How Often Should You Exfoliate? Oily, Dry, and Sensitive Skin
You buy the fancy exfoliating toner, the scrub that “gives instant glow,” maybe even a peel you saw on TikTok. Then comes the big question: how often should you actually exfoliate? Every day? Once a week? Only when your face looks dull?
Here is the not-so-fun truth. You can use a great product the wrong way and make your skin worse. Over-exfoliating is one of the fastest ways to ruin your moisture barrier. Under-exfoliating leaves you with flakes, clogged pores, and makeup that catches on every dry spot.
The good news is you do not need a complicated plan. Once you know your skin type and the kind of exfoliant you are using, the “how often” question gets much easier to answer. Let’s break it down by oily, dry, and sensitive skin and keep it very simple.
First, What Exfoliation Actually Does
Your skin does shed naturally, but things like age, sun damage, acne, and dry air can slow that down. Dead cells then pile up. That pile-up is what makes skin look dull, flaky, or rough and what helps clog pores.
There are two main kinds of exfoliation:
Chemical exfoliation
Acids or enzymes that dissolve the “glue” between dead cells.
Examples: salicylic acid (BHA), glycolic, lactic, mandelic (AHAs), PHA, fruit enzymes.Physical exfoliation
Something that manually scrubs or buffs.
Examples: scrubs with particles, cleansing brushes, washcloths, exfoliating mitts.
Chemical exfoliants are usually better for controlling how often and how deep you go. Scrubs can be fine when gentle, but it is very easy to overdo them.
Signs You’re Exfoliating Too Much vs Not Enough
Too much exfoliation looks like:
Burning or stinging with products that never bothered you
Skin that feels tight, shiny, or “squeaky” all the time
Peeling or flaky patches that keep coming back
Sudden increase in tiny breakouts or rash-like bumps
Not enough exfoliation looks like:
Skin is dull or grayish even when you moisturize
Makeup sits on top and clings to dry patches
Pores look constantly clogged or bumpy
Your usual products do not seem to sink in well
If you see both lists at different times, you are probably swinging between overdoing it and then stopping everything. The goal is a steady middle.
How Often Should Oily or Acne-Prone Skin Exfoliate?
Best type of exfoliant for oily skin
For most oily or breakout-prone faces, chemical exfoliants are your best friends, especially:
Salicylic acid (BHA)
Oil-soluble, can travel into the pore and help clear clogs. Great for blackheads, tiny bumps, and shiny T-zones.Gentle AHAs like lactic or mandelic acid
Help smooth texture and fade marks without being as harsh as strong glycolic.
You can still use a very soft physical exfoliator, like a konjac sponge or a smooth microfiber cloth, but harsh scrubs with big grains are usually a bad idea.
How often for oily / acne-prone skin
For most people with oily skin:
Start with 2 to 3 times per week of chemical exfoliation.
If your skin is strong and happy after a few weeks, you can go up to 3 to 4 times per week.
That could look like:
Salicylic acid serum on Monday, Wednesday, Friday nights
Or a BHA toner Tuesday and Thursday, and a gentle AHA mask on Sunday
Daily exfoliation can work for a few people with very resilient skin and a gentle formula product, but if you are even slightly sensitive, daily strong acids are usually too much.
Extra tips for oily skin
Use exfoliants at night, then follow with a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
In the morning, keep it simple: gentle cleanse, hydrating serum if you like, oil-friendly moisturizer, sunscreen.
And remember: if your face feels hot, tight, or flaky, that is not “purging.” That is your barrier asking you to exfoliate less.
How Often Should Dry Skin Exfoliate?
Best type of exfoliant for dry skin
Dry skin usually prefers gentler acids and textures:
Lactic acid
Mild AHA that exfoliates and hydrates at the same time.Mandelic acid
Larger molecule, penetrates more slowly, so it tends to be kinder.PHA (polyhydroxy acids)
Very gentle, great if you get red easily.
