I’m a fan of exfoliating a few times a week because it’s known to increase collagen production and polish away dead skin cells (those can make your skin look dull). However, I’m not a fan of super-gritty exfoliants that tend to irritate my skin. In my teens and 20s, I was all about an intense physical exfoliation, but these days, it’s too harsh for my nighttime skincare routine. “When you’re first starting out, you should probably exfoliate once a week, especially if you have sensitive skin,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre of the Pierre Skin Care Institute tells Byrdie. “This is primarily to assess tolerability and efficacy. After two weeks, you can progress to twice a week. Ultimately, two to three times a week is ideal.”

My top pick is Tatcha’s The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder ($65) because it’s created with rice and papaya enzymes to deliver a creamy foam that softens and gently exfoliates. The secret is in Hadasei-3–a trio of anti-aging Japanese superfoods green tea, rice, and algae that promote youthful radiance. Also, this non-abrasive formula also combats uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.

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