as in shedding
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a soap that promises to help me exfoliate all that dry, flaky skin I've apparently been carrying around
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exfoliating
Commonly grown as multi-trunked specimens, the exfoliating bark takes center stage in winter with peeling layers of cinnamon-brown.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Similar to other exfoliating acids, mandelic acid gently dissolves the bonds between dead skin and the healthy skin underneath.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2025
The pumpkin powerhouse smoothing and exfoliating lip mask was a personal favorite, lasting for hours on our lips.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Infused in cleansers, toners, and even essences, K-beauty’s exfoliating ingredients are often gentle and appear alongside hydrators to keep skin comfortable, while still delivering their brightening, smoothing, and resurfacing benefits.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Choose an exfoliant that has an AHA, such as lactic acid, or other hydrating properties to soothe your skin while exfoliating.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 Sep. 2025
Double-cleanse with Aprilskin cleansing balm, Eminence daily exfoliating cleanser, Thayer’s toner, Glow Recipe blackberry retinol, and Farmacy honey halo moisturizer.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 26 Sep. 2025
To prevent staining your hands, wash them immediately after applying self-tanner, and treat them like you would the rest of your body with an exfoliating mitt if any color lingers.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 23 Sep. 2025
Then, follow it up with a bland, gentle moisturizer free of exfoliating actives—this will help hydrate the skin, and protect against dryness.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Similar to other exfoliating acids, mandelic acid gently dissolves the bonds between dead skin and the healthy skin underneath.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2025
The pumpkin powerhouse smoothing and exfoliating lip mask was a personal favorite, lasting for hours on our lips.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Infused in cleansers, toners, and even essences, K-beauty’s exfoliating ingredients are often gentle and appear alongside hydrators to keep skin comfortable, while still delivering their brightening, smoothing, and resurfacing benefits.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Choose an exfoliant that has an AHA, such as lactic acid, or other hydrating properties to soothe your skin while exfoliating.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 Sep. 2025
Double-cleanse with Aprilskin cleansing balm, Eminence daily exfoliating cleanser, Thayer’s toner, Glow Recipe blackberry retinol, and Farmacy honey halo moisturizer.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 26 Sep. 2025
To prevent staining your hands, wash them immediately after applying self-tanner, and treat them like you would the rest of your body with an exfoliating mitt if any color lingers.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 23 Sep. 2025
Then, follow it up with a bland, gentle moisturizer free of exfoliating actives—this will help hydrate the skin, and protect against dryness.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliating
Verb
-
The company has been shedding staff.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Finding leverage That fiber shedding isn’t a problem one company, no matter how large, can solve alone is something that Gudrun Messias, director of global sustainability direction at Adidas, learned the hard way.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Commonly grown as multi-trunked specimens, the exfoliating bark takes center stage in winter with peeling layers of cinnamon-brown.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Skincare, after all, begins precisely with one’s choice of cleanser, setting the stage for clean, glowing skin by morning and sloughing away the day’s impurities by night.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exfoliating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exfoliating. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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