Did you know that SKINICIAN is a salon professional skincare brand? Not only do we offer skincare products that give you Happy, Healthy Skin at home, we also offer a range of professional treatments and facial peels at our SKINICIAN salons.
With the help of our SKINICIAN educator, Lindsey, we’re answering all your most asked questions on facial peels.
What is a facial peel?
A facial peel is a treatment using chemical ingredients that dissolve the skin cells or the lipids between the skin cells. Different facial peels have different strengths. The strength of a peel is based on the type of chemical used, the volume of acid in the product and the overall pH (The lower the pH the more skin peeling will occur.)
Some examples of acids used in peels are; fruit enzymes e.g. pineapple, Phytic acid, Polyhydroxy acid (PHA), Salicylic acid (BHA), Lactic and Glycolic acid (AHA’s) 
What are the benefits of a facial peel?
While the acids used and the strength of these acids can differ, you will always see an improvement in the appearance of your skin following a peel. However the stronger the peel, the more visible the results.
Using a peeling product at home will gently dissolve and break down any dry, dead skin to give you a smoother, brighter skin complexion. However, a professional peeling treatment will work deeper into the layers of the skin and can aid in the treatment of pigmentation, breakouts, congestion, mild scarring, and skin ageing.
A facial peel will benefit all skin types as when skin cells are removed, new cells will grow in their place. This process repairs the skin’s natural protective layer giving you healthy, hydrated skin that is better protected from the environment.
The removal of excess skin cells will help manage congestion, however, if you find that you are constantly experiencing congestion and breakouts, the use of Salicylic acid will effectively decongest your skin and have an anti-bacterial effect to reduce further breakouts.
If you are more concerned with ageing, you will get the best results from peels that use Lactic and Glycolic acid as they can stimulate the growth of collagen to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
What is the difference in the SKINICIAN facial peels and how do I choose the right one for me?
At SKINICIAN we offer 5 different options when it comes to professional peels. Let’s look at them in more detail:
Glycolic Peel Plus
If you are new to facial peeling treatments, we recommend that you start with our Glycolic Peel Plus. This treatment resurfaces the skin for increased hydration, it smooths and brightens your complexion, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.
Advanced Glycolic Peel Plus
If you are mainly concerned with dull skin and your skin is showing early signs of pigmentation, we recommend this peel for a brighter, more luminous complexion.
Intensive Glycolic Peel Plus
This peel is great for those who suffer from more visible lines and wrinkles. During this treatment, we use sound waves to push the acid deeper into the skin. This stimulates collagen to slow the ageing process and reduce the appearance of skin ageing.
Ultimate Glycolic Peel Plus
For those with thicker, more tolerant skin we would suggest our Ultimate Glycolic Peel Plus. This treatment involves the acid being applied in layers and will leave your skin softer, smoother, brighter, lines and wrinkles will be diminished, and breakouts reduced.
Ageless AHA Lactic Acid Peel
Our strongest facial peel treatment is the Ageless AHA Lactic Acid Peel. This corrective treatment not only targets and treats the visible signs of ageing, but the active ingredients used have also been proven to REVERSE it! This treatment is perfect for anyone that experiences lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, dull skin or for someone with mild acne scarring.
All our peeling treatments also include Salicylic acid which will help treat and manage skin breakouts.
Can a facial peel remove acne scars?
Yes, skin peeling can help with some acne scars however its effectiveness will depend on the type of acne scar. If your acne scar appears risen, it is less likely that an at-home or professional salon peel will remove it. If the scar is indented, salon peels combined with the use of retinol at home may help to improve the appearance of scars. If your acne scarring is post-inflammatory pigmentation (the red marks left behind after breakouts) then salon peeling will fade the pigmentation and brighten the skin for a good result.
I have a good home skincare routine. Do I need a facial peel?
As everyone’s skin is different, we always recommend visiting a SKINICIAN salon for a consultation and skin analysis. This will identify the right course of treatments for your skin. If you don’t have any challenging skin issues and there is no need for a course of facial peels, you can choose to have a peeling service once every six weeks instead. This will boost the health and luminosity of your skin and will help to prevent skin ageing.
What acids are used in your facial peels and what are their benefits?
We use the following acids in our facial peels:
Lactic Acid – This multi-tasking acid boosts cellular renewal for smoother skin, increases hydration, fades pigmentation, and stimulates collagen production to reduce the signs of ageing.
Glycolic Acid – This acid encourages the removal of skin cells and the growth of new ones while stimulating the production of collagen.
Salicylic acid – This “oil-loving” acid gets to the source of oil production removing blackheads and congestion as it goes. It is also known for its anti-bacterial effect on the skin. Salicylic acid will reduce congestion, blackheads, and breakouts.
Will a facial peel help reduce my wrinkles?
Whether or not a facial peel will reduce wrinkles depends on the type of acids used. If your goal is to reduce wrinkles, make sure your peel treatment uses Lactic and Glycolic acids.
Can I get a facial peel while pregnant or breastfeeding?
The type of actives used in a facial peel and how far along you are in your pregnancy will determine whether it is suitable for you to have a peeling treatment.
We would not advise that you receive a facial peel in the first three months of your pregnancy. Our Glycolic Peels are safe in pregnancy however due to the inclusion of retinol in our Ageless AHA Lactic Acid Peel, we advise that this treatment is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. During pregnancy, your hormones can have a huge effect on your skin and how it behaves which may make it more likely to react to a peel. This makes it important to follow the guidance of your SKINICIAN therapist to safeguard the health of your skin.
Will a facial peel get rid of blackheads?
Yes. Any peel can help reduce blackheads but for best results look for peeling options that include salicylic acid.
How often should I get a facial peel?
If you are having a course of Glycolic peels, we advise one peel per week with seven days in between for the course of your treatment. This is then followed by maintenance treatments every 4 to 6 weeks.
If you are receiving Ageless AHA Lactic Acid Peels, you will start the preparation for your treatment at home with the introduction of our Ageless Overnight Retinol Powerbalm Level 1 or Ageless Overnight Retinol Powerbalm Level 2. Following this, you will visit your SKINICIAN therapist once every 6 weeks for your peels.
It is important to remember that you will need to avoid sun exposure after skin peeling as the acids used in peeling treatments increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
Can I get a facial peel if I have sensitive skin?
If you have sensitive skin you can still have a facial peel. To have a facial peel, however, it is important that you have a good home skincare routine and that your skin is at the time of the appointment. We would suggest that you start with our Glycolic Peel Plus treatment.
Where can I find a facial peel near me?
You can find a facial peel near you by visiting our SKINICIAN Salon Locator.