Winter exfoliation: once a week, chemical only

You should exfoliate at most once a week in winter, and stick with gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or PHA instead of physical scrubs.

Winter air is dry. Your skin’s moisture barrier is already working overtime. Exfoliating too often—or with harsh grit—strips the oils you need to keep that barrier intact. Flaky skin feels rough, but the real fix is hydration and gentle cell turnover, not sanding it off.

Physical scrubs (think crushed walnut shells, sugar, microbeads) are the enemy here. They create micro-tears and remove the protective lipids your skin is hoarding in the cold. Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid (5% or less) or polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) are better because they dissolve dead cells without mechanical abrasion. They also tend to be humectants, so they pull in moisture rather than stripping it.

Start with once every 7–10 days. If your skin feels tight or stingy after, back off to once every two weeks. Your goal is to shed flakes, not redness.

Moisture barrier > smooth texture every time.