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The weather is turning, with some days feeling bright and sunny, while others have us hunkering down in hoodies and sweats. If you need something to get you out of this transitional weather, Netflix is releasing some killer content this May. We’re talking documentaries, films, and yes, your guilty pleasure… reality TV.
Whether you want to see Married At First Sight star Dave Hand make his debut on international television in Perfect MatchSeason 4, be touched by a relationship between an octopus and Sally Field, or watch a new rom-com, Netflix has you covered. Oh, and Martin Short’s new documentary Marty, Life Is Short is also heading our way. Could Only Murders In The Building co-star Selena Gomez make an appearance? Ahead, see all of our top picks for Netflix movies and TV shows to watch this May 2026.
The Four Seasons Season 2
The gang are back for some messy seasonal holidays, with some awkward family dynamics to navigate. Ginny (Erika Henningsen) is pregnant with Nick’s (Steve Carell) baby, while his ex Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) may still be reeling from their unexpected divorce. Danny (Colman Domingo), Claude (Marco Calvani), Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte) are all back, and we can’t wait to binge this one.
When: May 28 Watch if you like:Wine Country, Otherhood
You, Always
This sweet Australian rom-com is officially landing on Netflix! Following Dr. Jen Bell (Jessica De Gouw), our leading lady must decide whether to move to Sydney for a passionate love with her favourite author, or stay in her island home with her long-time best friend. We’re feeling friends-to-lovers here, in the best way.
When: May 1 Watch if you like:Always Be My Maybe, Falling Inn Love
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Based on the bestseller by Shelby Van Pelt, this heartfelt film follows a widow (Sally Field) who works at an aquarium. Her special bond with a giant Pacific octopus leads her to an adrift young man (Lewis Pullman), and the pair develop an unlikely friendship.
The film also stars Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant and Sofia Black-D’Elia.
When: May 8 Watch if you like:Nonnas, Good Grief
Marty, Life Is Short
Marty, Life Is Short is a documentary chronicling the life and career of comedian Martin Short. Director Lawrence Kasdan has combined unseen archival footage with new interviews from Short’s celebrity friends.
When: May 12 Watch if you like:Will & Harper, Jerry Before Seinfeld
Perfect Match Season 4
Married At First Sight (MAFS) 2026 is well and truly over… so Perfect Match Season 4 is dropping just in time! In a reality TV crossover, MAFS 2025 contestant Dave Hand has officially joined the cast, so it will be interesting to see if he finds love this time around.
When: May 13 Watch if you like:Married at First Sight, Love Is Blind
The Boroughs
This new TV show from the executive producers of Stranger Things looks intriguing. The sci-fi horror follows a group of people in a “perfect” retirement community, who discover not everything is as it seems. They must join forces to stop an otherworldly force from stealing the one thing they don’t have much of: time.
The show stars Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Jena Malone, Denis O’Hare, Alfre Woodard, Beth Bailey and more.
When: May 21 Watch if you like:Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, The OA
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If you wore makeup in 2012 and 2016, you probably remember an era that was all about a full-face beat: dramatic contour, stark matte liquid lipsticks, and enough full-coverage foundation to hide a multitude of sins. I began my beauty editor career around that time, which makes me all the more grateful for the one I find myself in now: a soft-girl approach to makeup that feels like a breath of fresh air.
Of course, sheer makeup isn’t exactly new. But these days, it’s hitting differently. A mix of shifting tastes — partly shaped by the pandemic’s interruption of full-glam routines — and the natural ebb and flow of trend cycles has brought us to a place where less-is-more feels modern and refreshing. The look I keep coming back to centers on dewy, healthy skin and blurred, diffused pops of color. It echoes the “jelly makeup” moment, but feels more grown-up, with a softer, romantic sensibility.
During a recent Instagram scroll, I came across the perfect description of this micro trend, courtesy of makeup artist Alexandra French: Watercolor makeup. Think: luminous washes of color that are dewy but not quite glossy, with sheer, buildable color payoff that allows the skin to peek through. “You can see the hydration and bounce,” MAC Cosmetics senior artist Gilbert Soliz tells Refinery29 of this makeup moment. “It’s also a seasonal shift that totally makes sense.” Ahead, discover the products and techniques to help you get the look.
Our collective love affair with blush is arguably what’s driving this trend. But according to Soliz, the difference between ethereal and accidentally messy comes down to technique. His advice: start with less than you think you need and build slowly, pressing and tapping pigment into the skin rather than swiping. “I also let each layer settle before adding more — this allows the color to blur into the skin instead of sitting on top and turning patchy,” he explains.
