April 10, 2025
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Despite having an arsenal of scrubs, brushes, and polishes at my disposal, I don't exactly have my body exfoliating routine down pat. It's not that I'm unaware of the benefits of body care—I've written way too many articles to ever ignore those perks—but I'm simply impatient when it comes to my own shower.
I've got things to do! People to see! I cannot waste precious minutes massaging in coffee granules!
Jokes aside, I need an exfoliator that feels like second nature to my shower routine, so I'll actually stick to a regular regimen. So, when I finally got my hands on the cult-favorite Buffing Bar from Soft Services, I was shocked to declare it a shower-time staple—my skin had never felt so smooth.
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The miracle-working exfoliator comes in a set of two for just $28, and the brand is currently offering a starter set that also includes a sleek drying dish and splash cover.
Soft Services
Buffing Bar
$ 28 for 2
My skin: dull, rough & perpetually thirsty
Again, I don't always remember to exfoliate my body, save for a weekly shave. On that note, I don't have the best razor on hand (I usually just pick up a drugstore pack), and I'm a bit haphazard with the routine (told you, I'm impatient!), so I don't always wind up with the silkiest shave.
As a result, areas prone to keratosis pilaris, like the backs of my thighs, can feel bumpy.
My skin can also never get enough hydration, and I always, always slather on a body lotion post-rinse. But without proper exfoliation, my creams and butters cannot properly absorb into my thirsty pores since the lingering dead skin creates a barrier that makes it hard for the formula to do its job—thus, my skin stays dull and rough.
My results
The first time I used the Buffing Bar, I was truly blown away—seriously, I couldn't believe how soft my skin felt. In the shower, I wet the bar and rubbed in gentle, circular motions on my roughest areas (the backs of my arms and thighs), and it immediately released any trapped hairs and keratin buildup.
My poor feet also have some gnarly calluses (commuting sandal-clad in NYC—enough said), so I dedicated a few moments to my heels, and the results were better than any pumice stone I've tried.
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The brand calls the Buffing Bar an "exfoliating brick," which I honestly think is the perfect term. It's certainly not your average creamy bar soap; the experience actually feels sort of like an exfoliating mitt—rough and slightly grainy—yet it still suds up like your traditional bar soap would.
That's because the formula features magnesium oxide crystals, which are small yet effective for physical exfoliation, as well as sodium palmate (a common surfactant in bar soaps) and glycerin, aloe, and shea butter to simultaneously hydrate and soften the skin.
Image by Jamie Schneider / mbg Creative
Given these hydrating and cleansing ingredients, you could use the bar all over if you wanted to, but you'll have to ease up on the pressure for more sensitive areas, especially if you're prone to dryness or irritation.
I decided to only scrub rougher areas that needed some extra polishing and stick to my everyday body wash (Odele's Moisturizing Body Wash) for my full cleanse. Regardless, make sure you moisturize after stepping out of the spray—exfoliating without replenishing that hydration is a recipe for a weakened skin barrier.
Soft Services
Buffing Bar
$ 28 for 2
The takeaway
Is the Buffing Bar worth the buy? Take it from someone who loves a streamlined shower routine: This $28 product (which comes in a set of two) makes exfoliating an absolute breeze, and it delivers shockingly smooth results.
My only callout is that bar soaps are notoriously difficult to store—if they stay moist, they can easily harbor bacteria. If you don't already have a slotted soap dish to drain excess water, I would suggest investing in the Soft Services Soap Home as well, or grabbing the limited-time starter set (which saves you $9).
You want to extend the life of your new favorite exfoliator, no?
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4 Dermatologist-Approved Tips For Dealing With Dry & Acne-Prone Skin
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Jamie Schneider is the former Senior Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
Image by boyloso / iStock
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.
Oily and acne-prone skin are usually typecast as one and the same—because increased sebum production is one of the main culprits in breakouts, many acne treatments focus on absorbing oil and purifying the skin to keep the pores clear (all eyes on you, clay masks). And, thus, oily and acne-prone skin earn dynamic duo status.
But as you likely know, any skin type can also run acne-prone (and just because you have oily skin doesn't always mean you're necessarily prone to breakouts). If you have dry skin, for example, caring for the hybrid takes a delicate balance and, admittedly, a pinch of guesswork: Considering many treatments to manage acne are inherently drying in nature, it can be difficult to keep breakouts at bay without further leaving the skin parched.
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If this sounds like a familiar predicament, you're not alone. Here's your plan of action, backed by derms.
Dry & acne-prone skin, explained
According to board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of Ava MD Dermatology, the SkinFive and The Box by Dr. Ava, increased oil production often leads to clogged pores and breakouts, but it's not the only issue: Sometimes, having acne-prone skin is due to factors like genetics or hormone fluctuations, and it's simply out of your control.
And sometimes? Sebum has nothing to do with it: "Bacteria and hormones, especially as we age, come back into play for acne that is not necessarily an overproduction of sebum," Shamban says. "In fact, it occurs when our sebum levels are dropping." Meaning, as you age (and your skin becomes drier), the pH of your skin also starts to rise which can create an environment where pro-inflammatory bacteria thrive.
And since dry skin is also associated with a weakened skin barrier, environmental aggressors and irritants can easily make their way inside and kick-start inflammation—which can then lead to breakouts, all without any sort of slick skin.
4 tips to treat dry & acne-prone skin:
1.
Protect the skin barrier
As we mentioned, a compromised skin barrier can lead to dry, cracked skin that's vulnerable to irritants (i.e., acne-causing bacteria). That said, fashioning a strong barrier is key—support yours with ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and colloidal oat, as well as pre-, pro-, and postbiotics to maintain a thriving microbiome.
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2.
Buffer your acne treatments
"For those of us who have acne-prone and dry skin, we have to be extra careful in terms of which products to use," notes board-certified dermatologist Flora Kim, M.D., FAAD. "And most of the acne formulations out there can be inherently drying, and thus further exacerbate your delicate dry skin."
To reduce these drying effects, many experts recommend providing a physical barrier to dilute the potent active—like a moisturizer. "Let it sit for a few minutes to buffer and mitigate the more harsh ingredients," Shamban advises.
3.
Or use them as spot treatments
If you have an active blemish you'd like to zap, Kim suggests using those aforementioned drying ingredients—like benzoyl peroxide, clay, or witch hazel—as a spot treatment. Take a small amount of product ("Literally a chia-seed-size or smaller," notes Kim), dab it atop the pimple, and let it sit overnight.
4.
Don't skip out on moisture
Both Shamban and Kim tout the importance of keeping the skin happily moisturized. "Even with acne, keeping moisture balance at the surface and within the dermis is key," says Shamban. "But you want to find a noncomedogenic formula." Granted, noncomedogenic has a different definition for everyone, so you might have to guess and test which ingredients work for your skin (Shamban especially loves mango and shea butter for dry and acne-prone individuals).
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"But you must moisturize morning and night—you just have to use the right acne-friendly moisturizer," seconds Kim. "Same goes for your face wash—you must use one that is respectful of your dry skin but acne-conscious too." Rather than opting for astringent solutions and stripping soaps, reach for creamy cleansers that rid gunk from pores while feeding them with skin-loving nutrients.
The takeaway
Treating dry and acne-prone skin can be difficult, as you want to keep the pores clear without further stripping the skin. All it takes, say the experts, is some strategic layering and a secure skin barrier.