exfoliate
Remove dead cells
Exfoliate means to remove dead cells or flaky skin from the surface, typically through scrubbing, chemical treatment, or specialized products.
Skincare routines often include exfoliating to reveal fresher skin underneath: I exfoliate twice a week with a gentle scrub.
The term extends beyond beauty—in geology, rocks exfoliate when layers peel away due to weathering.
Plants may also exfoliate when bark sheds in thin sheets.
Boggy ground or cast-off skin
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- flakingShedding in layers
- dandruffFlaky scalp condition
- cast offRelease or discard
chrysalis · cicada · shedding · dead skin · keratin · epidermis · skin cells · papery
Clean by rubbing hard
- loofahPlant-based bath scrubber
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- facialBeauty service for skin
- cleanserSubstance for removing grime
pore · moisturizer · toner · serum · glycolic · salicylic · retinol · dermabrasion
Cleaning by rubbing hard
- buffAvid fan; also burnish
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- sandpaperAbrasive-coated finishing material
scour · abrasive · coarse · brush · sponge · friction · rub · slough off
Without roughness or difficulty
- softYielding to touch
- radiantEmitting light or joy
- glowingGiving off steady light
- renewedMade valid again
refreshed · brightened · refined · clarified · rejuvenated · revitalized · supple · polished
slough
Boggy ground or cast-off skin
cast off · chrysalis · cicada · shedding · dead skin · keratin · epidermis · skin cells · papery
scrub
Clean by rubbing hard
cleanser · pore · moisturizer · toner · serum · glycolic · salicylic · retinol · dermabrasion · microdermabrasion
scrubbing
Cleaning by rubbing hard
sandpaper · scour · abrasive · coarse · brush · sponge · friction · rub · slough off · rough
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
renewed · refreshed · brightened · refined · clarified · rejuvenated · revitalized · supple · polished · luminous
deciduous
Sheds foliage seasonally
lichen · husk · birch · eucalyptus · sycamore · paperbark · shagbark
- beautymakeup, cosmetics, lipstick, mascara, eyeliner
- bathingbath, bathtub, bathe, wash, tub
- cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, clean up, dirty, neatness
- groomingbrushing teeth, clean shave, bathe, groomed, haircut
- self-carebathing, self-care, renewal, brushing teeth, bath bombs
- removeremove, peel, strip, scrape, take off
- gentle exfoliation
- exfoliating barkTree skin that peels
- skin exfoliationRemoving dead surface cells
- exfoliating maskSkin-sloughing face treatment
- exfoliating scrubGritty skin-smoothing cleanser
- exfoliating soapGritty bar for skin renewal
exfoliation, exfoliating, exfoliant, exfoliator, exfoliated, exfoliants, exfoliates, exfoliators, exfoliations