It's Peel Season: A Guide to Chemical Peels and How They Renew Your Skin
Updated: Sep 14
Summer kept us busy with pool days, barbecues, and weekend trips, so skincare probably took a back seat. As the weather cools, we enter what estheticians call "peel season." It's the perfect time to bring chemical peels back into your routine and I recommend both in our treatment room and at home.
What Are Peels and How Do They Work?
A chemical peel is a gentle form of exfoliation that removes dead skin cells to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath. Fall is a great time to start because with less UV exposure, your skin can safely handle more advanced treatments without the risk of sun damage.
Peels work by encouraging fresh cell turnover and stimulating collagen production, giving you glowing, rejuvenated skin. If your complexion needs a little pick-me-up after a long summer, a peel might be just what it's asking for.
How Peels Benefit Your Skin
Before your treatment, I will evaluate your skin, talk through your goals, and take any sensitivities into account to recommend the right peel for you. Whether you're dealing with acne, aging, or dullness, there's a peel suited to your skin. Peels deliver more noticeable results than at-home scrubs, enzyme masques, or daily peel pads.
✦ Improved texture: smooths rough patches for a more even, radiant surface
✦ Fewer fine lines and wrinkles stimulates collagen to plump and firm skin
✦ Enhanced glow: reveals brighter, healthier skin underneath
✦ Reduced pore size clears debris from pores and helps manage acne
✦ Even tone: fades discoloration and pigmentation for a more balanced complexion
A Guide to Chemical Peel Types
Ahead of your treatment, I may recommend pausing retinoids and exfoliants for a few days, avoiding sun exposure and tanning beds for at least a week, and flagging any medications that could cause a reaction.
Very Superficial: The gentlest option. It provides a light resurfacing for a brighter complexion and can calm redness from rosacea or acne. Expect little to no downtime, slight redness that fades quickly, and a hydrated glow. You can jump back into your home routine right away.
Superficial: This peel addresses mild acne, fine lines, and uneven tone with a slightly higher concentration of active ingredients. Expect light to moderate flaking, mild sensitivity, and temporary pigment changes as skin gently exfoliates. Sun protection is a must afterward, and your esthetician may suggest pausing your normal routine for a few days in favor of gentler substitutes.
Medium: This peel targets moderate wrinkles, age spots, uneven tone, and acne scarring. You may feel some stinging or heat during and after treatment, with pink or red skin for a day or two and flaking that can last five to seven days. We may advise avoiding certain products and makeup during recovery. Daily SPF is a must after this treatment.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
Follow up with our Radiance SkinCare products carefully selected for you to target and improve hyperpigmentation and dark spots as a result of sun damage or acne pimples.
*Even Tone, a cream used nightly to brighten and lighten unwanted sunspots.
*Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid. A favorite Vitamin C serum at Radiance SkinCare to target discoloration and aging.
*FactorFive regenerative serum. A potent stem cell derived daily serum that restores the Five signs of aging: wrinkles, sun spots, skin laxity, thickness and uneven texture. I personally don't go a day without it.
These can be used with or without our Peel Treatments. We can help you select these or other homecare solutions.
What to Expect Afterward
A little extra care after your peel goes a long way. Your skin may need more hydration than usual as it heals, so your esthetician will likely recommend a few extra rounds of moisture to keep it comfortable and glowing. They'll also help you plan your next visit, since peels tend to work best as an ongoing part of your routine rather than a one-time treatment. Experience shows me regular sessions keep your results building, so you continue to see improvement over time.
Prefer No Downtime? We've Got You Covered
Not everyone has a few days to spare for flaking and pinkness for our medium depth peels and that's exactly why we offer a medium depth peel called the FACTORFIVE Renew Dermal Peel. Unlike traditional peels, it works deep within the dermis to stimulate your skin's own renewal process, with no visible peeling and no need to hide away. If a peel that fits your schedule sounds more your speed, catch up on our blog, No Downtime Chemical Peel, to see if it's the right match for you.
Ready to Refresh Your Skin This Fall?
Whether you're drawn to a traditional superficial peel, medium depth peel or our no-downtime option, I recommend it's the best time to start. Cooler weather and lower UV exposure make fall the safest, most effective season for peel treatments.
Don't wait until your skin is asking for help. Schedule your consultation today with us and let's find the right peel for your goals.
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