Best Overall

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

$37

$36 at Amazon$37 at SephoraView on Dermstore

Type: Toner/leave-on treatment | Key Ingredients: Beta hydroxy acid, green tea | Size: 1–8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This ultra-popular product from Paula’s Choice is tough to beat when it comes to gentle yet effective exfoliation. It’s an exfoliating toner you can swipe on with a cotton pad or apply directly from your palms. The formula is powered by beta hydroxy acid (BHA), which works to refine skin texture and enlarged pores by combatting excess sebum that can lead to blackheads and breakouts. The formula also contains green tea to reduce redness and help create a more even-looking complexion.

By the end of the test, our testers’ pores looked smaller and had an all-around smoother, calmer complexion. We also love that this liquid formula layers seamlessly with other skincare products—you’ll never have to worry about it pilling or feeling greasy on the skin. One thing to note: it can be a bit drying, so we recommend using it sparingly if you have dry skin.

Shannon Stubbs, writer with acne-prone skin: “I’m picky with exfoliators, but this one has become a staple in my routine. It provides immediate results—my skin looks smoother and glowier after one swipe, and it’s easy to use without causing any irritation. I have acne-prone skin, and I notice less breakouts when I use this multiple times a week. My complexion can also get rough and dry in the winter, but this toner makes it feel soothed and soft to the touch.”

Best Budget

Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment

$6 at Amazon$6 at Ulta$6 at Target

Type: Serum/overnight treatment | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This nighttime treatment from Good Molecules will do wonders for your complexion, and it’ll only run you a few bucks. It combines AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs to resurface the skin and treat breakouts, and the lightweight serum spreads easily and absorbs quickly (though it might leave you feeling slightly sticky immediately after application). It can be used a few times weekly and layers seamlessly under moisturizer.

Let it work its magic overnight, and you’ll wake up to glowing, tighter skin. Although following with a moisturizer prevented it from drying out our tester’s skin, they experienced some stinging at first—but it wasn’t overly harsh.

Chloe, tester with sensitive, combination skin: “I did notice waking up the next morning with my skin looking slightly brighter and tighter, which I was super excited to see! I’ve been using this regularly to combat oily skin and hormonal breakouts.”

Best for Beginners

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

$20

$18 at Amazon$38 at Sephora$56 at Ulta

Type: Pre-soaked pads | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid | Size: 28–60 pads | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chemical exfoliant newbies (or those with sensitive skin) may prefer these convenient, pre-soaked pads. Formulated with glycolic acid and lactic acid, these thin pads are smooth on one side and textured on the other, so you can get some gentle physical exfoliation if you want, too. They’re incredibly easy to use and gentle enough to swipe on once or twice a day.

Our tester’s skin looked dewier on day one, and, with consistent use, her complexion was smoother and more radiant with improved texture. Although this product isn’t as potent as other options we tried, it’s ideal for beginners and daily use.

Katy, tester with combination skin: “These radiance pads were very gentle on my skin and could be used daily. Over the course of the testing period, this product helped with the texture of my skin, minimized the look of my pores, and helped add some brightness.”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner

$15

$12 at Amazon$15 at SephoraView on Theinkeylist.com

Type: Toner/leave-on treatment | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have acne-prone skin and enlarged pores, give this toner from The Inkey List a try. It’s a lightweight and fragrance-free formula containing glycolic acid to refine pores and help control sebum production. We also love that it’s budget-friendly.

Our tester said applying it felt like rubbing water on the skin—she experienced virtually no adverse effects (just a bit of dryness). She noticed that when she applied it before bed, she woke up the next morning with a bright-looking complexion. But the most significant benefit she noticed was how this toner helped to reduce the frequency of breakouts. After using it consistently, she was pleased to see fewer blackheads in her T-zone and fewer breakouts overall.

Jessica, tester with combination skin: “I am really happy with how my skin looks! I love how bright and even it appears and how well it keeps the blackheads at bay. This will definitely stay in my routine!”

Best for Enlarged Pores

Shani Darden Lactic Acid Serum

$88

$75 at Amazon$75 at SephoraView on Shanidarden.com

Type: Serum | Key Ingredients: Lactic acid (9%), gluconolactone | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for an exfoliating treatment that will make a visible improvement in the appearance of your pores, try this one. It’s powered by 9% lactic acid to exfoliate, refine, and clear blemish-prone skin. Our tester noted that it delivered short-term and long-term results for his combination, acne-prone skin. After applying it, he said it addressed dullness and minimized the appearance of his pores. By the end of the testing period, he saw improved skin congestion, with fewer whiteheads and a generally clearer complexion. He noted that the formula initially feels a bit tacky on the skin but absorbs quickly, and that the precise pump made it super easy to use.

