In brief
- A chemical peel uses an acid to loosen the bonds between dead skin cells. As a result your skin renews itself faster than it would on its own.
- A peel works by building up: you start at a low strength and have four to six of them, two to four weeks apart.
- The downtime is short. Sometimes you flake lightly for a few days, sometimes you see nothing. Both are normal.
- After a peel you apply sun protection every day. You don't plan a peel around a sun holiday.
- At Moons in Enschede a peel costs from €69.00 per session.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel is a skin treatment with an acid. The acid loosens the bonds between the dead cells that sit on top of your skin. As a result they come away in a few days, where that would otherwise take weeks. Underneath, skin appears that is smoother and reflects light better.
Your skin renews itself in about four weeks on its own. Over the years that slows down, and with oily or congested skin old cells stick around more easily. The skin then turns dull and rough. That is where a peel comes in.
Many people know it as a fruit acid peel or fruit acid treatment. The word chemical sounds heavier than it is: it just means that an acid does the work instead of grains. A scrub rubs dead cells loose with tiny grains. A peel loosens them without any rubbing.
Which types of peel are there?
Peels differ in the acid they use and in their strength. These are the five we work with at Moons. We decide which one after looking at your skin.
| Topic | For which skin | What you may notice | Price at Moons |
|---|---|---|---|
| First peel 10% | The introduction to fruit acids, in a mild strength | Usually nothing visible, at most slightly dry | €69.00 |
| Glow peel 23% | Dull skin, uneven tone and clogged pores | Sometimes a few days of light peeling | €79.00 |
| Glow peel 30% | The same line, one step stronger, once 23 per cent has gone well | More often a few days of flaking | €89.00 |
| Mandelic acid 30% | Sensitive or darker skin, and pigmentation. Mandelic acid penetrates more slowly | Sometimes light flaking | €89.00 |
| Herbal peel | A peel with ground sponge, algae and herbs, which is massaged in | In the days after, your skin peels | €79.00 |
A percentage says little without the pH, the time it is left on and your skin type. So don't compare peels on the number alone.
How often do you have a peel?
For a visible difference you usually have four to six peels, two to four weeks apart. In those weeks your skin recovers. A single peel freshens up your skin, a series changes something.
A peel works by building up. Four mild peels do more than one strong one, and a strong peel brings a higher risk of irritation and of more pigmentation. That's why you start low, even if you have had peels elsewhere before.
With pigmentation it takes longer than with dull skin. There the result also depends heavily on your sun protection.
Will your skin peel, and how long does recovery take?
On one skin you see nothing, on another it flakes for a few days. The peel works in both cases.
The same day
Pink and tight
Your skin may be a little red and feel tight, roughly like after a windy walk.
Days two to five
Possible flaking
If you are going to flake, it happens now, with fine flakes around your nose and mouth. Leave them be. Large sheets of skin coming off are not part of a superficial peel.
Days five to seven
The new layer
The flaking is over. Your skin is smoother and more even, and make-up sits better on it.
After two to four weeks
The next peel
Your skin has recovered and can handle the next one, often a small step stronger if the last one went well.
Aftercare: what is allowed when?
The days after a peel determine the result. Your skin is more sensitive than usual then.
| Topic | The same day | The days after |
|---|---|---|
| Make-up | Leave it off | Fine again |
| Sauna, swimming pool and intensive exercise | Skip them | Fine again |
| Scrubs, acids and retinol | Don't use them | Not for a few more days |
| Flakes | Not visible yet | Leave them alone and moisturise well |
| Sun | Sun protection is already on | Apply it every day, even when it's cloudy |
After a peel your skin is more sensitive to UV, and UV also comes through cloud and glass. More about this in sun protection.
Does a peel hurt?
While the acid works, you feel tingling or light stinging, sometimes with some warmth. That lasts a few minutes. It stops as soon as the acid is neutralised or removed.
