Find your exfoliant

Exfoliation is where most routines overreach. The instinct when skin looks dull or congested is to scrub harder and more often — but the right acid, in the right format, used a sensible number of times a week, beats force every time.

The chemistry matters. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore, which is why it suits congestion better than any scrub can. Glycolic acid works at the surface on texture and tone. Lactic and mandelic acids have larger molecules that move more slowly and gently — the sensible choice for skin that flushes or stings easily.

Our quiz weighs your goal, your skin's tolerance, and the format that actually fits your routine — a pre-soaked pad, a rinse-off polish, an acid cleanse, or a leave-on. It also asks about retinoid use, because acids and retinoids are the one genuine layering conflict in skincare: they belong on alternate evenings, not stacked.

Take the exfoliant quiz

New to acids? Read how to layer skincare actives first.