When it comes to product, the goal is that luminous, barely-there wash of color — and texture matters. Soliz recommends reaching for “lightweight, water-forward formulas” over traditional powders. “Think serums, skin tints, balms, and gel-cream hybrids that create a veil on the skin rather than sitting on top,” he says.
Lately, I’ve been reaching for Benefit’s new Juice Stick blushes, which glide on with a cooling burst of hydration (that’s the coconut water in the formula) and leave behind a fresh, just-pinched flush. In her post, makeup artist Alexandra French also calls out Stila’s Convertible Color Liqua-Tint Blushes, which can be used on cheeks and lips while delivering a hit of hydration via hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. Victoria Beckham’s Colour Wash comes in both blush and bronzer shades, with a water-light formula that melts into skin and leaves behind a gauzy, glazed sheen of color.
Lips
It’s easy to equate this trend with gloss, but watercolor makeup is a bit more nuanced than a mirror-like finish. Instead, think plush, softly diffused lips that look hydrated and lightly tinted — never overly lacquered. MAC Cosmetics’ Glow Play lip balms deliver a sheer, juicy wash of color that subtly adapts to your lips’ pH for a more personalized hue. Laneige’s JuicePop liquid lip tints lean into that just-bitten effect with a touch of shine, while Makeup By Mario’s Jelly Jar balms invite a more hands-on approach, letting you finger-paint your way to a lived-in lip look.
In terms of shades (and this applies for elsewhere on the face, too), it’s less about the specific color and more about how it’s applied; if I’m not dabbing product on with clean fingers, I like to follow Katie Jane Hughes’ technique of “priming” the brush (aka loading it up with product and diffusing it within the bristles by wiping excess off the back of my hand) to dot it onto my mouth for a blurred effect. Additionally, I’ve been pushing myself to leave my comfort zone of nudes and terracottas in favor of rosy and even lilac tones, like something I’d see in a Eugène Delacroix portrait.
And yes, the look works for eyes, too. Instead of reaching for your most pigmented powders, opt for sheer liquid or cream shadows that can be tapped onto lids with your fingers for that softly diffused effect. I’ve been especially into Violette_FR’s new Plume Eyeshadows, which melt into the skin with a blurred finish thanks to their soft, cream-to-powder formula. As Violette herself puts it, the goal with this product “isn’t intensity or precision,” but rather a diaphanous veil of color that feels effortless to apply. I also love Versed’s Sheer Stay Liquid Eyeshadow (particularly the shade Haze, a pale purple that looks borrowed from Monet’s Water Lilies paintings) and Armani Beauty’s Eye Tints — both deliver a quick, foolproof wash of color that you can swipe on and blend out in seconds.
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Chloe Cherry is “extremely tired” of being asked about sex work. But it’s hard to get around the topic when it’s a focal point of EuphoriaSeason 3, and she stars in the controversial HBO series. Cherry plays Faye, a deadpan, deceptively observant drug smuggler working with Zendaya’s Rue and a drug addict herself. As the show leans harder into shock value this season, Cherry is one of the few cast members willing to interrogate what the Sam Levinson series is actually saying. Since she’s no stranger to the realities of sex work herself, it’s understandable that she has become a voice of critique. But it’s also fair that Cherry doesn’t want to be positioned as a spokesperson for an industry she only dabbled in. As Euphoria asks if sex work is empowering or just a means to an end, Cherry has insights that are completely unexpected. Like her character, she’s become one of the show’s quiet truth-tellers, mixing bluntness and vulnerability into every answer.
Nearly every major character in this season of Euphoria is, in some way, entangled in transactional intimacy, blurring the line between survival, choice, and spectacle. TV’s most polarizing series has doubled down on sex work as a central plot device. Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) wants a quick payout to fund her extravagant wedding to Nate (Jacob Elordi) so she turns to OnlyFans, despite already living in luxury. Maddy (Alexa Demie) is a model manager (including OnlyFans models) and Jules (Hunter Schafer) is a sugar baby. Rue is also working at a strip club.
As Euphoria Season 3 storylines spiral into increasingly sensational territory, Cherry has thoughts and they are razor sharp. In conversation with Refinery29’s Taylor Loren, Cherry talks about her now famous Gen-Z pout, the control she had over Faye’s look, and her real thoughts on OnlyFans and that controversial Cassie storyline.
How much input did you have into how your character Faye looks and presents herself on screen?
