9 best body scrubs for silky smooth skin, tried and tested by a beauty editor

Neom’s real luxury body scrub is easily the best body scrub I’ve tested. As soon as I unscrewed the lid, I felt like I was stepping straight into a spa – the delicious scent of lavender, jasmine and sandalwood immediately filled the room as I scooped the formula out of the jar. The texture is thick, grainy and oily in the best possible way, and as I worked it into damp skin, the sugar granules slowly melted, turning into a soft polish that felt anything but scratchy.

The nourishing ingredients (a mix of safflower oil, vitamin E and jojoba) left my skin feeling supple and moisturised – akin to how my skin feels after I’ve applied a body oil post-shower. My skin looked instantly smoother, felt deeply hydrated, and the scent lingered in a lovely, almost calming way, making it ideal for evening showers after a long day. It’s rich, indulgent and the kind of scrub that turns exfoliating into a real ritual.

I really wasn’t expecting much from Imperial Leather’s ultimate moisture foaming body scrub, but I was genuinely impressed. At less than £10, it’s the best budget body scrub I’ve tried. The formula is creamy and builds into a soft foam as it’s worked into skin, making it easy to apply without needing to use much of the product. My only gripe is that I wish there were more exfoliating beads within the formula, as they are few and far between, but it still feels relatively effective.

The cherry blossom and almond oil scent made my showers smell warm and comforting, and left my skin feeling clean and smooth. It’s a great everyday choice that won’t break the bank and is surprisingly enjoyable to use.

AKT’s foaming body scrub genuinely feels unique – the paste formula transforms into a soft foam once water is added. The foaming texture makes it easy to apply, and the scent of mandarin, neroli and petitgrain is subtle and clean.

The combination of rice powder, sugar crystals and papaya enzyme gave a really satisfying exfoliation. And after rinsing, my skin felt fresh, smooth and almost silky. The whole concept of this scrub feels clever, thoughtful and considered, and it delivers a truly elevated experience worth the price tag.

Omaly’s exfoliating seaweed soap is unlike anything I’ve used before. The bar has a natural, slightly marine-like scent thanks to the organic seaweed. And the texture is gritty enough to exfoliate well without being abrasive – it created a creamy, low-foam lather as I worked it over my skin – and the fact it’s enriched with shea butter means it never felt drying or harsh.

The seaweed provides a really clean, refreshed feel, leaving skin feeling smooth, polished and not at all tight (as some traditional soap bars can). If you’re looking for a brilliant natural option, or something that’s easy to travel with and is free from unnecessary fuss, this is a great choice.

Diptyque’s smoothing body polish is pure luxury in a jar. From the moment I opened it, the soft, floral-fruity scent hit me – it smells expensive without being overpowering, and the scent lingers on the skin long after being washed off.

The texture is creamy and contains fine exfoliating grains; it applies effortlessly, leaving skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished. Consider this to be a real treat product; not the sort of thing you’d reach for every day, but ideal for a Sunday ‘everything shower’ or for a proper moment of indulgent pampering.

Sanctuary Spa’s scrub is a true classic, satisfying salt scrub experience. The texture is thick, grainy and packed with salt flakes from the Dead Sea. It gives deep exfoliation – the kind that you can actually feel working, but the blend of oils prevents it from feeling harsh.

My legs, in particular, felt incredibly smooth, moisturised, and looked almost glossy after rinsing. For both price and size, this scrub offers fantastic value for money, delivering on both results and sensory appeal.

L’Occitane almond shower scrub is the best-smelling body scrub I tried. The scent is a mix of creamy nuttiness and soft sweetness, which really fills the whole bathroom. The unique gel-to-cream texture is a joy to use and contains finely ground almond shells that give a gentle yet effective exfoliation, making it a good choice for frequent use. After rinsing, my skin felt smooth, supple and lightly perfumed with that warming and familiar scent.

This one’s less about deep exfoliation and more about making an everyday shower more exciting.

Verden’s herbanum body polish is the perfect pick if you need serious exfoliation. The formula combines salt grains with coconut and shea butter, creating a rich, oily base that applies beautifully over damp skin. The oils help to balance out the rough formula, ensuring the skin is nourished and soft.

The herbal scent is also incredibly grounding, and the fresh, botanical quality makes each use feel almost meditative. I also really enjoyed how the scent lingered; it didn’t feel perfumey, but instead fresh and green.

I have a soft spot for The Body Shop’s scrubs, especially this shea butter formula. It’s thick, creamy and moisturising, making it a great choice for dry skin. The sugar grains give a satisfying exfoliation that’s never harsh and it rinses off cleanly, leaving a veil of moisture in its wake thanks to the rich shea butter. My skin feels smooth, hydrated and nourished, with a softness you can only usually achieve after applying body cream.

For the price, performance and ingredients, this is easily one of the best frequent-use scrubs out there, especially if you enjoy something gentle and nourishing.