Achieve Smooth, Glowing Skin by Following These Steps
Before the Peel: Prep Your Skin (TAKE PICS NOW, before you start!)
(Complete these steps 5-8 days before your peel except pigment inhibition, start that 2+ weeks in advance)
☐ Exfoliate Gently: Use a gentle chemical exfoliator 2-4 times during the week to remove dead skin cells. Avoid over-exfoliating to prevent irritation.
☐ Hydrate Daily: Apply a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and balanced. Consider using a hydrating serum like hyaluronic acid.
☐ Avoid Harsh Products: Discontinue use of retinoids, strong acids, or harsh active ingredients 5 days ahead. This prevents excessive sensitivity during the peel.
☐ Use Sunscreen: Apply SPF 50+ daily to protect your skin from UV damage, as sun exposure can interfere with peel results.
☐ Optional (but recommended) for Darker Skin Tones/melasma prone skin: Use a pigment inhibitor (e.g., Fade Bright, Obagi ClearFX or prescription hydroquionone etc) to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a step I recommend starting at least 2 weeks ahead of your peel.
Day of the Peel: Perform the Peel
☐ Cleanse: Wash your face with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser. Ensure your skin is completely dry before applying the peel.
☐ Apply the Peel: Follow the instructions provided with your at-home chemical peel kit. Avoid exceeding the recommended application time. This is so important! There are many manufacturers of peels. Each will have their own instructions based on that particular peel. Follow those instructions carefully. Read through them ahead several times to prepare!
☐ Neutralize (if required): Use a neutralizing solution as directed to stop the peel’s action. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
After the Peel: Post-Peel Care
☐ Hydrate and Soothe: Apply a soothing, fragrance-free moisturizer or a product designed for post-peel recovery. I highly suggest considering DNA repair enzymes to heal and repair.
☐ Avoid Harsh Products: Continue to avoid retinoids, acids, and exfoliators for 7+ days post-peel. Let your skin heal naturally.
☐ Use Sunscreen: Protect your skin with SPF 50+ daily, reapplying as needed. This step is essential to avoid hyperpigmentation.
☐ Allow Peeling Naturally: Let any skin shedding occur without picking or peeling manually to avoid irritation or scarring.
Your Checklist for Radiant Results
By completing each step, you ensure:
Even peel results
Reduced irritation
A glowing, refreshed complexion
Product recommendations:
Peels: Platinum Skincare is my preferred peel resource (I follow their protocols myself and highly suggest their site and YouTube channel!) https://www.platinumskincare.com/penn?afmc=penn
Chemical Exfoliators:
Biologique Recherche P50 1970 https://go.shopmy.us/p-5475715
ITK Tri-Acid Toner (fantastic P50 affordable alternative!) https://amzn.to/4fZDPUt
PCA Smoothing Solution (excellent all the time for mature skin!!) https://amzn.to/4jc3hsQ
Pigment inhibitors:
Fade Bright https://www.platinumskincare.com/penn?afmc=penn
Naturium Arbutin https://go.shopmy.us/p-11957356 code PennyS15 saves 15%
Obagi NuDerm ClearFX (this is the BEST OTC arbutin product I have seen) https://go.shopmy.us/p-11957371
Prescription hydroquinone (requires a DR consult) Obagi Clear RX is a great option
Post Peel Products:
My #1 is Photozyme DNA repair enzymes: Youth Recovery for face and Omega 36 Body Lotion for body. Using DNA repair enzymes speeds up healing and helps to ensure healthy, even toned skin. Bonus: They are perfect for the ongoing skin-care of your fresh skin.
You can use code PENNSMITH at checkout for 25% off all the time at Photozyme
Drmtlgy Soothe and Recovery is an excellent moisturizer for post peel skin Code PENN saves 20% all the time at Drmtlgy
Prequel Multi Quench is an excellent serum that can be layered under a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated https://amzn.to/3C7vGzE
FTC: Links in this post are affiliate ~ Please note that all links on this page are affiliate and I participate in the Amazon Associates program which is an affiliate program. Any time you see an Amazon link it is affiliate. If you choose to use my links please know that I appreciate it!
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this blog is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or skin related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this website should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare/skin professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this website are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. It is important that you check labels to determine if a product is right for you. Before starting any treatment at home consult a health care or skin care professional to determine if it’s right for you.
