Peels are essentially an exfoliation process that removes dead skin cells, mainly through the use of acids that loosen the bond between the cells, and dissolve debris away. Below are three DIY facial peels to make at home. They’re known as chemical peels, which sounds scary, but it’s the acids in the ingredients that are doing the work.
As with all products, you may find one that feels the best to you or gives you the results you most want. Try them all to find out which one is your favorite.
DIY Sugar Peel
Ingredients
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup yogurt
Combine the sugar and the yogurt to make a paste. Using your fingers apply to the entire face while avoiding the eyes. Let the peel rest for about 15-minutes and remove with cool water and a towel if necessary. This peel will help restore hydration and even out dark spots.
DIY Peel for Wrinkles
Ingredients
1 egg white
½ cup of de-seeded cucumber pulp
1 tsp lemon juice
Beat one egg white and mix it with cucumber pulp. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice and mix well, creating a paste. Apply the finished product to your face and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with water. This combination of egg whites, which naturally smooths wrinkles, with cucumbers will help de-wrinkle and moisturize the skin and is the perfect peel for springtime skin.
DIY Sensitive Skin Peel
Ingredients
1 cup green tea
1 cup of chamomile tea
1 small cucumber
1 tsp unflavored gelatin
4 ounces of water
Green tea calms irritated skin, while the cucumber provides ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which can soothe skin irritations and help reduce swelling.
Steep the chamomile and green teas together in approximately 4 oz of water and add the unflavored gelatin. Blend a cucumber until it resembles the consistency of a paste and add the cucumber juice to the tea and gelatin mixture.
Before applying to your face, allow the mix to cool in the refrigerator for about a half an hour to thicken it up. Apply to your face for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it completely dries, and then peel off the mask using warm water.
Many thanks to The Lantana Spa at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa for providing us with these DIY mask recipes. If you want to skip the DIY, in their boutique they also offer Kerstin Florian Correcting At-Home Professional Peel. This product has ingredients worth highlighting:
• Glycolic & Lactic Acids – natural exfoliants slough skin surface and promote cell turnover
• Salicylic Acid – lifts away impurities, relieves congested pores and inhibits bacterial growth
• Phytic Acid – boosts brightness and cell turnover as it reinforces skin’s natural defenses
• Oleanic Acid, Olive Leaf Extract & Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract – soothing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial botanicals help clear skin and reduce sensitivity
• Matrixyl 3000 – powerful peptide complex promotes reduction in wrinkle depth as it improves smoothness, tone and tissue strength
Which DIY peel will you be trying?
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Shannon began A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog in 2005 to morph her love of beauty and in educating women on what truly works and what does not. In 2013 she launched a bath and body line as an extention of the beauty blog. One thing she always has on her at all times? Lip balm.