How To Exfoliate Your Face

Frequency, Safety & Top Products

Every good skincare routine starts with a good cleanse. Washing your face is one of the most important (and one of the easiest) ways that you can take care of your skin for a clear and healthy complexion. “Skincare also helps with preventing signs of aging by minimizing fine lines and uneven texture of skin,” notes Johannah Gregg, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

However, sometimes, a cleanser alone doesn’t cut it.

If you have oily skin or just got back from a sweaty day outside, your regular face wash isn’t always enough to cut through the dirt, grime, and dead skin cells that build up on your skin throughout the day. When cleanser alone can’t do the trick, you need to bring in some backup: an exfoliator.

Skin exfoliators are like cleansers on steroids: they rid your skin of impurities that, if left unchecked, can cause breakouts, dryness, or dull skin tone.

Today, we’ll explain what exfoliators can do for your skin and which types you can try. We'll also leave you with some recommendations for which exfoliating products are best for your skin type.

What Is Exfoliation?

While regular cleansers wipe away any surface-level impurities sitting on the skin, exfoliators work deep in the skin to unclog pores and prevent build-up on the skin.

That’s right: dermatologists say exfoliation is all about removing dead cells from the skin.

You might be surprised to learn that the top layers of your skin are actually entirely made up of dead skin cells — and this is on purpose.

This tough outer layer makes for a great shield against the outside world. However, as your skin continually undergoes cell turnover and generates new cells in the basal layers, this skin barrier can collect too many dead skin cells. These lingering dead skin cells can enter your pores, clogging your skin and leading to acne and other blemishes. To prevent these breakouts, you need to unclog your skin.

That’s where exfoliators come in. These skincare products work to remove extra dead cells from your skin and restore your glowing skin.

Why Is Exfoliation Important?

You might have heard that you only have to exfoliate if you have acne-prone skin, but this isn’t true. Nearly every skin type can benefit from regular exfoliation — including both oily and dry skin:

If you have oily skin, exfoliating can help clear away any excess oil and build-up before it has the chance to sink into your pores and cause acne.

If you have dry skin, exfoliating can help remove those lingering dead skin cells that are contributing to dryness and flaky skin.

If you have combination skin, which has elements of both oily and dry skin, then the benefits of exfoliation for you are all of the above.

How Are Chemical and Physical Exfoliation Different?

While some kind of exfoliation can benefit almost any skin type, not every exfoliating product will suit everyone. That’s why you need to choose the right exfoliator for your skin.

The first step in choosing the right exfoliator is deciding which type of exfoliation is best for your skin type: chemical or physical exfoliation.

Chemical exfoliation uses the power of acid to remove dead skin cells from the skin. These acids are designed to slip between your skin cells and break down the bonds holding dead cells to the surface of your skin. Common acids used in these exfoliating products include water-soluble alpha hydroxy acids (lactic acid, glycolic acid, etc.) and oil-soluble beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid, topic acid, etc.).

Physical exfoliation is entirely different. It relies on mechanical exfoliants instead to loosen grime trapped in your pores and bring them to the surface to be washed away. It’s a much more manual process and often involves some type of facial scrub and an exfoliation tool, like a washcloth, loofah, or exfoliating brush.

Because of their manual nature, physical exfoliators can be rougher on the skin, making it a poor choice for sensitive skin. Instead, sensitive skin types (like acne-prone skin) should use a chemical exfoliator. Dry skin types often see a lot of benefits from physical exfoliators.

How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Skin?

In the same way that you need to choose the right exfoliating product for your skin type, the amount that you use that product also depends on your specific skin. For almost any skin type, exfoliating every day is too much, but the amount of oil and dead skin cells you produce will determine just how often you should be using an exfoliator.

Frequency For Dry Skin

Because dry skin tends to be more sensitive, you want to be cautious with how much stress you put on it. Once or twice a week is often all your skin needs to stay clear — and sometimes, that’s all it can handle.

Frequency For Oily Skin

Oily skin is a bit more resilient, so it can generally take some heavier exfoliation. Still, you don’t want to overdo it — two or three times a week should be enough to unclog your pores without damaging your skin.

Is It Possible To Over-Exfoliate?

Exfoliating is generally a great skincare step for your skin, but there is such a thing as too much. Because of the powerful nature of skin exfoliants, they can cause more harm than good if overused.

Over-exfoliating your skin can pull too much from the skin, taking the healthy cells and good oils away with the dead and bad ones. This ultimately damages your skin barrier.

What Are Some Signs of Over-Exfoliation?

