Filters Are Great But Great Skin Is Even Better!

Healthy glowing skin is always in

We all want that healthy glow and here is the place to start

I’m a HUGE fan of chemical peels.  The first peel I had was around 6 years ago and the result was baby soft glowing skin.  The true test of a treatment really working is compliments.  I had a lot of compliments from friends saying how my skin looked AMAZING. Having had two babies back-to-back and concern of skin damage from years of sunbathing my confidence had taken a knock.  At the ripe old age of 37 years old I was  chuffed that the peel had knocked a good 5 years off me and more importantly it gave me back my confidence, bringing a spring to my step.  The peel got rid of the sun spots that were coming through on my forehead and cheeks and it helped with the texture change I was experiencing.  The peel exceeded my expectations.  I wasn’t ready to start looking and feeling older quite yet.

There are so many types of peels out there, I needed to understand and find the right one for me. I did hours and hours of research and started to gradually learn about chemical peels.  I came across Zein Obagi on youtube.  I found his videos about skin educational.  His passion for skin was plain to see and the results were outstanding.  I managed to find a cosmetic doctor in central London that offered the ZO 3 Step Peel.  

The first ZO 3-Step-Peel I had was, initially at least, a little unsettling. My skin felt like it was on fire and I was a bit concerned that something might be going wrong.  It turns out that a burning sensation is perfectly normal. I’ve since progressed and my cosmetic doctor now uses the whole bottle of chemical solution without me feeling discomfort (and to help cope with the burning sensation an assistant will always have a fan on hand to help cool your face). Once the peel has finished a sachet of retinol is massaged into your skin and you’re ready to go home.  You will be given a sachet of retinol as well as a tube of hydrating moisturiser to rub into your skin a few times over the subsequent day.  At home the following morning you will need to wash your face gently and apply the second dose of retinol.  Flaking will start roughly from day 3 and finished by day 7.   The Goddess skin mission is complete!

I had a peel last month and for a 43-year-old I’m really happy with how my skin is looking.  The type of comments I received were, “Wow, your skin looks so clear” or “you look so fresh”.  My make up glides on and my skin is glowing.  My plan is to repeat the peel in the winter months to maintain the fresh look I like.  

There are alternative treatments out there that claim to achieve the same result.  I’m 100% happy with the ZO 3-step-peel and  I’m sharing my experience because I often get asked by women who want to know what I have done to my skin.

I did try The Perfect Peel a few years back but to be honest I felt it was a waste of money and I was left unimpressed with the result.  I’ve also had superficial peels from time to time.  Again, I didn’t feel the treatments were worth it.  

My advice is to try and find treatments that work for you.  Do your research, find someone you trust and then go for it.

Here’s some information to help with you get started.

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel is a solution applied to the face to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of new cells.  The aim is to improve the appearance of the skin, i.e. reducing age spots and improving skin tone.

What types of chemical peels are there?

There are 3 different types of chemical peels, called superficial, medium and deep.

A superficial peel also known as glycolic acid peels or AHA chemical peels, is a non-invasive treatment.  This type of light peel is the least abrasive and removes the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and encourages skin cell regeneration.  It’s a gentle treatment that can be repeated more often than a medium or deep peel. This type of peel is carried out by licensed beauticians whereas medium to deep peels can only be carried out by licensed physicians.

A medium-depth chemical Peel, also known as a TCA Peel, involves the application of a chemical exfoliant that causes controlled damage to the epidermis and part or all the papillary dermis (top layer) which ignites regenerative changes and restores the skin’s tone and texture in just a single treatment.  It can treat wrinkles, acne scars and uneven skin tone.  You might need to repeat the treatment to achieve or maintain the desired result.  Results can last between two and six months.

Deep chemical peels offer an intense exfoliation with results lasting for years.  This is an aggressive skin resurfacing technique that improves the appearance of the skin.  The most common ingredient used in a deep peel is phenol.  In some cases sedation is required.  The results can be transformative however the recovery time is upwards of 3 months.  

How long is the downtime?

The light peel requires no real preparation of the skin.  A good clinic will hopefully inform you to stop using retinol 3 days prior to your treatment.

A medium depth peel requires 4-6 weeks of using specific skin products to help strengthen your skin and enhance the benefits of the treatment.  You must discontinue the use of AHA’s, beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide and retinol a week prior to a peel.

You also should not exfoliate a week before peel, and you must also avoid the sun.

What results can I expect from a chemical peel?

A light peel should result in a subtle improvement in the skin texture and tone.  You can expect much more from a medium-depth peel with noticeably brighter, clearer skin and a reduction in pore size.  A deep peel will dramatically improve the appearance of deep wrinkles, pigmentation and uneven skin texture.

NOTE:ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH AND ALWAYS AVOID THE SUN. YOU MUST NOT SUNBATHE AFTER A CHEMICAL PEEL AS YOUR SKIN WILL BE SUPER SENSITIVE.THE BEST TIME TO HAVE A CHEMICAL PEEL IS DURING THE COLDER MONTHS.