How do you handle your exfoliation?

Perhaps because it is the change of seasons, I have a lot of dead skin cells on my face lately, even though I moisturize well. I am also concerned about blackheads. So, I am looking into exfoliation treatments again. I used to see pretty good results when I regularly used Aqua Peel, but I suffered from folliculitis after my last treatment (I'm not sure if it was due to hygiene issues with the device or if my face was too irritated), so I am a bit hesitant.

So this time, I am looking for an exfoliation method that is less irritating yet effectively refines my skin texture. Please recommend any treatments or procedures that are less harsh and can even manage blackheads. Are there any methods that offer good value for money and a reasonable exfoliation frequency?