What is exfoliation? Tips and tricks for smooth skin

Do you know the feeling? Your facial skin feels somewhat rough and uneven? It doesn't have to be that way. There are several remedies to combat this phenomenon – one of them comes in a liquid to gel-like consistency – but what exactly is a peel? What can it do, and how do you use it? We answer all these questions and more in this article. Read on now!

Definition: What is a peel?

To answer the question "What is a peel?", we first want to give you a general definition so that we can go into the individual aspects in more detail later. The word itself comes from the English "to peel" and means to remove the outer layer. That's why you might also come across the term "skin peeling treatment." The term actually encompasses two things. On the one hand, there's the product you can use at home yourself. On the other hand, it refers to a cosmetic treatment performed professionally. In most cases, such a process involves removing large areas of scales. This promotes blood circulation and refines your complexion. It also cleanses pores and stimulates cell renewal. In addition, it helps the skin to better absorb subsequent care products. This makes your epidermis softer and smoother. This can happen with varying intensity. Because with a superficial peel, you only treat the uppermost stratum corneum, which heals quickly afterwards. You can easily do this yourself at home with the product of the same name. With a medium-depth treatment, however, you should go to a beauty salon, as the entire stratum corneum is removed here. The healing process afterwards takes at least a week. Finally, in the professional field, there is also an option to abrade the skin down to the collagen layer. Several weeks can pass until the epidermis regenerates.

Applications for body and face

When answering the question "What is a peel?", we already hinted that this treatment removes dead skin cells. Does that sound like a procedure you'd want to use for your entire body? Yes and no, because not all skin is the same. That's why we distinguish between two regions. Your face and décolleté are more sensitive than the rest. Therefore, you should use gentler products here and not exfoliate too often. But more on that later. The rest of your body, i.e., arms, legs, back, or abdomen, is generally not as demanding. Here you can get products that are a bit coarser. There are various options, such as exfoliating gloves made of cotton or other firm material. But shower gels with a peeling effect are also a good option here for treating large areas relatively quickly.

What is a peel? Two known types introduced

When you ask "What is a peel?", it's easy to define generally, but in recent years, two variants have emerged. And these couldn't be more different from each other. We're talking about mechanical and chemical peels. To give you a clear overview, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about them.

The mechanical peel

This type is also called microdermabrasion. This term is derived from micro (small), derm (skin) and abrasion (to rub off). So you can already get a certain idea of what it is about. Specifically, the skin cells are removed here with the help of small grains under gentle scrubbing. A kind of sanding effect is created.

Ingredients: What's in the peel?

You will, of course, only achieve this cleansing effect if there is something in the products that can rub against your skin. These mentioned grains can consist of various materials. Here is a small list of the possibilities:

• Sugar
• Seed shells
• Nut shells
• Salt crystals
• Crushed pits of e.g. peaches or apricots
• Sand
• Clay
• Coffee
• Plastic particles

However, when choosing the grit size, you should pay attention to your skin. For example, if you are prone to pimples or generally impure skin, some of the listed substances can be too irritating. Therefore, you should use something milder. This includes, for example, sugar scrubs, which are particularly gentle on the skin.

Advantages and disadvantages

A definite plus point of mechanical peeling is that, as a rule, no side effects occur. Nevertheless, always try every product on a small area of your arm before applying it to your sensitive facial skin. In addition, the application and dosage are particularly easy. We will say more about this in the following section. Furthermore – depending on the grit size – dirt and flakes are gently removed. One disadvantage, however, lies in the ingredients. Depending on them, these can be a burden on the environment. In addition, your skin can get used to it with excessive use and become calloused. Furthermore, people with a sensitive skin type or an epidermis with problems such as acne, rosacea, or telangiectasias must be careful with mechanical peels or refrain from them entirely.

