5 Best Hair Powders for Thinning Hair to Get Instant Fullness
Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
If your hairline has been looking a little sparse lately, the best hair powders for thinning hair can help by boosting volume, matching your hair color, and subtly disguising thinning areas. Hairstylists swear by these clever powders to blur visible scalp, add grip at the roots, and refresh second- (or third-) day hair. “Hair powder instantly gives thin, fine strands a boost in volume, making hair look and feel fuller,” says Amy Abramite, a hairstylist in Chicago. It also has styling perks: “It lifts the hair at the roots, giving it a denser texture,” adds Darrius Peace, a master barber and hairstylist in Birmingham, AL.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Madison Reed The Great Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler, $34
- Best Long-Lasting: ColorWow Root Cover-Up, $35
- Best for Blondes: Alfaparf Milano Invisible Root Touch Up Powder, $34
- Best for Brunettes: L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Concealer, $12
- Best Shade Range: Toppik Hair Building Fibers, $25
Tinted formulas take it a step further by filling in gaps and reducing the contrast between your scalp and hair. They’re especially helpful along part lines and temples, where strands tend to thin first and hair growth can be slower. Many also absorb oil and sweat, acting like a dry shampoo meets a root touch-up in one. “Volumizing powders are also great for absorbing buildup on the strands, which can give the appearance of more volume on the hair,” says Peace. So, which hair powder should you try first? Scroll ahead for editor-tested favorites.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
Best Overall: Madison Reed The Great Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Madison Reed
The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Why it’s worth it: Madison Reed’s Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler is what happens when makeup and hair care team up in the best possible way. This 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner covers grays and sparse spots at your roots—and even doubles as a brow filler. The soft, micro-milled powder blends in seamlessly, stays put through sweat and rain, and rinses out easily when you’re ready. "This is really easy to color over other colors or even lift them, plus the finish is natural-looking," bicoastal colorist Rachel Bodt previously told Allure. It’s infused with hair- and skin-care staples like keratin (for strength), argan oil (for softness), and ginseng root extract (to help revitalize), so your strands get nourishment while you wear it. Our favorite part: One compact lasts for up to 60 uses.
Shipin before applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from shopping director Shanna Shipin
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"After both of my pregnancies, I dealt with a horrifying amount of hair loss, and nothing worked better for me than simply applying hair makeup to my scalp to cover up the bald spots. My biggest area of concern was my hairline, which receded so far back, every time I looked in the mirror, my face just appeared off. I used this Madison Reed cover-up for both of my fourth trimesters, and loved how easy it was to powder a hairline back onto my scalp. The product has great staying powder, and easily comes out in the shower (I'd suggest a detox shampoo to really lift it out of your roots). I love that the brush helps seamlessly blend the powder into my scalp, and that it comes with a really great brow brush and spoolie to tackle your brows at the same time!" —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Shades: 5
Best Long-Lasting: ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Color Wow
Root Cover Up
Amazon
Revolve
Ulta Beauty
Allure social media director Kassidy Silva applying the ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Kassidy Silva
Why it’s worth it: This mineral-based powder instantly conceals grays, fills in sparse spots, and blends out roots with a natural-looking finish that lasts until your next shampoo. “It holds well and is easy to shampoo out,” says Gina Rivera, a Las Vegas-based hair artist. “I love the texture because it isn’t sticky. It works on any hair type, whether thinning, gray, or color-treated.” The formula clings to hair (not your scalp) for believable fullness, and the dual-ended brush makes “application a breeze,” Rivera adds.
Silva before applying the ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Kassidy Silva
Silva after applying the ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Kassidy Silva
Tester feedback from social media director Kassidy Silva
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“Losing my hair postpartum has been more difficult to deal with then I would like to admit. I love my hair, what can I say? To help get a little boost of confidence back, I use the ColorWow Root Cover-Up. I start along my hairline and work my way down my part to the center of my head, covering any spots. Blending is the key! You have to go back in with your long brush side and blend the powder into the scalp to get a more natural appearance.” —Kassidy Silva, director of social
More to know
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- Shades: 8
Best for Blondes: Alfaparf Milano Invisible Root Touch Up Powder
Alfaparf Milano
Invisible Root Touch Up Powder
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: Alfaparf Milano’s Invisible Root Touch Up Powder is a must-have for quick touch-ups and fuller-looking hair, especially if you’re blonde. “The lightest option is perfect for blondes,” says Sean Michael, hairstylist and owner of Salon Beau in Andover, Massachusetts. “It not only conceals thinning areas and blends seamlessly with the scalp, but also works as a root touch-up between color appointments. It can also help camouflage grays and, depending on your shade of blonde, even create a natural-looking highlight or lowlight effect.” The powder stays in place all day without leaving any residue, and the dual-ended applicator makes it versatile for covering larger or more precise areas.
More to know
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- Shades: 3
Best for Brunettes: L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Concealer
L’Oréal Paris
Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Hair Color Concealer
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Walmart
Why it’s worth it: While not a powder, L’Oréal’s Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Concealer Brush deserves an honorable mention as one of those clever little fixes that make a big difference. Because here’s the thing: Covering grays doesn’t just make your color look fresher; it can make your hair appear fuller by reducing contrast and drawing less attention to sparse areas. The pen-like format, with a built-in brush, makes it incredibly easy to zero in on grays right where they appear, whether it’s along your part, around your hairline, or at your temples. The formula dries fast (so there’s no risk of smudging or staining your skin), blends seamlessly into your hair, and stays put until your next shampoo. It’s quick, easy, and oddly satisfying to use—there’s something about watching grays instantly (if temporarily) disappear that feels like a little magic trick.
More to know
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- Shades: 2
Best Shade Range: Toppik Hair Building Fibers
Toppik
Hair Building Fibers
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Toppik Hair Building Fibers stand out for their inclusive shade range, including a white option you can mix with black or gray to perfectly match salt-and-pepper hair. The keratin-based fibers cling to existing strands to instantly create the appearance of thicker, fuller hair with a matte finish that blends in seamlessly with your natural hair. Just shake on, pat to set, and watch sparse areas blur away in seconds. The formula holds up through sweat and humidity but washes out easily with shampoo, making it a simple, commitment-free solution for adding volume to fine hair or masking thinning spots.
More to know
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- Shades: 9
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hair powder good for thin hair?
“For those with thin hair, hair powders are a great, weightless product to create texture, life, and volume,” says Jennifer Korab, a hairstylist in New Jersey. “They absorb excess oil in the hair, making it easier to style. The product also allows the hair to look fuller and more voluminous.” According to Ross Kopelman, MD, a board-certified hair restoration surgeon in New York City, “Volumizing powders are a great, non-invasive way to enhance the appearance of thin hair and boost confidence. That said, I always recommend pairing these hair styling products with a broader routine that supports hair growth—think targeted scalp care and treatments that address your individual needs.”
How do you use hair powder on thin hair?
Once the hair is fully dry, apply hair powder to the scalp area and gently massage it into the hair to build volume at the roots. “Next, brush out the powder to blend it into the remaining hairs, and add more as needed to create more volume,” says Michelle Cleveland, a hairstylist and founder of Hair Addict Salon & Extension Bar in Toms River, New Jersey. Then, style as desired.
“I always remind people to start with a small amount of product and build up as needed,” says Dr. Kopelman. “Applying too much at once can make the hair texture feel gritty or stiff. Hair powder works most effectively when used on dry hair, and it’s great for creating styles that look fuller and last throughout the day.”
What are the side effects of hair fiber powder?
“While even the best products—like hair styling powders—can be a game-changer for fine or thinning hair, it’s important to use them sparingly,” Cleveland says. “Overuse can clog hair follicles and weigh strands down, making it harder for new hairs to grow. Some powders also create a tacky or sticky texture that can lead to breakage, especially on fragile hair.” As always, a dermatologist can help identify the underlying cause of hair thinning and recommend treatments that support healthy hair growth, all while fitting into your routine.
Meet the experts
- Amy Abramit, a hairstylist and creative director at Maxine Salon, based in Chicago
- Darrius Peace, a master barber, hairstylist, and founder of Hayah Beauty, based in Birmingham, Alabama
- Jennifer Korab, a hairstylist, colorist, and founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa, based in Hillsborough, New Jersey
- Ross Kopelman, MD, a board-certified hair restoration surgeon, based in New York City
- Rachel Bodt, a bicoastal colorist
- Gina Rivera, a hair artist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, based in Las Vegas
- Sean Michael, hairstylist and owner of Salon Beau, based in Andover, Massachusetts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best hair powders for thin hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists—who have thin hair and want more volume. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Mary Phillips Has Turned a TikTok Movement Into a Brand
Courtesy of subjects; courtesy of m.phSave this storySave this story
When “the Mary Phillips underpainting technique” took off on TikTok two years ago, the Mary Phillips didn’t have an account on the platform.
