The Best Way to Exfoliate for Your Skin Type: Sensitive, Oily, Combination, or Dry

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface using either a physical, abrasive exfoliator or a chemical exfoliator. Exfoliation can help your skin feel more smooth, appear brighter, and may prevent clogged pores that lead to breakouts. However, not everyone should exfoliate the same way. How someone with oily skin should exfoliate will be different than someone with sensitive skin, but even those with dry skin can exfoliate with the right steps. Find out what's best for your skin type below.

Exfoliation for Sensitive Skin

Even someone with sensitive skin can exfoliate regularly; just be sure that you do so gently and just once or twice a week. Since sensitive skin can easily become red, irritated, and dry, look for a product containing lactic acid. 

Lactic acid will not only gently exfoliate your skin but will also give your skin much-needed hydration at the same time. If you have sensitive skin, do not scrub your skin or use a cleansing brush - both of these exfoliation methods can be too harsh for your skin.

Use a product like Dermalogica Age Smart Skin Resurfacing Cleanser once a week to sweep away dead skin cells without irritating your skin. Apply a soothing, moisturizing serum or moisturizer after exfoliating.

Does Dry Skin Need Exfoliation?

Dry skin typically needs exfoliation. If you do not exfoliate regularly, layers of dead skin cells will sit on the very top of your skin, making it hard for your other skin care products to penetrate and do their job, such as moisturizing. 

Also, if you do not exfoliate often, your dry skin can become flaky and look dull. For these reasons, it is important to find the right product for your skin and be diligent about using it. Like sensitive skin, dry skin does not need harsh scrubs or aggressive products for your skin to glow. Try a product like Barefaced Papaya Enzyme Cleanser, which can be used a few times a week to effectively exfoliate.

How to Exfoliate Normal/Combination Skin

Normal skin can be dry in some places and oilier in others. This skin type can change with the seasons becoming drier in the winter and feeling oilier in the summer. While you can be more aggressive with normal skin than with sensitive or dry skin you still do not want to go overboard with strong facial acids or overusing your exfoliation products. This skin type can handle different types of facial acids including glycolic and salicylic or you could use a skin device to deeply cleanse and exfoliate your face.

If you find that your t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) are more oily than the rest of your face you can use a strong product in those areas or even just exfoliate there more often. It is helpful to apply a moisturizing serum after exfoliating or even a serum that treats a specific skincare issue like dark spots or wrinkles. 

Lots of different products are good for normal/combination skin including scrubs and facial acids. Try St. Ives Nourished & Smooth Face Scrub and Mask, Biore Baking Soda Powder Cleanser, or Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel.

Exfoliation for Oily Skin

It is very important to regularly exfoliate oily skin to try to avoid pimples, blackheads, and clogged pores. "If we don’t remove the dead cells, our skin can appear dull and, in time, our pores can become blocked, which often leads to a breakout of acne or oily skin," dermatologist Rachael Burns previously told Byrdie. Burns explained that exfoliating can help unclog pores, preventing breakouts.

While facial acids such as salicylic acid are excellent skin care ingredients for oily skin, you need to make sure that you do not overdo it when it comes to such ingredients. Even oily skin can become red and irritated from using too much of an exfoliating product. 

Oily skin may be exfoliated more often than any other skin type. Besides looking for products with salicylic acid in them like Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, you can also try a product with ingredients like charcoal found in such products as Biore Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser or Freeman Facial Charcoal and Black Sugar Polish Mask.

Exfoliation for Mature Skin

Aging skin can benefit from exfoliation in a unique way, according to board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, who previously explained to Byrdie that exfoliation can increase collagen production, helping boost skin's youthful, plump appearance.

Exfoliating aging skin can help reveal younger, undamaged skin underneath, which makes the skin appear more vibrant, clear, and smooth, according to Henry. Aging skin can be thin, however, so it is a good idea to stick to non-abrasive chemical exfoliants. Consider adding retinol to your routine for anti-aging effects.

Important Exfoliation Tips

Do not exfoliate your body and your face with the same products. The skin on our body is not as sensitive or as oily as the skin on our faces, so it needs to be treated differently. The body scrub you love so much should be used below your chest and never above. 

If you do use a facial scrub, avoid rubbing it hard on your face. Even people with oily skin might damage their skin if they are too aggressive with their exfoliation. Some people find that using a washcloth to exfoliate is both low cost and effective, just be sure you do not scrub too hard with the washcloth, and it needs to properly dry in-between ​uses to try to avoid bacteria growing in it.

Who Should Not Exfoliate?

You should not be exfoliating your skin if you have open wounds or broken skin. If your skin reacts to exfoliation strongly by turning very red, sore, flaky, inflamed, or irritated, you should stop exfoliating. If you have a skin condition or rash, you should ask a dermatologist before exfoliating, as you could make things worse. You can also try cutting back to only exfoliating once a week or ensure the product you use is gentle. If irritation continues, you should see a dermatologist for advice.