Abrasive

In medicine or cosmetics, an abrasive (from the Latin abradere = to scrape, scrape off, remove, cause wear) is an organic, inorganic or synthetic abrasive material which can be used to remove the uppermost layers of the skin (horny layer).

The finest inorganic materials such as chalk or finely ground sand are used in cosmetics. Organic abrasives generally consist of granules of apricots or almond kernels. Synthetic abrasives contain small round or pointed plastic particles.

Abrasives that are worked into creams are called peeling creams, also known as exfoliator or scrub.