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 AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acid, work on the surface, exfoliating the outer layers of the skin. — Kelsey Stewart, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026 The best moisturizers for strawberry skin combine nourishing ingredients with exfoliating properties to smooth, soften, and leave skin feeling its healthiest. — Mary Honkus, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2026 The biggest overnight mistakes include sleeping in makeup, skipping moisturizer, over-exfoliating, using SPF as a night cream and picking at pimples in bed. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026 At the same time, glycolic acid—an exfoliating ingredient—helps renew skin by sloughing off dead skin cells and improving texture for a silky-smooth finish. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 2 Aug. 2026 Best chemical exfoliator These viral exfoliating pads are soaked in a blend of AHAs and BHAs to gently sweep away dead skin and excess oil. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 31 July 2026 The sheets are also coated in a gel essence for a smooth, seamless feel, which minimizes friction—making these the virtual opposite of an exfoliating pad. — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 27 July 2026 The brand uses gourmand fragrances, soothing plant butters, exfoliating tropical fruit acids and nourishing oils to keep your skin and hair looking healthy, hydrated and smelling delicious. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 For a routine, many beauty editors suggest exfoliating one to two times a week and following with a richer overnight treatment on the same evening to lock in hydration. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliating
  1. shedding
  2. peeling
  3. sloughing
Verb
  • Isla Fisher is shedding light on her life since separating from Sacha Baron Cohen.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Contributor Stewart Savin put this model to the test by cleaning up after her 60-pound German Shepherd rescue mix, whose shedding season is 365 days a year.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of shedding
Verb
  • Lowden details peeling back the layers of River and why the character ends up in a much more hopeful place as the show heads into its sixth season.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But the $16 million project faced immediate problems, including peeling blue sealant and a fierce return of green algae.
    — Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of peeling
Verb
  • At the same time, glycolic acid—an exfoliating ingredient—helps renew skin by sloughing off dead skin cells and improving texture for a silky-smooth finish.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The leader of his country’s Socialist Party, Rama came to power in 2013, as Albania was still sloughing off its insular identity.
    — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 23 July 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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