How much should somebody exfoliate? Because going overboard comes with some pretty severe, painful consequences: “Over exfoliation may lead to redness, irritation, sensitivity, and flaking,” warns board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner, of Turner Dermatology in NYC. And, unfortunately, there's no single answer for how much is too much: “Exfoliating is not one size fits all. Skin turnover and sensitivities vary from person to person." Turner points out that it's not even enough to know how often someone is exfoliating, because products differ so much in strength. Finding this balance—the frequency that works for you, with the product that works best—is something you’ve got to figure out for yourself.

But maybe we can nudge you in the right direction—with Dr. Turner’s help.