Skincare at home: chemical peels

If you’ve ever wanted to try a chemical peel for acne, hyperpigmentation and skin texture, you can do it without having to leave your house! Chemical peels use different kinds of skin-friendly acids to help shed dead skin cells more efficiently. This helps keep your pores clear and your complexion bright. Whether you’re getting a deeper chemical peel from a professional or doing a gentler superficial peel from the comfort of your home, safety is a top priority. So before we explain how to DIY chemical peels, it’s best to understand the basics.

Types of chemical peels

There are two ways to do a chemical peel: 1) peels you can do from the comfort of your home, or, 2) deeper peels performed by a licensed professional, using higher concentration of active ingredients. You’re unlikely to notice dramatic results from at-home peels. They’re superficial, meaning they generally only affect the outermost layers of the skin. It might take a couple uses before you see a difference!

The peels you can do at home usually use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and/or beta hydroxy acid (BHA). Both are great for helping to unclog pores and wash away dead skin cells, but there are some subtle differences:

AHA = glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid (among others). AHAs help reduce hyperpigmentation, increase collagen synthesis, and often work well for dry skin types.

BHA = salicylic acid, often found in chemical peels for acne. Because BHAs are fat-soluble, they can penetrate deep in your pores, clearing out sebum (that’s oil) and dead skin cells.

Start slowly! You can use AHAs and BHAs once or twice a week when you first start out. Still can’t decide which one to use? We got you! Here are some we recommend:

• The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA

• The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

• No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Skin Paste

• Sobel SkinRx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel

• Naturopathic Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel

Start your free trial (plus shipping and handling)

How to DIY chemical peels

No two chemical peels are exactly alike. That means reading the directions on your product’s label is a must! That said, if you’re new to chemical peels, these tips will work with pretty much any product.

Step 1: Cleanse. Prep your skin by washing it. Be sure to thoroughly remove makeup, too — micellar water is perfect for this. Generally, you’ll want to let skin dry completely before using a peel.

Step 2: Protect. If you have sensitive skin, you might consider applying a small amount of pure petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or Aquaphor) to the corners of your mouth and your under-eyes. This will help protect these extra-sensitive areas by forming a barrier over the skin.

Step 3: Apply. You can apply most chemical peels with clean fingertips, a brush, or a cotton round. Apply your peel little by little, gradually painting a thin layer across the cheeks, forehead, and jawline.

Step 4: Wait. How long you’ll wait depends on the type of acids in your peel, and how highly they’re concentrated in the product formula. Check your product label for instructions.

Step 5: Rinse. Last — but certainly not least — you’ll want to make sure you thoroughly rinse off your peel. Lukewarm water straight from the sink is typically all it takes. Some products recommend rinsing twice — check your product’s instructions!

Whether you prefer the gentler superficial chemical peels you can do at home or the deeper peels done by professionals, these treatments are rarely cures — especially when it comes to acne. Yes, a chemical peel can definitely help control certain skin woes, but a daily skincare routine is still best!

The best way to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and skin texture is often with prescription topical treatments. You can get a prescription-strength cream custom-tailored for your skin needs when you sign up for a free month of Curology (you’ll just pay $4.95 + tax to cover shipping/handling).

Written by

Curology Team