I'm asking for advice on my exfoliation routine.

Lately, my makeup keeps caking and my skin texture feels rough, so I'm really worried! I guess it's because it's spring... I thought I was cleansing my face thoroughly as usual, but perhaps due to pollen and the temperature fluctuations, my skin feels particularly dry and flaky, so I'm planning to start a full-scale exfoliation routine.

However, since I have sensitive and paper-thin skin, I'm worried that using a peeling product indiscriminately might actually damage my skin barrier! There are so many different exfoliation methods on the market, ranging from physical scrubs to toners containing chemical ingredients. For a beginner like me, what is the most effective exfoliation routine that minimizes skin irritation?

The part I am most curious about is the frequency. I generally hear that once or twice a week is appropriate, but since everyone's skin condition is different, I can't quite get a feel for how to adjust the routine. With my paper-thin skin, I feel like exfoliating too often will make it sensitive, but if I neglect it for too long, dead skin cells will just build up again. I am curious to hear the know-how of experts or those with a deep understanding of skincare—specifically, what signals do you look for to determine the frequency?