“It was New Year’s Day and I was at my friend Jen [Atkin]’s house,” says the makeup artist as she sits on a pristine white couch inside her sun-drenched condo in West Hollywood. “My friend Nicole texted me a video [of someone trying “the Mary Phillips underpainting technique”], and then five more friends sent me other ones, including some in different languages. It was so cool.”
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who or what began the snowball effect, both because of the nature of the TikTok algorithm and because Phillips has been preaching and very-publicly practicing underpainting—on clients like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner—for years: “It’s in every one of my makeups, even if it’s a natural, no-makeup makeup look,” she says. It’s fitting then, that underpainting is the cornerstone of Phillips’ soon-to-launch makeup line, m.ph.
But before we give you all the details on the new brand, let’s back up for a second. What exactly is underpainting? Put simply, it’s the act of highlighting and contouring before applying foundation instead of the other way around. According to Phillips, the strategically-placed stripes of highlight and contour serve as something like scaffolding for the rest of your makeup. “When you apply foundation over underpaint, it's like you're laying the skin over the bones,” she says. And thanks to the magic of light and shadows, cheekbones appear sharper and jawlines more chiseled… while remaining free of the telltale contour lines that dominated Instagram feeds in the mid-2010s.
Phillips is quick to add, however, that she didn’t “invent” underpainting—far from it. “It goes way, way back,” says Phillips. “When I was working with JLo, I was on a movie with the makeup artist Christina Smith, who does Liza Minnelli, and she told me about how they used to paint the underside of her jawline black to create a shadow.” The makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin also included underpainting tutorials in the manuals he published in the 1990s, including The Art of Makeup and Making Faces. Phillips, then a teenager, read Aucoin’s books as gospel.
Born in northern Los Angeles just a few miles from where we’re sitting today, Phillips exhibited a talent for painting—not with makeup, but watercolor and charcoal—from a young age. But watching her mom apply makeup got Phillips curious about a new type of canvas. As a teen, Phillips did her friends’ makeup and hair for school dances and dreamed of landing a gig as a makeup artist at the Glamour Shoots in her local mall. (“They wouldn’t hire me. Big mistake,” she says with a giggle.)
Phillips also went esthetician school to learn about how skin functions.
Photography by Tal Abudi
Instead, Phillips worked at a beauty supply store while she attended cosmetology school. During this time, Phillips found out one of her dad’s clients (he was a chiropractor, not a Hollywood agent, FTR) was film and TV makeup artist Eugenia West. Phillips got to watch West in action on the set of the show Columbo—and just like that, she was hooked.
Phillips went on to work for West for several years, assisting her both on-set and at her salon. One thing led to another, and Phillips began assisting other artists for red carpet events and commercial shoots. But at that time, “all I really wanted to do was be someone’s personal makeup artist,” says Phillips. Cut to her working as the MUA to Jessica Simpson on 2005’s The Dukes of Hazzard and several other films. “She was my first big client and we worked together for years,” says Phillips. Though there were lots of other clients in-between, it was Simpson’s hairstylist Ken Paves and his partner who ultimately introduced Phillips to Jennifer Lopez, whom she’d go on to collaborate with for the better part of the next 15 years.
Along the way, many of Phillips’ peers (including Atkin, Paves, and fellow makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic) launched their own product lines. Phillips didn’t. But she was, in her words, “always taking notes” on what she liked (and didn’t) about various formulas and the best labs to tap if one wanted to make, say, lip pencils. “I'd been doing that forever in hopes that I’d launch something someday,” says Phillips.
Someday is now today—or, well, next month: m.ph is launching on Sephora.com on August 15. Phillips says it was scrolling through TikTok and seeing how eager people were to try underpainting that convinced her the timing was right. Her line’s star product is the Underpainting Palette ($64), a perfected version of the DIY palettes she’s been putting together for clients for years using depotted highlight and contour creams.
Unlike some others she’s tried over the course of her career, Phillips’ formulas are easy to blend and actually buildable: they go on sheer but can be layered without getting muddy or pilling. Each palette contains a color corrector, two highlight colors, and two contour colors, all of which can be mixed and matched based on your skin tone and the degree of sculpting you’re after, says Phillips. (And if this is all sounding a little intimidating, rest assured there are topline instructions on the box and you can now find plenty of in-depth tutorials on Phillips’ TikTok page.) The palette pairs best with The Underpainting Dual-Ended Sculpting Brush ($38), the larger end of which has the cheekbone-hugging, slightly bulbous shape Phillips says she could never quite find on the market.
Then there’s Cheeky Cream Blush ($38), a short and squat stick available in eight shades including coral, baby pink, and berry, and The Cream Blush Brush ($36) to apply it with. Unlike highlight and contour, Phillips always applies blush post-foundation—though she’s noticed some TikTok creators have taken to underpainting with blush, too.
Last but not least, m.ph includes eight shades of Lip Ciggy Hydrating Lipstick ($26), a lightweight tint housed in a super-slim bullet, and The Overliner Lip Pencil ($25). If Phillips’ best-known move is underpainting, slightly overlining the upper lip to add visual fullness is a close second. She created this non-feathering formula with that technique in mind, and made sure it sharpens to an ultra-fine tip to create precise lines.
A look at the full m.ph lineup.
Courtesy of m.ph
The collection—with its deep brown, espresso bean-colored packaging and short and sweet brand name, a nod to Phillips, of course, but also speed and velocity—is meant to be “very sexy,” she says. “It's very inspired by all those years when I was coming up, looking at magazines in the 1990s.”
After my interview with Phillips, she did my makeup (!) using early samples of the new products. And if the double-takes I got in the security line at LAX were any indication, they really delivered. (I had to catch a flight back to New York immediately following our meeting.)
One question remained: Could I create that same sort of makeup magic when left to my own devices? So I put the line to the test at home, as did two other Allure staffers.
I Tried It
Never have I ever owned a contouring palette, mostly because I don’t wear a ton of makeup, and when I do, I’m not big on bells and whistles. I’ve tried to softly sculpt my face with bronzer before, but most shades are way too warm for my very fair skin.
That in mind, I reached for the lightest of the three Underpainting Palettes. (Phillips told me she’s working on three more: one lighter than the current lightest, one deeper than the current deepest, and one that falls somewhere in the middle.) Then, I recreated what I considered to be the most impactful takeaway from my lesson with Phillips: I applied a soft stripe of the first shade of contour cream from the outer corner of my eyes diagonally upward towards my temple. Immediately, my deep set eyes looked more lifted.
Here I am demonstrating how Phillips said I could visually lift the area around my eyes using contour cream.
Courtesy of subject
I didn’t top it off with foundation, so I guess I wasn’t technically underpainting—but the creamy formula was so easy to blend and had such a skin-like finish, I felt I didn’t need to. Instead, I applied a bit of Cheeky Cream Blush in It’s a Sin, a pink-toned mauve. I dabbed The Cream Blush Brush directly on the stick, then blended it into the apples of my cheeks. I did a check-in midday and was pleased to see that the pigment was still just as present as it was when I’d applied it.
I also tried the Lip Ciggy Hydrating Lipstick in Slow Burn, a warm rose, and can confirm it’s more of a tinted balm than a lipstick. I liked it! But ultimately, I see myself using the blush everyday, and the Underpainting Palette on days I need a little extra lift… so maybe also everyday?
More Allure Editor Reviews
Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
“OMG, I found my new makeup routine!” squealed our senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor after trying the Underpainting Palette in Medium. She’s no stranger to contouring, but usually uses powder formulas, which she finds to be more user friendly. But these creams “were easy to buff and build without looking like I have streaks on my face,” she says.
Calaor pre-makeup…
Courtesy of subject
…and after underpainting.
Courtesy of subject
Calaor placed the first shade of highlight at the high points of her cheeks and the second shade of contour along the hollows of her cheeks and jawline. “Then, I dotted some foundation on my face and buffed everything out with a Beautyblender,” she says, describing the overall effect as “subtle and natural-looking.”
She also gave high marks to the packaging in general: “I love the feel of the products in my hands—they feel weighty and luxe without being so heavy that I can't hold multiple things at the same time.”
Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
Melanie Curry, our associate manager of audience development, approaches contour palettes with a healthy degree of trepidation. “I’m not into super snatched, heavy makeup unless it’s for a special occasion or a night out,” she says.
First things first: She loved The Dual-Ended Underpainting Brush. “The brush easily picked up the product, so I didn’t have to ‘dig’ it into the palette, which was a major plus.”
