There is a huge difference between a product containing a small percentage of glycolic acid and a DIY facial peel. The first will improve the texture of your skin, but because the amounts of exfoliating acids will be low, do not expect miracles. Dr Sebagh is a great advocator of home peels. ‘It is absolutely safe to use home peels, as long as they have been created for home use as opposed to professional use, are from a reputable company, and you follow the instructions’, he explains. ‘If used according to the instructions, there is no reason why a home peel should cause any harm to the skin. In fact, I believe they are safer to use and more gentle on the skin than some physical exfoliating products, which contain fine particles to remove dead skin cells. If excessive rubbing is used, there is a risk of damaging the skin, whereas a home peel will stop exfoliating as soon as it is rinsed off the skin’.
Treatments that can be used at home once or several times a week usually come in the form of a serum or face mask. When using any type of home peel, regardless of it’s strength, a sunscreen with an SPF20 upwards should be worn everyday to protect the skin from further damage.
. Clinique Turnaround Radiance Peel Once-A-Week System, £35, is a two-step treatment which claims to give the same benefits as a professional 30% glycolic peel treatment. The first stage consists of the peel which contains salicylic acid, which is followed by a calming cream to soothe the skin and lock in moisture.
. Dr Sebagh Anti-Ageing Skin Care Deep Exfoliating Mask, £52, contains Azelaïc acid to exfoliate dead skin cells, and it to be used once or twice a week for optimum results.
. Glotherapeutics gloRetinol CS Facial Serum, £32.20, contains skin repairing retinol and glycolic acid along with moisturising ingredients to refresh dull, tired-looking skin. As with all products containing retinol, a sunscreen should be worn everyday as retinol is photosensitizing and therefore the skin is more prone to sun damage.
DIY PEEL
These products are not to be messed with, but as Dr Sebagh says, if you follow the instructions to the letter, there should be no risk of damage to the skin. The Skin Culture Peel is simply the closest to a professional peel outside the dermatologist’s office. Available in four strengths from Peel 1000 for light skin brightening to Peel 4000 for a deep, penetrating peel, the peel is a six day process from start to finish, and according to most people that have used it, it works. Each peel ‘kit’ comes with tubs of already measured ‘portions’ of peel containing salicylic acid and other exfoliators resorcinol and phenol, and an after cream. Just like a professional peel, the skin tingles when the peel is applied and it will go red, which makes it advisable to take a few days off work if you can. After a couple of days, the skin starts to peel from the nose and mouth outwards, and by day six it should have finished shedding, to reveal healthy, glowing skin. From £55.
Next week.....Spotlight on Exfoliation
