Winter can be harsh on our skin, often leaving it looking dull and lifeless. The cold weather, combined with indoor heating, can strip away moisture, while less water intake and comfort eating during the chilly months may exacerbate skin problems. But fear not! You can achieve some of the benefits of professional chemical peels right at home with at-home natural skin peels using readily available ingredients. These DIY chemical peels, while not as deep-reaching as clinical chemical peels, can still help remove dead skin cells, revealing brighter and more glowing skin when used regularly.
At-Home DIY Chemical Peels Safety
Before trying any DIY or at home peel, it’s important to proceed with caution to avoid irritating or damaging your skin. Firstly, please take a moment to figure out your skin type and any allergies you might have. If you have sensitive skin or conditions like eczema or rosacea then you should avoid doing anything to your skin without consulting with a doctor first. Also, perform a patch test to check your skin’s response and ensure that the peel isn’t too strong. Be careful around the delicate eye area and do not get into your eyes! Also avoid using any type of peels on sensitive regions like the genitals.
How To Prepare Your Skin
For optimal results, double cleanse your skin before applying a peel then dry very well and apply a gentle acid toner. This will cleanse the skin and lower the pH to prepare it for the peel.
Other than prepping your skin make sure that the rest of your skincare products and tools are set up for your at home peel. Perform your peel in a well lit place like the bathroom with a mirror so you can monitor your skin. Make sure that you use clean fingers or applicators to perform your peel and you have plenty of cold water to hand to wash off your peel or rinse your eyes if you get the product in there. Finally, have a rich moisturiser or mask at hand so that you can finish off your treatment.
Types of DIY Chemical Peels
So as we mentioned, there are plenty of natural peels that you can do at home. These can mimic a variety of different professional peels and may help address a range of different skin concerns. However, keep in mind that professional peels have to be done in clinics or med-spas for a good reason. You should never attempt to reproduce the strength or depth of these peels as this can damage or burn your skin. Also, do not use any ingredients that you are allergic to and always perform a patch test. Any peel, natural or otherwise, should not be painful or uncomfortable. If you feel any stinging or burning then you should rinse off the product and seek medical help right away.
WIth that being said, there are a number of natural ingredients that you can use to make your own at home peels. Below are 5 DIY peels that you can use to recreate some of the most popular types of chemical peels.
Glycolic Acid Peel
What is it? Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane. It is commonly used to resurface the skin and fade hyperpigmentation.
What is it for? Ideal for brightening dull skin, evening out skin tone, smoothing texture and reducing fine lines.
Recipe: Mix 2 tablespoons of fine granulated raw sugar, 2 tablespoons of raw honey and a little water to give a consistency that is easy to apply but not too runny. Massage on to the skin and leave for 5-10 minutes. Wipe off and rinse with warm water.
Lactic Acid Peel
What is it? Lactic acid is a more gentle way to exfoliate the skin and has similar effects to glycolic acid.
What is it for? Suitable for sensitive, dry and blemish-prone skin.
Recipe: Apply enough live natural yogurt to form a thick layer on the skin. leave on for 10 minutes, then wipe and rinse off.
Citric Acid Peel
What is it? Citric acid is rich in Vitamin C and helps in skin brightening as well as reducing hyperpigmentation.
What is it for? This is great for those with dull skin and uneven skin tone.
Recipe: Use citrus fruits like grapefruit or oranges but avoid lemons as they may be too acidic. Mix 1 part citric juice with 1 part water, or apply the pulp/carcass directly onto the skin. Leave on for 5-10 minutes then thoroughly rinse off.
Salicylic Acid Peel
What is it? Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is a popular choice for its pore-unclogging and anti-inflammatory properties.
What is it for? Best for oily, combination, congested or acne prone skin.
Recipe: Crush 5-6 uncoated aspirin tablets and mix with 2 tablespoons of raw honey. Apply for 10 minutes, then wipe away and rinse off.
Enzyme Peel
What is it? Enzyme peels, derived from fruits like papaya and pineapple, offer a gentle but effective exfoliation option. They’re also easier to make and smell delightful!
What is it for? These peels are great for those wanting brighter and smoother skin without the harshness of acids.
Recipe: Mash a few pieces of ripe papaya or pineapple. Massage the pulp onto your skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. This peel gently dissolves dead skin cells and impurities. It will leaveyour skin smooth and refreshed.
Finishing Off Your At-Home Natural Skin Peel
Peels work by exfoliating the superficial layers of the skin and clearing out pores. To get the best resulst and reduce any dryness or irritation, make sure you finish off your DIY chemical peel correctly. Apply a rich moisturiser or face mask at the end of your natural peel to hydrate the skin and lock in moisture. Look for the products containing peptides, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to set your skin up for success.
At-home skin peels are a great way to exfoliate the skin and make it smoother and brighter. They can also help treat acne and hyperpigmentation. These days there are a lot of excellent at-home peels on the market which are safe, easy to use and available at any price point. However, for people who prefer to make their own skincare from scratch, there are some great DIY at-home skin peel recipes. We’ve put together the above natural DIY skin peels which we think provide an alternative to teh most popular at-home and professional chemical peels on the market. Whatever you choose, we hope this post inspires you to take a few minutes out of your week and look after your skin.
At City Skin Clinic, we are utterly devoted to personalised skincare. Through our online clinic, our doctors offer safe and effective skin treatments using ingredients like Tretinoin and Hydroquinone where appropriate. We treat skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma and skin ageing. To start your personalised skincare plan, book a virtual video consultation or use our online consultation form. The journey towards great skin starts here.
