6 Best Vegan Face Scrub Brands for Glowing Skin

Thankfully there’s a light at the end of the tunnel—face scrubs!

No matter your skin type, we have picked out the best vegan face scrubs for you!

In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks

• Thesis All Natural Organic Face Scrub – with Poppy Seeds
• MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub
• Essa Skin Care Exfoliating Face Scrub
• Beauty by Earth Facial Scrub – Superfruits & Chlorophyll
• Brooklyn Botany Brown Sugar Body Scrub
• NeedCrystals DIY Face Scrub Microdermabrasion Crystals

Why Exfoliation Is Good for Your Skin

So why should we exfoliate our skin? As I mentioned, it’s all those dead skin cells and other debris on our skin’s surface that clogs our pores and leads to oily build-up.

When it comes to acne (whiteheads and blackheads), exfoliation addresses the underlying cause and keeps them from forming.

That’s because dead skin cells seal your pores, and when sebaceous glands produce oil, there’s nowhere for the oil to go resulting in a breakout.

Exfoliation doesn’t just help with acne! It helps pave the way for other products like moisturizers, and helps with their absorption.

That’s because after your pores are unclogged, and your skin’s surface is smooth, your other products can do their job better.

Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars are so frustrating! Exfoliating evens your skin tone by removing the dead skin cells making way for new skin regeneration.

Over time your skin will appear more even and the marks will fade.

All these benefits are great reasons to exfoliate, but what’s also interesting is it helps boost circulation and lymphatic drainage, increased cell turnover, and stimulates collagen synthesis.

Why Knowing Your Skin Type Is Important When Selecting a Face Scrub

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should evaluate before you exfoliate. What they are talking about is your skin type.

Considering your skin type, you may want to look for products that contain the ingredients that will help, and not hurt, your skin.

For instance, if you have inflammatory acne, you may want to avoid products with aggressive chemicals.

Equally as important is not overusing scrubs that contain fruit-derived acids that are referred to as alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta hydroxy acids (BHA).

Choosing products with harsh “scrubbers” would not be suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Look for finer granules such as bamboo stem powder or other naturally-derived ingredients that help remove dead skin cells without all the scrubbing action.

If your skin is very dry, using a scrub formulated with clay for instance would just dry it out more.

You should reach for a scrub that contains hydrating ingredients like essential oils. However, on the flip side, if you have oily skin a clay scrub is really helpful!

In case you’re wondering what your skin type is, there are great resources out there with tips on how to determine yours.

Things to Look for That Differentiate These Products

All the face scrubs on our list are vegan and cruelty-free. This means not only are the products not tested on animals, but there aren’t any animal-derived ingredients in the scrubs either.

So how do you know what to look for? Firstly, my fail proof method is to immediately look on the container to see if the product is vegan certified and cruelty-free.

Usually there is a seal with a “V” for vegan and a cute bunny that means it’s cruelty-free.

However, if the container doesn’t have these helpful indicators, you should take a look at the ingredients to see if there’s anything animal-derived.

Some to look for include beeswax from beehives or collagen taken from animal tissue.

Glycerin can come from animals as well so look for “vegetable” glycerin.

Same for lactic acid—it can be derived from animal blood or tissue so make sure it’s vegan lactic acid. For a helpful chart and more details check out this article!

As you’ll notice, the vegan face scrubs on our list all come with their own unique ingredients.

Main differences include ingredients such as clay, sugar, fruit-acid, or microderm crystals.

The key is knowing your skin type and what ingredients in each are the best for you!

Are Face Scrubs Bad for your Skin?

You may have heard that you shouldn’t use face scrubs because they’re bad for your skin. So we investigated this concern for you.

There was a time when face scrubs came with ground walnut shells that proved too harsh for most people.

Then came the microbeads that were supposedly gentler than the previous option.

However, the microbeads were made of plastic and not good for the environment and didn’t work so great.

Face scrubs now come in different forms that include physical exfoliation and chemical.

Physical exfoliants are ingredients like clay, sugar, and jojoba beads for instance. Chemical exfoliants include alpha hydroxy acids.

You could mistakenly choose the wrong kind of exfoliant for your face and it may cause issues.

So in this case, you may say that face scrubs are bad for you, but perhaps it’s just not the right one for you.

Also important to note is how frequently you use the scrub. Most companies recommend using their scrub only 1-3 times a week.

So, start slow and maybe increase frequency as it is tolerated by your skin.

6 Top Picks for Vegan Face Scrubs

Whether you’re looking for a face scrub to control your acne, even your skin tone, or help prep your skin for other products—we have a vegan-friendly scrub on this list for you!

Thesis All Natural Organic Face Scrub – with Poppy Seeds

Thesis’ Face Scrub is a clay-based facial scrub which is chemical free! Clever additions are the poppy seeds that provide natural exfoliation.