With us the whole treatment takes fifty minutes. The acid itself is only on for a short time. The rest of the time goes into cleansing, degreasing and calming your skin afterwards.
When it's possible, and when it's not.
A peel at the wrong moment makes your skin worse. With pigmentation you can even trigger more pigment with it.
A good idea if
- Your skin is dull and uneven, and skincare alone is not getting you there
- You have clogged pores or marks left behind after spots
- You have pigmentation and you apply sun protection every day, even in winter
- You want to build up slowly rather than go for something strong in one go
Check with us first
- Just been in the sun or on a sunbed. Then we wait about two weeks
- A sun holiday within the next two weeks. Then we would rather do the peel afterwards
- Isotretinoin or another strong prescription treatment for your skin. Check with your doctor first
- An active cold sore, inflamed spots or small wounds. Those need to heal first
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Then we don't do acid peels. Mild nourishing treatments are fine
- Darker skin or skin that reacts quickly. Then we start with mandelic acid and build up more slowly
Can you have a peel in summer?
It's possible, if you stay out of the sun. After a peel your skin is more sensitive to UV. If you've just been in the sun or are going on a sun holiday within two weeks, we would rather plan the peel for another time.
That's why autumn is a good time to start. You then have the whole winter to build up slowly. What summer does to your skin and how to start afterwards is in your skin after summer.
The downsides of a peel.
A peel is a mild treatment, but a few things do come with it.
- Your skin may flake for a few days, especially around your nose and mouth
- Afterwards you apply sun protection every day. If you don't, with pigmentation you can get back more than you lose
- One peel freshens up. For a lasting difference you do a series of four to six
- Peeling too often and too strongly, without recovery in between, makes your skin thinner and more fragile
- It isn't always possible. Around sun, during pregnancy and with a cold sore or inflamed spots we skip it
A chemical peel at home?
You can buy strong peels online. The difference from the salon lies in the stopping. In the salon the acid is neutralised or removed at the moment your skin has had enough. At home that control is missing, and you choose the strength yourself, without anyone having looked at your skin.
Mild products with acids for daily use are something else. They belong in your skincare at home. Which active ingredient does what is in active ingredients explained, and where they fit in your routine in the order of your skincare.
What does a series of peels cost?
You pay per session. Because you usually do a series, the amounts for four to six peels are shown here too.
| Treatment | Per session | Usual course | Full course (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First peel 10% | €69.00 | 4 sessions | €276.00 to €276.00 |
| Glow peel 23% | €79.00 | 4 to 6 sessions | €316.00 to €474.00 |
| Mandelic acid 30% | €89.00 | 4 to 6 sessions | €356.00 to €534.00 |
These are the prices at Moons in Enschede. LED therapy after the peel costs €20.00 extra. All prices are on the prices page.
Peel, microneedling or laser?
| Topic | What it does | Where you can go for it |
|---|---|---|
| Superficial peel | Works on the surface: dull skin, uneven colour and clogged pores | At Moons |
| Microneedling | Works on the structure underneath: firmness, lines and small scars | At Moons. The comparison is in microneedling or a peel |
| Deep peel and laser | Go deeper into the skin, with a longer recovery | In a clinic or with a doctor |
At Moons we work with superficial peels, which stay in the top layer of the skin. We often alternate peels and microneedling.
What to look for when choosing a salon?
These are the signs of a place that handles peels with care.
You start low
A first peel should be mild, even if you've had one elsewhere before. After that, the strength is built up.
They ask about your skin tone and the products you use
Darker skin, and skin that is used to retinol or acids, need a different approach.
They ask about the sun
If you've just been in the sun or are heading there soon, the peel should wait.
The acid is neutralised
That way the action stops the moment your skin has had enough.
You leave with sun protection on
And with an explanation of what to do and not do in the days after.
You can see real work
Photos of their own clients and what others write. Ours are on the results page and under reviews.
Where the salon ends and the doctor begins.
