So, You Want to Exfoliate Your Skin — Here's What You Need to Know Before You Start

Contrary to common belief, exfoliating doesn't have to be harsh or intense. Especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it's better to take a more delicate approach to lifting up all of those dead skin cells. That means bypassing physical scrubs and, instead, looking for botanical ingredients that naturally encourage exfoliation. For instance, papaya extract — found in the e.l.f. Cosmetics Gentle Peeling Exfoliant ($10) — reveals fresh skin without irritation of any sort. This formula also has an unusually cool texture; as you massage it into skin, it balls up and takes unnecessary flakes and cells away with it.