This face scrub is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin since it’s so gentle and non-abrasive.

Thesis ingredients are raw-focused, cruelty-free, and of course vegan! They never use any synthetics or preservatives either.

It smells great—like flowers and exotic spices! It requires mixing the powder with water to make a paste to use on your face. This process may take some getting used to, but it’s worth it!

Clay is great for oily skin since it absorbs the oil and draws toxins and other impurities from your pores.

MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub

MyChelle’s scrub is made with multi-fruit enzymes and naturally-derived alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) that naturally breaks down the substance holding dead skin cells together. This enhances the skin’s natural regeneration and evens skin tones.

The jojoba beads and bamboo stem powder naturally polishes your skin without irritating it. Also in the ingredients are antioxidants protecting you against daily and environmental stressors.

This face scrub is EWG verified which means it has met the highest standards for your health.

A fruit enzyme scrub like this one may be good for you if you are looking for a scrub that offers skin cell renewal.

Essa Skin Care Exfoliating Face Scrub

Essa’s exfoliating face scrub is great if you’re looking for a product offering at-home microdermabrasion.

Several features in their formula include microderm crystals, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), anti-oxidants, and glycolic and lactic acids.

The pharmaceutical quality microderm crystals, called alumina, are in there to boost skin cell regeneration, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and collagen production.

The result? Super smooth and rejuvenated skin!

The glycolic and lactic acids along with the AHA and anti-oxidants assist with blemish reduction, acne scars, and reducing skin discoloration.

Like most face scrubs, it’s recommended that you only use this scrub a few times a week max.

I really like that Essa has created such a powerful formulation addressing multiple skin conditions at once! It’s good for all skin types, genders, and ethnicities.

Beauty by Earth Facial Scrub – Superfruits & Chlorophyll

Beauty by Earth brings you a facial scrub and cleanser in one! It’s packed with a bunch of awesome ingredients for your skin including aloe vera which is inherently calming.

Exfoliation is achieved from the bamboo stem powder, volcanic pumice, and the superfruit extracts together with chlorophyll are natural microdermabrasion agents. So neat!

An interesting fact about chlorophyll is not only is it the reason plants are green, but it also creates an environment on your skin that germs hate so it helps prevent blemishes and inflammation.

This is a great face scrub for you if you’re looking for a 2-in-1 product that provides anti-aging and naturally exfoliating ingredients.

Its recommended use is 2-3 times a week.

Brooklyn Botany Brown Sugar Body Scrub

Brooklyn Botany’s scrub is a 100% natural formula made up of brown sugar granules, extracts, and essential oils. So natural you could eat it (but you probably shouldn’t)!

This sugar scrub has a delightful fragrance and can be used on your whole body.

It’s very gentle and can be used on sensitive skin and areas of your body like your lips. So if you’re on the lookout for a scrub good for sensitive skin, you’ve found it!

I like they included glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) to fight bacteria and keep your skin healthy.

The best part is this scrub is hydrating and conditioning by nature, and exfoliates but doesn’t strip your skin.

It also has fantastic versatility! Use it before and after waxing, as a foot scrub, or to help diminish the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks, varicose vein treatment, and skin blemishes.

NeedCrystals DIY Face Scrub Microdermabrasion Crystals

Bring the spa home with NeedCrystals microdermabrasion crystals! Great for all skin types, this Skincare Booster is an awesome multi-tasker.

Using the power of crystals made from aluminum oxide, this face scrub works as an excellent exfoliator and anti-aging product.

It is great for removing dead skin cells, reducing blemishes and dark spots, stimulating blood circulation in the skin, and minimizing pores.

The anti-aging properties will help firm skin thereby reducing wrinkles, stretch marks, crow’s feet and age spots.

This product is gentle enough for sensitive skin and is 100% natural! It works great when combined with your facial cleanser or body wash, and can be used with any microdermabrasion equipment as well.

To use, cleanse your face first, then mix a teaspoon of crystals with 2 tablespoons of cream, gel or oil and massage in circular motion around your face for about 3 minutes.

After exfoliating, it is recommended you use extracts such as aloe, green tea, wheat or oat to help nourish skin and rehydrate.

Top Choice for the Best Vegan Face Scrub

All of the face scrubs on our list have awesome qualities, and depending on your skin type, you may want a scrub that has ingredients that works for you.

However, we’ve picked the vegan face scrub that stands out among the rest!

Beauty by Earth’s Facial Scrub formulation makes it suitable for most skin types and acts as a cleanser and scrub all in one!

What also makes this scrub unique are the superfruit extracts and chlorophyll that help fight bacteria and provides natural microdermabrasion.

With its pure organic ingredients and multi-purpose use, this vegan face scrub is our top pick!