A Girl's Guide to Giving Yourself a Skin Peel ...

You may not want to totally replace your salon facials with a home peel, but you can definitely boost the results in between visits with the pros. The home version, however, is much milder and you likely won’t notice any of the redness or oozing that you might see after you leave the spa. The peel will still help you fight the signs of aging and give you great looking skin.

A home peel product will still likely contain the same list of ingredients that a salon one does, but in smaller doses. That’s why they are generally safe to use right at home. The acids are the reason why a peel works so well. Your in-home peel probably contains a mix of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid and mandelic acid, according to experts at Shape magazine.

Much the same way a salon peel leaves you looking fresher and younger, so too can a home peel. The product works by minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as brightening skin and encouraging cell turnover for plumping. The trick is to use the product on a regular basis to keep the results going.

Experts say that the blend of ingredients in home peel products are mild enough that you can probably use it every day. Go ahead and start with that. If you notice any redness or irritation, try using the peel every other day. If the issue persists, be sure to talk to your dermatologist to ensure that the product you’re using is safe for your skin.

Not all home peels are the same, making it important to read and follow the directions exactly. Why? Using them improperly can lower the benefit of the results and may cause damage or irritation to your skin. If you’re unclear what you’re doing, give your dermatologist a call for more help.

Experts say that when you finish using the mask, you should follow it up with serum and moisturizer to enhance the benefits. Whatever skincare products you currently use, you can likely continue using them with your new facial peel product. Perfect!

As home facial peels are gaining in popularity, which means you will see them in greater numbers on store shelves. Some of them resemble lotions and creams that you gently massage into your skin. Others are used on wet skin, then rinsed off. Explore your options and make sure you choose one that aligns with your skin type and specific skincare needs.

Want to see the best results from your skin peel? Then use as many acids as you like, preferably a combination of several beta and alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic. This combo is way less irritating than using acids at a high strength, plus they work really well together.

The fun hasn't stopped yet! Once you've completed your peel, put together an after-care routine using a serum made up of peptides, retinol, or vitamin C. Finish the process with a barrier-boosting moisturizer and you're good to go!

Aside from skin brightening, skin peels are great for shrinking your poles if you keep them as part of your daily skin-care routine. Do you need any other reason to get started on your peel today?! I don't think so!

Have you ever tried a home facial peel? What can you share about the treatment?