And once the product was on her face, she realized this wasn’t your ordinary contour palette.
Curry pre-underpainting…
Courtesy of subject
…and Curry after using the Underpainting Palette.
Courtesy of subject
“I often struggle with contouring—I apply too much, which leaves me looking muddy. I don’t know if it was the brush, the palette, or both, but this was the best everyday contour look I’ve done since I started wearing makeup,” says Curry, who used the palette in Deep, specifically the first highlight shade and second contour shade.
She topped off the look with a dab of Cheeky Cream Blush in Cherry On Top, a bright red shade she says left her with “naturally-rosy looking cheeks,” then added eyebrow gel and setting powder. Because the creams melted into her skin so easily, Curry didn’t feel like she needed foundation. “I did, however, lightly brush the middle shade all around my face just so everything blended nicely together,” she says.
The final verdict? “I love this palette.”
Where to Buy
The full m.ph lineup—Underpainting Palette ($64), The Underpainting Dual-Ended Sculpting Brush ($38), Cheeky Cream Blush ($36), The Cream Blush Brush ($36), Lip Ciggy Hydrating Lipstick ($26), and The Overliner Lip Pencil ($25)—will be available at mphbeauty.com and Sephora.com starting August 15. You can shop the line at Sephora stores beginning August 25.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Is a Masterclass in Capsule Makeup
Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Sure, the best Victoria Beckham Beauty products have a built-in celebrity endorsement, and it’s no secret that Allure editors adore the brand’s high-performing portfolio—check our Best of Beauty Award archives for proof—but these supremely chic products aren’t just staples in our editors' makeup bags. Kasey Spickard, a New York-based makeup artist and a fan of the brand, says, “Victoria Beckham Beauty is perfect for anyone who values high-quality formulation and packaging that’s beautiful and luxe. I would also say that it's for the kind of customer who likes an elegant, effortless, sophisticated glam.”
Whether you’re just discovering the brand, need to restock your mascara, or find a new signature scent, keep reading. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the six best Victoria Beckham Beauty products for achieving the impossibly polished—but secretly super-easy—look the brand is known for.
Our Top Victoria Beckham Beauty Products
- Gold-Standard Glide: Satin Kajal Liner, $34
- Best for a French Kiss: Bitten Lip Tint, $38
- Mimic Michelangelo’s Touch: Contour Stylus, $38
- Lush Getaway in a Bottle: 21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum, $200
- Eye Candy: Vast Lash Mascara, $34
- Get a Facial-Grade Glow: The Daily Cleansing Protocol, $120
Frequently Aked Questions
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- What is Victoria Beckham Beauty best known for?
- Who is Victoria Beckham Beauty for?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Gold-Standard Glide: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Satin Kajal Liner
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Allure content director Kara McGrath applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner.
Kara McGrath
Why we love it: Using a kajal liner is an eye-opening experience. If you want a pencil with an ultra-smooth—dare we say, satiny—glide, this is the type of pigment to use. Kajal also has maximalist color payoff, is resistant to smudging, and tends to be gentle on sensitive eyes. Whipped up with soothing, hydrating ingredients like chamomile extract and panthenol, Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal eyeliner comes in 21 shades ranging from Night Flash (black with a hint of silver shimmer) to Gold Lamé and Seafoam. Not only does the color palette allow for versatility, but the creamy kajal formula works just as well for architectural lines as it does for a sexy, smudgy look. (Bonus: The pencil comes with a built-in smudger on the other end. Just work quickly before the long-wearing liner sets.)
The pencil is a makeup artist’s fave, too, says Spickard. “I was at dinner last night with [makeup artist] Nam Vo, and we were both singing the praises of the VBB liners,” he says. “They're so creamy and so pigmented. There are very few eyeliners of that caliber on the market today. Also, the shades are absolutely gorgeous.”
McGrath before applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner.
Kara McGrath
McGrath after applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner.
Kara McGrath
Tester feedback from content director Kara McGrath
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“I'm convinced this is the creamiest eyeliner on the planet. The shade Cinnamon—a rich, warm brown with just a hint of shimmer—also creates the quickest, easiest I-put-some-effort-into-my-makeup-today look: Just throw some in your waterline then blend it out using the built-in smudger. It'll last all day (or night), I promise.” —Kara McGrath, content director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: chamomile extract, panthenol, vitamin E, mineral-based silica pearl
- Shade options: 21
Best for a French Kiss: Bitten Lip Tint
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Bitten Lip Tint
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint.
Nicola Dall'Asen
Why we love it: Available in five shades with irresistible French names—Poupette, Bisou, et cetera—Bitten Lip Tint hydrates the lips while dousing them in a flush of color. Made with mustard sprout extract to plump, squalane to hydrate, and sodium hyaluronate to fill in fine lines, the cushiony tint is transfer-resistant. Pro tip: Pat a few dots of the multitasking product onto your cheeks to make them just as kissable as your lips. And don’t be afraid to reapply your lip amid chic company—the tortoiseshell packaging makes quite the style statement.
Dall’Asen before applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint.
Nicola Dall'Asen
Dall’Asen after applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint.
Nicola Dall'Asen
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen
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“The older I get, the more I prefer lip tints and stains over traditional lipstick; they're more comfortable, they don't smudge, and sometimes they even last longer. Victoria Beckham makes my favorite tint on the market because it ticks all those boxes. It gives a subtle boost of color that lasts for hours and feels like it's hydrating my lips all the while.” —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sodium hyaluronate, mustard sprout extract, squalane
- Shade options: 5
Mimic Michelangelo’s Touch: Contour Stylus
Victoria Beckham
Contour Stylus
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Sarah Han applying Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus.
Sarah Han
Why we love it: Another Best of Beauty winner, the Contour Stylus Precision Contour Stick makes it a cinch to get snatched. With a slim tip built for targeted application, the sculpting tool is practically foolproof, even if you don’t consider yourself an artiste. Swipe it along the nose, jawline, cheekbones, and just above the lips, and use your fingers to blend it in (it’s so creamy and smooth, you won’t even need a brush.) Like all the best Victoria Beckham Beauty products, this one is made with plant-based ingredients including hydrating squalane, smoothing blue lotus wax, and linefill, which boosts facial volume. “I love the finer tip on this contour product compared to others you see on the market,” Spickard says. “You get precision placement, which I usually achieve with a smaller brush, in the actual packaging itself. You can also use it on the eyes and get a natural eye contour or eye shadow look with minimal effort.”
Han before applying Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus.
Sarah Han
Han after applying Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus.
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I've never met a more precise contour than this slim stick, which helps me not go overboard with product. Like the rest of VBB's makeup pencils, the Contour Stylus is very buttery and so easy to map out my lines—both sides of my forehead, nose, cheekbones, and jawline. I lightly tap everything in with a slanted brush (though my fingers work well in a pinch, too) and my face is sculpted in the most natural way possible.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: squalane, linefill, blue lotus wax
- Shade options: 4
Eye Candy: Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Vast Lash Mascara
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara.
Sarah Hoffmann
Why we love it: A Best of Beauty Award-winner in the splurge category, the Vast Lash Mascara creates the long, full, fluttery lashes that other formulas fall short of. Made with lash-thickening Tahitian sea microalgae, strengthening niacinamide, and panthenol and tocopherol to condition the lashes, the product laughs in the face of anything that threatens to smudge it, including intense humidity. It might come as a pleasant surprise that it’s a breeze to wash off using only warm water.
Hoffmann before applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara.
Sarah Hoffmann
Hoffmann after applying the Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara.
Sarah Hoffmann
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“My eyes are super sensitive and can get really watery when they're irritated, so I need a mascara that can withstand some impromptu teariness. Victoria Beckham's Vast Lash Mascara truly does not smudge, so I know that once it dries, it's with me through whatever allergies, strong wind, or bout of my-eyes-suddenly-hate-my-contacts-for-no-reason that the universe might throw at me that day. Be careful while applying—the formula is very inky at first—but once it's set, this mascara is comfortable, dramatic, and doesn't dare move.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Tahitian sea microalgae, niacinamide, panthenol, tocopherol
- Shade options: 1
Lush Getaway in a Bottle: 21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum
Victoria Beckham Beauty
21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Natalie Campbell spritzing Victoria Beckham 21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum.
Natalie Campbell
Why it's worth it: A must-have for any gourmand fragrance lover—especially those who lean more spicy, less sweet—21:50 Rêverie puts a sultry spin on the category. Laced with notes of tobacco leaf, plum, cedarwood, and tonka bean, this is the kind of vanilla that’s best for a chic, candlelit dinner, rather than a spin through the cupcake shop. Inspired by the Beckhams' trip to Java (an island in the Indonesian archipelago) in 2001, 21:50 Rêverie is sexy, dreamlike, energizing, and serene all at once. Do we smell a new scent you and your partner can share? Time to put your noses to the test.
