Hybrid Peels: A New Type of Chemical Peel for Great Results and Less Irritation

If you thought peels had lost their “appeal,” think again. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 1.3 million chemical peel procedures in 2016, up 5 percent from 2014 and 14 percent since 2000. With the average cost of a chemical peel in a medical spa or doctor’s office averaging $673, that’s almost a billion dollars of business for one procedure alone.

Just as peels are becoming more and more prevalent, so are signs of irritation and possible over-exfoliation.  In fact, irritated, over-exfoliated skin from over-aggressive peels, or at-home peels performed incorrectly are now main reasons clients come to see an esthetician.  If you know me, you know how I feel about over-aggressive peels. Just as in all things (except maybe caviar) you can very easily over-do it when it comes to exfoliation.

Signs of over-exfoliated skin include itchiness, skin redness, dry, scaly, or crusted skin, the appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters that might ooze when scratched and even infection. To avoid over exfoliation, today there are gentle and effective hybrid peels available for estheticians to perform that cost less and provide real results without the irritation.

The Skin Benefits of Chemical Peels

Depending on their level of exfoliation, chemical can provide dramatic results, from a visible reduction in superficial lines and wrinkles, minimizing the appearance of sallow skin, targeting age spots, brightening a dull complexion, to being beneficial if you’ve suffered from acne.

Chemical peels should administered by a skin care professional, as over-doing it can leave the skin a very vulnerable state (rawer, thinner, and more sensitive). The following skin types can benefit from chemical peels:

• Aging skin — With age, the natural exfoliation process slows down and causes our skin to look dull and tired.
• Photo damaged skin — This type of skin can display abnormal skin texture, including pebbling, deep or excessive wrinkles, large amounts of freckles or other spotty discolorations.
• Oily skin — This skin type tends to saturate dead skin cells with excessive oil, making it difficult for dead cells to shed off naturally.
• Dry skin — This skin type tends to let dead skin cells accumulate too quickly which can make skin look dry, dull, and with visible signs of dehydration.

Types of Chemical Peels

Peels can run the gamut from deep phenol peels that require hospitalization and several weeks recovery to superficial peels that can be performed in a spa setting and be done in a lunchtime.

For a full run down on different types of peels and their effects read Hyperpigmentation: Are Age Spots the New Wrinkles?

The Benefits of the Superficial & Hybrid Peels

Unlike chemical peels available at the medical office, everyone can benefit from the milder peels offered by estheticians. These peels can be performed in no-time and will leave you with visible results to make your skin look refreshed, and well rested. Other factors to take into consideration:

• Cost — Peels offered by estheticians are more affordable, while still give the results the clients are seeking.
• Recovery time — Superficial peels performed by estheticians can be done on a lunch break or after work and are ideal for those who just don’t have the time to hideaway from life.
• Risk — Peels performed by estheticians tend to be considered safer because they are lower strength levels and are more easily controlled. Controlled peeling means safe, accurate peeling, and less risk.
• Enjoyable — You can incorporate a peel treatment into a massage or body treatment, waxing service, or, if you are using a new mask peel, even a manicure or pedicure. This actually allows peels to be enjoyable for clients.

The Beauty of Hybrid Peels

The newest formulation of peels are an entirely new concept—a hybrid peel that combines buffering natural ingredients in an easy-to-apply form, such as a clay-based mask with AHAs, such as you find in the Repêchage® Biolight® Luminex Mask.  This mild hybrid peel utilizes AHAs and exfoliating Kaolin clay to gently help reduce the appearance of dull and uneven complexion with visible spots and fine lines and wrinkles.

Glycolic peels were typically used in the past to help treat these concerns, but this new hybrid peel can help create a peeling effect without potential irritation.  Pair a hybrid peel with a power-packed peptide mask, like in our Peel and Glow Facial, and skin will look brighter, texture will be refined, and the appearance of wrinkles will be lifted, while skin remains hydrated and supple.

Have you been using the Repêchage® Biolight® Luminex Mask as a hybrid peel at your spa or salon? Share your feedback below!