How do you all manage your exfoliation cycle?

I'm always debating how often I should exfoliate. If I do it too often, I feel like my skin will become thin, but if I don't, my makeup feels like it cakes, so it's hard to control. In the past, I used to exfoliate frequently because I was obsessed with improving my skin texture, but there were times when my skin actually became more sensitive, so I'm being careful now.

Lately, I've only been doing light care about once a week, but I'm not sure if that's the right cycle. I also feel like it might be better to skip exfoliation, especially on days when my skin condition isn't good. It seems like I need to manage my skin differently depending on its state, but it's hard to set a standard.

If anyone has sensitive skin but manages to exfoliate effectively, please share your tips. Product recommendations are welcome, and I'm also curious about ways to manage it with less irritation. I'm worried about my makeup caking lately, so I'm reconsidering my approach.