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
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Recent Examples of exfoliating
Stacking a chemical peel, a retinoid, a new brow lamination kit and an exfoliating body wash in the same week is how irritation, breakouts and chemical burns happen.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
For a routine, many beauty editors suggest exfoliating one to two times a week and following with a richer overnight treatment on the same evening to lock in hydration.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Shoppers dealing with keratosis pilaris, rough patches or dullness tend to gravitate toward exfoliating formulas with retinol or acids like lactic and glycolic.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 June 2026
More than 100,000 shoppers purchased these exfoliating pads last month, and they're frequently repurchased, too.
—
Genevieve Cepeda,
InStyle,
27 June 2026
The main ingredients include gentle exfoliating acids like lactic acid and salicylic acid, plus hydrating panthenol and soothing allantoin to minimize irritation and redness.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
23 June 2026
The formula relies on a trio of exfoliating acids—beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid), polyhydroxy acid (gluconolactone), and lipohydroxy acid (a gentler salicylic acid derivative)—to gently loosen dead skin, decongest pores, and smooth the scalp.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 May 2026
Among the hero ingredients are those Renna also used — propolis, royal jelly and honey — in addition to more modern exfoliating acids, moisturizers and the like.
—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
This is thanks to Manucurist’s nourishing formula, which includes antioxidant-rich beetroot extract, exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and strengthening hexanal to prevent breakage.
—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
For a routine, many beauty editors suggest exfoliating one to two times a week and following with a richer overnight treatment on the same evening to lock in hydration.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Shoppers dealing with keratosis pilaris, rough patches or dullness tend to gravitate toward exfoliating formulas with retinol or acids like lactic and glycolic.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 June 2026
More than 100,000 shoppers purchased these exfoliating pads last month, and they're frequently repurchased, too.
—
Genevieve Cepeda,
InStyle,
27 June 2026
The main ingredients include gentle exfoliating acids like lactic acid and salicylic acid, plus hydrating panthenol and soothing allantoin to minimize irritation and redness.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
23 June 2026
The formula relies on a trio of exfoliating acids—beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid), polyhydroxy acid (gluconolactone), and lipohydroxy acid (a gentler salicylic acid derivative)—to gently loosen dead skin, decongest pores, and smooth the scalp.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 May 2026
Among the hero ingredients are those Renna also used — propolis, royal jelly and honey — in addition to more modern exfoliating acids, moisturizers and the like.
—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
This is thanks to Manucurist’s nourishing formula, which includes antioxidant-rich beetroot extract, exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and strengthening hexanal to prevent breakage.
—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliating
Verb
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From shedding leaves, bark, berries, seeds, and sap year-round to causing your sidewalks and driveway to lift and shift, not all trees are suited for yards.
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Poodles are considered to be low-shedding dogs, in their toy, miniature and standard sizes.
Verb
-
Messy Debris Some trees drop litter all through the year, from peeling bark to messy seed pods to staining berries.
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The coating, supplied by Atlantic Industrial Coatings under a no-bid contract, began peeling after the pool was refilled, while bright green algae appeared as the president claimed without evidence that it had been vandalized.
Verb
-
Digging around Amazon led me to a skin-sloughing solution.
-
After sloughing off his final semester the first time around at USC, Lee needed at least three B’s and two A’s.
Cite this Entry
“Exfoliating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exfoliating. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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