Enzyme masks (think papaya or pumpkin) can also be nice when used sparingly. Strong scrubs with rough grains are almost always too harsh for truly dry skin.
How often for dry skin
For most dry faces:
Aim for 1 to 2 times per week of gentle chemical exfoliation.
Many do best sticking to once a week in winter or in very dry climates.
Example routines:
A lactic acid serum on Sunday night
A PHA toner on Wednesday night, plus lots of moisturizer after
On other nights, focus on rich hydration and barrier repair, not more peeling.
Extra tips for dry skin
How Often Should Sensitive Skin Exfoliate?
Best type of exfoliant for sensitive skin
Skip rough scrubs. Think very gentle and slow:
PHA toners or serums
Very low-percentage lactic or mandelic acid
Occasionally, a soft washcloth with your regular cleanser (no scrubbing, just light massaging)
Patch test any new exfoliant along your jawline for a few nights before applying it all over.
How often for sensitive skin
For most sensitive faces:
Think once every 1 to 2 weeks, not every other day.
Some people do best with just a mild PHA once in a while and rely more on hydrating and soothing products.
If your skin gets angry, you are better off skipping exfoliation completely for a while than trying to “push through.”
Extra tips for sensitive skin
Keep the rest of your routine very calm on exfoliation days. Gentle cleanser, soothing serum, barrier-focused moisturizer, no extra strong actives.
Avoid layering retinoids, vitamin C, and exfoliating acids in one routine unless a derm specifically told you how to do it. Your skin will thank you.
Chemical vs Physical: Which Is Better for Each Skin Type?
To keep it simple:
Oily / acne-prone:
Best with chemical exfoliation, especially BHA, with maybe a very soft physical option once in a while.Dry:
Best with gentle chemical exfoliation (lactic, mandelic, PHA) plus maybe a damp, soft cloth. Avoid harsh scrubs.Sensitive:
Best with the mildest chemical options or limited physical exfoliation from soft cloths and careful cleansing, used rarely.
Scrubs are not evil, but sharp or large particles can create micro-tears and irritation, especially if you scrub hard. If you love a scrub, choose one with very smooth, fine beads and use it gently, no more than once a week.
Morning or Night: When Should You Exfoliate?
Most people do best exfoliating at night. Your skin then has time to recover while you sleep, and you are not layering acids under sun exposure right away.
If you do use acids in the morning, keep them mild and always, always use sunscreen on top. Your skin can be more sun-sensitive after exfoliation.
Nighttime routine idea:
Cleanser
Exfoliant (on the nights you use it)
Hydrating serum
Moisturizer
Morning routine idea:
Gentle cleanse or rinse
Hydrating serum
Moisturizer
Sunscreen
Simple and effective.
How to Build a Weekly Exfoliation Plan
Oily / acne-prone skin
Two or three nights a week with a BHA or gentle AHA.
On the other nights, focus on hydration and maybe a retinoid (on a separate schedule).
Dry skin
Once a week with lactic, mandelic, or PHA.
Rich, barrier-loving moisturizers most other nights.
Sensitive skin
Once every one to two weeks, very gentle formula, or skip if your skin is flaring.
Daily routine focused on calming and protecting instead.
Always watch how your skin responds. If it feels better, looks smoother, and tolerates your routine with no burning or flaking, you are probably at the right exfoliation frequency. If it is angry, pull back.
The Bottom Line
“How often should you exfoliate?” does not have one answer for everyone. It depends on your skin type, the product strength, and how your barrier is doing.
Oily skin usually likes regular, gentle chemical exfoliation two or three times a week. Dry skin prefers once or twice a week with softer acids. Sensitive skin may only tolerate very mild exfoliation every couple of weeks, or none at all during flare-ups.
Start low and slow. Let your skin vote. Glow is great, but a healthy barrier is better. If you treat it kindly, you can have both.