exfoliating

verb

present participle of exfoliate
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exfoliating These Best of Beauty-winning formulas strike the perfect balance between lip care and lip color, providing both softening and exfoliating benefits and a punch of color. — Catharine Malzahn, Allure, 12 Oct. 2026 Include this exfoliating cleanser in a self-care package with a soft headband, moisturizer, face towels, and other skincare favorites. — Ethan Stone october 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026 Prescription and over-the-counter skin products, especially retinoids, exfoliating acids, acne treatments, and lightening products. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 For rougher skin, urea can also be paired with exfoliating ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, and AHAs for additional smoothing power. — Danielle James, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2026 Crepe myrtles are supposed to peel—in fact, gardeners prize the tree for its exfoliating bark. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2026 Its formula is rounded out with the gently exfoliating polyhydroxy acid, niacinamide to even out skin tone, and Laminaria extract for hydration. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026 Bowe advised using a gentle cleanser so skin does not feel squeaky-clean afterward, swapping gritty scrubs for hydrating exfoliating serums and skipping fragrances and essential oils. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 By exfoliating skin, smoothing texture and softening fine lines, salicylic acid stimulates collagen production and supports the skin’s natural repair processes. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliating
  1. shedding
  2. peeling
  3. sloughing
Verb
  • Against that backdrop, the royal visit signals that Spain is shedding its longstanding reluctance to send its monarchs to the exclaves, Amirah-Fernández said.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Polartec is updating its Alpha active insulation platform with a patent-pending construction designed to address snagging and shedding as brands increasingly use the material as a visible or standalone layer.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shedding
Verb
  • There is also paint chipping and peeling above exterior door near ware washing area.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The State Russian Museum revealed that the museum’s specialists repaired areas of peeling, applying primer and paint across the entire surface of the canvas and completed the restoration with a varnish coating.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of peeling
Verb
  • Out toward the edge, the star would boil unstably, sloughing off outer layers and explosively ejecting mass.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
  • It’s also packed with a slew of cleansing agents that are known for effectively sloughing away gunk while being gentle enough not to damage the skin barrier.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sloughing

Browse Nearby Words

exfoliates
exfoliating
exhale
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Cite this Entry

“Exfoliating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exfoliating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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