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In brief
- After a peel you leave your skin alone. For the first hours it feels warm and tight, and after the lighter peels it flakes slightly for about three to five days. You don't pull at skin that is coming loose, you leave scrubs, acids and retinol alone for about five to seven days and you apply sun protection of SPF 30 or higher every day.
- The herbal peel has stricter rules. For four days you keep water, soap and cosmetics off your face, and only sun protection is allowed, during the day. After three to four days your skin starts to come loose.
- For the lighter peels (fruit acid and mandelic acid) we give the timings as approximate. We confirm them at your appointment, because they differ per peel and per skin.
- Peeled skin is more sensitive to the sun. Apply SPF 30 or higher every day and avoid the midday sun.
- If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets stronger after two to three days instead of fading, see your GP.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What do you feel in the first hours?
During a fruit acid or mandelic acid peel you feel tingling or a slight warmth. Afterwards your skin may be a little red and feel tight, roughly like after a windy walk. That is part of it and you mainly notice it on the day itself.
After the herbal peel it is more intense. The massage leaves your skin red and warm, and it can sting for six to twelve hours. Afterwards it sometimes looks a little darker. That is part of it too.
For every peel, you skip scrubs, sauna, swimming pool and hard exercise on the first day.
The herbal peel next to the lighter peels
The herbal peel has its own, stricter rules. For fruit acid and mandelic acid the timings are approximate, and we confirm the timing for your peel at your appointment.
| Topic | Herbal peel | Fruit acid and mandelic acid peel |
|---|---|---|
| Water, soap and cosmetics | For four days you keep them off your face. Only sun protection is allowed, during the day. | We advise lukewarm water and a mild cleanser. Pat your face dry and don't rub. |
| Flaking | After three to four days the top layer comes loose. You leave loose bits where they are. | The First peel of 10 per cent usually shows nothing. With stronger peels you sometimes flake slightly for about three to five days. |
| Sun | Only sun protection during the day, every day, and you avoid the midday sun. | SPF 30 or higher every day, and you avoid the midday sun. |
| Scrubs, acids and retinol | After the four days you still leave them alone for a while. | About five to seven days. We confirm the timing at your appointment. |
| Sauna, swimming pool and exercise | You skip sauna and swimming pool for those four days. You skip hard exercise on the first day. | About the first day. We confirm the timing at your appointment. |
| Make-up | Four days, because cosmetics stay off your face. | On the day itself you leave make-up off. We confirm the timing at your appointment. |
| The next peel | After a month at the earliest, four times a year at most. | Usually after two to four weeks, so your skin can recover in between. |
Which peel you had is in your appointment. If you are unsure about a timing, just ask us.
Which peel did you have?
Herbal peel
Stricter rules and skin that comes loose after three to four days. Everything about this peel is at herbal peel.
Fruit acid peel
With the First peel of 10 per cent you usually see nothing. With the Glow peel of 23 and 30 per cent you may flake slightly for a few days. See fruit acid peel.
Mandelic acid peel
You sometimes flake slightly for a few days, and recovery is gentler than with stronger acids. See mandelic acid peel.
Chemical peel
That is the group that fruit acid and mandelic acid belong to. The aftercare is that of the lighter peels. See chemical peel.
What your skin does in the days after
The first hours
Warm and tight
Your skin is a little red and feels tight. After the herbal peel it can sting for six to twelve hours. Apply sun protection and leave the rest alone.
The first day
Take it easy
Skip scrubs, sauna, swimming pool and hard exercise. Heat and sweat irritate skin that has just been peeled.
Days 3 to 5
Possibly flaking
After the lighter peels you flake for about three to five days, if you flake at all. After the herbal peel your skin comes loose after three to four days. Leave loose bits where they are.
After about a week
The new layer
The flaking is over. You pick up scrubs, acids and retinol again once we have confirmed it, about five to seven days after a lighter peel. Sun protection stays, every day.
Why do you leave skin that is coming loose alone?
Pulling or scrubbing feels like helping. You then remove skin that isn't loose yet, and that leaves red, sensitive patches. So leave the bits where they are until they come off by themselves.
Extra exfoliation doesn't belong in the first days either. A scrub, peeling pad or acid comes on top of what your skin is already doing.