Chloe Cherry: For Season 3, I actually did have a lot of input in how Faye looks and presents herself on screen, because of the fact that Sam and I worked together so much to create who Faye was in Season 2 that for Season 3, they really trusted my input on what I felt like Faye would be wearing. We did this long wardrobe test, where we tried on so many things. And as soon as they would put something on me, I would just know. I’d be, like, “Faye wouldn’t wear this. Faye would wear this.” I just knew what Faye would have access to based off of how she lives versus not.
The thing that’s really trending on the internet right now is the Gen Z pout, and lots of people credit you as one of the people who made that so popular. What are your thoughts on the Gen Z pout?
CC: It’s not like a pout, it’s just my natural resting face. It’s when I rest all the muscles in my face. And my whole life, I’ve been told that I have Resting Bitch Face, and I would always think That’s so unfair. This is literally just what my face naturally looks like when it’s resting. Why do I have to be smiling at all times for you to be comfortable near me? I just never could understand why that term “Resting Bitch Face” even existed and why people had been saying it to me since I was, like, 15 years old. To the point that I was like I’m never fucking smiling again! And I’m gonna convince the whole next generation to also stop smiling. There you fucking go.
I just can’t stand this whole thing: “Oh, you’re so pretty. You should smile more.” I’m just at the grocery store. Why would I just be smiling at all times? When I’m just feeling normal and content, my face is just like that. I’d look like a weirdo if I was just smiling.
I’m never fucking smiling again! And I’m gonna convince the whole next generation to also stop smiling. There you fucking go.
Chloe cherry on the gen-z pout
I want to talk to you about some of the themes in the show around sex work and power. I think you’re a very qualified person on the cast to talk about that, but at the same time, I’m also aware that that’s probably something that a lot of people lead with. Do you ever get tired of those questions?
CC: I do get extremely tired of people asking me about sex work. One is because I actually wasn’t a very successful sex worker. Two is because I barely spent any time in that industry at all. Again, because I was not that successful. Three, it’s because there’s about 100 people that were astronomically more successful than me in that industry, that are still working at industry today, that did way more in that industry than I ever did or never am going to do, and know way more about the industry than I am ever going to know, and have way more experience in it than I do.
OnlyFans and sex work have become more normalized, but it’s literally only because of capitalism and the economy getting worse. It has nothing to do with empowerment or power or anything.
chloe cherry
I always just say, like, “if you want to have a conversation about porn, why do you have me on?” There’s so many actual porn stars that are doing it today that you could interview instead if you want to talk about that. I never understood why everybody wants to talk to me about it when I actually wasn’t super unsuccessful in it and not popular at all. I wasn’t popular in the industry at all until I was on Euphoria. When I was actively working as a porn star, not a single person interviewed me.
You did an interview recently where you were talking about how you didn’t think that you would be able to in Hollywood [with your past in sex work]. In Episode 2, we see that Maddie has to give up a client because of the stigma that was attached to OnlyFans. But she’s saying “no, the norms are changing. There’s this transition.” Do you feel like that’s true?
CC: I do think that it’s true. OnlyFans and sex work have become more normalized, but it’s literally only because of capitalism and the economy getting worse. It has nothing to do with empowerment or power or anything. What it actually 100% has to do with is just the fact that we live under capitalism and the economy is horrible. That’s why people are turning to it.
It just feels crazy as fuck to see somebody living like Cassie turn to sex work. It’s like, holy shit, that’s where we’re at in society? I really think that OnlyFans is a crazy, weird phenomenon of the 2020s that we will look back on and be very confused by.
chloe cherry
Cassie says Only Fans means that she would be the one in charge. Do you think that that’s true if you look like Cassie?
CC: People have, like, the weirdest, like, ideas and like fantasies of sex work, like being like, so empowering and like, we’ve seen all these news stories where they’re like, oh, only fans. Model makes $700 billion in a month, and everyone’s like, whoa and like, I literally just think that these things are a bit of smoke and mirrors, actually, and I don’t know it’s just, I. I don’t even really understand, like, what it means to be on only fans. Honestly, I don’t even really know what people are doing on there. It’s really hard to say if it would give her any power. Obviously Cassie is extremely attractive, so it probably would lead to her making a lot of money. But it just feels crazy as fuck to see somebody living like Cassie turn to sex work. It’s like, holy shit, that’s where we’re at in society? I really think that OnlyFans is a crazy, weird phenomenon of the 2020s that we will look back on and be very confused by.