Tester feedback from senior director of creative development Natalie Campbell
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"With fragrance, I normally lean more floral, and what I love about this scent is it hits multiple categories at once. It's musky, a tad sweet, and earthy while not being overbearing. It's a very complex scent, and I enjoy how it wears on the body over the day. It's both rich and sweet and I love the hints of tobacco." —Natalie Campbell, senior director of creative development
More to know
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- Scent family: gourmand, spicy
- Key notes: tobacco leaf, plum, cedarwood, and tonka bean
- Sizes: 1.69 oz, 3.38 oz.
Facial-Grade Glow: The Daily Cleansing Protocol
Victoria Beckham Beauty
The Daily Double Cleansing Protocol
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Why we love it: When it comes time to swipe off all that gorgeous Victoria Beckham makeup, give your skin the TLC it deserves with the brand’s Daily Cleansing Protocol. London-based aesthetician Melanie Grant helped develop the ultra-luxe double cleanse, which pairs a silky oil cleanser with a lactic acid gel cleanser. The two-step system leaves skin soft and cleaned, while the lactic acid acts as the fairy godmother of glow as it gently exfoliates dull skin.
Tester feedback from executive beauty director Jenny Bailey
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"I actually didn’t realize I needed a cleansing ‘protocol’ before I started using Victoria Beckham’s Daily Cleansing Protocol Duo. My face has never felt more pure, or silkier. A couple of pumps of the oil remove every speck of makeup (including mascara) before the lactic acid gel gently exfoliates. By the time I pat dry, I almost feel like I can skip the rest of my skin-care routine (but I swear I don’t!) My only note for the suggestion box involves the packaging: No one over 45 (presumably the dominant age group dropping $120 on their double-cleansing needs?) can read the tiny print on these two almost-identical bottles, so I’ve definitely mixed up the steps a couple of times." —Jenny Bailey, executive beauty director
More to know
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- The Daily Oil Cleanser: olive fruit oil, rice bran oil, fermented green tea seed oil
- The Daily Lactic Acid Gel Cleanser: lactic acid, rose damascena flower water, saccharide isomerate
- Fragrance-free: yes (for both!)
More Victoria Beckham Beauty products we love:
- Skip the microblading appointment and reach for the BabyBlade Eyebrow Pencil instead. The smudge-proof pencil has an ultrafine, slanted tip that allows for maestro-level precision when filling in your brows. It's also infused with antioxidant-packed ingredients that nourish the hair and skin, including camellia japonica oil for hydration and rosehip seed oil for moisture.
- With a buttery glide that’s a hallmark of Victoria Beckham Beauty, Lip Definer comes in seven shades designed to complement fair, medium, and deep lip tones. The formula doesn’t just go on smoothly; it also smooths the lips themselves. Infused with peptides, the contouring lip liner blurs fine lines and wrinkles, and it’s something of an under-the-radar gem. “These are beyond underrated!” Spickard says. “I have the full shade range of these liners in my kit and use them on all my clients. They’re pigmented but super blendable, just like the eyeliners, and help give you the perfect pout.”
- When a world-renowned regenerative-medicine expert helps develop a concealer, it’s safe to assume the product will cover dark circles and then some. Indeed, Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader The Concealer Pen with TFC8 goes beyond spot correction to improve the appearance of puffiness, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines around the eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Victoria Beckham Beauty best known for?
Why all the hype surrounding the beauty brand? “Victoria Beckham Beauty is modern, luxe, and also super approachable. It’s easy for anyone to use,” says makeup artist Julianne Kaye. “The color range feels very elevated, too, unlike the basic assembly-line neutrals you find with lots of brands out there.” She adds that the product’s textures are buttery and long-lasting. “You can tell the brand was made by someone who actually ‘gets’ makeup,” she says.
Who is Victoria Beckham Beauty for?
According to makeup artist Nick Barose, Victoria Beckham Beauty is best “for the customer who likes to play with makeup a little more, but without going overboard or looking too trendy.” He adds that the products have luxurious textures and come in colors that are bold and interesting, but well-edited, “like a perfect capsule wardrobe for your face each season.”
Meet the experts
- Kasey Spickard is a New York-based makeup artist whose clients include Jenna Lyons,
- Julianne Kaye is a makeup artist who has worked with Britney Spears, Kate Hudson, and Eva Mendes.
- Nick Barose is a makeup artist whose clients include Lupita Nyong’o and Lily Gladstone.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Victoria Beckham Beauty products, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors, along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more about our reporting and testing process, read our complete review process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine. You may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors, in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon, is essential to reaching that goal.
How to Create a 1-minute Daily Health Check-In Habit
Build a simple, one-minute habit to check in with your body and mind, so you can respond to your needs with more clarity and care each day.
In the midst of busy schedules and long to-do lists, it’s easy to lose track of how we’re actually doing, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But checking in with yourself doesn’t have to take long. A simple one-minute habit can create space in your day for awareness and self-connection.
This small mindfulness practice can help you notice early signs of stress or burnout, reduce decision fatigue, and make health feel like a daily rhythm instead of an occasional reset.
The goal is to move from reacting to problems to responding to your needs in real time. This guide will show you how to build a realistic, consistent check-in routine that fits into your life, even on your busiest days.
Start with your purpose
Before you begin, it helps to clarify why this habit matters to you. Maybe you want to be more aware of your stress levels, manage your energy better, or prevent burnout.
Maybe you’re trying to build a more balanced lifestyle or pay more attention to your body’s signals.
Write down one or two reasons that feel true for you. When you have a clear purpose, your daily check-in becomes more than just another habit—it becomes a small act of self-respect.
Choose your check-in time
Pick a time of day that makes sense for you. The goal is to make your check-in part of your natural rhythm, not something you constantly have to remember or squeeze in.
Some people find mornings helpful to set the tone for the day. Others prefer a mid-day pause or an evening wind-down.
Think about a moment when you already have a small pause, right after brushing your teeth, while your coffee brews, or just before bed. Anchor your check-in to that moment.
Decide what you want to track
A good check-in is simple, quick, and consistent. Here are a few questions to choose from. Pick 3 to 5 that feel relevant to your health and goals:
- What sensations or signals is my body giving me right now?
- Where in my body do I feel tightness, tension, or ease?
- What kind of energy do I have right now, and how would I describe it?
- What emotions are present for me in this moment?
- How rested or restored do I feel today?
- What is my body asking for—food, water, rest, or something else?
- How have I moved today, and how did that feel?
- What does my body or mind need most right now?
You don’t have to answer them all. Choose the ones that give you useful feedback in a short amount of time.
Pick your format
There’s no one right way to do your check-in. Choose a format that matches your style. Here are a few options:
- Say your answers quietly to yourself.
- Write them down in a notebook or notes app.
- Use a voice memo.
- Tap in with a short guided journal or app.
If you’re more visual, you might use symbols or emojis to log your energy and mood. If you prefer structure, make a quick checklist template to reuse each day. Keep it simple and sustainable.
Keep it to one minute
The power of this habit is in its brevity. One minute is enough. You don’t need to solve anything or go deep. The goal is awareness, not action.
Over time, that awareness may naturally influence your choices, like realizing you need more water, more rest, or even just a walk around the block.
If you also feel like journaling for longer some days, go for it, but don’t let that become a new pressure. The one-minute version is always enough.
Use it as a decision filter
Your check-in can become a gentle guide for daily decisions. If you’re tired, maybe that high intensity workout can shift to a walk.
If you’re stressed, you might opt for a slower start to the day or take a few deep breaths. When you know where you’re at, you’re more likely to make choices that support your well-being.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole day, just notice what you need and adjust where you can.
Track your consistency, not your data
Try keeping a small calendar or habit tracker to mark off each day you complete your check-in. Don’t worry about what your answers are, just focus on the act of checking in.
The goal is to build consistency and trust with yourself. You’re showing up for your health every single day, even in a small way.
That sense of reliability adds up over time and builds a foundation for bigger habits that can be layered in later.
Give it a name or phrase
Sometimes, giving a habit a simple name can make it more personal and easier to remember. Maybe you call it your “morning body scan,” “mood minute,” or “pause and breathe.”
Choose something that feels light and meaningful to you. You can even set a daily reminder on your phone using that phrase so it becomes part of your routine without effort.
Expect it to evolve
Some days, your check-in will feel really useful. Other days, it might feel boring or repetitive. That’s okay. Like any habit, it will ebb and flow.
