Rebecca Treston discusses rejuvenating skin peels for a radiant complexion
I am considering having a skin peel but I don’t know what one to choose. What advice do you have?
A peel can be a terrific way to rejuvenate and refresh the skin but it is vital that you choose one that suits your skin type and will actively address any skin concerns that you have.
A milk peel is a very light peel and a good starter peel to have. It is very refreshing, yielding bright, glowing skin. As a one-off treatment, it is great before an event because you will have tighter, brighter skin but for best results, a course of 4-8 is best.
Probably the most common of AHA peels, the Glycolic Acid is derived from sugar cane. It refreshes the skin by exfoliating it. It is excellent for superficial wrinkles, pigmentation, encouraging cell turnover and stopping aging in its tracks.
Depending on the percentage used, there can be no significant down time with a Mandelic Acid Peel and because it is derived from almonds, it is popular with natural beauty fans. It is a great anti-aging peel that diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. It also has anti-bacterial properties so it fights acne and hyperpigmentation.
Ideal for acne and oily prone skins when cleansing is not enough, the Salicylic Acid Peel exfoliates the skin to reveal healthy new skin. It is more intensive and can show peeling on the skin so you should not have this peel before a night out. It works by removing excess skin and it also stops pores from clogging.
From the Obagi skincare range, Blue Peel is a TCA peel, meaning it is a strong treatment with an active component of 35%. To ensure you do not get adverse effects with this treatment, before you have it, you have to complete two weeks of skin prep using retinoic acid and hydraquinone. It is a good choice to tackle deep melasmas and pigmentation, sun damage and acne scars. It does have significant down time – skin will become bright and red, before turning brown and then peeling off. In general, people can’t afford this much down time in their daily lives and so instead of choosing this may opt for the Obagi Blue Radiance peel, which is much lighter. It features a gentle but effective blend of acids, including Salicylic Acid. Dubbed a lunch-hour treatment, it can be done the day before an event as it has little down time, which makes it quite popular.
