In brief
- A peel loosens the bonds between dead skin cells. That way your skin renews itself faster than it would on its own.
- We work in increasing strengths. You start low, and only when your skin shows it can handle it do we go up.
- The downtime is short. Sometimes you flake lightly for a few days, sometimes you see nothing at all. Large sheets of skin coming off are not part of this.
- A peel costs from €69.00 per session. For a visible difference, count on four to six sessions.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What an acid does to your skin.
Your skin renews itself in about four weeks. New cells form at the bottom and the old ones shed at the top. As you get older, that slows down. With oily or congested skin, those old cells also stick around more easily. Your skin then turns dull and rough, and your pores clog up faster.
A chemical peel works on exactly that. Many people know it as a fruit acid peel or fruit acid treatment. The acid dissolves the glue between those dead cells, so they come away in a few days instead of weeks. Underneath, skin appears that is smoother and reflects light better. At the same time, your skin starts repairing itself, and that is where the cumulative effect comes from.
A peel works by building up. Four mild peels three weeks apart do more than one strong one. A strong peel also brings a higher risk of irritation, and of more pigmentation rather than less. That is why we almost always start low, even if you have had peels elsewhere before.
Five peels and when we choose which.
We choose the percentage for you. We look at your skin, your skin tone and what you already use, and build up from there.
| Topic | What for | Price | What you may notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| First peel 10% | The introduction, in a mild strength. That way we see how your skin reacts. | €69.00 | Usually nothing visible, at most slightly dry |
| Glow peel 23% | For dull skin, uneven tone and clogged pores. Usually the step after the first peel. | €79.00 | Sometimes a few days of light peeling |
| Glow peel 30% | The same line, one step stronger. Only once 23 per cent has gone well. | €89.00 | More often a few days of flaking |
| Mandelic acid 30% | Mandelic acid has a larger molecule and penetrates more slowly. That makes it the safer choice for sensitive or darker skin and for pigmentation. | €89.00 | Sometimes light flaking, for a few days |
| Bio peel or herbal peel | A herbal peel with ground sponge, algae and herbs, which we massage in. More intense than the name suggests. | €79.00 | In the days after, your skin peels naturally |
If you want LED therapy with it, that costs €20.00 and twenty minutes extra. The light calms your skin after the peel.
Fifty minutes and it only stings briefly.
The acid itself is on for a short time. Most of the time goes into preparation and into calming afterwards.
Assessing and degreasing
We look at how your skin is doing and whether it is suitable today. Then we cleanse and degrease it thoroughly. A film of oil makes the peel work unevenly, and you can still see that days later.
Building up in layers
We apply the acid layer by layer and keep a close eye on the time and on your skin. You feel tingling or light stinging, sometimes some warmth. That is part of it and subsides within a few minutes.
Neutralising
When we want to stop, the acid really does stop, because we neutralise it or remove it. That is where a peel in the salon differs from a jar off the internet.
Calming and protecting
Then we apply something calming and always sun protection. We tell you what to do and not do over the coming days, because those days determine the result.
What happens in the week after.
On one skin you see nothing, on another it flakes for a few days. Both are normal, and 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. Skip make-up that day, and certainly do not use a scrub.
Day 2 to 5
Possible flaking
If you are going to peel, it happens now. You will see fine flakes around your nose and mouth. Leave them be and do not scrub, because that removes skin that has not let go yet. Moisturise well and leave your skin alone.
Day 5 to 7
The new layer
The flaking is over and you see what you came for: smoother, more even skin that reflects light better. Make-up usually sits noticeably better in these days.
Week 3 or 4
The next peel
We plan the next peel after two to four weeks, so your skin can recover in between. In those weeks in between, we sometimes choose something gentler, such as a nourishing facial.
What a series costs you, roughly.
A single peel freshens up your skin. With a series you change something, and then it is good to know roughly what that costs in total.
| 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 |
You pay per session. After each peel we agree together whether a next one makes sense, and if so, when.
When a peel is possible and when it really is not.
We are strict about this. A peel at the wrong moment makes your skin worse, and with pigmentation you can even trigger more of 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 use sun protection daily, even in winter.
- You want to build up slowly rather than go for something strong in one go.
Check with us first
- You have just been in the sun or on a sunbed. Then we wait about two weeks.
- You are going into the sun within two weeks. Then we would rather do the peel afterwards. Autumn is actually a good time to start, see also your skin after summer.
- You use isotretinoin or another strong prescription treatment for your skin. Then check with your doctor first.
- You have an active cold sore, inflamed spots or small wounds. Those need to heal first.
- During pregnancy and while breastfeeding, we do not do acid peels. Mild nourishing treatments are possible.
- Your skin is darker or reacts quickly. Then we start with mandelic acid and build up more slowly.
Good to know about a chemical peel.
A peel works even if you see nothing
Peeling is a side effect and says little about the result. Just as much happens in your skin when you see nothing coming off. If your skin peels heavily, the strength was often higher than needed.
Building up slowly does more than starting high
A percentage says little without the pH, the time it is left on and your skin type. A series of mild peels delivers more than one strong one, with less risk of irritation.
Your outer skin layer only gets thinner temporarily
Your skin responds to a peel by renewing itself. What does make your skin thinner and more fragile is peeling too often and too strongly without recovery in between.
After a peel you wear sunscreen every day
After a peel your skin is more sensitive to UV, and UVA comes through cloud and glass. If you do not protect your skin every day, with pigmentation you can get back more than you lose.
Where the salon ends and the doctor begins.
We work with superficial peels, which stay in the top layer of the skin. Deep peels, laser and anything that goes beneath the skin belong with a clinic or a doctor, and we do not do those. Do you have a skin condition or deep scars, or do you use strong medication for your skin? Then see your GP or dermatologist first. After that, we are happy to look at what we can do for you alongside that treatment.
Chemical peel and what you pay.
- PeelsFirst peel 10%First time50 minutes€69.00
Smoother skin and a fresher complexion, as a first step into peels.
50 minutes
Prices include VAT. You book online with Moons Beauty.
Book an appointmentFrequently asked questions about chemical peel
What does a chemical peel cost in Enschede?
At Moons Beauty a peel starts at €69.00, and the stronger versions go up to €89.00. LED therapy with it costs €20.00. You pay per session and do not commit to a whole course.
Will I peel after a peel?
That varies. With the milder peels you often notice nothing, with the stronger ones you see fine flakes around your nose and mouth for a few days. Large sheets of skin coming off are not part of the peels we do.
How many peels do I need?
For a visible difference usually four to six, two to four weeks apart. With pigmentation it takes longer than with dull skin, and then the result depends heavily on your sun protection.
Does a 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 we neutralise. Most people find it quite manageable.
Can I have a peel if I have sensitive or darker skin?
Yes. We then choose mandelic acid and build up more slowly. Darker skin reacts more strongly to irritation and can develop pigmentation as a result. So working carefully comes before quick results here.
What should I not do after a peel?
Skip make-up, sauna, swimming pool and intensive exercise that day. In the days after, hold off on scrubs, acids or retinol for a while, and leave the flakes alone. Wear sun protection every day. With pigmentation that is really necessary.
What is the difference with microneedling?
A peel works on the surface of your skin, such as tone, smoothness and clogged pores. Microneedling works on the structure underneath, such as firmness and small scars. We often alternate them. Compared side by side per skin concern, it is all in microneedling or a peel.
Can I start with the strongest peel straight away?
No. We first want to see how your skin reacts to a mild strength. Scaling up too fast gives you exactly the irritation and pigmentation you wanted to avoid.
Why people book this
Do you recognise this in your skin?
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