Chemical Peel Masks At Home

At-home chemical peels come as pre-moistened pads you wipe on your skin or bottled liquids you apply as a mask. The acids exfoliate dead skin cells on the top layer of skin, revealing newer, smoother skin below.

The acids in at-home peel products are similar to those used in the mildest professional peels, but at a much lower concentration. They include alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid) and beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid). At-home peels may also include other ingredients such as retinol to boost collagen production, fruit enzymes such as papaya or pineapple to brighten skin and antioxidants such as green tea and vitamin C.

What to expect from an at-home peel

At-home peels are worth doing if a quick radiance boost is your goal.

“It’s important for people to manage their expectations when they use at-home peels because they’re not on par with a peel you’d get from a dermatologist or aesthetician,” said Shawna Sopher, a licensed medical aesthetician at Water’s Edge Dermatology. “Less exfoliation occurs, so you’re not going to see very significant changes.”

The people who benefit the most from at-home peel products are those who also get professional chemical peels. “They’re best used about once a month between your professional treatments in order to maintain results,” Sopher noted.

At-home face peels are particularly helpful if you’re preparing for a special occasion. “They give your skin a nice glow, even if temporarily. So, you might use one the night before an event to help your skin look brighter and smoother,” said Sopher.

Can you give yourself a chemical peel at home?

While at-home peels are milder than professional ones, they aren’t risk-free. The biggest problem people run into is buying a peel that isn’t well suited to their skin type.

“Usually when patients ask me about at-home peels it’s because they used one that burned or irritated their face, probably because it was too strong for their skin,” Sopher explained. “There are many different peels on the market that contain varying concentrations of acids, so it’s hard to figure out on your own which one is right for you.”

For the best results, consult with your skincare provider before you buy an at-home peel product. Your provider can help you find a product that’s not too harsh for your skin and contains the right ingredients to treat your complexion issues. If your skin is oily, for example, your provider may recommend a peel that contains salicylic acid, which decreases oil production. If it’s normal to dry, a peel with alpha hydroxy acids may be a better option because they don’t sap your skin’s natural moisture.

It’s also important to make sure you’re a good candidate for an at-home peel. Chemical peels, regardless of their strength, shouldn’t be used by anyone who is pregnant, nursing, taking isotretinoin or has inflamed acne or a sunburn. People with dark skin tones should ask their skin care provider about whether peels are a smart choice for them, since darker skin is prone to developing hyperpigmentation (dark spots).

Chemical Peel Masks At Home

Best All-Around

Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial Mask

$80 AT SEPHORA$60 AT WALMART$80 AT ULTA BEAUTY

PROS

• Lightweight texture
• Comes with a mini face oil

CONS

With a blend of 25% AHAs (glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric acids) as well as 2% BHA (salicylic acid) to work both at the skin’s surface and down inside the pores, this putty-colored peel leaves skin looking and feeling smoother in 20 minutes, without overpowering sensitive complexions.

Bargain Buy

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Now 16% Off

$8 AT SEPHORA$14 AT WALMART$8 AT ULTA BEAUTY

PROS

• Affordable and effective formula
• Helps diminish the look of blemishes

CONS

The high-octane ingredients found in peels mean that many versions also come with steep price tags. Not this bottle, which offers 30% AHAs and 2% BHA for maximum exfoliation on a shoestring budget.

Fastest Acting

Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel Concentrate

$46 AT SEPHORA$46 AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

PROS

• Pro-level peel
• Helps minimize the look of pores

CONS

If you’re ready to take on skincare like a pro, look no further than this 30% glycolic acid peel that will clear away dullness-inducing dead skin cells, help unblock pores, and boost your natural radiance in just two minutes.

Pro-Level Peel

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clinical Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel

$90 AT SEPHORA$90 AT NORDSTROM$95 AT BLOOMINGDALE’S

PROS

• Vegan formula
• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles

CONS

When you’re ready to get serious about smoothing and brightening, this potent two-step peel offers dark spot eliminating power as well as redness-fighting soothers. Step one features lactic and glycolic acid and the pineapple-derived enzyme bromelain and can be customized depending on the amount that you apply. After just two minutes of exfoliation, apply step two which deactivates the peeling action with soothing oatmeal and green tea.

