How to Do a Spa Peel

Spa peels are advertised in a variety of ways. Some are designed to help you lose weight, while others are intended to minimize wrinkles and refresh your skin. Most spa peels are too specialized to do at home. However, a facial peel to jumpstart the growth of new skin and smooth out wrinkles before they become "ingrained" is something that you can do as often as once a week in the privacy of your own home. This will help you keep on top of your beauty routine and allow you to save your money for a more exclusive, possibly full-body peel some time in the future.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glycolic acid gel
• Oatmeal-based lotion
• Cotton balls
• Soft face cloth
• Egg timer
• Facial cleanser

1. Get the glycolic acid gel that is right for you. Glycolic acid is available in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 10%. Generally, an at-home peel should use no more than 5% glycolic acid gel unless you are a trained spa technician.

2. Test your skin. Glycolic acid is fruit-based, but it is still an acid and can be hazardous in high concentrations. Make sure that your skin will not react badly to the acid by swabbing a little bit on the inside of your wrist or elbow. Use the timer to make sure you do not leave the glycolic acid on your skin for more than five minutes. Stop sooner if the area begins to hurt, turn red or burn. Wipe off the glycolic acid gel using a damp cloth and apply some lotion. Then wait a full 24 hours. If your skin has not broken out or burned, then you can use the gel on your face. Dryness and some pinkness are to be expected. However, anything more serious means that you need a lower concentration or that this peel will not work for your outside of a professional setting.

3. Wash your face. Use a warm facial cloth and gentle cleanser to remove all makeup and dirt from your face. Do not scrub, but simply wash using gentle pressure.

4. Apply the glycolic acid. Put a small amount of gel onto a cotton ball and swab it on your face. It does not need to be thick, but you do need to cover your entire face. Do not rub the gel in. Avoid your eye area completely. It is not worth the risk of getting acid in your eyes.

5. Leave the gel on your face for no more than five minutes. Your test should have let you know if your skin will take the peel for that long. You will feel tingling, but you should not feel a severe burning. If you do, then cut the time short. Time your peel session with the egg timer.

6. Wash off the acid with warm water. You do not need to use soap. Also, do not use hot water. Be gentle, and do not scrub your face.

7. Apply lotion to your face. Your face will look pink and may feel tender. This will continue for at least 24 hours. Apply plenty of the oatmeal lotion to your face to keep it moisturized. Wash with a gentle cleanser in the evening and the morning. The dead skin cells will fall off and new ones will come in to replace them. This is the result of the peel. However, it is unlikely that your skin will actually peel off -- and it should not. A spa peel is actually more about starting new growth and shedding dead skin cells than actually peeling off an entire layer of skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Glycolic acid often comes in spa peel kits that contain everything you need for a total chemical peel. You can use these if you do not want to assemble your own ingredients.
• Glycolic acid can harm your skin. Always use low concentrations and do not ever leave it on your skin for more than five minutes.

References

• Skinceuticals Gel Peels
• Information on Glycolic Acid