Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum

Though packed with powerful exfoliators—glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid—to smooth and even out the skin tone, this body lotion is gentle enough for sensitive skin. The milky serum also boasts retinol to help improve skin texture and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. “This formula is ideal for someone who wants a serious dose of exfoliation,” says Ryan Turner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of TRNR Skin in NYC. “It leaves skin looking smoother, firmer, brighter, and more even.”

Testing notes: And a serious dose of exfoliation is exactly what Glamour’s Twine experienced. “Holy cow, the Topicals Slather lotion is impressive. I used it on my legs for a couple weeks, and they are now dreamily soft and smooth. I made sure to put some on the rough skin around my ankles, and somehow it sloughed off the dry spots—even though I hadn’t physically exfoliated with any sort of scrub in that area during that time. This lotion exfoliates all by itself. I am very impressed. And it’s very, very absorbent. Even if I slicked my legs up with a ton of this lotion, it was absorbed within five minutes. That’s a huge plus for me. The con is that the lotion has a faintly medicinal smell, and you should be careful about any potential transfer by touching your face. The powerful retinol formula made the skin on my face a little tingly,” she says.

Size: 5 oz. | Active ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, cocoa butter, squalane | Scent: Unscented

• Pros: Nongreasy; multitasking formula; gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Cons: Overuse can cause dryness; faint smell