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Glite Dictionary
🧴 A skin scrub 🧴 Removes dead skin
exfoliant

exfoliant

5.6
That removes dead skin cells from the skin
  • adjective
  • /ɛksˈfoʊliənt/
translation icon : exfoliante
  • This scrub is an excellent exfoliant that helps remove dead skin cells.

Examples

  • After using an exfoliant, my skin feels much smoother and refreshed.

  • Many dermatologists recommend an exfoliant to enhance skin texture and appearance.

  • So step one is an exfoliant and smooth.

Antonyms

occlusive
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Making a passage or opening become blocked

How Abrasive

abrasive
2 5.7
exfoliant
5.6

Surface Forms

exfoliant positive

Morphology

exfoliant = exfoliate (semi-transparent) = ex + foli + ant

If a learner knows the verb 'exfoliate', they can probably infer the adjectival sense 'removing surface layers', but '-ant' is a less transparent derivational pattern for many learners.

Etymology

Exfoliant comes from the Latin parts ex- 'out' and folium 'leaf', so the word describes something that removes surface layers as if you were taking off leaves. That's why an exfoliant (adjective) means 'designed to remove' dead skin cells or other outer layers.