Chemical Peel 101 & Giveaway

It amazes me how many clients are scared of chemical peels. I think we have all seen the Sex And The City episode where Samantha's skin looks crazy post peel. I blame that episode for the fear in many clients. I also think the name "chemical peel" scares people off a bit. Tonight we are going to discuss different types of peels & why you should try one at your next appointment. I love alternating clients between peels & microdermabrasion...it is good to switch things up! 

                             

Many clients don't understand there is generally 3 levels of peels...light, medium & deep. Being acne prone and working in the medical field I have tried just about every peel ranging from no peeling to my face falling off in sheets. I have found I have better results doing light "lunch-time" peels more frequently rather than a series of deep peels. Not to mention the down time is much better. Let's discuss chemical peels. 

Benefits of chemical peels: 

-improves skin texture

-reveals healthy glowing skin 

-removes dead skin cells 

-preserves youthful appearance 

-increases moisture retention

-improves skin barrier function 

-stimulates collagen & elastin

-reduces surface pigmentation 

-reduces fine lines & wrinkles 

-reduces acne & acne scarring 

Downtime: 

All the peels I perform at Skin Studio By Megan are "lunch-time" peels. They can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes per treatment. Lunch time peels speed up renewal process on top layer of skin. The downtime is very minimal if any. The skin may appear red after treatment and that will fade within 30 minutes to a few hours. No makeup for at least 2 hours. You also may feel tight & dry for a few days. A few of my peels have minimal flaking for 3-5 days. The downtime is similar to microdermabrasion. 

Types of peels: 

Lactic: 

milk-based 

hydrating & exfoliating 

normal-dry

sun damage 

hyper pigmentation 

lightening 

Glycolic: 

-dissolves desmosomes that hold skin together

-normal, oily, acneic & dry

-minimizes poor size 

-mild-moderate acne 

-pigmentation 

Salicylic: 

-normal, oily & acneic 

-resurfaces & refines skin & pores

-dries up oil

-excellent antioxidant 

-inhibits inflammation 

TCA:

-re-texturizing 

-melasma 

-acne 

-hyper pigmentation 

-evens skin tone 

These are just a few popular peels at Skin Studio By Megan

Remember there are tons of different peels out there. Just because you had a glycolic peel at one office doesn't mean it will be the same at another. Peels vary in pH levels & percentages. 

Giveaway: 

I am giving away a FREE chemical peel to one lucky winner. Here is how to enter. Like the giveaway on Instagram or Facebook. Comment which peel you think is best for your skin type. Share this post. (If private comment that you shared so I will know). The winner will be chosen Monday June 15th. Tag a friend on Facebook or Instagram to be entered twice. 

INSTAGRAM LINK

FACEBOOK LINK

Skin Scripts peels are good for all Fitzpatrick types. Most companies peels are not recommended for darker skin types. 

Here are some testimonies from clients about chemical peels.

 "Best chemical peel experience ever! I've always been so scared to get one done but Megan did an amazing job my skin has never looked or felt better!" -Devan W

"I just wanna take the time to give a huge shoutout to Megan Johnson!!!!!!!! Received a chemical peel and different sorts of her fabulous treatment two days ago, and my face already looks and feels so much better! Thank you Megan you are amazing!!!! If you are having troubles with your skin I recommend setting up and appt. with her!!!" -Hannah G

SHRINK THE APPEARANCE OF LARGE PORES

MYTH: Products that claim they shrink the size of the pore....that is IMPOSSIBLE. Pore size does not shrink or grow. However you can shrink the appearance of the pore. Pores seem large when they are filled with dead skin cells & sebum (oil). Pore size is genetically determined (thanks mom & dad for the big oily pores).Here are a few ways to help reduce the appearance of your pore size. 

1- Salicylic Acid Peels-
My 20% Salycilic Acid peel from Skin Scripts is amazing for oily skin. This peel is oil based and will dissolve the oil therefor making the pore size appear smaller. You can expect mild flaking with this peel for about 3-4 days. Some clients have no peeling at all. I LOVE this peel. Recommended for oily & acneic skin. 

2- Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is polishing the top layers of the skin. The diamond wand tip gently sloughs off the top dead layers of the skin, while the vacuum suction pulls out debris inside the pores (dead skin cells, oil, dirt). By doing this, our pores appear much smaller instantly. Check out more information on microdermabrasion on my previous blog post HERE

3- Deep Cleansing
Facials are a great deep pore cleansing treatment. For at home, I recommend Clarisonic brushes for a good deep cleanse. I have had my Clarisonic for years (I change out the brush head) and have never had issues with it. It might be an investment for some...but it is worth every penny! Make sure not to over use your Clarisonic. 

4- Glycolic Peels
Glycolic Acid dissolves the desmosomes between cells to keep skin cells exfoliated. Also opens up acne impactions. By dissolving the desmosomes we are helping to shrink the appearance of the pore. 

5-Wear Sunscreen
UVA & UVB creates free radical damage which slows down cell production. Basically it makes your skin & pores look rough & flaky. My favorite sunscreen is ELTA MD.