How much you flake differs per skin and per time. After a light peel you sometimes see nothing, and the peel has worked then too.
Can you go in the sun after a peel?
Your skin is more sensitive to UV after a peel. We advise sun protection of SPF 30 or higher every day, and we advise against sitting in the midday sun. After the herbal peel, sun protection is the only thing you may put on your face for the first four days.
UV-A comes through the clouds on grey days too, and through glass. So apply it in winter as well. You skip the sunbed. With pigmentation this matters even more, because without protection the spot comes back just as strongly.
More about what sun protection does is in sun protection.
Which products do you leave alone for a while?
After a lighter peel you leave retinol, acids such as AHA and BHA, benzoyl peroxide and scrubs alone for about five to seven days. We confirm the exact timing at your appointment. After the herbal peel you wait a little longer still: for the first four days nothing goes on your face except sun protection.
After that you choose a soothing, hydrating cream without active ingredients and without perfume. What those ingredients do is explained in active ingredients explained.
When can you wear make-up or have waxing again?
After a fruit acid or mandelic acid peel you leave make-up off on the day itself. After the herbal peel, cosmetics stay off your face for four days. From when you can wear make-up again after that, we confirm at your appointment.
We only wax your face once your skin has fully calmed down. So don't plan a peel straight after waxing, and don't wax straight after a peel. More about waxing is in aftercare after waxing.
What is normal after a peel?
Red and tight
On the day itself your skin is a little red and tight. After the herbal peel it stings for six to twelve hours.
Slightly darker skin
After the herbal peel your skin sometimes looks a little darker before it comes loose.
Fine flakes
After the lighter peels mainly around your nose and mouth, for about three to five days.
A dry feeling
After the First peel of 10 per cent your skin feels a little dry at most, without you seeing anything.
When do you go to the GP?
If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets stronger after two to three days instead of fading, see your GP. If large sheets of skin come off, let us know via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions about peel aftercare
What do you do after a peel?
You leave your skin alone. You don't pull at skin that is coming loose, you leave scrubs, acids and retinol alone for about five to seven days and you apply sun protection of SPF 30 or higher every day. After the herbal peel you keep water, soap and cosmetics off your face for four days.
How long do you flake after a peel?
After the lighter peels about three to five days, and with the mildest strength sometimes not at all. After the herbal peel your skin comes loose after three to four days. How much you flake differs per skin.
Can you pull at skin that is coming loose?
No. You then remove skin that isn't loose yet, and that leaves red, sensitive patches. Leave the bits where they are until they come off by themselves, and don't scrub.
Can you go in the sun after a peel?
With sun protection of SPF 30 or higher, yes, every day, and you avoid the midday sun. Your skin is more sensitive to UV after a peel. You skip the sunbed.
When can you use retinol or acids again after a peel?
After a lighter peel about five to seven days later. We confirm the timing at your appointment. After the herbal peel you wait longer, because for the first four days nothing goes on your face except sun protection.
Can you wear make-up after a peel?
After a fruit acid or mandelic acid peel you leave make-up off on the day itself. After the herbal peel, cosmetics stay off your face for four days. If you want to wear make-up at a specific moment afterwards, ask us at your appointment.
Can you exercise, go to the sauna or swim after a peel?
On the first day you skip hard exercise, sauna and swimming pool. After the herbal peel you skip sauna and swimming pool for four days. Heat and sweat irritate skin that has just been peeled.
Can you wash your face after a herbal peel?
For the first four days you keep water, soap and cosmetics off your face. Only sun protection is allowed, during the day. After three to four days your skin comes loose, and you leave loose bits where they are.
How long are you red after a peel?
After a lighter peel your skin is mainly a little red and tight on the day itself, roughly like after a windy walk. After the herbal peel your skin is red and warm and can sting for six to twelve hours.
Can you have waxing after a peel?
We only wax your face once your skin has fully calmed down. So don't plan it straight after a peel. More is in aftercare after waxing.
When can you have your next peel?
After a lighter peel usually after two to four weeks, so your skin can recover in between. The herbal peel can be done after a month at the earliest, and four times a year at most.
When do you go to the GP after a peel?
If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets stronger after two to three days instead of fading. If large sheets of skin come off, let us know.
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