exfoliant
4 synonyms for exfoliant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A product or ingredient that loosens and removes dead cells from the surface of the skin, either by physical rubbing with fine particles or by chemical action that dissolves the bonds holding those cells together.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
exfoliator
resurfacer
How to use exfoliant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
chemical exfoliant
physical exfoliant
gentle exfoliant
enzyme exfoliant
Standard in cosmetics and dermatology; the verb is exfoliate and the process is exfoliation.
Etymology
From Latin exfoliare, to strip of leaves, from ex- meaning off and folium meaning leaf.
Full origin of exfoliant →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a physical and a chemical exfoliant?
A physical exfoliant contains particles, brushes or cloths that dislodge dead cells by friction. A chemical exfoliant uses acids or enzymes to break the bonds between those cells so they shed. Both target the same surface layer by different routes.
Is exfoliant the same as exfoliator?
In practice the two words are used for the same thing. Exfoliant is more often the ingredient or substance, and exfoliator more often the finished product or the device, but the distinction is not firm.
What are AHAs and BHAs?
They are the two main groups of chemical exfoliating acids. AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid, of which glycolic and lactic acid are examples, and BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid, of which salicylic acid is the familiar one.
