Powder cleansers and dry scrubs are such a simple innovation that it is genuinely shocking they haven’t been a skincare staple for decades. Cleansing powders and powder exfoliants are fun and easy to use, so they are a worthy thing to try. Is it your first time trying cleansing powder? We recommend getting any of these 19 powder cleansers and dry scrubs, as they are the most effective ones on the market.
1. Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder
This dry face polish instantly brings luxury to mind. Rice powder gives a physical exfoliation, but this formula also includes papaya enzymes for an ultra-light chemical exfoliation. It’s a dry scrub that leaves the skin feeling soft and soothed, since it also contains green tea and algae extracts. It is best blended with just water, and should be rinsed away shortly after it’s used. You can purchase it from Sephora.
2. Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant
With a few drops of water, this cleansing powder transforms into a paste that is one of the best powder exfoliants around. It is gentle yet thorough, making it a fabulous choice for normal and combination skin types. It contains alpha hydroxy acids for a touch of chemical exfoliation, along with a collection of skin-nourishing extracts. If you’d like to try it, you can find it at Nordstrom.
3. Babor Cleansing CP Enzyme Cleanser
Powder cleansers don’t get much better than this one. This enzymatic formula cleanses the skin beautifully once blended with water, effectively removing all kinds of makeup and impurities. It also helps to lightly and very gently exfoliate the skin. It is available for sale online via Dermstore.
4. DHC Face Wash Powder
This is one of those powder cleansers that are more thorough, so they are well suited for oily and combination skin types. It is a gentle formula that exfoliates just a tiny bit, and is best blended with water, since it foams up. It leaves the skin feeling soft thanks to a touch of honey. You can find it for sale at Dermstore.
5. Diptique Radiance Boosting Powder for the Face
This cleansing powder is like a very gentle dry scrub and dry mask in one. It leaves the skin matte yet radiant, thanks to ultra-gentle kaolin clay. It works for all skin types, and has a gentle floral scent. You can purchase a bottle from Nordstrom.
6. Clinique Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser with Pure Vitamin C
Tiny packs make this powder cleanser the perfect travel companion. It helps to totally cleanse the skin and soften it lightly, and it also includes a dose of vitamin C to brighten and prevent pesky signs of premature aging. You can find this powder cleanser for all skin types at Nordstrom.
7. Dior Hydra Life Time to Glow Ultra Fine Exfoliating Powder
This is a two-in-one facial cleansing powder and exfoliant that gives the gentlest polish to the skin. It lathers on contact with water, to cleanse the skin. It includes polishing lotus seeds and hydrating sugar extract, so it’s an excellent choice for oily and dry skin alike. It is available for sale at Sephora.
8. UMA Ultimate Brightening Rose Powder Cleanser
This luxurious and all-natural powder face wash works to brighten and gently resurface the skin. It is made with a delicate blend of soothing flower petals, a collection of gorgeous essential oils, and just a hint of clay to pull impurities and excess oil from the skin. It blends well with water as well as other mediums, and can even be left on the skin as a mask. You can find it at Nordstrom.
9. Amarte Daily ExfoliPowder
This cleansing powder exfoliant is a choice you really can’t go wrong with. It has a blend of ingredients to prevent premature aging as well as acne, and it is gentle enough for even sensitive skin. It exfoliates with a soft blend of powders that won’t irritate the skin. It is sold online via Dermstore.
10. Origins Clear Improvement Powder Cleanser
If you have oily skin, and you’d like some deep cleansing, then this charcoal-infused take on cleansing powders should be your go-to. It gives a thorough exfoliation and cleansing to the skin, and is best combined with water. If you’d like to give it a try, you can find it at Harrods.
11. Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face
This oh-so-simple exfoliating powder is made of Japanese adzuki beans, also known as mung beans, along with some moisturizing jojoba oil and lightly foaming surfactants. This is one of the most delicate cleansing powders that will gently exfoliate and nourish normal and dry skin types. You can find it at Sephora.
12. Farmaesthetics Vassar Rose Perfecting Polish
This is one of those dry exfoliants that keep a rustic, natural feel going. It exfoliates the skin with a blend of rose petals, kaolin clay, and pumice, while a touch of powdered sweet milk gives some softness to the skin. This powder cleanser is best suited for normal and combination skin types. It is available for sale at Dermstore.
13. SW Basics Exfoliant
Oats, almonds, and a hint of salt – sounds like a healthy breakfast, doesn’t it? Those are actually the simple, gentle, and skin-soothing ingredients in this thorough yet natural powder cleanser. It’s one of the best dry scrubs for those who prefer all-natural formulas without hard-to-pronounce ingredients. It can perfectly exfoliate any skin type. Try if for yourself by purchasing it from Dermstore.
14. Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Cx30 Vitamin C Brightening Powder Cleanser
This one of those powder cleansers that are on the more exfoliating side of things. It contains oatmeal for exfoliation, along with a ton of vitamin C to visibly brighten and rejuvenate the skin. You should give it a try if you have acne-prone skin, especially if it’s been plagued with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, although it’ll technically work for any skin type. It can be picked up at Ulta.
15. Nyakio Chinese Rice Exfoliating Cleansing Powder
This formidable formulation is one of the best options for all-natural dry scrubs and cleansing powders. It contains both African black soap for cleansing, and rice powder and gluconolactone to gently slough away dead skin, leaving it soft and supple. It is an excellent choice for all skin types! You can buy it from Ulta.
16. Murad Transforming Powder
With silica, jojoba esters, and salicylic acid, this powder cleanser looks like a more traditional scrub formula, just in the form of a dry scrub. It gives the skin a perfect exfoliation with some cleansing, so definitely use it with water for that foamy effect. It can work for all skin types, but especially for acne-prone skin. You can pick it up from Skin Store.
17. Leahlani Skincare Kalima Coconut Cream Cleansing Powder
This is probably the most moisturizing of the dry scrubs and powder cleansers out there. It includes coconut milk, followed by a long list of natural exfoliating and purifying ingredients that polish and purify the skin into perfection. It is a strong exfoliant that can be blended with just about anything, and is ideal for those with dry, combination, or normal skin. Since it is surfactant-free, it can also double as a skin-softening mask. Find it online at Cult Beauty!
18. French Girl Organics Rose Facial Polish
This is another one of the best powder cleansers and dry face scrubs for those who like a hint of florals. It is a wonderful choice for those with normal, combination, and oily skin. It is a beautiful pink shade, thanks to rose petals, and it exfoliates gently with brown rice powder and skin-purifying kaolin clay. The natural fragrance blend is absolutely to die for. You can find it for sale online at Revolve.
19. One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Masque
This phenomenal dry scrub works for all skin types, including those who are very sensitive. It exfoliates gently with pea flour and cornstarch, while kaolin clay ensures that it can double as a skin-clarifying mask. It is available for sale online through Dermstore.
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta