At home face peels are an inexpensive and simple way to refresh your skin. While not as dramatic or long-lasting as peels done by dermatologists or estheticians, home acid peels can make your skin look tighter and more smooth. Most acid peel kits are made from alpha hydroxy acids, which come from fruit, or glycolic acid, which is made from sugar cane. Acid peel kits come with concentrations of acid that vary from below ten percent to over thirty percent. The experts at dermadoctor.com recommend that you avoid home peel kits that thirty percent or over, because that is considered a medium peel which should be only be performed by a professional.
Step 1
Choose the kind of face peel you think is best for you. Fruit acid peels are made from fruits like pumpkin and pineapple. Glycolic acid comes from sugar cane, and lactic acid peels are made from meat and dairy products. TCA---trichloroacetic acid---is best left to the professionals, even though there are kits available on the Internet. If you have fruit allergies, a glycolic peel might be best. Salicylic acid, made from willow bark, is best for oily skin that is prone to clogged pores.
Step 2
Use a gentle cleanser to clean any dirt or oils off of your face. Do not use an exfoliant, or a cleanser that contains retinol or alpha- or beta hydroxy acids, as these can make your skin overly sensitive to the peel.
Step 3
Rinse your face with warm water and pat it dry with a clean towel. Rubbing your face can irritate your skin, and an unwashed towel can harbor bacteria.
Step 4
Dab some petroleum jelly onto a clean cotton swab. Put a little bit of petroleum jelly on your upper eyelids, right above your eyelashes. Repeat for the area that is just beneath your lower lashes. This will help keep the peel solution out of your eyes.
Step 5
Put a dime-sized spot of pH prep solution on a cotton ball and apply it to your face. These usually contain witch hazel and very tiny concentrations of peel acid. Not every home face peel kit includes a pH prep solution, so don't be alarmed if yours doesn't have one. Let your face dry naturally; do not rub it with your towel.
Step 6
Check the instructions for how long you should let the solution sit on your face. This can be anywhere from two to 20 minutes. Set a timer, but don't go too far from a mirror. Some first-time peel users will start to notice pink skin after only a minute or two. If this happens, proceed to the next step immediately. Do not wait out the time, or you might damage your skin.
Step 7
Neutralize the peel with the solution included in your kit. generally, you would put it on a cotton ball and go over your face exactly the same way you applied the peel, itself. Some kits only require you to rinse your face with cool water. Each brand and concentration is different, so make certain that you follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Step 8
Wash your hands thoroughly to make sure there is no peel solution on them, and gently apply a non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic moisturizer to your fresh, new skin. Some peel kits include one, but any oil and fragrance-free moisturizer will work. Apply it every morning and again before bed to keep your skin supple and smooth.
Step 9
Apply a thin layer of sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher underneath your make-up for the first three to five days after your face peel. It's a good idea to wear sunscreen every day, to help protect it from UV damage.
Tips and Warnings
- Secure your hair off of your face with a soft, stretchy headband to keep it out of your way while you are doing your face peel.
- Do not repeat the peel procedure sooner than one to two weeks after your first one.
Things You'll Need
- Mild cleanser
- Warm water
- Clean towel
- Cotton swabs
- Petroleum jelly
- Cotton balls
- Timer
- Mirror
- Non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic moisturizer
- Sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher
- Headband (optional)
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