To Peel or Not To Peel.....?

Hi, lovelies! To continue my week-long discussion on facial care, I'm focusing today on chemical peels.

A chemical peel is a procedure in which a chemical agent is applied to the skin, with certain types causing the skin to "blister" and peel off. You are literally removing your top layer of skin. It is used to reduce fine lines, treat wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging or hereditary factors, improve the appearance of mild scarring, treat certain types of acne, reduce age spots, freckles or dark patches due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills, or to improve the look and texture of dull skin. There are several different types of chemical peels:

• Light - Also known as glycolic acid peels or AHA chemical peels, a light chemical peel is a non-invasive treatment that removes the upper layers of dead and damaged skin and encourages skin cell regeneration. This type of peel provides gentle treatment for fine lines, acne, chronic dry skin, and uneven pigmentation. This type of peel will cause a slight pinkness afterward, but normal coloring returns in a few hours. You can find do it yourself chemical peels in stores and online, such as Neutrogena and Avon. You can also find at home recipes to do at home and save even more money! Check back tomorrow for recipes that I have used and recommend!


• Medium - Medium chemical peels, also known as TCA (trichloroacetic acid) chemical peels, provide more dramatic results than light chemical peels, and they don't require the extended recovery time of deep (phenol) peels. Medium chemical peels are an effective way to correct acne scars, address uneven pigmentation, improve the texture and tone of the skin, smooth out fine lines, and more. After TCA chemical peels, a superficial crust forms over the treated area, then flakes off in three to seven days. The newly revealed skin may initially appear reddish, but the discoloration will fully fade within a week to reveal skin with dramatically improved texture, color, and overall appearance. Healing time takes approximately two weeks.


• Deep - Phenol chemical peels are the most aggressive type of skin peels. A phenol peel is an effective remedy for severely sun damaged skin, coarse wrinkles, scars, and even pre-cancerous growths. They penetrate the skin deeper than AHA peels or TCA peels to address more serious imperfections such as blotchiness, coarse wrinkles, and acne scars. Compared to light chemical peels and medium chemical peels, deep chemical peels have more dramatic results, and only a single treatment is required. However, deep (phenol) chemical peel recovery is lengthy and uncomfortable compared to milder chemical peels. Phenol peels are so powerful that only one treatment is necessary to achieve dramatic results that last for years. Because the procedure typically results in pronounced swelling, patients are advised to allow for at least a week of at-home recovery after undergoing a deep chemical peel. After an advanced chemical peel, the patient’s face will be swollen, red, and uncomfortable. A crust will form on the treated skin several days after treatment. Within seven to ten days, this crust will flake off to reveal a new layer of bright pink skin. After two to three months, this bright pink color will fade to a pale, smooth complexion.

Now, keep in mind that these procedures are not without risks or side effects. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have with your doctor! While I've never tried a medium or deep chemical peel, I'm definitely not opposed to them. However, I also feel that these types of peels can perhaps be avoided if you maintain a good skin care routine and religiously use SPF! Not enough can be said about prevention! But I think it's good to know that we have options when life sometimes deals us a different hand!

My Morning Skin Care Routine

Good morning everyone! I am actually updating this blog from work....Shhh! Don't tell anybody! I'm supposed to be working! :)
I have gotten some questions regarding my skin care, so I thought I would give you guys a break down of my morning skin care routine. Very simple and basic and the products I use are very affordable and work well! I have very sensitive skin and several products that I have used either dry my skin terribly or cause me to break out. So, here we go:

1. I always use a very gentle cleanser on my skin. I need something very simple, but I still want my skin to feel cleansed. I really like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It has a wonderful creamy consistency, which feels amazing.


2. After patting my face with a towel, but while it is still slightly damp, I use Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil Eliminating Astringent on a cotton ball and cover my entire face - focusing on my chin, my hairline, and the corners of my nose. My face feels incredible after using this...slightly tighter and rejuvenated! The only downfall to this product is the scent - it's very strong! So be careful when going around the nose if you're sensitive to alcohol scented astringents!


3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I cannot stress how important this step is! Retaining your skin's moisture is key in fighting early wrinkles! My favorite under eye cream is Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream. It is so rich and creamy! I keep it stored in the refrigerator, which keeps the product cool to help decrease puffiness as well! I just dot it under my eyes, focusing on the inner portion and outer (where the Crow's feet show up), as well as the lid and just dab it with my ring finger until it dries I never rub it in! The skin in the eye area is very thin and delicate - we don't want to pull the skin. We're trying to fight wrinkles, remember, not promote them! :)


4. Last step - facial moisturizing! Another product I love is Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture. All I need is one pump for my entire face! I try to apply this while my face is dry yet still feels supple. It will hold the moisture better if it is allowed to "dry into" the skin instead of just applied on top.


Hope this answers some questions for you! I will follow up with my nighttime routine, which varies slightly from the daytime routine. Until then, I have to get back to work! Unfortunately, I don't get paid to blog! :)