Dead skin cell buildup is something ALL of us have to deal with—which is actually kind of unusual in the beauty world. Most other skincare concerns aren’t that universal.
One person may struggle with acne while the next has never had a breakout in their life. Someone else may constantly be moisturizing to fight dry skin, while another is trying desperately to manage excess oil.
The point is, everyone’s skin behaves differently based on genetics, lifestyle, and environment. But dead skin cells? We’ve all got those.
This means that each of us needs a step in our skincare routine that helps shed and remove dead skin cells. Enter: chemical exfoliation. With the right technique, you can ditch dullness and texture and get your healthy glow back.
If you’ve never addressed dead skin cells before, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’re sharing the products, protocols, and principles you need to keep dead skin cells under control.
How to Get Rid of Dead Skin on Face for a Healthy Glow
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, understand that getting rid of dead skin cell buildup isn’t like dyeing your roots. Meaning, you shouldn’t wait until the problem becomes visibly obvious before doing something about it. Managing dead skin is actually an ongoing process.
At least once a week, your skincare routine should address dead skin buildup. Whether that’s through exfoliation, retinoid use, or professional treatments, your skin needs regular cell renewal support. It’s what keeps your complexion smooth, healthy, and absolutely radiant.
Want to know how to do it? Here’s what you need to know about dead skin cell accumulation on your face:
What Are Dead Skin Cells on Face?
Dead skin cells are exactly what they sound like: old skin cells that your body sheds to make room for fresh, healthy skin underneath. In fact, your skin is continuously renewing itself every single day.
Dead skin cells make up the outermost layer of your skin, and those cells naturally shed over the course of about 28–40 days. However, it’s not uncommon for that process to actually take longer. Things like aging, sun damage, stress, poor sleep, and dehydration can all interfere with healthy skin turnover.
When you disrupt that shedding cycle, dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of your face. You can usually tell buildup is happening because your skin starts to look like this:
What Do Dead Skin Cells Look Like on Face?
While shedding dead skin cells is universal, the way they show up isn’t. You may experience uneven texture, while the next person feels like their skincare products aren’t making a dent. Here’s a quick guide on how dead skin cells commonly show up in our complexion:
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Dull or uneven complexion
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Rough or flaky patches
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Dry, textured skin
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Clogged pores or small bumps
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Makeup sitting unevenly on the skin
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Skin that feels rough to the touch
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More noticeable fine lines
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Less radiant or glowy appearance
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Skincare products not absorbing as well
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Congested-looking areas or buildup on the skin
What Causes Dead Skin Buildup on Face?
Slowed Skin Cell Turnover
As we mentioned, the skin renewal cycle is essential for naturally removing dead skin cells. But if something is slowing down your body’s ability to carry out healthy cell turnover, those dead skin cells can stick around longer than they should.
Dry Skin
Hydration is so important for all aspects of skincare—dead skin cell shedding included! When your skin is flexible and moist, it’s easy for dead skin cells to loosen, detach, and naturally fall away.
However, when you’ve got dehydrated skin, old skin cells can stick together instead of separating. This keeps dead skin cell patches clinging to your face.
Lack of Exfoliation
Our body’s natural cell turnover process just isn’t enough to keep your skin clear, smooth, and radiant. There’s no shame in needing a little extra boost!
Exfoliation is the process of using a skincare product to dissolve or buff away dead skin cells. And, ultimately, it’s an important part of every skincare routine. So, if you’re skipping it, you’ll definitely see accumulation over time.
Here’s more on what happens if you don’t exfoliate your skin regularly.
Harsh Skincare Products
This one feels backward, but going too hard on skincare can actually leave you with more dead skin buildup. Overusing exfoliants, retinoids, acne treatments, or stripping cleansers can dry out and stress your skin. Instead of shedding properly, dead skin cells start hanging around on the surface.
Environmental Exposure
Your skin is like your body’s shield. It’s the first line of defense against everything, which means it takes a ton of damage throughout the day. Factors such as UV rays, pollution, wind, dry air, and more can affect our skin health. This can slow down cell turnover, leaving skin looking dull, rough, and less radiant.
Sun Damage
UV rays don’t just give your complexion a bronzy tone—they also damage your skin and worsen its ability to renew skin cells efficiently. Over time, this slows cell turnover, allowing dead skin cells to accumulate on the surface.
There are actually a LOT of reasons you shouldn’t be baking in the sun this summer. For more on how UV exposure impacts our skin, read our founder Lauren Bosstick’s book Get the F*ck Out of the Sun.
Aging
As we age, cell renewal slows down. It happens to all of us. So, if you’re in your mid-30s or older and noticing more dullness and texture, it’s actually totally normal. Luckily, there are ways you can speed up the process and get your youthful skin back. (More on that in a minute.)
