exfoliant
noun
ex·fo·liant
(ˌ)eks-ˈfō-lē-ənt 
-ˈfōl-yənt
-ˈfōl-yənt
: a mechanical or chemical agent (such as an abrasive skin wash or salicylic acid) that is applied to the skin to remove dead cells from the surface
Examples of exfoliant in a Sentence
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Skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, peptides, and salicylic acid also slowly found their way into shampoos, conditioners, exfoliants, tonics, and masks.
—
Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Beyond professional spa treatments, there’s a market for physical scrubs and chemical exfoliants, formulated to buff away sebum and flakes.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 25 Mar. 2025
But there are also chemical exfoliants, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), which fall under the treatment category.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
Some clarifying shampoos contain cleansing ingredients, such as salicylic acid, an exfoliant also found in some dandruff shampoos.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2025
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Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Beyond professional spa treatments, there’s a market for physical scrubs and chemical exfoliants, formulated to buff away sebum and flakes.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 25 Mar. 2025
But there are also chemical exfoliants, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), which fall under the treatment category.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
Some clarifying shampoos contain cleansing ingredients, such as salicylic acid, an exfoliant also found in some dandruff shampoos.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exfoliant
Cite this Entry
“Exfoliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exfoliant. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
exfoliant
noun
ex·fo·liant
(ˌ)eks-ˈfō-lē-ənt
-ˈfōl-yənt
-ˈfōl-yənt
: a mechanical or chemical agent (as an abrasive skin wash or salicylic acid) that is applied to the skin to remove dead cells from the surface
called also exfoliator
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