I have suffered from Acne all my life. Was hoping to grow out of it but after lots of research and testing I took matters in my own hand. Below is what I do to stay clear:

No dairy or sugar

Eat lots of wholegrain, seeds & nuts, pulses, vegetables, lean protein

Cleanse every night with a muslin cloth and water (any gentle cleanser would be fine, keep it simple) and follow up with pure chimp super one.

You may be using an exfoliator that is too abrasive. Try to avoid using washcloths to exfoliate, they are a lot more harsh than bare hands.

What do you use to exfoliate in terms of products or tools?

How do you exfoliate? The best way I've found to exfoliate is by gently starting in small clockwise circles, moving all over the face slowly, then gently going back over it counter-clockwise. Shouldn't even feel like a scrub, more like a massage.

There are a few other alternatives to getting rid of dead skin, too, such as face masks or peels.