What is a physical exfoliant?

A physical exfoliant uses texture to remove dead skin cells from the upper surface of the skin, allowing new skin cells to generate and resulting in more radiant skin. The removal of these skin cells is generally achieved through the use of beads, seeds or granules that create friction to loosen old cells, commonly within products such as cleansers or scrubs. Physical exfoliants are an alternative to chemical exfoliants, which work by dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells together.