The 5 Best Skin Scrubbers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed by Editors

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As a beauty editor with lifelong oily skin, I know the struggle of having perpetually congested pores all too well. No matter how often and effectively I cleanse, tone, exfoliate, and mask, my complexion is just naturally prone to blackheads. That said, skin scrubbers are the impressive blackhead removal tool that I’ve now been obsessing over to combat these issues — and so have skincare professionals and TikTokers.

So what exactly is this skincare device? “A skin scrubber is an ultrasonic metal spatula device that uses vibrations to gently exfoliate dead skin or penetrate a product deeper into the skin,” says licensed esthetician Victoria Waked. They also help decongest pores, including blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.

Since I personally incorporate skin scrubbers — sometimes called skin spatulas — into my routine and have tried them during professional facials, I put together this easy-to-follow guide. In addition to featuring Waked’s guidance, I carefully researched and found a few solid skin spatula recommendations that will help you achieve your beauty goals.

Best Skin Scrubbers

• Best Overall: PMD Wave Pro

• Best Design: Skin Gym Lumiscrub

• Best Woman-Owned Brand: DERMAFLASH DERMAPORE Skin Care Device

• Best Budget: GUGUG Skin Scrubber Face Spatula

• Best Under $100: Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Skim 4-in-1 Skin Spatula
  

Are Skin Scrubbers Good for Your Skin?

Both Waked and I agree that skin scrubbers are good for the skin. In fact, she says they are useful for anyone struggling with oily skin or congested pores, or those who can’t tolerate deeper exfoliation tools. In those instances, you can use skin spatulas up to twice weekly.

Waked notes these tools can also be used daily to help your face serums, moisturizers, and creams penetrate deeper for faster efficacy.

And get this: Some models are so high-tech they use microcurrents to lift the skin, while others are equipped with positive and negative ions which can help treat various skincare concerns. Pretty epic, considering the winners on this list start at just $20.

Skin Scrubber Tips for Success

Don’t skimp on your routine: The Las Vegas-based professional recommends combining a skin scrubber with a solid daily and weekly at-home routine to ensure your skin is on point. “You can see more long-term benefits and results by using a skin scrubber in conjunction with your individual skincare products at home,” she says.

Always use your skin scrubber on damp skin while moving up and out: Waked is the head of the U.S. training of skincare line Dr. med. Christine Schrammek, so she naturally likes to use the brand’s Herbal Care Lotion to provide calming, balancing, and antimicrobial benefits to her skin.

Sanitize your new skincare tool: Regardless of which product you use to add slip, she advises following up with a face wash and always disinfecting the device after every use to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Don’t forget to moisturize: Lastly, it’s time to lock in hydration with a face serum, oil, or moisturizer that addresses your main skin concern, and to use the device on the flipside to penetrate it deeply into your cleansed, bare skin.

How We Chose

Since I’m a big fan of skin scrubbers, I included different models I’ve enjoyed using and believe are worth owning. Some models also earned snaps from my fellow editors.

Editor-Tested Products

Four out of my five skin scrubbers were personally tested by myself or a fellow Best Products editor. We considered the functionalities of each device, along with ease of use and comfort. Additionally, we evaluated the long- and short-term benefits of using each product to bring you the best of the best. As for the lone outlier, UGUG Skin Scrubber Face Spatula earned rave reviews from more than 28,000 Amazon reviewers who say it delivers on all of its promises.

Price

There’s nothing wrong with shopping on a budget. And TBH, I'm grateful you trust my unbiased guidance to achieve the skin of your dreams. One solid skin scrubber that marries form with function is from a top-rated Amazon brand and is discounted from $27 to $16. Three of my other picks are under $100, while our most expensive suggestion earned snaps from multiple editors, fully justifying its $129 price tag.

Wave Pro

Sure the cute colorways available are nice. However, given its noteworthy capabilities, glowing online reviewers, and the functionalities impressed editors on our team, I knew this was the clear best overall winner.