What Can Remove Dead Skin on Face?
There are a lot of skincare products that can help remove dead skin cells from your face. You can use chemical exfoliation, physical exfoliation, retinoids, or professional treatments to get the job done.
One isn’t necessarily better than the others. Ultimately, the “right” option depends on your skin sensitivities, preferences, and the results you’re trying to achieve.
Here’s a breakdown:
Chemical Exfoliants
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
AHAs are water-soluble chemical exfoliants that work on the surface of your skin. They dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, allowing them to shed more easily.
Some you’ll see on skincare labels include:
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Glycolic Acid
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Lactic Acid
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Mandelic Acid
Interested in learning more? We break down the use of AHAs in our post, “What Does Exfoliation Remove and Deplete?”
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are oil-soluble chemical exfoliants that travel deep into pores. Not only can they dissolve dead skin, but they can also help manage excess oil production! The most popular BHA is salicylic acid.
Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs)
PHAs are a gentler type of chemical exfoliant that works similarly to AHAs. However, they sink into the skin more slowly. This makes them less irritating for people with reactive or sensitive skin.
Enzyme Exfoliants
Enzyme exfoliants actually use naturally derived enzymes from fruits like papaya or pomegranate. They’re even gentler than PHA, but also not as effective as other chemical exfoliants. Rather than “scraping away” dead cells, they lower the skin’s pH, revealing a glowy, smooth complexion over time.
Physical Exfoliants
Baby Washcloths
Baby washcloths are soft, but still have enough texture to gently buff away dead skin. To use one, dampen the cloth with lukewarm water and lightly massage your face using small circular motions. Don’t scrub or apply pressure. Let the fabric do the work.
Soft Facial Brushes
Soft facial brushes use gentle bristles to physically lift and remove dead skin from your face. Just remember to be super gentle. You don’t need much friction to get the results you want.
Facial Sponges
Facial sponges provide light physical exfoliation while cleansing. Their soft texture helps lift dead skin without being overly abrasive.
Fine Exfoliating Powders
Fine exfoliating powders activate with water and use ultra-fine particles to polish away dead skin. They offer more control than traditional scrubs because you can adjust the grittiness based on how much water you use.
Gentle Face Scrubs
Gentle face scrubs use small exfoliating particles, like sugar, bamboo powder, or jojoba beads, to buff away dead skin from the surface. The key is choosing fine, non-abrasive formulas and avoiding aggressive scrubbing.
Face Shaving
There are a lot of reasons you should shave your face as a woman! Aside from the obvious hair-removal benefits, the razor blade also physically exfoliates by gently scraping away dead skin. It’s the perfect multi-tasking skincare tool.
You can actually exfoliate and shave to get even better results. But before you do, read our post “Do You Exfoliate Before or After Shaving?”
Bakuchiol or Retinoids
Retinol
Retinoids don’t exfoliate. Instead, they actually encourage your natural cell renewal, speeding up the whole shedding process. Beyond this, they’re vitamin A derivatives that vary in potency. “Retinol” is one of the most common and gentle options.
Retinal
Retinal is another vitamin A derivative, but it’s generally considered stronger than retinol. This is because it converts into its active form much faster! This helps accelerate natural skin turnover and may deliver visible improvements in texture and dullness more quickly.
Prescription Retinoids
So now that you know there are different types of OTC retinoids, it’s time to talk about prescription-strength formulas. Tretinoin and adapalene, for example, are stronger, more concentrated treatments designed to dramatically increase skin turnover.
Emphasis on “stronger.” These can definitely cause a major skin purge, so you want to take this process low and slow!
Lauren has actually used prescription retinoids. Here’s her ultimate guide to achieving results with tretinoin.
Bakuchiol
If retinoids are too harsh for your skin, bakuchiol is a good option. It’s a plant-derived ingredient that supports skin renewal by signaling your skin to increase cell turnover and produce healthier new skin cells. But, because it doesn’t bind to retinoid receptors in the same way and causes less skin barrier damage, it’s usually easier on sensitive skin.
Have reactive skin and need help with more than just exfoliation recs? Here’s our full sensitive skincare routine.
Professional Treatments
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels use concentrated exfoliating acids to dissolve the bonds holding dead skin cells together. Once those connections break down, old skin sheds more easily, and fresh skin can surface underneath.
Love a chemical peel but hate looking like a cherry tomato for the rest of the day? Here’s how to reduce redness after a chemical peel.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion uses a specialized device to exfoliate the outermost layer of skin. The treatment gently buffs away dead skin cells while the suction removes loosened buildup.
Hydrafacial Treatments
Hydrafacial treatments use gentle exfoliation and suction to loosen and remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Then, the treatment infuses hydrating ingredients back into the skin to support the skin barrier.
