Scrub-a-dub-dub, You Need One of These Exfoliating Wonders In Your Tub (2024)

What's better, shower exfoliation or dry brushing?

Exfoliating in the shower (with a loofah or other exfoliating tool) and dry brushing both offer skin-enhancing benefits. Shower exfoliation is more effective for removing dead skin and rough patches and preventing ingrown hairs, while dry brushing boosts circulation and may aid in lymphatic drainage and reduce cellulite. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll probably find dry brushing to be a gentler experience. No matter which method you choose, always moisturize afterwards.

Our Top Picks

Material: Polyester and microfiber | Shades: Dark grey, jungle, linen | Size: Large

The AQUIS Double-Sided Exfoliating & Cleansing Back Scrubber tops this list because it does everything a good loofah should do, plus more. It’s essentially a long piece of double-sided fabric with two handles on each end, making it easy to use as a typical washcloth or across your back while holding it by the handles. Unlike many other loofahs we tried, we were able to clean our entire backs without much effort.

This loofah has two sides—one is very soft (softer than a washcloth), and the other is grittier. But despite the latter being rough enough to exfoliate the skin, the texture is very fine, so instead of irritating skin, it gently yet efficiently buffs away rough areas and makes skin feel super smooth. It lathers up just as well as body wash does on its own, if not a little bit better. On top of everything else, it can be thrown into the washing machine to clean, making it super hygienic and more environmentally friendly than loofahs that need to be tossed after a few weeks.

Material: Bath lily | Shades: Green, cream, pink | Size: Small

Most of the loofah options here are priced affordably, but if you only have a few bucks to spend, this is a loofah to consider. This shower pouf lathers up super well, much more than a body wash does on its own. It’s made of a fine mesh that’s just textured enough to be gentle yet mildly exfoliating. It’s not scratchy whatsoever and is comfortable enough to use daily. But while it was easy to use on most parts of the body, it's not great for targeting the middle of the back. The hanging loop is also quite small, so we also weren’t able to put it around our wrists for easier maneuverability.

Beware that the low price means it may not be as high quality—especially in material—as other options. . Still, it’s super affordable, and it’s made out of 100 percent recycled material. Overall, this is a great affordable loofah that exfoliates gently and without irritating skin.

Material: Nylon | Shades: Dark gray, rose pink, white | Size: Medium

For an everyday, super foamy shower, this loofah is the best. Body wash lathered up significantly more than it usually does, making the skin feel clean and soft. Thanks to the fine mesh, it’s not rough on the skin whatsoever, but it has enough texture that it gently exfoliates and softens without irritation.

While the size and texture of this loofah are ideal, the big con is that it’s nearly impossible to clean your upper and middle back with it. Still, we were able to look past this due to how well it works. “Out of all the loofahs I’ve tried, this is the one I prefer to use the most,” says Byrdie editor Olivia Hanco*ck. “It’s durable, affordable, and delivers on its claims of providing exfoliation and a creamy lather. My skin feels noticeably softer and smoother after using this loofah.”

The loofah comes in a pack of three, so you can either share the extras with family or keep them on deck to swap out when needed (replacing every 30 days or so is recommended). The number of loofahs you get for the price, along with the gently exfoliating material, make this a great option for everyday use.

Material: Mesh | Shades: Charcoal gray | Size: Medium

A shower pouf makes a great everyday loofah, which is why this is another solid option for your go-to loofah. We found that this charcoal-infused shower pouf produced a ton of lather, way more than body wash does on its own. It left us feeling clean and ready for the day. Like many other options out there, we could only clean areas we could reach with our hands; however, we appreciated that this loofah is on the larger side, making the washing process much quicker.

It's made of a synthetic mesh, which feels soft on the skin while still providing light exfoliation. The hanging loop is large enough to wrap around your wrist, making it easier to maneuver around the body and hang dry. More importantly, it comes in a pack of four, which is extremely cost-effective considering that you'll need to change this out about once a month.

Material: Nylon, cotton, and polyester | Shades: Natural | Size: Small

Unlike loofahs you have to hold, these slip right onto your hands, so using them is as easy as rubbing your hands over your body. While they have cotton in the name, don’t let that fool you into thinking these are soft; we've used similar glove exfoliators in the past, but none of them have been as exfoliating as these. They feel surprisingly rough right out of the package, but once in the shower with water and soap, the scratchiness lessens.

Because of how textured these are, we wouldn’t recommend using them every day for fear of irritating skin. “Because I have dry skin, I don’t foresee myself using them more than once a week,” says Hanco*ck. They also didn’t produce a huge amount of lather compared to other loofahs, but it was still more than body wash creates alone. Also nice: The cotton has anti-microbial protection weaved in, protecting the gloves from odor-causing bacteria.

Despite being tricky to put on, they still do a great job cleaning and exfoliating the skin overall.“When paired with a nourishing body wash, they can help buff away dullness and unclog pores,” says Hanco*ck. “For me, these gloves are better suited for occasionally targeted exfoliation rather than regular head-to-toe use. If you’re looking for budget-friendly exfoliating gloves, these are worth a try.”