Deep peels, laser and anything that goes beneath the skin belong with a clinic or a doctor. If you have a skin condition or deep scars, or you use heavy medication for your skin, see your GP or dermatologist first. If your skin is still red, painful or broken after the flaking, call your GP as well.
Frequently asked questions about chemical peel
What is a chemical peel?
A skin treatment in which an acid loosens the bonds between dead skin cells. They come away in a few days, and underneath smoother, more even skin appears. It is also called a fruit acid peel or fruit acid treatment.
What does a chemical peel do to your skin?
It speeds up the renewal of your skin. Dull skin becomes fresher, the colour more even and pores clog up less quickly. It works on the surface of the skin.
How often should you have a chemical peel?
For a visible difference usually four to six times, two to four weeks apart. You start at a low strength and build up.
Will you peel after a chemical peel?
That varies. With a mild peel you often notice nothing. With a stronger one you see fine flakes around your nose and mouth for a few days. Large sheets of skin coming off are not part of a superficial peel.
When do you start peeling after a peel?
If it happens, usually between the second and the fifth day. Around day five to seven it's over.
Does a peel work if your skin doesn't peel?
Yes. Peeling is a side effect and says little about the result. Just as much happens in your skin when you see nothing coming off.
What is the recovery time after a chemical peel?
Short. On the same day your skin may be pink and tight. In the days after it may flake lightly. After about a week you see the new, smoother layer.
What should you avoid after a chemical peel?
Skip make-up, sauna, swimming pool and intensive exercise that day. In the days after, hold off on scrubs, acids or retinol, and leave the flakes alone. Apply sun protection every day.
Does a chemical peel hurt?
It tingles or stings slightly while the acid works, and it can feel warm. That lasts a few minutes and stops as soon as the acid is neutralised.
Can you have a chemical peel in summer?
It's possible, if you stay out of the sun and apply sun protection every day. If you've just been in the sun or are going on a sun holiday within two weeks, plan the peel for another time. Autumn is a good time to start.
Can you have a chemical peel when you're pregnant?
At Moons we don't do acid peels during your pregnancy or while you're breastfeeding. Mild nourishing treatments are fine.
Does a chemical peel help with pigmentation?
Peels are widely used for pigmentation, often alternated with microneedling. It takes a series and daily sun protection, even in winter. What's involved is under pigmentation.
Can you have a chemical peel with acne?
With clogged pores and marks left behind after spots, a peel can help. Inflamed spots need to heal first. How we approach blemish-prone skin is under blemish-prone skin.
Which peel suits sensitive or darker skin?
Mandelic acid. It penetrates more slowly and causes less irritation. Darker skin can react to irritation with pigmentation, so there careful building up comes before quick results.
What is the difference between a peel and a scrub?
A scrub rubs dead skin cells loose with tiny grains. A chemical peel loosens them with an acid, without rubbing.
Can you do a chemical peel at home?
Strong peels are sold online, but at home you can't stop the action the way it's done in the salon, where the acid is neutralised. Mild products with acids for daily use are something else and belong in your skincare at home.
What does a chemical peel cost?
At Moons in Enschede a peel costs €69.00 to €89.00 per session, depending on the type. You pay per session.
What is the difference between a peel and microneedling?
A peel works on the surface of your skin: colour, smoothness and clogged pores. Microneedling works on the structure underneath: firmness and small scars. The comparison per skin concern is in microneedling or a peel.
Can I start with a strong peel straight away?
No. First we look at how your skin reacts to a mild strength. Scaling up too fast gives you exactly the irritation and pigmentation you wanted to avoid.
From reading to doing
What we do with this in the salon
Chemical peel in Enschede
The five peels at Moons, with price, steps and booking.
Fruit acid peel
First peel and Glow peel, from 10 to 30 per cent fruit acid.
Mandelic acid peel
The milder choice for sensitive or darker skin and for pigmentation.
Herbal peel
A peel with sponge, algae and herbs, which we massage in.