Over time, your questions or format may change. You might notice new patterns or find you want to check in twice a day instead of once. Stay flexible. The core habit is simply tuning in. The rest can grow with you.
Be gentle, not judgmental
One of the most important things about this practice is that it’s not a test. You’re not trying to pass or fix anything. If you notice you’re tired, anxious, or haven’t had much water, that’s helpful information, not a reason to feel guilty.
Treat your check-in like a conversation with a friend. You’re listening, noticing, and responding with care. That mindset makes the habit easier to maintain and more nourishing over time.
Takeaway
You don’t need a big plan or fancy tools to develop better health awareness. Just one minute a day of tuning in to how you feel, physically, mentally, and emotionally, can create lasting change.
This small habit gives you the information and clarity to make healthier choices, adjust when needed, and feel more connected to your own well-being.
Over time, it becomes more than a habit. It becomes a way of showing up for yourself every day.
I Could Dive Into Cardi B’s Swimming Pool Nails—See the Photos
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All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
If there's one color I always associate with summer, it's aqua blue—the color of bright blue skies, swimming pools, and ocean waves. It feels so fresh and vibrant on a sunny day and perks up a rainy afternoon. Cardi B must agree, because the Am I the Drama? rapper is currently wearing a manicure that is the exact shade of a shimmering pool.
Cardi's turquoise nails popped up in an Instagram Story on July 23 and they instantly brightened my mood. Her nails were in her preferred shape, long with squared-off coffin-shaped tips, and painted the prettiest, brightest shade of aqua—just a simple, stunning summer color as tantalizing as an empty pool on a hot day. This is the shade you get before a vacation to shift your brain into beach mode, to cheer yourself up in the dark winter, or when you're looking for something that feels as fun and flirty as a cute sundress. And doesn't it look so good against her bright red hair?
Instagram.com/iamcardib
While celebs have been devoted to glazed donut nails, soap nails, and nearly naked manicures for the past few years, bright shades always pop, especially come summertime. Earlier this year, we fell hard for Tyla's neon nails: an vibrant butter yellow mani-pedi one week, followed by an equally vivid rose color. Los Angeles-based nail artist Sarah Chue pinpointed electric blue as one of the top trending colors for summer 2025 manis, and Cardi herself recently wore the shade enhanced by a magnetic cats-eye effect. If you're loving Cardi's color du jour, try OPI's Nail Lacquer in I'm Yacht Leaving, ILNP's Retro Teal, or Essie's Expressie polish in Bring the Beat for a similar look. The color is also perfect for a pedicure, so take advantage of the final weeks of summer and go bold and bright.
‘Cortisol Cocktail’: Can the Viral Drink Actually Relieve Stress?
TikTok users say the “cortisol cocktail” can help lower stress, but experts are skeptical about the benefits. Flashpop/Getty Images
- Proponents of the viral “cortisol cocktail” claim the drink can reduce stress and improve sleep, but there’s little evidence to support this claim.
- Its main ingredient, magnesium, may help support stress relief, but the dose in a single serving is quite low.
- Other ingredients, like citrus juice and coconut water, can be beneficial, but their effects are likely minimal.
- Experts say there’s no harm in trying the drink, but it’s not a replacement for stress management strategies like quality sleep, nutrition, and movement.
If you follow nutrition content on TikTok or other social media platforms, you might have seen influencers sipping a fizzy drink before bed, claiming it helps them sleep better, feel calmer, and wake up more refreshed.
The so-called “cortisol cocktail” typically includes a blend of magnesium powder, coconut water, and citrus juice, with some content creators adding pink Himalayan salt or sparkling water for taste.
Cortisol is a “stress hormone,” and with stress, inadequate sleep, and burnout on the rise, it’s not hard to understand the drink’s appeal.
The viral mocktail has been praised as a “relaxation ritual” that provides natural nervous system support. Some proponents report that it helps them manage stress and fall asleep more easily.
But is it an effective stress-reliever? And does it have any health drawbacks? Here’s what the science and nutrition experts has to say.
Does magnesium help with stress?
There isn’t any scientific evidence to support the stress-relieving benefits of the cortisol cocktail, but the individual ingredients could have some merit.
Magnesium, in particular, may offer some benefits.
“Magnesium is a powerhouse of a nutrient responsible for hundreds of biochemical processes in the body,” nutritionist Beth Edwards told Healthline.
“When we’re experiencing stressful episodes, our body will utilize and burn through our magnesium stores more quickly, plus we excrete more magnesium out in our urine when we’re stressed. So, topping up levels is helpful,” she said.
Similarly, nutritionist Amie Parry-Jones told Healthline that research published in 2020 found magnesium may lower elevated cortisol, especially in those with deficiencies.
“Elevated cortisol can contribute to loss of electrolytes,” Parry-Jones said. “A deficiency can cause a number of stress-related symptoms.” Because of this, some people may find it helpful to supplement with magnesium.
Cortisol cocktail contains vitamin C, electrolytes
The lemon juice component of the cortisol cocktail may provide a boost of an important vitamin.
“Orange and lemon juice contain vitamin C, which we know is an important nutrient and antioxidant across the board, but especially when it comes to supporting the stress response and ensuring optimal adrenal function,” said Edwards.
The adrenal glands sit near the kidneys and are responsible for making stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
“The adrenals utilize vitamin C quickly, so ensuring we have adequate levels is important,” Edwards explained.
That said, research is still limited.
“Studies that report benefits of vitamin C in managing symptoms related to stress generally use high dose supplementation of ascorbic acid rather than food sources,” Parry-Jones pointed out.
So, the minimal amount of vitamin C you get in your cortisol cocktail may not provide any meaningful benefit.
What about the inclusion of coconut water?
“Coconut water contains good levels of electrolytes, notably potassium, which can address electrolyte imbalances, potentially supporting a reduction in cortisol,” said Parry-Jones.
Still, both experts agreed that this effect is likely to be minimal.
Are there any drawbacks to the cortisol cocktail?
The cortisol cocktail could have some unintended effects, like disrupted sleep and elevated blood sugar levels.
“The sugars from orange juice are absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly due to the separation from fiber in the whole fruit,” Parry-Jones explained.
“A spike in blood glucose levels before bed will lead to a subsequent crash as the body releases insulin.”
Due to these blood sugar fluctuations, you may feel hot, restless, and have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
“Poor sleep in turn increases cortisol levels the following day,” Parry-Jones pointed out.
If you are trying the cortisol cocktail, Edwards recommends having it earlier in the day alongside a meal to lessen the blood sugar spike.
For some, the cortisol cocktail may also lead to digestive issues.
“The sparkling water in the recipe may cause digestive symptoms such as bloating, reflux, or gas, again potentially leading to poor sleep,” said Parry-Jones.
Cortisol cocktail is likely a harmless health trend
You probably won’t experience any significant stress-relieving benefits from this wellness drink.
“The cortisol mocktail sounds fun, but it’s highly unlikely to lead to any real results in reducing cortisol or addressing stress levels in the long term,” said Parry-Jones.
Edwards agreed. “It might support the optimal stress response, but dosage is important. The drink contains lowish amounts of ingredients and nutrients, meaning its potency is also low.”
Plus, stress is rarely solved with a single mocktail.
“I’d encourage people to think about their overall lifestyle, nutrition as a whole, sleep and movement, rather than focusing on one drink,” Edwards said.
“Look at the bigger picture, rather than overly focusing on one ‘quick fix’.”
And if you are feeling better after drinking it? It might be something else.
“There may be an element of placebo effect when someone starts drinking this cocktail. This tends to be initially quite powerful but wears off over time,” Parry-Jones pointed out.
That doesn’t mean it’s all bad. But the experts noted that meaningful stress relief and cortisol balance almost always come from more personalized interventions, which may involve working with a healthcare professional.
Why Azelaic Acid Is the Underdog of Your Acne-Fighting Routine
Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Treating acne (and the discoloration it leaves behind) is no easy task, but the best azelaic acid serums can speed up the process. If you're a skin-care enthusiast, you've likely heard of—and experimented with—a handful of acids, be it glycolic, salicylic, or polyhydroxy. However, azelaic acid is particularly effective at killing acne-causing bacteria, loosening skin to unclog pores, reducing inflammation, and evening skin tone (all without irritating sensitive skin types). "[Azelaic acid serum] is a great product to use in combination with other acne medicines or alone,” says Ava Shamban, MD, a Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist. If your skin-care concerns involve pesky pimples, dark spots, and redness, we've rounded up the best azelaic acid-infused serums to add to your routine, stat.