Best for Deep Cleaning

Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel

Now 12% Off

$75 AT DERMSTORE

PROS

• Contains glycerin to help maintain skin hydration
• Quick and easy to use

CONS

These individually portioned tubes of high-potency lactic acid and caviar lime help resurface skin and give your natural collagen production a little nudge to make skin look firmer.

Best Gel Peel

Glytone Rejuvenating Mini Peel Gel

$64 AT SKINSTORE$64 AT WALMART$65 AT DERMSTORE

PROS

• Suitable for all skin types
• Helps retexture skin

CONS

With a 10.8 glycolic acid value, this straightforward gel peel (it has just 7 ingredients) is perfect for those who aren’t kidding around with their exfoliation routine. With regular use, it can also help smooth the appearance of uneven texture.

Homemade chemical peel mask

1. Chemical Face Peel With Yogurt:

In a bowl, add one tablespoon of plain white cane sugar and one tablespoon of yogurt. Stir the ingredients well to make a granulated paste. Avoiding your eyes, apply the paste on your face and neck evenly throughout. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with cold water.

2. Baking Soda Chemical Peel:

Take a bowl and add one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water and stir well till the baking soda is completely dissolved. In a shallow dish, put 12 uncoated aspirins and pour just enough lemon juice in it for the aspirins to dissolve. With the help of a spoon, mash the aspirins till it becomes a thin paste. Apply the dissolved aspirins in lemon juice paste on your skin evenly throughout and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then, dab a cotton ball into the baking soda and water mixture to wipe off your face. It is the best chemical peeling for the face at home.

3. Cucumber Chemical Peel:

To make this chemical peel, ½ cup each of brewed chamomile and green tea and a small pack of gelatin into a small pan over a stovetop. Melt the ingredients till the gelatin dissolves completely. Then extract the juice out of a cucumber and add it into the mixture along with a tablespoon of aloe vera juice. Stir thoroughly to mix all the ingredients together. Refrigerate the mixture to thicken and then apply it on your face and neck with a facial mask brush. Let it dry out and then you can remove off the peel.

4. Papaya Chemical Peel:

In a blender, add a few chunks of de-seeded ripe papaya and blend to form a lump free smooth paste. Strain it through a sieve and set aside. In a saucepan, pour four tablespoons of mineral water along with a small pack of gelatin. When dissolved completely, add the papaya paste and mix thoroughly. Then transfer the mixture in the fridge to thicken. When done, apply the mixture evenly throughout your skin with a facial mask brush and let it dry completely. Then remove the peel and wash off with lukewarm water. This is the best chemical peel for the face at home.

5. Tomato Chemical Peel:

In a saucepan over a heat stove, add ½ cup of water, a tablespoon of fresh orange juice and another tablespoon of lime juice. Add a small pack of unflavored gelatin into and let it dissolve completely. Then add a freshly pureed tomato in the mixture and let it cool before refrigerating the mixture to thicken. Take it out after 25 minutes and apply on your skin evenly with the help of a facial mask brush. When it dries completely, peel off the mask and finish off by washing your face with lukewarm water.

6. Lime Chemical Peel:

Pour ¼ cup of small granulated white cane sugar and add sufficient lemon or lime juice to form a uniform paste. Mix the ingredients well and then with your fingertips, apply the mixture on your face and neck evenly avoiding the eyes. Let the peel rest for 15 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water.

7. Pineapple Chemical Peel:

Cut a portion of ripe papaya and a pineapple into small chunks. Take ½ cup of pineapple and ¼ cup of papaya in a blender and blend well to form a smooth paste. Add ½ tablespoon of organic honey, the darker the better, into the paste and stir well to mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Then apply the mask with your fingertips evenly on your face and neck. Let it stay for 20 minutes and then wash off with cold water. It is the good homemade chemical peel for face.

8. Strawberries Chemical Peel:

In a blender, pour ¼ cup of fresh strawberries and sour grapes and blend well to form a lump free smooth paste. Warm a tablespoon of organic honey over a bowl immersed in hot water to make it runny. Add the honey in the strawberries and sour grapes paste along with tablespoons of plain yogurt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and then apply it on your face and neck with a facial mask brush. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

9. Raspberries Chemical Peel:

Pour ½ cup of raspberries in a blender and blend well to form a lump-free smooth paste. Add half a tablespoon of organic honey and two tablespoons of raw milk into it and mix thoroughly. Then with a facial mask brush, apply the mixture evenly on your skin and let it rest for 20 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.