Application of the peel

Generally, the mentioned ingredients are sold in pastes or similar forms. Therefore, the application is relatively easy. However, to avoid the habituation effect, you should not perform this procedure more than once or twice a week. It's practical that you don't actually need much in the way of aids. First, cleanse your face and remove makeup and dirt. Now, dampen the desired areas again with water and then massage the peeling mixture in with circular and, above all, gentle movements. When you're done, all you have to do is rinse everything off with lukewarm water. You can use your fingers or a soft washcloth for this. Afterwards, your skin will appreciate a rich cream or serum to regenerate quickly.

The chemical peel

Do you want to not only get rid of skin flakes, but especially age spots, acne scars or small wrinkles? Then a chemical peel is probably even more effective than a mechanical one. Because it penetrates deeper into your skin and thus causes the epidermis to peel off and a new, smooth one to emerge.

Ingredients

To achieve the described effect, various acids are used. This may sound a bit intimidating at first, but since they are low-dosed, they will not leave any permanent damage to your epidermis. We give you an overview of which well-known options should be best applied for what purpose.

Ingredients	What it includes	When to use	Product examples
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)	Fruit acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid	for mature and dry skin against sunspots skin becomes better hydrated and appears firmer	Isntree Clear Skin 8% AHA ESSENCE Beauty of Joseon Bubble Toner Green Plum + AHA
BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid)	Salicylic acid	for impure and oily skin anti-inflammatory soothing	Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner Purito BHA Dead Skin Moisture Gel
PHA (Polyhydroxy Acids)	Gluconolactone, lactobionic acid	for sensitive skin antibacterial anti-inflammatory protects skin from sun damage scars, spots, and wrinkles are minimized	Hanskin Pore Cleansing Balm - PHA Isntree Clear Skin PHA Sleeping Mask

Advantages and disadvantages

You've probably already guessed it, but chemical peels also have a list of pros and cons. Let's start with the advantages. You can usually see an immediate effect. They also help to smooth wrinkles and lighten hyperpigmentation. In addition, you can use these products for acne. If you're unsure, it's best to discuss it with your dermatologist. This type of peeling also has a few disadvantages. First, there's photosensitivity. Immediately after application, you may react more strongly to sunlight than usual. Therefore, it's best to always have sunscreen on hand. We've explained how to find the best one in another article. In rare cases, pigmentation disorders, redness or scarring may occur. Therefore, be especially careful when using it for the first time and try it out on a small area of your body beforehand.

Application of chemical peel

The first step here is also the thorough cleansing of the face. However, you should then dry the skin very well. Now you can apply the peel with your fingers or a sponge or brush. Leave out your lips and the eye area. Depending on which product you have chosen, you either have to rinse it off with clear water or even leave it on, as it absorbs into the epidermis. Now let's talk about the photosensitivity factor again. Because this is not to be trifled with. Therefore, we recommend that you carry out this procedure in the evening and in any case apply a high sun protection factor the next morning. You should also use a moisturizer. By the way: With chemical peels, it all depends on the dosage of the acid. Some options can even be used every day. However, always pay attention to the information on the packaging. Nevertheless, the rule here is also: less is more. After all, the whole thing is attacking your epidermis in a way. Therefore, start gently and only use the products once every two weeks.

What is peeling: a conclusion

You see, the question "What is peeling?" cannot be answered in just two sentences. It depends, on the one hand, on whether you want to treat your face or the rest of your body with it. On the other hand, the type of application naturally depends on what you want to achieve. With a mechanical peel, your skin becomes particularly smooth and dead skin cells are removed. With a chemical peel, you can visibly smooth your complexion. No matter what you decide: We at LoveMyCosmetic.de are by your side and will be happy to advise you on the selection of the various products that you can order in our online shop! Further links: www.de.wikipedia.org/.../Peeling www.fitforfun.de/.../peeling_aid_7483.html www.die-haut.ch/.../mechanische-peelings/ www.instyle.de/.../chemische-peelings www.gesund-vital.de/peeling-fuer-jeden-das-richtige