What does it feel like to be part of the center of the Euphoria universe?
CC: It’s the best thing I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I’m not even kidding. I love being an actor. I love being a part of an ensemble, especially an ensemble of incredibly talented actors that I very much respect and I’m very honored to work with. Yes, I am so grateful that I got to be a lead. It was an amazing experience shooting the show. It was super fun. All the things that I got to do, all things that I got to learn and experience, all the people I got to meet. It was so fun. I just fell even more in love with acting, and I just really hope people like watching the show.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
EuphoriaSeason 3 is airing now on HBO.
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For as long as I can remember, 10,000 steps has been the gold standard of walking — at least, walking that’s tracked. It’s what we’re meant to aspire to achieve each and every day in order to attain an (alleged) optimal level of health. It’s become the default goal in the majority of our step trackers and the (sometimes unreachable) finish line to our days. And while we’ve all collectively decided that 10,000 is the ideal daily number to hit, where did it even come from? Who decided this was the number we needed to strive towards? More importantly, what if it’s a myth entirely?
As it turns out, the thought that we need to take 10,000 steps — or walk around five miles — a day was an accident. It came from the need to market a product. I-Min Lee, MD, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and researcher of physical activity, tells Refinery29 that in the 1960s, a Japanese company created a pedometer called “Manpo-kei” that translates to “10,000 steps meter.” “10,000 steps is a really catchy number,” she says. And so, it caught on. “It pretty much was in use without people questioning too much about it,” she says.
Eventually, 10,000 became the global baseline for many step counters and pedometers from Fitbits to Apple Watches, leading consumers to believe that the very number was the end-all-be-all for walking goals. And while we’ve been following this recommendation for decades now (or, at least, just acknowledging it) Dr. Lee says it’s not all that useful as a baseline for being healthy.
A 2021 study published in JAMA Network Open followed 2,110 adults for over 10 years, tracking their step counts along the way. The researchers found that those who took at least 7,000 steps a day — not 10,000 — had a lower risk of premature death than those who didn’t. In 2019, Dr. Lee and her colleagues published a study in JAMA Internal Medicine that found similar results. They also found that after 7,500 steps, the benefits of walking tend to taper off depending on the person, although their research mainly focused on older women ages 62 to 101. For those that are younger, Dr. Lee says a higher step count is probably better.
There is a psychological component to this all, too. Some people may look at 10,000 as a daunting number, which can be discouraging. Some may become more obsessive and have anxious thoughts if they’re not hitting that number during their daily movement. It’s possible to become fixated on hitting numbers and metrics, which can, overall, hurt your health rather than help it.
“I think number targets are fantastic for some people and awful for others, whether it’s numbers on a scale or steps on a pedometer,” says Jill Grimes, MD, author of The Ultimate College Student Handbook. She adds that in our pursuit of being healthier, we need to focus on what’s really motivating us to move. “For young adults, that might be feeling fit enough to enjoy a first ski trip or simply to be able to walk across campus without feeling exhausted,” says Dr. Grimes. “Focusing on the why is key.”
The good news, Dr. Lee says, is that all steps count — whether there’s 10,000 of them or 7,000 of them or 2,000. If 10,000 seems like a far off number for you to hit, Dr. Lee says a reasonable target would be to add 2,000 more steps to your daily average. And, for those who aren’t physically able to walk as much, doing daily strength exercises with body weight or added weights is also a good idea.
When in doubt, any kind of movement is better than none at all — and while 10,000 gives us a concrete goal to aspire to, it’s nothing to sweat over.
This article was originally published in January 2024 and has since been updated.
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This year, April 25th will bring the juiciest part of the season to us. Uranus is moving back into Gemini, which is going to be a fantastic moment in which we see paradigms shift. Mark your calendars because this spring is about to get lit — especially as responsible Saturn, idealistic Neptune, and transformational Pluto alchemize with Uranus, bringing extreme makeovers to many aspects of our lives and to the world at large. Are you ready? Here we go…
For the second time in 84 years (counting last year, when Uranus moved into Gemini from July 7th to November 7th), Uranus is re-entering Gemini. During this transit, we’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in the stock market, in our personal relationships, and in our bank accounts. There has been a different approach to how we resource and grow food, encouraging us to have better practices. As the wild card planet moves into the air sign Gemini, it’ll give us the motivation to disrupt the world through communication. We will be cosmically encouraged to use our words to protest and assert our power, proving that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.