Our Top Azelaic Acid Serums
- Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment, $110
- Best Soothing: Shani Darden Skin Care Rescue Serum with 10% Azelaic Complex, $68
- Best Overnight Treatment: Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum, $79
- Best Budget: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, $12
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Allies of Skin Azelaic and Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum, $99
- Best for Uneven Tone: Fig.1 Beauty Even Tone Serum, $36
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%, $36
- Best Prescription-Strength: Agency by Curology Future Formula, $40
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment
SkinCeuticals
Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment
SkinCeuticals
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: SkinCeuticals' Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment contains 3% azelaic acid (a lower dose of the ingredient to avoid sensitizing skin) and 2% brightening alpha arbutin, a gentler derivative of the somewhat controversial hydroquinone. This green-tinted serum also contains a soothing, moisturizing botanical blend of cucumber, thyme, and olive leaf extracts to calm redness and irritation. Our editors love this gel-cream moisturizer's cooling, skin-soothing texture and redness-neutralizing tint. "Its lightweight, oil-free, silicone-free, [and] non-comedogenic formula is suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin," says Michele Green, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: azelaic acid (3%), alpha arbutin, cucumber extract, thyme extract, olive leaf extract
- Who it's for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Soothing: Shani Darden Skin Care Rescue Serum With 10% Azelaic Complex
Shani Darden
Rescue Serum with 10% Azelaic Complex
Revolve
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Shani Darden Skin Care’s Rescue Serum features mid-strength 10% azelaic acid, a Goldilocks-level dose to target acne and dark spots without veering into irritation-causing levels for sensitive skin. Made specifically for targeting discoloration and inflammation, this calming serum combines azelaic acid’s soothing properties with other skin-coddling favorites, including oat kernel extract, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera. To double down on its tone-evening properties, this serum is also infused with brightening licorice root extract and antioxidant panthenol.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“I was using a prescription-strength azelaic acid to control my breakouts, but swapped to this when it ran out. It’s done wonders to take the redness out of my acne and reduce swelling, keeping my skin calm and relatively clear. I also like that it seems to be fading my dark spots too—a win-win.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: azelaic acid (10%), oat kernel extract, aloe vera extract, licorice root extract, panthenol, hyaluronic acid
- Who it's for: all skin types, including sensitive
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Overnight Treatment: Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum
Lion Pose
Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum
Sephora
Lion Pose
Why it's worth it: Ever wished achieving a clearer, brighter complexion was as easy as sleeping? Well, it’ll never be (sorry), but using a high-dose overnight treatment like Lion Pose’s Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum will take your beauty sleep up a radiance-boosting notch. This Best of Beauty-winning serum contains a 15% concentration of the brand’s proprietary exfoliating acid blend that works through the night to minimize active acne and any discoloration they’ve left behind. “It’s a great combination of azelaic and tranexamic acid for decreasing hyperpigmentation, and also contains glycolic and lactic acids to help lift pigment," says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. To offset any irritation, this serum is spiked with a skin-calming mix of Centella asiatica extract (also known as cica), hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 15% acid blend (tranexamic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, lactic acid), cica, aloe vera extract, glutathione, hyaluronic acid
- Who it's for: acne-prone skin, those with dark spots, and hyperpigmentation
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Budget: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
The Ordinary
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension Brightening Cream is one of the best azelaic acid formulas out there that you can get under $20. “Azelaic acid is a gentle exfoliator with anti-inflammatory properties to help address redness,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in East Norriton, PA. “I love that it also helps lighten hyperpigmentation or brown spots left behind by acne and other skin irritations.” This means that this multitasking cream not only clears pores and calms redness—it helps fade the marks that breakouts leave behind. Dr. Green also praises this cream's thin formula, which can be layered under your favorite moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration without feeling greasy.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: azelaic acid (10%)
- Who it's for: acne-prone skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Allies of Skin Azelaic and Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum
Allies of Skin
Azelaic and Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Revolve
Why it’s worth it: Allies of Skin was inspired by the belief that skin-care should be effective and simple (a.k.a. work smarter, not harder). The Azelaic & Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum lives up to that mission, especially if you’re dealing with oily or skin prone to blemishes. This multitasking formula helps unclog pores, reduce excess oil, and calm active breakouts, all while fading stubborn dark spots. “Incorporating azelaic acid, bakuchiol, kojic acid, and hexylresorcinol, this serum can help target discoloration, uneven skin tone and texture, while also brightening the skin and reducing redness,” says Dr. Garshick. “I especially love that it’s lightweight and absorbs easily.” It's fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and works great under your makeup or SPF, making it a great choice for preventing breakouts day or night.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 10% azelaic acid, bakuchiol, kojic acid
- Who it’s for: people with oily or acne-prone skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Uneven Tone: Fig.1 Beauty Even Tone Serum
Fig 1 Skincare
Even Tone Serum
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it’s worth it: When an azelaic acid product is called Even Tone, you expect results—and this delivers. Developed by dermatologists, Fig.1’s Even Tone Serum is packed with heavy-hitting brighteners like “niacinamide, tranexamic acid, alpha-arbutin, and 1% azelaic acid to help fade dark spots and boost glow. This combination helps improve skin concerns like discoloration and radiance,” says Dr. Garshick. Plus, it’s fragrance-free and gentle enough for all skin types, including sensitive skin, thanks to a much lower concentration of azelaic acid than other products on the shelf. The lightweight texture absorbs quickly, plays nicely with your SPF or makeup, and comes in a sleek, refillable bottle.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 1% azelaic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid
- Who it’s for: people with hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%
Naturium
Azelaic Topical Acid 10%
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Naturium’s Azelaic Topical Acid 10% is a gentle, multitasking treatment that’s perfect for sensitive or acne-prone skin. It features potassium azeloyl diglycinate, a milder derivative of azelaic acid, along with niacinamide and ethyl ascorbic acid (a stable form of vitamin C) to calm redness, fade post-acne spots, and brighten skin without irritation. “I’m a busy, working mom, so I love products that help me multitask. This is such a great combination for those with acne-prone skin who manage redness and want to incorporate anti-aging ingredients,” says Dr. Saedi, who recommends using a pea-sized amount in the morning. “In a couple of months, you should notice an improvement in texture, lighter brown spots, and clearer, more radiant skin.”
More to know
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- Key ingredients: potassium azeloyl diglycinate, coffee seed extract, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: dry or sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Prescription-Strength: Agency by Curology Future Formula
Agency by Curology
Future Formula
Agency by Curology
Why it's worth it: If the lower doses of azelaic acid available over the counter aren’t doing your skin justice (and if you have approval from a trustworthy dermatologist), it’s time to look into a prescription-strength formula. Our editors love the Best of Beauty-winning Agency by Curology Future Formula, a customized night cream available via telehealth prescription. Since it’s personalized for your skin, your exact formula will vary, the brand states that most formulas contain tretinoin (a prescription-level retinoid that addresses fine lines) paired with azelaic acid and other skin-brightening ingredients like tranexamic acid and niacinamide.
Tester feedback from former beauty editor Devon Abelman
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"This made me so at ease with my skin journey. Every night—after cleansing and spritzing on my favorite essence—I spread one pump of the creamy, buttery-yellow Future Formula all over my face. Straight away, you can tell the serum is not going to suck the moisture out of your skin because its rich texture spreads on a layer of hydration without feeling like you're undergoing a painful chemical peel. Plus, I love that it doesn't have the overwhelming, chemical smell that retinol tends to have. I simply layer a moisturizer on top and I'm free to get my beauty sleep. It puts everything my skin needs—over-the-counter and prescription ingredients—in one simple bottle." —Devon Abelman, former beauty editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: azelaic acid (concentration varies), tretinoin, tranexamic acid, niacinamide
- Who it's for: acne-prone skin, mature skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is azelaic acid?
When most people hear the word "acid," they usually think of a harsh chemical, but actually, azelaic acid is a sensitive skin-friendly molecule (well, depending on its concentration, which we’ll dive more into) found and derived from barley, rye grains, and wheat. It's part of the dicarboxylic acids family and has antibacterial, keratolytic, comedolytic, and antioxidant properties. Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California, tells Allure that azelaic acid works by inhibiting tyrosinase (a.k.a. the enzyme involved in pigment production) and, thereby, "reduces hyperpigmentation" and describes this buzzy acid as a "dermatologist favorite, ack-of-all-trades, and one of the most underrated skin-care ingredients." Okay, we’re officially sold.
Dr. Green echoes Dr. Shirazi's sentiments. Both professionals also note that the benefits of azelaic acid include antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, excellent for treating skin conditions like acne and rosacea, as it kills breakout-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation. This versatile acid, also considered a gentle exfoliant, stimulates cell turnover as well. As such, Dr. Green says that azelaic acid "can help reduce the appearance of acne scars."
