exfoliant

noun

ex·fo·liant | \ (ˌ)eks-ˈfō-lē-ənt

How to pronounce exfoliant (audio)

, -ˈfōl-yənt

How to pronounce exfoliant (audio)

\

Definition of exfoliant

: 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

Recent Examples on the Web Haeckels seaweed and salicylic powder exfoliant sloughs off dry skin with its mix of ground seaweed, tea tree leaves and crushed willow bark. — David Syrek, chicagotribune.com, "Pro tips for keeping a guy’s skin looking great — even in a Chicago winter," 19 Feb. 2021 For example, True Botanicals Sugar Scrub, a hydrating body exfoliant and Jones' toning face mist of choice, Drunk Elephant Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Hydrating Spray, rings in at £32. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "January Jones Revealed Her Entire £1,000 Skincare Routine," 29 Jan. 2021 Now, due to popular demand, the exfoliant is set to re-launch in 2021, and get this: It's already amassed an 11,400-person waiting list. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "This Sold-Out Paula's Choice Exfoliant Is Back — With a Waiting List of More Than 11,000," 1 Jan. 2021 Medium depth peels are most commonly performed with glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), or Jessner’s solution, which is a mixture of lactic acid, salicylic acid, and an antiseptic exfoliant. — Julie Ricevuto, Allure, "The Science of Beauty: Acids for Skin Care Ingredient Guide," 19 Nov. 2020 For me, a good facial has always included thorough extractions and some kind of heavy-hitting exfoliant. — Katheryn Erickson, Glamour, "We Tried the Best Methods for Getting Rid of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes," 9 Sep. 2019 What our spirits might also need, Williams suggests, is three skin-care products — cleanser, an exfoliant, and a moisturizer — from his forthcoming line, Humanrace, which launches November 25 on a website of the same name. — Brennan Kilbane, Allure, "Pharrell Is Launching a Skin-Care Line Called Humanrace, and We Tried It First," 11 Nov. 2020 This gentle workhorse of an exfoliant can clear scalps with dry, combination, or oily skin. — Popular Science, "Scalp scrubs that banish scaly patches and build-up," 4 Sep. 2020 Sugar also contains natural glycolic acid, which works as a chemical exfoliant to help get rid of even more dead skin. — Jennifer Blair, chicagotribune.com, "The best body scrub," 22 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exfoliant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about exfoliant

Dictionary Entries near exfoliant

exfoliation dome

exfoliative cytology

Statistics for exfoliant

Last Updated

1 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Exfoliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exfoliant. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for exfoliant

exfoliant

noun

ex·fo·liant | \ (ˌ)eks-ˈfō-lē-ənt

, -ˈfōl-yənt

\

Medical Definition of exfoliant

: 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

Comments on exfoliant

What made you want to look up exfoliant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

organoleptic

Listen to the pronunciation of organoleptic

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

February 2021 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of perdure?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