How do you exfoliate your face once a week?

I have combination skin—typically dry but with an oily T-zone—so managing dead skin cells is always a concern for me. Exfoliating too often makes my skin sensitive, but skipping it causes my makeup to cake or feels like my pores are clogged, so I make sure to exfoliate at least once a week. However, I've noticed that everyone has different methods. Some people use scrubs to physically remove dead skin cells, while others use chemical exfoliants like AHA or BHA. I've been using gentle peeling pads so far, but I'm worried because the effects don't seem to last very long. How do you all manage your facial exfoliation once a week? If you have any recommended methods or products for different skin types, please share them; it would be really helpful. In particular, please let me know if there are any tips on how to do it without irritation, even for sensitive skin!