6-Moisturize
Most people with large pores and/or oily skin are often afraid of using moisturizer. I always hear from clients well moisturizers break me out...WRONG. If your skin is dried out it will go into overdrive creating more oil leading to more breakouts. Talk to your esthetician and see if you are using the right moisturizer. Most clients are NOT because they hear about a great moisturizer from a friend or AD. About 99.9% of the time your friend who recommended a product has completely different skin then you. Just because products work well for them does not mean the product will benefit your skin.

7- Ice Cube Facials
I love doing ice cube facials, however I don't do them as often as I should. Take an ice cube, wrap in a paper towel & rub them over your face. It reduces inflammation (great for acne), reduces redness & shrinks the appearance of the pores. It has a nice tightening effect instantly on the skin. It gives the skin a fantastic glow. 

I hope these tricks & tips help you out. Make sure to consult with your esthetician about your skin type & the best treatment for you. I hope everyone is having a fabulous Sunday & a great weekend. My Sunday will consist of blogging, cleaning my house & watching Skin Scripts webinars, I LOVE that company & their educational webinars. 

Skin Care Ingredients 101

SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS 101

Many people know certain ingredients are important in skin care but aren't really sure what they mean. Retinols, Salicylic Acids, Enzymes...we know we need to look out for these products...but do you know which ingredients are best for your skin? Here is a quick breakdown of common ingredients found in products & treatments and which skin type they are most suited for.

Antioxidant- Antioxidants are perfect for EVERYONE. Antioxidants prevent damage of free radicals. Free radicals are chemically unstable molecules caused by environmental pollutants and UV exposure which cause damage to the skin. Basically antioxidants fight off the bad guys. I love getting my antioxidants in with my Vitamin C serum & drinking lots of antioxidant packed foods & teas. 

Enzymes- Enzymes are mild, natural, and great for sensitive skin. Enzymes are ingredients designed to dissolve keratin proteins on the surface of the skin, resulting in exfoliation and softer, smoother skin. I love skin scripts enzymes. They are fruit based enzymes that smell amazing. I love to add them before a microdermabrasion or chemical peel. Here is a guide to Skin Scripts Enzymes that I use in the treatment room. 

Salicylic Acid- This ingredient is perfect for acne prone skin. It is anti-inflammatory &  great for reducing the appearance of large pores. Salicylic Acid penetrates into the pore dissolving dead skin cell buildup and promoting cellular turnover. However this is not suitable for dry skin since it is oil based. I like to use a Salicylic Acid based cleanser (Clinical Care's Cleanszit) along with monthly Salicylic Chemical Peels to keep oil and breakouts at bay. 

 

Benzoyl Peroxide- An acne fighting ingredient that is used to dry and exfoliate. Benzoyl Peroxide releases oxygen which helps in killing the bacteria that causes acne. I love to spot treat with Benzoyl Peroxide (since it can be drying I don't like to apply it all over my face). Be careful B.P can stain your sheets & pillow cases. 

Hyaluronic Acid- Hyaluronic Acid is suitable for all skin types. It binds moisture to the skin for an instant plump. My newest HA product I am loving is Skin Scripts hydrating ageless serum. Skin Ceuticals hydrating B5 serum has to be my all time favorite however. A good HA serum is perfect for extra hydration and preventing TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Skin scripts hydrating ageless serum can be applied all the way up to the lash line, preventing & helping milia. 

  


Lactic Acid- Lactic Acid is a derivative from milk. It is suitable for sensitive, dry & mature skin. It is a hydrating exfoliant that draws moisture from the dermis & surface. This is also a good product for a person with dry skin & acne. It lightens & brightens the skin.

Retinol- A form of Vitamin A to desquamate skin cells. It increases cellular turnover, increases collagen, evens skin tone, clears up acne impactions. Retinol is my favorite product that EVERYONE should be using. Many clients say retinols are too strong on their skin, however decreasing your usage or the percentage of active retinol in the product can help sensitivity. There is usually a form of retinol for everyone (even very sensitive skin). 

Glycolic Acid- This acid dissolves desmosomes between cells to keep skin cells exfoliated. This is a great solution to help purge closed comedones. It clears blocked pores, smoothes texture, and removes hyper pigmentation. I love Glycolic Acid and usually suggest Glycolic Peels to all my clients. 



I am currently LOVING these skin script retinol & glycolic pads. They retail for $22.50...could that price get any better? I have been testing these out for the past few days & I have decided to bring some in to retail so I can share the love with you all! These come with 50 pads that break up surface oil to refine pores and reveal fresh, healthy skin. Kojic and arbutin lighten sun spots and scars left from blemishes. Clear up those left over acne marks, current breakouts & pigmentation while stimulating collagen & elastin for fine lines & wrinkles. Miracle product?...I think so!

Of course there are TONS of ingredients to look out for in skin care products. These are just a few common ones I get questions on a lot. If you have any questions on skin care products or ingredients feel free to ask me. Email me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com