a-peel-ing.
Chemical face peels - no need to run a mile!
While the terms peel and acids sound slightly scary, they are actually seriously effective skincare solutions for a whole host of common concerns. For example, acne, pigmentation and/or sun damage, fine lines and other signs of ageing. Plus after a skin peel you will have you a serious glow and who doesn’t want radiant glowing skin?!
Chemical peels used to be confined to dermatology clinics, aesthetic clinics and spas but they are now readily available in many salons and even to be used in the comfort of your own home. They come in a variety of strengths, with new formulations and zero downtime. Red raw skin for days and sever flaking is a thing of the chemical peel facial past!
A chemical peel will reach the deeper layers of the skin and boost your cell turnover, maintaining healthy skin and also maximising efficiency of your normal skincare products.
So what is the deal with a peel? I usually explain it to my guests as a deep exfoliation, it’s one step further than a traditional exfoliating scrub or cleansing scrub. A chemical peel will reach the deeper layers of the skin and boost your cell turnover, maintaining healthy skin and also maximising efficiency of your normal skincare products. As we age the skin cell renewal process slows down (along with many other things!), the dead skin cells can build up on the skin over time and this can lead to dull, lacklustre looking skin. By using a chemical peel this will stimulate those skin cells at a cellular level and reveal new, brighter, fresher cells.
Knowing you skincare acids is crucial and I would advise seeking professional advice if you are thinking of introducing this into your regime. Having said that the home care acids and peels are typically a much lower strength compared to a professional salon one.
AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHA’s (Beta Hydroxy Acids) are two common ingredients and you may see these in many skincare products nowadays, these are less aggressive then deeper peels with Phenol or TCA’s (Trichloroaceyic Acid) but work just as efficiently and are a perfect introduction. These acids have different chemical compositions and therefore work differently on the skin.
My recommendation would be to try an AHA or BHA first and introduce this into your routine gradually. Quite often these type of exfoliant are actually more gentle on the skins surface than a physical exfoliating scrub - which can be abrasive. This new generation of skincare is constantly improving and evolving and if you haven’t tried them you are seriously missing out!