Senior editor Eunice Lucero-Lee is a fan of the PMD Wave Pro to ensure her face is smooth and snatched. After she dampened her face, she ran the spatula upward from her chin and noticed a light steam and painless microcurrent. “I have sensitive skin and it was gentle enough that I didn’t incur any redness. My serum went on smoothly afterward, and it really helped clear the congestion around the nose area,” she says.

The extract mode is my favorite because it gently removes blackheads, while Mode 2 emits positive ions for serum infusion. Mode 3, which uses EMS technology is Lucero-Lee's favorite. She describes the painless electrical current ideal for lifting and contouring crow’s feet, marionette lines, and the forehead. “This is totally going with me on my next vacation to keep any travel puffiness, dullness, or jetlag face at bay,” she says.

PMD Beauty reviewers are also keen on this skincare device. For example, one online reviewer used this skincare device for three weeks and noticed a visible improvement in their skin. “The pores are radically different. Must have been clogged, not bad, but I see the difference,” says their 5-star PMD Beauty review.

More: These Beauty Editor-Approved Sephora Gift Sets Start at $16

Lumiscrub

I’d be a liar if I didn't admit to having a soft spot for pretty skincare tools and products. Lumiscrub is a gorgeous pick device made for Barbie fans like myself. It’s gorgeous to look at, but more importantly, it’s comfy to use and helps me achieve cleaner, more moisturized skin.

Skingym promises this professional-quality device is worthy of the just under-$80 price tag. Beyond vibrations that remove congested pores, it utilizes microcurrents for a lifted skin appearance. There’s also ionic technology to promote hydration.

Overall, I think it’s a really well-made tool that easily eliminates hard-to-reach areas of my face, like around my nose. Given my positive experience using this tool, I gifted one to my friend with oily skin.

DERMAPORE Skin Care Device

I was first introduced to skin spatulas way back in 2019 at a DERMAFLASH event, so I’m nostalgic to include them in this story. Mine has held up nicely over the last few years.

However, my biggest tip is to be cautious about gifting one to a klutz, because mine started to malfunction in the later years after one too many slips off my bathroom counter. #whoops

That said, I do think it’s a solid option, hence the inclusion in my story: It’s super easy to use and comes with a stand to hold the device in place to prevent it from picking up germs on my bathroom counter.

I like seeing the gunk on my skin spatula because it shows me the tool is actually working. As for infusing face serums and creams, I think it does a great job, and find my skin looks and feels more supple whenever I utilize this skin spatula.

Skin Scrubber Face Spatula

The multipurpose skin scrubber is the only option on this list that doubles as a face-cleansing brush. It includes a purple silicone spatula cover to help remove gunk from the pores, while the blue ribbed version is ideal for face massages.

Unfortunately, this is the only skin scrubber I haven’t personally tested. However, it boasts a casual 4-star average from more than 28,600 Amazon reviews, which is comforting. Reviewers use words like, “smooth facial texture,” “good device,” and “does the job” to describe this model and the skin benefits it offers.

One Amazon reviewer loves theirs so much they advise that you “please buy it now!” In their 5-star review, the reviewer says their nose was heavily congested with blackheads. Squeezing them would cause their eyes to water and their nose looked swollen and red. Pore strips were also ineffective.

“Using this product has changed my life. I know that might sound a little dramatic but I am not kidding. I can use this to remove my blackheads right before an event without worrying about my nose being swollen. I just hate that I waited till I was 30 years old to try this product,” says their Amazon review.

Sonic Skim 4-in-1 Skin Spatula

Rounding out this list is this multiuse skincare device from Michael Todd Beauty. The thin skincare tool doesn’t take up much space in my makeup bag during travels, and find it lasts for several uses on a single charge.

Most importantly, it’s an effective device for cleaning congested pores but is also very easy to sanitize with rubbing alcohol. Notably, it relies on sonic vibrations that oscillate at 27,000 hertz to help face potions infuse deeper into my skin. It also combines positive and negative ions to promote blood circulation for a healthier skin appearance.

“Five stars. Michael Todd hit it out of the park again for me. I am glad I got this back from my daughter. I like it for the two applications I am using for it so far [lifting and tightening],” gushes one Amazon reviewer.

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