With the signing of the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, these tiny plastic beads were promptly banned from toothpaste, body washes, cleansers, and other hygiene products in the United States. The upshot? An estimated 8 trillion beads—enough to cover 300 tennis courts—will no longer enter American waterways daily.[1] The downside? Many of us may not know how to get our exfoliation on without these textured suckers. While chemical exfoliants (like alpha and beta hydroxy acids) are often smooth in texture and do a great job of sloughing off dead skin cells, the concentrations of these acids in some skincare products may be too strong for sensitive skin types. Here are a few plant-derived ingredients equipped to exfoliate your skin naturally:
Jojoba Beads
Studies have shown jojoba wax to be skin hydrators.[2] But when used as beads in body scrubs and other products, this wax gently exfoliates skin, too.
Fruit Enzymes
Fruit enzymes, like those found in pumpkin, pineapple, and papaya, are nature’s alpha hydroxy acids, known to exfoliate dead skin cells on the uppermost layer of the skin. Look for these ingredients in at-home peels and masks, though those with sensitive skin types should be careful about introducing these ingredients in their skin care, as some are highly allergenic.[3] Not sure if you have an allergy to these ingredients? Test a spot of any new product on your skin before trying a full application.
 
Manuka Honey
Long used in hospitals for dressing wounds, this honey is proven to be antibacterial in nature.[5] Bonus: its grainy texture works to exfoliate dead skin cells while naturally cleansing the skin.
Rice Extract and Rice Bran
The smooth, fine-grained texture of rice powder (Oryza Sativa) is being incorporated into more and more cleansing products. Its ability to exfoliate without creating micro-cuts and tears in the skin makes it preferable to sharply-cut materials, such as ground nuts.
 
Sugar and Salt
These kitchen staples have long been used in DIY scrubs. However, because both sugar and salt grains tend to be larger and coarser than other plant-based exfoliators, they may cause tiny tears on the delicate facial skin. If you are looking to smoothen out your skin by way of sugar or salt-based scrubs, try using it on the tougher skin below the neck.