Since we’ve been undergoing financial highs and lows during Uranus’s stint in Taurus, we will feel as though things are shaping up quickly when Uranus enters Gemini. We might even see an uptake in the stock market and workforce, particularly when it comes to journalism. This could be an excellent time for growth in all industries so stay open and aware of all of the opportunities that may come. Update your LinkedIn regularly and keep in touch with former colleagues. New jobs can come from these sources. Coworkers will want to give us a leg up and encouragement to become great.
The US will start its Uranus return this year, fulfilling the cycle in 2029. At that time, Uranus will align with the degree that it was at the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. This means that we will see a lot of change in the country’s foundation. It could be a time of autonomy, allowing us more power in the freedom of speech. We won’t hold back in stating our views. Our voices give us strength and resolve, so we must assert ourselves loudly. There could also be innovations in social media, smartphones could get smarter, and AI could evolve to new heights.
Lately, there has been a lot of controversy around the use of AI in media reporting and writing. Since Gemini is the sign of communication and Uranus is the planet of revolution, we are going to see many contrasting views on the matter. This transit will mark how we use social media, as Uranus also represents connectivity on the internet. No method of aligning with others may take flight, proving that old-school meet ups and the use of landline phones will be trendy because they oppose the norm — that is how Uranus operates: it rebels against convention.
The rebellion is coming when Uranus moves through spirited Gemini — so stay tuned and be cognizant of all the world events that are happening and transpiring. You may find that committing to a cause that speaks to your soul and heart gives you a reason to become a humanitarian. As long as you believe in your ideals and are impassioned by them, you’ll be able to make your visions come true. Ignite your dreams!
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If 2025 was the year of the bob, then 2026 is the year that the pixie cut steals the spotlight back.
Some might say that last year’s jaw-grazing cuts were just leading up to this moment—and they’d probably be right. We can’t scroll through Instagram without spotting a meticulously carved pixie crop, whether on a celebrity like Teyana Taylor or an influencer like Yesly Dimate.
There isn’t a pixie cut that David Boardman — a hairstylist located at Cutler Salon in New York — hasn’t mastered, and he has a sense of why it’s making a huge comeback in 2026: “It’s all about individuality and boldness,” Boardman tells R29. “It’s a style that blends softness and ease, allowing you to play with volume and texture.”
Boardman says that you can “slim” it down for a sleek, tapered look or add fullness for a more dynamic shape. “Ultimately, the pixie cut accentuates your best features and brings out your personality in the most authentic way,” he says.
Spoiled for choice? We’ve done the hard work for you. Our edit of the best pixie cuts is all the inspiration you need to show your stylist.
Content creator Sia proves that a pixie cut can be chic with this straight-across style. The chopped-in fringe adds a subtle edge, taking it from bowl-like to modern. To achieve that bitty, separated finish at the front, your stylist will cut vertically into the strands as a final touch.
Hairstylist Stefano Colì proves that the pixie cut is something of an art form. Here, the layers are blended so seamlessly that it gives the overall look a softer feel. We love the chiseled sideburn.
This cut sits in a cozy space between a pixie and a shag. While it’s shorter at the back and sides, hairstylist Justė Sidabraitė has left plenty of length on top so the curls can be scrunched and mussed up using a texturizing product for added volume.
London-based pixie specialist Paula Cummings has absolutely nailed this tapered cut with finger waves. She leaves more length on top for defined curls.
Symone Holliday proves that curls and pixie cuts are a match made in heaven. We especially love how the longer curls fall forward, creating the illusion of micro bangs.
The way hairstylist David Boardman has cut this pixie on Elizah Grace Hill makes her hair look sculpted, almost as if it’s been carved. It’s all in the subtle short layers, the face-framing pieces, and the softer, longer sides.
There’s something whimsical — almost Tinker Bell-esque — about this pixie cut by hairstylist Andrea Firriolo. We think it’s down to the long, sweeping layers that frame the face so beautifully.
This choppy, sliced pixie cut by Motohashi is defined by the sharp points and angles that frame the face, but it still looks soft thanks to a texturizing product.
We’re a little obsessed with this pixie-and-“mini mullet” combo by hair designer, wig maker, and colorist Tyla Thomas. It’s the perfect cut if you don’t want to lose too much length or find growing out your hair challenging.
One of my 2026 resolutions was to take better care of my body — not just in terms of what I put into it or how often I exercise, but how I treat the skin all over. Famously your largest organ, the skin requires just as much attention below the neck as it does above it — something I’ve admittedly neglected for years. While I’ve gotten better about applying body lotion on a regular basis (please clap!), it wasn’t until I added one extra step that my routine really leveled up. Ever since I started incorporating body scrubs into my everything shower, my skin has felt noticeably softer, smoother, and more radiant overall.
