathway for the pre-hospital market. 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.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Bodybuilding icon Ronnie Coleman can no longer walk
Ronnie Coleman has never wavered from his insistence that it was all worth it. The bodybuilding icon's physical decline has devastated his legion of fans around the world — and now the saddest video of all has dropped. One week after thanking his 13-year-old daughter for saving his life from a 'serious medical condition', footage shows Coleman is no longer able to walk. It is the tragic sight millions around the world have dreaded seeing after the American's hit 2018 Netflix documentary showed his life was always going to end in tragedy. One video shared on X shows Coleman needing help to walk up stairs during a recent public appearance. The viral clip, which shows the agony he experiences moving his body, has broken the hearts of the 61-year-old's supporters. The eight-time Mr Olympia champion was hospitalised three weeks' ago and was suddenly forced to call off an international speaking tour, his family confirmed in a message shared on Instagram. Coleman provided a scary update on social media last week when confirming to his 12 million Instagram followers he almost died while battling sepsis as a result of an infection in his bloodstream. After treating his sepsis symptoms, doctors found an underlying health issue that required further treatment. He underwent successful heart surgery on July 10. The bodybuilding king showed his positive outlook has not been shaken despite needing to be transferred to a specialised medical facility to treat his condition. Looking nothing like the freak of nature he once was, Coleman shared a video last week, saying: 'This was a tough one y'all and this sepsis infection almost took your boy out. 'It was by the grace of god that I'm still here with you all.' The once-hulking-specimen went on to say: 'Man, let me tell you, these past few weeks have been some of the toughest of my life. 'Your boy was hit with sepsis and it nearly killed me. Had it not been for my 13-year-old daughter, I probably would have.' In another video, Coleman said: 'Couple weeks back, I was in the hospital fighting for my life — sepsis hit me out of nowhere. 'Started from a little infection and next thing I know, my whole body was shutting down. It was by the grace of god that my 13 year old daughter knew to act fast and call 911.' Even now Coleman still refuses to give up his weightlifting addiction and has still never said publicly he regrets what he did to his body during his bodybuilding career. He won 26 International Fitness and Bodybuilding titles and was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. That doesn't nearly do justice to his achievements in putting bodybuilding competitions on the global stage. There are some details about his career — and his 150kg frame — that are simply mind-blowing. Joe Rogan said during an interview with Coleman in 2020 that he wasn't sure if Coleman was human. UFC commentator Rogan could barely believe what he was hearing when Coleman said on his podcast his body fat percentage was as low as 0.33 per cent. To put that into perspective, most people strutting around with body fat lower than 10 per cent are seriously shredded. Ten per cent body fat is something even most elite athletes would be jealous off. So for Coleman to be 0.33 per cent is completely alien. No wonder the man was able to develop 61cm arms and a 150cm chest. His iconic 800-pound bench press was off the charts. Coleman revolutionised the sport by maintaining the symmetry and composition of the sport's best while blowing them away with his incredible size. The bodybuilder said he was at his heaviest in competition during his seventh Mr Olympia win, when he tipped the scales at 135kg, but he got up towards 150kg during the 'off-season'. Coleman may have been winning but there's such a thing as being too big, even in the bodybuilding world. His coaches, and even contest judges, told him he needed to slim down, so he dropped to 125kg before being dethroned by Jay Cutler in 2006. But Coleman is a far cry from the man mountain who used to flex for a living. Now he can barely walk without excruciating pain. Bulking up the way he did came with serious health problems later in life. Coleman has suffered serious back issues, had both hips replaced and endured multiple surgeries. His physical decline was brutally captured in his 2018 Netflix documentary titled Ronnie Coleman: The King. The film can only be described as difficult to watch. He carries crutches with him at all times in order to stay mobile. He uses five 30mg oxycodone tablets per day to treat chronic pain. As shown in the Netflix doco, Coleman had so many operations after his career that surgeons needed to cut through the front of his body to perform one of his many spinal surgeries. Doctors were forced to temporarily remove his intestines during the procedure because there's too much scar tissue in his back. 'The pain is a nine or a 10 (out of 10),' Coleman says. 'I've been in pain for so long now I'm just used to it.' His life is by no means a complete disaster. He is happily married with four children and started a supplement company that now turns over north of 15 million dollars every year and allows him to travel the globe attending bodybuilding events. Cutler summed it all up with one comment made to Netflix producers. 'I feel sorry that it happened but I don't think Ronnie feels bad about it because he did what he had to do to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time,' the former Mr Olympia said.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
The black plague is still killing people in 2025
President Donald Trump was swept into office promising to Make America Healthy Again. Now his controversial Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, must contend with the return of the Black Death. The plague that killed millions in Medieval Europe and Asia has claimed a life in Arizona. It's the first fatality for the condition in that state for more than 18 years. And it's a stark reminder that the bacteria behind the deadly disease is deeply entrenched in the US heartland. It involved the plague's most deadly incarnation. 'The recent death is concerning, as it involves the airborne pneumonic form of the disease, the only form that spreads easily from person to person,' says Western Sydney University microbiology expert Thomas Jeffries. 'But there's no evidence of further spread of the disease within the US at this stage.' Only 14 people have died of plague in the US in the past 25 years. But pneumonic plague is the most severe of the plague's three forms. All are caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. Bubonic plague presents with flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpit and neck. Septicaemic plague puts the body into shock and is characterised by blackening of the fingers, toes, and nose. Both are usually caused by bites from fleas carrying the bacteria, and fatality rates vary between 30 and 60 per cent. Pneumonic plague is caused when tiny airborne droplets carry the bacteria into the lungs. There, it reproduces rapidly while attacking its host's immune system. If left untreated, the fatality rate can be as high as 100 per cent. But modern medicine has advanced considerably since medieval times. 'Plague can evoke a very emotional reaction, as many people associate plague with the Black Death, which ravaged Europe and killed millions in the 1300s,' infectious disease expert Dr Shirin Mazumder told US media. 'Although plague-related fatalities can occur, they are very uncommon, and we have highly effective antibiotic therapy to treat plague if diagnosed early.' Historic potential The 2020 COVID pandemic was caused when the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutated enough to find humans to be hospitable hosts. Similar mutations have emerged among Yersinia pestis strains over the centuries. 'This disease is one of the most important in history,' argues Jeffries. 'The Plague of Justinian (541–750CE) killed tens of millions of people in the western Mediterranean, heavily impacting the expansion of the Byzantine Empire. 'The medieval Black Death (1346–53) was also seismic, killing tens of millions of people and up to half of Europe's population. 'The third and most recent plague pandemic spanned the years 1855 until roughly 1960, peaking in the early 1900s. It was responsible for 12 million deaths, primarily in India, and even reached Australia.' However, the discovery that the cause was a flea-inhabiting bacterium has resulted in the disease being largely suppressed. 'As Y. pestis is not found in Australian animals, there is little risk here,' Jeffries states. 'Plague has not been reported in Australia in more than a century.' However, sporadic outbreaks persist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Peru, India, Central Asia, and the US, as the disease is entrenched in local rodent populations. And a fresh outbreak of plague would be a severe test of Health Secretary Kennedy's MAHA agenda. Kennedy has a long history of supporting unsubstantiated health conspiracies. He has argued that COVID-19 discriminated between ethnic groups. He has linked tap water to transgender children. He has claimed 'miasma' (a medieval term for pollutants and bad smells) is just as deadly as viruses and bacteria. 'Miasma theory emphasises preventing disease by fortifying the immune system through nutrition and reducing exposures to environmental toxins and stresses,' Kennedy wrote in his book, The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health. Since taking office in February, the former environmental lawyer has cut thousands of jobs in his Department of Health and Human Services and shut down several advisory bodies and health programs at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC). Known unknowns 'The only means to fight a plague is honesty,' Kennedy, 71, stated in The Real Anthony Fauci. But few details about the Arizona plague fatality have yet been released. 'Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased. We are keeping them in our thoughts during this difficult time,' a Coconino County Board of Supervisors spokeswoman told media. 'Out of respect for the family, no additional information about the death will be released'. The incubation period of pneumonic plague, once it settles in the lungs, can be as little as one day. An intense course of common modern antibiotics is an effective treatment - if administered quickly. Was the patient suffering from untreated bubonic or septicaemic plague, where the bacteria spread to the lungs? Or was it contracted from infectious droplets coughed up by an animal or a person? And was it caught in the countryside, or an urban environment? 'Plague infects an average of seven people a year in the west of the country (United States), due to being endemic in groundhog and prairie dog populations there,' writes Jeffries. 'The last major outbreak was 100 years ago.' Prairie dogs are easy targets for the fleas that carry Yersinia pestis. But they tend to die quickly once infected. As such, a sudden spate of Prairie dog deaths can be an early warning sign of an outbreak of the bacteria. 'The source of the exposure is still under investigation; however, the death is not related to a recent report of a prairie dog die-off,' the Coconino County's health service has told US media. But other animals regularly handled by humans can get infected. Especially cats. They can contract the bacteria by eating infected rodents or being bitten by fleas. The CDC warns that this can then be transmitted to owners when the cat sneezes.
