Too little or too much can both have unwanted effects—so what’s the right exfoliation frequency?

That post-exfoliation glow is almost addictive. Maybe you slathered on an earthy mask loaded with enzymes, applied a leave-on AHA serum before bed, or used a gentle micro-exfoliant scrub that buffed away all that flaky skin. The smooth, gorgeous skin revealed from any of the above might inspire you to repeat the process again—but how often should you exfoliate your face? ...

Over Exfoliation

Over exfoliation strips away too much of the skin’s surface and can compromise your skin’s barrier function.

“When your skin starts feeling sensitive, dry, or red, this usually means you have been over-exfoliating,” esthetician Jenette Serrins, founder of Jenette Skin Care. “You can actually begin to develop underlying bumps and or acne if this goes on for any length of time from your sebaceous glands trying to overproduce moisture from feeling stripped and robbed of nutrients.”

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