I have keratosis pilaris (those tiny, rough bumps caused by excess keratin clogging hair follicles) on my upper arms, and consistent exfoliation has been a genuine game-changer. But even if you’re not trying to smooth texture or treat specific concerns, body scrubs are a worthwhile addition for several reasons — and not all formulas are created equal.
What are the benefits of a body scrub?
At their most basic, body scrubs physically slough away dead skin cells, helping to prevent ingrown hairs, body breakouts, and buildup that can make skin look dull or feel rough. But the new wave of formulas goes well beyond that, often incorporating ingredients you’re more used to seeing in your facial routine. Think glycolic and lactic acids for chemical exfoliation, alongside hydrators like glycerin and squalane to soften and support the skin barrier.
And it’s not a coincidence. Dr. Muneeb Shah, a board-certified dermatologist and founder and CEO of Remedy Skin, attributes this trend to the fact that we’re all a little more savvy about ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinoids. “For years, body care was almost an afterthought — a loofah, a generic body wash, maybe a basic lotion,” he says. “Now we’re asking: ‘Why isn’t my body wash doing what my serum does?’”
The skin on your body deals with the same concerns as the face, adds Dr. Shah: “Think texture, dryness, and hyperpigmentation. It makes complete sense that the ingredient innovation we’ve seen in facial care is now making its way into body care.
With that in mind, discover the formulas that I think truly go above and beyond for treating bumps, pigmentation, ingrown hairs, and more.
If I had to commit to just one body scrub for the rest of my life — and what a sad fate to imagine! — it would be this one. It’s easily my most repurchased body product, and the first formula I recommend to anyone dealing with KP. The pumice stone granules are ultra-fine, so it never feels overly abrasive or scratchy on the skin, while the addition of 10% glycolic acid does the heavy lifting when it comes to smoothing texture and reducing ingrown hairs. I don’t personally notice any tingling even as I massage it in and leave it on for a minute or two. That said, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to work your way up to more consistent use. Over the past few years of use, I’ve noticed a visible reduction in my upper arm bumps — and, just as importantly, it helps keep them from coming back.
I’d wear this body scrub as a fragrance — that’s how good it smells. The light, fruity-floral scent feels tailor-made for spring, lingering just enough on the skin without veering into overpowering territory. Beyond the sensorial appeal, it delivers gentle exfoliation paired with a dose of hydration via glycerin, leaving skin noticeably softer and smoother post-shower. The sugar-based formula is infused with a moisturizing, rice-derived milk blend, so it buffs away dullness without stripping or irritating.
Yes, dry skin types can absolutely benefit from a body scrub — the key is choosing a formula that balances exfoliation with plenty of moisture. This one delivers on both fronts, thanks to a hefty 20% concentration of glycerin alongside linoleic-rich oils like coconut, rosehip, and jojoba seed. The result is skin that feels polished, not parched. “Dry skin can absolutely use a scrub,” echoes Dr. Shah. “Just follow it immediately with a moisturizer while skin is still damp.” (Right now, I’m using Salt & Stone’s Santal & Vetiver Hydrating Body Lotion, which feels luxurious but not heavy or greasy.)
Soft Services’ Buffing Bar combines the convenience of a solid bar with the exfoliating power of a scrub. Consider this your most advanced option for powerful exfoliation: The mineral microcrystals effortlessly slough off dead skin, making it noticeably more intense than your average gentle exfoliator. I tend to reserve it for areas that can handle a little extra grit — like my ingrown-prone legs or the back of my thighs — where it helps smooth texture and keep bumps (including buttne) in check.
On days when I want something gentler, I reach for Nécessaire’s The Body Exfoliator. I’m partial to the eucalyptus scent, but it also comes in santal, vetiver, and a fragrance-free option. The ultra-fine bamboo charcoal granules offer a softer polish that won’t irritate sensitive skin, while the elevated scent profile is giving fancy hotel spa.
The saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is exactly what this exfoliating body wash is. I like to squeeze it onto a damp washcloth, work it into a lather, and rub it all over for an easy, low-lift way to keep skin smooth. A blend of lactic and phytic acids (a mild, plant-derived AHA) (exfoliates on contact, helping to even out tone and refine texture over time. The end result is skin that looks clearer, brighter, and more uniformly healthy — without the need for a separate scrub step.
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