While he appreciated the serum’s ability to refine pores and brighten skin, it didn’t make much of a difference on acne scarring or rough texture. Overall, this exfoliating serum is an excellent choice for anyone wanting to introduce exfoliating actives into their routine to minimize the look of their pores.

Derek Deng, associate content editor with combination, acne-prone skin: “I used this serum on my retinol off-days, applying it every other day as a part of my nighttime routine. I noticed that each morning after application, my skin was less dull and my pores were less visible.”

Best Mask

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask

$80

$76 at Amazon$80 at Sephora$80 at Ulta

Type: Mask | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid| Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When your skin needs a reset, reach for this powerful mask from Drunk Elephant. It’s a potent facial peel that combines a blend of exfoliating acids that work in tandem to resurface the skin and improve uneven texture and tone. The mask itself has a creamy texture that you apply to clean skin and let sit for up to 20 minutes. Once you wash it off, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how smooth your skin looks and feels. Our tester raved about how well it improved bumpy skin texture after consistently using it, saying it delivered immediate and long-term results.

This mask is a fantastic option for people looking for a weekly treatment, but beware that it can sting a bit when you first apply it. It’s also pretty strong, so we recommend opting for a more gentle formula if you have sensitive skin.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “This is truly an exfoliating facial in a bottle. It’s intense and definitely not for everyday use, but it’s awesome for times when you need a skin reset.”

Best Brightening

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment

$85

$72 at Amazon

$85

$79 at Sephora

$85

$26 at Ulta

Type: Weekly treatment | Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, salicylic acid, fruit enzymes | Size: 0.5, 2, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

One way to brighten dull skin is to establish an exfoliating routine, which removes surface-level dead skin cells that can make your complexion look dull. This exfoliating treatment is a brightening hero, combining chemical, physical, and enzymatic exfoliation into one powerful formula. It’s meant to be used once or twice weekly for up to two minutes, making it a quick and simple exfoliating product to incorporate into your routine.

Our tester loved that it offered immediate results by buffing away dead skin cells and making her complexion look more radiant. She also noted that it helped reduce hyperpigmentation over time. This baby is potent and can sting a bit when you first apply it, so sensitive skin types might want to choose something more gentle.

Sophia (not pictured), tester with sensitive, combination skin: “This mask helped unclog my pores and remove a lot of dull skin. My skin has more of a glow than usual.”

Best Exfoliating Night Cream

Caudalie Vinoperfect Night Cream

$69 at SephoraView on Caudalie.comView on Bluemercury.com

Type: Night cream/leave-on treatment | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, vine sap extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you like maintaining a minimalistic skincare routine, finding multipurpose products is the way to go. The Caudalie Vinoperfect is a rich night cream you leave on overnight and wash off in the morning. It’s formulated with glycolic acid and papaya enzymes to exfoliate and brighten the skin, as well as a vine sap (patented by the brand) to help reduce dark spots over time.

After the first application, our tester woke up the next morning with skin that felt noticeably smoother. The first few times she applied it, she experienced some tingling, but her skin eventually got used to it. After using it nightly for six weeks, her complexion was glowing, and she even noticed her fine lines were less visible. While she didn’t notice a reduction in dark spots, she felt its other benefits make this cream a standout.

Lauren, tester with combination skin: “I used this product nightly and felt that over the last six weeks, my skin looks brighter and my fine lines have diminished a bit.”

Best for Travel

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

$20

$19 at Amazon$92 at Sephora$92 at Nordstrom

Type: Pre-soaked pads | Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, salicylic acid, retinol | Size: 5–60 treatments | Cruelty-Free: Yes

These individually wrapped, pre-soaked peel pads are a convenient choice for jetsetters. It’s a two-step system where the first pad includes alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, including glycolic, lactic, malic, and salicylic acid, and the second pad (which you apply two minutes after the first one) includes retinol and various skin-friendly antioxidants. The first cloth in the system has astringent-like feel that might cause some stinging, but the formula really penetrates the skin. The second one has a much more calming feel.

Our tester saw results with just one use, and after using the pads every two to three days for six weeks, her skin was substantially smoother with a healthy-looking glow. Yes, these peel pads are a two-step process, but they’re compact and incredibly effective, so we think they’re well worth it.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “These pads feel gentle on the skin while smoothing uneven skin texture and brightening my complexion. I don’t experience burning or tingling during use.”