A little bit of winter radiance never went astray, right? At Birchbox HQ we like to look to a gentle at-home peel for a little bit of get-up-and-glow, especially at the end of the year when skin can be looking – quite frankly – as dull and dreary as the grey skies outside. And if the word ‘peel’ itself sounds scary to you (does anyone remember the episode of Sex in the City with Samantha’s red-raw face?!), it really doesn’t need to be – peels have moved on and they are awesome, the fast route to beaming skin radiance and now gentle enough for some DIY spa-action at home. Let’s simplify things in 6 easy steps, shall we? Read on.
DON’T USE PEELS ON REALLY SENSITIVE SKIN
First and foremost, if you have sensitive skin, then peels most probably won’t be for you (you will know straight away if you do a patch test on the inside of your arm). But that doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge in a little bit of cell renewal. We would suggest cleansing with a deep cleanser and then using a muslin cloth – we love Liz Earle’s iconic Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – to wipe away excess product and gently slough away surface-level dead skin cells. Easy peasy.
DO LET STEAM ACTIVATE THE GOODNESS OF YOUR MASK
Whilst soaking in the tub, leave a gentle enzyme mask, like Elemental Herbology’s Facial Glow Radiance Peel (sampled in December’s Sophia Webster box) on and let the steam activate the fruit enzymes for maximum effect.
DO MASSAGE YOUR SKIN
Depending on your peel, there may be some micro-spherical exfoliating beads in there (we love the refined beads in the Ilcsi Grape Stem Peeling Mask), so to be sure to get the most out of them, spend a good 5 minutes massaging the formula in to your skin for ultimate smoothness.
DO BE SAVVY POST-PEEL
After a peel, once the dead skin cells have been removed, the skin underneath is fresh, new and primed to receive some nourishment or anti-ageing. Be sure to apply your favourite cream or serum straight after and let it work its magic.
DON’T GO TOO CRAZY
Whilst a peel is the most effective way to renew and re-energise the skin, don’t overwhelm it by doing it too often. Once a week is plenty for normal skin, with twice a week for skin that needs a little bit more help, being more than enough.
DO GIVE PORES A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY
Did you know that peels are one of the most effective ways to shrink and cleanse pores? Oh yes. Sarah McNamara’s Miracle Skin Transformer Hydro-Active Microderm has lovely anti-ageing benefits that mean skin will look more refined, smooth and even, whilst Ren’s Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask combats congestion and clogged pores.
– Jess Diner