Material: Silicone, aluminum oxide, and more | Shades: Navy, blush, berry | Size: Large

The PMD Clean Body Cleansing Device is unlike anything else on this list. The high-tech, rechargeable device can hardly be called a loofah. With three attachments and multiple settings, it has everything you need in one product.

The best attachment for lather is the loofah attachment, which provided a little bit more suds than body wash does on its own. For exfoliation, there are a few options: The loofah and silicone cleansing brush very mildly exfoliate, while the actual exfoliation attachment buffs skin more intensely with antibacterial aluminum oxide crystals. All of the attachments were gentle enough not to make the skin red or irritated. We love that this has a long handle, making it an excellent option for reaching the middle of the back, an area that was missed with most other loofahs we tested.

While we were impressed with this device, it also fell short in a few ways. The heads felt too small (except for the massage head), so it took a while to use them over the entire body. It also felt awkward to use at times—the device has some give to it, so sometimes it was difficult to wrangle where we needed it to be. But, if you’re looking for something with all the bells and whistles, this is the option for you.

Material: Sea sponge | Shades: Natural | Size: Medium

Made of 100% natural sea sponge, this pick is nicely large in size, and using it is as easy as wiping it all over your skin. It also lathers well, much more so than a body wash does on its own. It absorbs a lot of water and product, which is the secret to getting that rich, creamy foam when you wring it out.

When dry, the sponge feels extremely hard and scratchy, but the texture completely changes after soaking it in water. "When I wet this sponge, it becomes incredibly soft and glides across my skin with ease. I can be confident my skin won't be subject to irritation when using this," says Hanco*ck. While we thought it felt nice and soft on the skin, we found that it lacked any exfoliating properties. You also can't use it anywhere you can't reach with your hands, so it's somewhat limited in that area as well. But overall, we love this cruelty-free, eco-friendly option (it's sustainably harvested and completely biodegradable, after all).

Material: Nylon | Shades: Naked sunset, indiglo, luvender, summer shower, midnight | Size: Large

Inspired by the founder’s West African Heritage, this loofah is essentially a large swath of fabric, so it’s easy to use however it’s needed. It stretches a ton when wet, so it’s easy to scrub your entire back or use as a traditional washcloth elsewhere, a nice plus. Crafted from a unique wide-weave nylon, it effectively exfoliates the skin while still being gentle; it’s not scratchy or too rough for everyday use. “It feels like it gets a deep clean like I was scrubbing everything clean,” says tester Rachel Lee. “I was impressed with how effectively it exfoliated; my skin felt rejuvenated and so soft after. It noticeably helped with any skin texture/bumpiness.”

It’s not the best option if you prefer a super sudsy shower, but the benefit to this is that it doesn’t soak up a lot of product, meaning less soap gets wasted. Overall, it’s a nice option for doing everything you need a loofah to do. It cleans well, mildly exfoliates, reaches everywhere on the body, and comes in five gorgeous colors. Plus, it’s long-lasting: The brand claims it’s good for up to 18 months.

Material: Mesh | Shades: Pink, mauve, blue, and more | Size: Small

This dual-sided tool has a loofah on one side and a shower pouf on the other, making it a great compact option for cleansing and exfoliating. It's made of a naturally textured material thatexfoliates the skinwithout being too rough. However, this tool is on the smaller side, and we couldn't reach places like the middle of our backs. In terms of lather, it's just slightly better than body wash on its own. We found the mesh side was the best option for the most lather—it's not large enough to produce a ton of suds, but we found it to be sufficient to leave us feeling clean.

Overall, this is a great option for travel because the small size and dual sides make it easy to pack two shower tools in one. Also nice? EcoTools is a cruelty-free and vegan brand. The mesh netting is made with recycled material, and the packaging is 100 percent plastic-free. And in a variety of fun shades, it makes a pretty gift tucked into a bath and body gift set.

FAQ

• How do you clean a loofah?

  In general, you should be machine washing your loofah in hot water at least once a week, says Ross. However, not all loofahs are machine washable, so be sure to read the cleaning instructions for whichever one you opt for.

• How often should you replace your loofah?

  Ross advises replacing your loofah every month, but depending on the type of loofah you own, yours may last much longer. Loofahs that are machine washable have a longer lifespan, while mesh-like loofahs are typically only good for a month.

• What is the best loofah to wash your back with?

  The best loofah to wash your back with is something that allows you to access this hard-to-reach area of your body. In most cases, this means the exfoliating material will be connected to some sort of stick or rod.

• Is it better to wash with a washcloth or loofah?

  Both washcloths and loofahs allow you to cleanse and physically exfoliate your body by sloughing off dead skin cells. But depending on the material, a loofah might be a little more efficient when it comes to exfoliation. Bear in mind, though, that both products can harbor bacteria. You'll want to look for something that's machine-washable and, ideally, antimicrobial, meaning the material won't harbor bacteria and mildew.

• What is the cleanest way to wash your body?

  The cleanest way to wash your body in the shower might just be with your hands since washcloths and loofahs can harbor bacteria if they're not properly cleaned or stored. But if you prefer a loofah, your best bet is a machine-washable option made of an antimicrobial material, like natural sea sponge or silicone.