When you exfoliate too often or use the wrong type of exfoliant for your skin, you will start to notice damage on the surface of your skin. Visual signs that you might be over-exfoliating your skin include:

Redness, inflammation, or irritation
Skin peeling
Dry or flaky skin
More oil and breakouts than usual
Burning sensations after exfoliating, especially on sensitive skin
Dark spots and hyperpigmentation, especially on darker skin tones

What To Do If You Over-Exfoliate

If you notice any of these signs of over-exfoliation, stop using your exfoliating product (or stop using it as often).

Thankfully, because most of these skin concerns are on the skin’s surface, they should fade away as your skin naturally regenerates through cell turnover. If you notice prolonged symptoms or are concerned about your skin’s health, reach out to a board-certified dermatologist or another healthcare professional.

What Are Some Exfoliating Products To Try?

With so many things to keep in mind, it can be intimidating at times to look for an exfoliating product to add to your skincare routine — especially if this is your first time giving skin exfoliation a try. However, removing dead cells from your skin doesn’t have to be complicated.

Whether you’re an exfoliating newbie or you’ve been doing this for years, we’ve put together a list of our favorite skincare products that can help you achieve the smooth skin of your dreams.

(And don’t worry: we’ve included something for every skin type.)

M-61 PowerGlow Peel

If you’re looking for the benefits of a chemical peel but want something you can do from home, then this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The M-61 PowerGlow Peel is a one-step facial peel that can take your complexion from cloudy to clear with just a towelette. This powerful treatment uses both glycolic acid and salicylic acid, giving the best of both worlds when it comes to AHAs and BHAs.

Skinmedica Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads

If you’re looking to achieve visibly brighter skin that’s healthy and never dull, then this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The Skinmedica Evan & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads are retinol-free exfoliators that reduce darkness and dullness from the comfort of your bathroom. In addition to its original 9% LTN Complex, these pads have a 10% glycolic acid formula designed to support skin cell turnover and renewal.

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

If you’re looking for a face scrub that can purify your skin and support your natural skin barrier, then this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub is a physical exfoliator that uses polishing granules to wipe away debris and dead skin cells from the skin. Unlike regular exfoliators, this facial scrub is made to be gentle on skin — meaning you can use it every day, no matter your skin type.

IS Clinical Cleansing Complex

If you’re looking for a product that will work deep in your skin like an exfoliator but won’t damage your skin if you use it every day, then this deep cleanser might be the one for you.

The IS Clinical Cleansing Complex is a lightweight yet powerful cleansing agent that thoroughly cleans both the skin’s surface and pores without stripping away any of your essential oils. This product is great for all skin types but is especially powerful on acne-prone skin.

Osea Vitamin C Enzyme Polish

If you’re looking to blend the benefits of an antioxidant serum with a skin exfoliant, then this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The Osea Vitamin C Enzyme Polish helps you achieve a smooth and radiant complexion in two powerful ways: a 50% vitamin C formula that reduces redness (and even works against sun damage), and a fermented pomegranate enzyme and rice powder duo that creates this deep-working exfoliant. Unlike most skin exfoliators, this polish is a powder exfoliant.

M-61 PowerGlow Pro+ Niacinamide+Neuropeptide Cleanse

If you’re looking for an anti-aging skincare product that is gentle on your skin but powerful on your acne, then this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The M-61 PowerGlow Pro+ Niacinamide+Neuropeptide Cleanse is a milky cleanser made with soft-on-skin physical exfoliators that can dramatically smooth the surface of your skin. Infused with three different powerful acids and elements of traditional facial scrubs, this product is the perfect combination of physical and chemical exfoliators.

Sisley Paris Exfoliating Enzyme Mask

If you want to experience a high-quality, deep-cleansing facial in the comfort of your own bathroom, this exfoliating product might be the one for you.

The Sisley Paris Exfoliating Enzyme Mask reveals your skin’s natural beauty and gives you radiance like you’ve never seen before in a treatment that’s just one minute long. This mask is made with powerful enzymes that support your skin in two primary ways: as natural exfoliators that clear away any lingering dead skin cells clinging to your skin, and as a radiance-supporting ingredient that purifies skin from the inside out to promote an even complexion.

Exfoliate Like an Expert

While there are definitely ways to go wrong when it comes to exfoliation, the benefits far outweigh these small risks. Thankfully, finding the right exfoliation routine for your skin is as simple as understanding your skin type.

To achieve unbelievably clear skin and even support other skin goals (fine lines, breakouts, smooth skin, etc.), add an exfoliation method to your skincare routine today.