Who can use azelaic acid?
The good news is that azelaic acid is safe for all skin types, but with that being said, Dr. Green advises those with sensitive skin to start using the ingredient "once a day, increasing the frequency to twice a day after several weeks." And, if you experience any irritation, it's best to consult your doctor before continuing.
You also need not worry too much about adjusting your entire skin-care routine to incorporate azelaic acid. Fortunately, Dr. Green and Dr. Shirazi agree that azelaic acid is generally gentle enough and safe to use with other ingredients like vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids. However, says Dr. Green, "If you have prescription-strength azelaic acid, Retin-A, or other topical creams, you should consult a dermatologist."
Depending on your skin type and concerns, azelaic acid can be found in over-the-counter products in all sorts of strengths, from as low as 1% to as high as 15%, with the highest prescription-strength concentration coming in at 20%, per Dr. Shirazi. However, lower concentrations can be just as effective and “may help prevent skin irritation" for those with reactive, sensitive skin, says Dr. Green. "Skin-care products with a low concentration of azelaic acid can be beneficial when it comes to unclogging pores, preventing acne breakouts, and soothing skin inflammation," he adds. For those with acne-prone skin, lower concentrations of azelaic acid are often combined with other actives like AHAs and BHAs for a multi-pronged approach.
Meet the experts
- Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills
- Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California
- Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Plymouth Meeting Dermatology, based in East Norriton, PA
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best azelaic acid products, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Scrub Your Worries—and Rough Patches—Down the Drain
Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brands
Save this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
When skin sends out a dryness SOS, break out one of the best body scrubs for a softening, smoothing refresh. Skin-care routines often focus on the face, but don’t forget the importance of body care for maintaining suppleness all over. It doesn't hurt that most body scrubs are infused with delectable scents and gentle yet satisfyingly gritty textures that leave your skin feeling softer than a baby's butt.
While exfoliating body scrubs shouldn't replace body wash, they have ample benefits—removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores, for instance—that'll upgrade your everything shower. Plus, they can elevate the rest of your routine, too. "When your skin doesn't have that dead layer, it will be able to absorb skin-care products much better,” says David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City.
Our Top Body Scrubs
- Best Overall: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub, $30
- Most Scent Options: Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub, $10
- Best Cleansing Bar: Flamingo Estate Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick, $44
- Best Moisturizing: Josie Maran Argan Oil & Sugar Balm Body Scrub in Topless Tangerine, $29
- Best for Keratosis Pilaris: Soft Services Buffing Bar, $30 (2-Pack)
- Best for Flaky Skin: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub, $58
- Best Sugar Base: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub, $42
- Best Salt Base: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub, $48
- Best Budget: Dove Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter Body Scrub, $8
Read on to find out which of the 11 best body scrubs fits your needs, and head to the FAQs to read firsthand about all the dos and don'ts of exfoliating from dermatologists.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
Best Overall: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
First Aid Beauty
KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Allure content director Kara McGrath using First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
Kara McGrath
Why we love it: First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub is a Readers' Choice Award winner that addresses several texture concerns, including keratosis pilaris. Austin-based board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, MD, is a fan of First Aid Beauty’s fragrance-free formulation of this scrub, which is gentler on KP-stricken skin. "Because people with KP have a genetic tendency toward allergies and skin sensitivity, it is important to be mindful of products with fragrances, which can be irritating," she says. This concoction of glycolic and lactic acids provides intensive exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and keratin buildup from your pores. At the same time, pumice-based buffing beads polish the skin’s surface for a smoother, softer feel. Although its main purpose is to tackle KP, this scrub can also help treat rough patches of skin on your elbows, knees, and feet. By the way, if your skin can handle fragrances and adore fruity scents, our editors gave the Fresh Strawberry version of this scrub a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award.
Tester feedback from content director Kara McGrath
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"First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub has a potent 10% alpha-hydroxy acid-infused formula, along with a gritty texture to double down on all the clogged pores, ingrown hairs, and keratosis pilaris along my body. This stuff means business, so I usually use this scrub once per week on problem areas, like my upper arms and back, and rougher patches of skin after cleansing." —content director Kara McGrath
More to know
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- Key ingredients: pumice, glycolic acid, vitamin E
- Who it's for: those with chicken skin, KP, and other bumps or textural concerns
- Fragrance-free: yes, but also comes in Fresh Strawberry and Fresh Peach options
Most Scent Options: Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub
Tree Hut
Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub
Ulta Beauty
Allure senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick using the Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub
Lexi Herrick
Why we love it: Tree Hut's Morrocan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub combines sugar and pumice beads to effectively buff away dead skin and rough patches, while alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) penetrate the pores to remove acne-causing bacteria and excess sebum. To keep dryness at bay as you slough away, this body polish is enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich algae extracts, which also brighten the skin and help even out discoloration. Tree Hut's lineup of exfoliating scrubs earns bonus points for its extensive selection of over 20 fragrances.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
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"Exfoliating but gentle, this scrub gives you a bubbly, rosy clean that allows you to create a spa experience in your own bathroom. I love the sweet scent and soft texture, and find myself using this for every shower!" —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, green algae, sugar
- Who it's for: people who want both exfoliation and hydration
- Fragrance-free: no; shop the 20+ scents here
Best Cleansing Bar: Flamingo Estate Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick
Flamingo Estate
Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick
Nordstrom
Flamingo Estate
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin using the Flamingo Estate Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: Part cleanser, part scrub, Flamingo Estate’s Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick lives rent-free in our showers. This luxurious hunk of soap is ideal for sleepy mornings when you need a natural jolt of tingly energy, thanks to invigorating peppermint, French blue clay, and Big Sur sea salt. Poppy seeds provide the physical exfoliation—smooth, rounded, and free of the sharp edges that can sometimes feel overly abrasive. We’ll always be into a heavenly-scented steam session, no matter what time of day.
Tester feedback from shopping director Shanna Shipin
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“This bar of soap is extraordinary. The peppermint is simultaneously invigorating and soothing, and the poppyseeds exfoliate just enough. Whether you proudly display it on your vanity or try to hoard it, the fragrance will make itself known; truly, the peppermint scent wafts out of the shipping box before you even open it. Keep it whole—or maybe cut it into smaller pieces for your own slice of minty heaven.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: poppy seeds, peppermint, French blue clay, Big Sur sea salt
- Fragrance-free: no; contains essential oil-based fragrances
Best Moisturizing: Josie Maran Argan Oil & Sugar Balm Body Scrub in Topless Tangerine
Josie Maran
Argan Oil & Sugar Balm Body Scrub in Topless Tangerine
Sephora
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han using the Josie Maran Argan Oil & Sugar Balm Body Scrub in Topless Tangerine
Sarah Han
Why we love it: Josie Maran’s Sugar and Argan Oil Body Scrub simply hits—especially in the Topless Tangerine scent. Pixie tangerine, pink grapefruit, and brown sugar come together for a divinely fragrant scrub-down that moisturizes while it polishes. Argan oil locks in hydration, while sugar buffs away roughness to reveal velvety-soft skin post-rinse. Snag the unscented tub or choose from several delicious fragrances for a lasting burst of yumminess.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“Look, I’m guilty of not giving my body as much love as my face when it comes to skin care, but when a body scrub smells like I’m sipping on a tall glass of chilled, freshly-squeezed juice somewhere tropical and extra vibey, I go all in. I love that I get the satisfaction of sugar granules literally polishing away texture but there’s Josie Maran’s signature argan oil (and shea butter) making sure my skin is moisturized and buttery-soft, never stripped.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan oil, pixie tangerine, pink grapefruit, brown sugar
- Fragrance-free: yes; other scents include Bohemian Fig and Vanilla Vibezzz
Best for Keratosis Pilaris: Soft Services Buffing Bar
Soft Services
Buffing Bar
Sephora (2-Pack)
Soft Services (2-Pack)
Why we love it: The Soft Services Buffing Bar tackles body bumps and brings tough ingrown hairs to the surface using magnesium oxide-based microfine crystals. A 2022 Best of Beauty winner, this bar is an editor-favorite for sloughing away dead skin and pore-clogging oil, via a soothing blend of hydrating glycerin, moisture-replenishing shea butter, and soothing aloe. However, since it has a grittier feel and a more intensive formula than other options on this list, this product may not be suitable for you if you have sunburned or very sensitive skin.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“Of all of the KP remedies I've tried, the Soft Services Buffing Bar is one is the easiest, most low-maintenance solutions I've come across. A couple of swipes of this bar across my KP-affected areas left my skin softer and more even-toned for days at a time, with minimal effort added to my shower routine.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: magnesium oxide and alumina, glycerin, shea butter
