So how often should you exfoliate? It’s not so straightforward; but factors including the area of the body, your skin type, and your chosen exfoliant should be taken into consideration.
Exfoliation is one of those things, that if you don’t do it the right way, you may end up doing more harm than good.
“If you’re a beginner, exfoliating once a week and increasing is a good rule of thumb,” says Annie Wang, a Bay Area-based skincare expert. Try this for two to three weeks to see if there’s any kind of reaction like red, irritated, or itchy skin. “Those are signs of too much exfoliation,” she explains.
Tools such as a dry brush (before showering) and washcloth, body gloves, or loofah (in the shower) work well to slough dry cells away. “Just remember to change them out often as they hoard bacteria,” reminds Sarah Akram, a celebrity master esthetician and owner of Sarah Akram Skincare.