Decoding Skin Brilliance: Your Guide to Expert Chemical Peels

In the Beauty and Aesthetic realm this time of year is synonymous with ‘peel season’. It's the treatment to have when you REALLY want to clean up your skin after the summer, as well as inject some glow in time for the festivities

But things have changed. Technology means skin peels are now safely administered all year round - they also do so much more than clean and rejuvenate. The right peel can help with a range of conditions, from smoothing the skin, minimising pores, helping to treat acne, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles to fading discolouration, balancing texture and even lifting the skin.

The challenge is deciding which one to select. This is where the Skin & Sanctuary team steps in. Saira, Fatma and all of the medical team have spent hours researching before making a selection of the chemical/skin peels that they believe will have the best results for our patients. 

And here’s the final selection. Taking into consideration factors including ingredients, efficacy, safety, case studies as well as testing and assessing the results before adding them to our treatment menu. 

So, which will you choose?

Light Peels:

a. The EnerPeel® Mandelic Peel by Skinmed®
Illuminate your skin with the gentle touch of our Mandelic Peel. A great option for someone going for their first skin peel or someone with sensitive skin. It tends to be one of the more sensitive chemical peels as it’s less penetrating, whilst still being incredibly effective for improving the appearance of your skin. Due to its sensitive nature it's advisable for those with conditions such as rosacea or with darker skin pigmentation.

Downtime: Minimum if at all

Cost: £150 (£375 for a package of 3)

Book with: Fatma Gunduz or Freya Moore 

b. Obagi Blue Peel RADIANCE® by ObagiPeel 

An excellent choice for those who are prone to breakouts or have marks on the skin from previous breakouts. The Blue Peel RADIANCE® is a salicylic acid based peel suitable for almost everyone and particularly those with oily and acne/blemish-prone skin. It will also help brighten, radiant even, dull, sallow mature skin.

Downtime: Dry skin can be expected on day 3 post peel. Only very light peeling of the skin, so minimal to no down time. A beautiful glowing skin will be revealed by day 4 or 5.

Cost: £150 (£375 for a package of 3)

Book with: Freya Moore or Fatma Gunduz

Medium Peels:

a. NeoStrata Pro-Retinol Peel

We love this peel as it reduces the signs of ageing, improves skin texture and enhances skin complexion for almost immediate, visible results. It is also effective for all skin tones. An advanced, medium-strength peel that contains a high potency retinol (3%) in combination with the unique, patented, synergistic, active ingredient NeoCitriate and Aminofill (retinol boosting complex) to greatly enhance collagen and dermal matrix production. The advanced formulation also contains soothing and antioxidant ingredients and is designed for patients who have mild to severe photoageing, acne and acne scarring, hyper pigmentation and age spots - as well as anyone wishing to improve their overall results.

Downtime - Flaking and peeling of the skin beginning at about day two or three, will subside after seven days and can be minimised by the use of after care moisturisers provided.

Book with: Fatma Gunduz or Freya Moore

Cost £250

b. The Perfect Peel® Superblend 

Launched in June 2023 we are so pleased to be in a position to offer this true ‘superblend’ to our patients. A hybrid peel that works at both medium and superficial depths. Founded on glutathione - the mother of all antioxidants - The Perfect Peel Superblend blends kojia acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA),  pure retinol, salicylic acid, vitamin C, mandelic acid and azelaic acid into a formula that delivers maximum impact with minimum risks.

Benefits include improvement of tone and texture, brighter skin, reduction in sun damage and age spots, improves the appearance of hyperpigmentation and melasma, improves acne skin conditions and the appearance of acne as well as stimulating collagen production resulting in firmer skin.

Downtime expect redness post treatment like a sunburn and the skin may also be swollen and itchy for a few days. Following treatment skin will slough off in thin sheets beginning around day three and generally be completed by day 6 or 7.

Cost: £300

Book with: Fatma Gunduz or Freya Moore

Deep Peel

The Perfect Peel®

Our most advanced peel and a clear favourite of the medical team, The Perfect Peel® is a deep peel that is still suitable for all skin types and works wonders for tackling a plethora of concerns thanks to its unique blend of advanced ingredients. 

From fine lines and wrinkles to pigmentation and inflammation, the signs of premature ageing are significantly reduced leaving behind skin that is healthy, youthful and radiant. The first to contain Glutathione, commonly described as the “ultimate antioxidant”. This naturally occurring key ingredient reduces darker pigmentation while fighting off oxidant damage and wrinkles by penetrating deep into the cellular level of the skin. other carefully selected ingredients such as kojic acid increase the production of collagen and elastin, the building blocks for useful skin, while salicylic acid exfoliates making for the ultimate cocktail of anti-aging ingredients

Downtime: Up to 10 days. Starting with tightness (days 1-2), then intensive peeling, when your skin can shed in sheets, (around days 3-6). Post treatment and during this time you will need to use the home treatment pack that you have been given in order to assess the process and enhance your results.

I do hope that this summary of the peels offered at the clinic provides a guideline on why we think they are the best on offer. Before making any final decision on which is best for you we’d ask that you meet with one of our true experts who can assess your skin and ensure that the peel chosen is not only the most suitable for any concern - but is also the safest. Whenever considering a chemical peel please ensure to consult with a skin expert - though it was far fetched, the image of red-faced Samantha in Sex in the City, still looms large.