Dermaplaning
Professional dermaplaning uses a sterile blade to physically scrape away dead skin cells and remove peach fuzz. Yes, it’s just shaving—but done by an expert esthetician.
Professional Microneedling
Microneedling doesn’t directly remove dead skin. Instead, tiny controlled needles stimulate skin renewal and encourage faster cell turnover so older skin sheds more efficiently over time.
If you want to know more about this, check out our microneedling 101 post with Dr. Gwendolyn Henao.
Best Way to Remove Dead Skin Depending on Skin Type
We just gave you a LOT of options. That can feel really overwhelming—and honestly, not all that helpful. So, to make things easier, we put together a cheat sheet to help you figure out which dead skin removal methods will probably work best depending on your skin type:
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Normal Skin: Glycolic Acid (AHA), Mandelic Acid (AHA), Enzyme Exfoliants, Retinol, Gentle Face Scrubs
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Dry Skin: Lactic Acid (AHA), Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs), Enzyme Exfoliants, Bakuchiol, Hydrafacial Treatments
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Oily Skin: Salicylic Acid (BHA), Glycolic Acid (AHA), Retinol, Fine Exfoliating Powders, Hydrafacial Treatments
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Combination Skin: Mandelic Acid (AHA), Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs), Salicylic Acid (BHA), Retinal, Enzyme Exfoliants
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Sensitive Skin: Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs), Lactic Acid (AHA), Enzyme Exfoliants, Bakuchiol, Dermaplaning or Face Shaving
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Acne-Prone Skin or Clogged Skin: Salicylic Acid (BHA), Retinal, Prescription Retinoids, Chemical Peels, Hydrafacial Treatments
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Mature or Aging Skin: Retinal, Retinol, Glycolic Acid (AHA), Professional Microneedling, Chemical Peels
How to Remove Dead Skin from Face with a Chemical Exfoliant
If you’ve never tried managing dead skin cells, we definitely recommend starting with a chemical exfoliant. From there, you can add on a retinoid or start getting professional treatments once you know how your skin responds.
Here’s what you need to do:
Step One: Cleanse with a gentle cleanser.
Before you exfoliate, you should cleanse. Always always apply skincare to clean skin! Even if you normally do a double cleanse at night, stick with one gentle cleanser before you exfoliate. This will make sure you’re not stripping your skin right before a strong treatment.
Step Two: Choose the right exfoliant for your skin type.
Next, get out your preferred chemical exfoliant. Remember to choose one that makes sense for your skin’s needs and tolerance level. If you’re new to exfoliation or have sensitive skin, start with a gentler option, like BHAs or PHAs. Then work your way up to an AHA rather than jumping straight into stronger treatments.
Step Three: Apply exfoliant in a thin, even layer.
Now, apply your exfoliant. Read the product instructions to make sure you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to. And remember that in skincare, more isn’t more—don’t waste your product by applying more than recommended.
You don’t need to rinse or wipe off your chemical exfoliant. (In fact, you shouldn’t if you want it to do its job.) But wait about two minutes before continuing your skincare routine to make sure the exfoliant has time to absorb before applying your next products.
Step Four: Soothe skin with an ice roller.
After exfoliation, you may have some skin irritation. Cool your skin down using an ice roller. It’s the perfect way to ease inflammation, reduce redness, soothe discomfort, and balance out your skin again. For better slip and added skincare benefits, consider applying a soothing serum with your ice roller.
Don’t have an ice roller yet? Let’s change that. Get your hands on The Skinny Confidential’s best-selling Ice Roller. And, if pink’s not your vibe, get our limited edition cherry red version.
Step Five: Follow with a barrier-supporting moisturizer.
Exfoliation removes dead skin, but it can also compromise your skin barrier, making it more prone to water loss. Follow immediately with a rich moisturizer containing barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
This will help replenish hydration and strengthen that moisture barrier. You need both things to keep dead skin cell buildup under control.
Step Six: Apply sunscreen the next day to protect your fresh skin.
Freshly exfoliated skin can become more vulnerable to sun exposure. The next morning, make sure you apply a high-quality sunscreen like The Skinny Confidential Caffeinated Sunscreen. And don’t forget to reapply throughout the day to keep your skin protected while it recovers.
If you’re new to this process, here’s more on how often you should reapply sunscreen.
Get rid of dead skin cells by exfoliating using retinoids.
Dead skin cell buildup is completely normal, but managing it can make a huge difference in how your skin looks and feels. The good news is that you don’t need an extreme routine or expensive treatments to keep it under control.
With the right exfoliation method, barrier support, and a little consistency, smooth, healthy, glowing skin is right around the corner.
