It’s the best time of year for skincare lovers, Its peel season! As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder it’s much easier to peel safely. Every fall and winter I try and fit in a few peels to maintain my skin health, manage break outs and keep the dead skin off! So, as soon as I knew I would be out of the sun I had to have my first peel.
The perfect 10 universal peel
This peel is an AHA and BHA blend that is gentle but effective. The best beginner friendly or skin maintenance peel. I chose this treatment as it’s my first peel of the year and I didn’t want to overwhelm my skin. With peels it’s about going slow and steady and building up tolerance. This protocol also includes a retinol booster that increases the sloughing and improves the result. If you’re looking to see if peels could be a good treatment for you, this is the one to start with!
Application and first day
During the application process the skin will feel a little spicy. There may be a slight tingle and some warmth, just while the primary peel acid is on the skin. Once that is neutralized the treatment is very comfortable and I found it relaxing. The treatment takes no longer than 30 minutes so it’s perfect to sneak in over a lunch break or a quick stop at the end of your day. If you’re interested in more details on the application process, check out the blog “Chemical peels 101”. That post details the entire client experience when receiving a peel so you can arrive confident and ready.
After I applied the peel and finishing steps my skin looked and felt normal the rest of the day. There was no noticeable redness in my face and no sensation left over from the peel. I was able to continue with my day as usual, making sure to keep my skin clean and hydrated. So, no makeup or gym visits. That night I kept my routine simple. Just a gentle cleanser, hydrating serum, and moisturizer.
Peeling time
My skin started peeling 2 days after I applied the peel. It started on the corners of my nose and mouth. This is to be expected because the movement from talking will cause those areas to peel faster. The first day peeling it was light flakes and just looked like I had some dry skin.
After that my skin began peeling across my chin and cheeks. Since this is a superficial peel, the skin wasn’t coming off in sheets, but it was a consistent thin layer that slowly peeled back from the center of my face out to the sides. As the peel moved closer to the sides of my face I noticed some purging. I was overdue for this treatment and needed this to speed up the clearing of summer build up. While purging can look like a breakout it’s just the comedones that already existed under the skin coming to the surface faster as the cell turnover is increased by the peel. While my cheeks continued to peel so did my forehead, staring between the brows and moving outwards.
The peeling was done 1 week after the peel was applied. Typically, the peeling will last anywhere from 1-2 weeks after your appointment.
Result
Immediately after my skin peeled I could see the glow. The difference between the radiance of the fresh new skin and the dull skin that was still peeling mid treatment was dramatic and very reassuring the treatment was working as intended. After the purge came to the surface, I was able to easily extract the comedones and am now loving my glowy, smooth, post peel skin. I plan on continuing peel treatments throughout the fall and winter and will post about my journey with photos on my Instagram page, @Aesthetician.Liv. You can follow along by following me there!
Now it’s your turn! To see if you’re a good fit for this treatment book a complimentary skincare consultation with me at Lake Country Plastic and Hand Surgery.