- Who it's for: people with keratosis pilaris, rough skin, and ingrown hairs
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Flaky Skin: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub
Kate Somerville
ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why we love it: Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub is an Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning formula we swear by for velvety-smooth skin, without an ounce of doubt. Lactic and salicylic acids chemically exfoliate, while physically exfoliating pumice-stone particles really get in there to buff away rough, stubborn patches. This scrub is also infused with honey and aloe to nourish and condition. The result? Soft, smooth, and radiant skin from head to toe. This sensorial green paste comes in a mess-free squeeze tube and smells faintly of papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin—all of which provide enzymatic exfoliation.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: pumice, papaya enzymes, lactic acid
- Who it's for: people with dry patches; rough knees and elbows
- Fragrance-free: no; contains essential oil-based fragrances
Best Sugar Base: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub
Sol de Janeiro
Bum Bum Body Scrub
Amazon
Revolve
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Make summer last all year with Sol De Janeiro's delicious Bum Bum Body Scrub, a 2023 Readers' Choice Award winner. Just like the cream of the same name, it has the same scrumptious vanilla-caramel scent, but it’s the superfine, sand-like texture that’ll win you over even more. The gritty formula uses crushed cupuaçu seeds and sugar crystals to gently dissolve dead skin cells, Amazonian guarana (which has five times more caffeine than coffee) stimulates circulation, and pure-pressed coconut oil leaves behind silky, glowing skin. It also features a subtly shimmery finish—the perfect radiance boost your skin needs before a night out, if we might add.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sugar, coconut oil, guarana
- Who it's for: normal to dry skin
- Fragrance-free: no; scented with the brand’s signature Cheirosa 62
Best Salt Base: Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Osea
Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Amazon
Nordstrom
Credo Beauty
Why we love it: Osea’s Salts of the Earth Body Scrub is a favorite for its blend of mineral salts—derived from New Zealand, Hawaii, and the Himalayas—and seaweed, which provides a wealth of nutrients, like amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. The lavender scent only adds to the experience, giving the scrub an extra-indulgent feel. Keep in mind that this scrub’s salt base may be too harsh for sensitive skin types, so those with easily irritated skin should proceed cautiously.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: salt, safflower seed oil, shea butter
- Who it's for: acne-prone skin, dry skin, oily skin
- Fragrance-free: no; contains lavender oil
Best Budget: Dove Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub
Dove
Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub
Amazon
Why we love it: If you prefer minimal grittiness (and a lower price tag), try Dove’s Body Scrub Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter. This exfoliator has a creamier formulation than most scrubs and features brown sugar to delicately polish skin without scrubbing it raw. The addition of skin-conditioning coconut butter will make your skin feel smooth to the touch once you hop out of the shower. This scrub is available in eight different scents (!), each featuring a unique blend of physical exfoliators, but the brown sugar-based pick is our favorite for its slightly grittier texture.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: brown sugar, coconut butter
- Who it's for: normal to dry skin, flaky skin
- Fragrance-free: no; scents include Brown Sugar, Vanilla Sugar, Cherry, Macadamia, Rose, Pomegranate, White Beach
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of body scrubs?
Body scrubs offer numerous benefits, particularly for individuals with drier skin. "The good ones that aren't too rough or harsh on the skin will help make the skin feel nice and smooth by helping remove a dead layer of the skin," says Dr. Kim. "When your skin doesn't have that dead layer, it will be able to absorb skin-care products much better.”
As you can expect from their name, body scrubs tend to contain physical exfoliators, which polish the top layer of skin to remove dead skin buildup. Most body scrubs have sugar- or salt-based granules that dissolve as you massage them onto your skin, minimizing the chances of micro-tears and irritation. However, you can also find non-dissolving options made with skin-polishing bases like coffee grounds, plant seeds, and even ultra-fine rice powder. Gary Goldfaden, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hollywood, Florida, previously told Allure to consider the base of your physical exfoliant when looking for a new body scrub to prevent issues like irritation. "People with oilier complexions have larger sebaceous glands, which makes their skin thicker and better able to tolerate more abrasive particles," he explained.
Are body scrubs safe for sensitive skin?
If you struggle with body acne or sensitive skin, it's understandable that you might be hesitant to put anything rough-feeling on your skin. Still, Dr. Kim explains to Allure that body scrubs are perfectly safe when used sparingly and gently. "I would recommend [body scrubs] only once or twice a month for people with sensitive skin," he says. "It's also important to moisturize the skin immediately after showering when it's slightly damp."
Dr. Goldfaden also had some exfoliating advice for sensitive skin: Generally, use products with smaller granules, which are less likely to irritate, cut, or rub your skin. As always, if you experience an adverse reaction to a product, stop using it immediately and consider consulting your dermatologist or exploring alternative body scrub options.
Meet the experts
- Heidi Prather, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin.
- David Kim, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City.
- Gary Goldfaden, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Hollywood, Florida, and the founder of Goldfaden MD.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of best body scrubs, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists we interviewed for the piece. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Jessica Simpson Is Making a Music Comeback With Western-Glam Nails — See Photos
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 23: Jessica Simpson speaks onstage during NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza on July 23, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)Photo: Getty ImagesSave this storySave this story
I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that it's been 15 years since Jessica Simpson has performed new music. One of the most prominent pop voices of the Y2K era, she has worn many hats—a mom, a fashion entrepreneur, and more—but music seemed to take a backseat for a bit. But fans of her powerhouse vocals are thrilled to see that she's not only back with a new album, Nashville Canyon, Pt. 2, she's also ready to take it to the stage and screen. And that's exactly what she did on Wednesday morning with flair down to her fingertips.
Simpson performed on Today for the first time in nearly two decades for the show's outdoor concert series, bringing the live and TV audiences new music, as well as some of the hits for which she became so well-known. Her look could best be described as Western bohemian glam, with an iridescent, fringy jacket over a pale pink, corsetted dress and topped off with a large cross necklace. She also wore oversized rings, including a massive turquoise piece—but that's not the only place on her fingers where stones showed up.
Photo: Getty Images
Each long nail featured a different design. There's leopard print with a bejeweled zodiac symbol for Cancer, silver mixed with pearls, a metallic French tip, and more turquoise—and that's just some of what's on her left hand. The eclectic gem party continued on the right hand, which included the word “Fade”—the name of her new single—written in three-dimensional red polish on her middle finger.
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Her beauty look was rounded out with a bronder-than-usual color on her go-to long, voluminous hair, and she went for a full-out face in muted tones, including a super-glossy lip.
Simpson might have been out of the music spotlight for a while, but now that she's returned, we can't wait to see what other glam inspo she brings to the stage.
Gird Your Loins: Meryl Streep’s Devil Wears Prada Bixie Is Back — See Photos
Photo: Getty ImagesSave this storySave this story
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Big day for Meryl Streep fans (also known as literally everyone on Earth). Not only did Only Murders in the Building announce its season five premiere date (September 9, if, like me, you were wondering), but the award-amassing actor has finally been spotted filming scenes from The Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York City. And yes, the infamously inhospitable editorial boss lady, Miranda Priestly, is sticking to her signature style after nearly 20 years—including that iconic hairstyle.
After years of mental fan fiction and rumors of a sequel, lovers of the 2006 fashion-focused film recently rejoiced at the official announcement of The Devil Wears Prada's next chapter. And with each sneak peek at Anne Hathaway's Andy Sachs looks—whether spotted by paparazzi or shared by Hathaway herself on social media—the anticipation is building. But I have to admit, as much as I've been looking forward to the inevitable influx of aspirational style inspo, I've been most excited to see Streep step back into the role of Miranda Priestly, and new photos snapped on the sidewalk do not disappoint.
Streep was spotted in NYC on Wednesday, July 23, decked out as Miranda, looking—and you're not going to believe this—extremely chic. A vibrant purple blouse was tucked into a leather Gabriela Hearst pencil skirt that matched her platform pumps, her peachy trench coat flowing with her confident gait. And there, topping it all off, was the hair.
Photo: Getty Images
Miranda Priestly is still sporting an extremely elegant bixie—that sweet spot between a bob and a pixie that can truly be customized to anyone's personal style. In this case, it's sleek yet soft, with a side part and voluminously swooping bangs that hit right at the top of her sunglasses.
Photo: Getty Images
Did anyone think this legendary character would come back with a waist-length low ponytail or massive curls? Of course not. But that doesn't dampen the excitement of the big, if not predictable, reveal. And there's something oddly comforting about seeing Streep in the short crop so closely associated with the queen of making people uncomfortable.