Everyone wants fresh, smooth, acne and wrinkle-free skin and you can achieve this with a proper skin care routine. Though your skincare routine includes many things, chemical peels are in the limelight these days as they use chemical solutions to help remove dead skin cells and give your skin a more youthful look.

However, when choosing chemical peels you want to go for something with lower pH and acidic concentration to ensure deep skin exfoliation without causing any damage. Apart from exfoliation, low pH skin peels also offer a range of other benefits such as reduced hyperpigmentation, acne scars, skin discoloration, and wrinkles.

Below is a list of the three best chemical skin peels with low pH and acidic concentrations to help exfoliate skin for acne and wrinkle-free skin. You may choose one that suits your skin type.

Top 3 Chemical Peels to Exfoliate Skin

1.     Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is a lightweight and gentle skin peel that exfoliates your skin and removes the uppermost damaged layer of the skin. It reduces wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne, and skin tanning, and helps promote the growth of a new, more youthful skin layer.

Lactic acid is extracted from fermented milk, so the peel remains gentle on your skin and doesn’t cause irritation or itching- making it a good choice for people with sensitive skin. In addition to this, it also helps to properly moisturize your skin.

2.     Glycolic Acid

Where lactic acid peel works on the topmost layer of the skin, glycolic acid provides deep exfoliation and removes the surface and the middle layer of the skin. As glycolic acid’s molecular size and structure are smaller, it penetrates deep down the skin and thoroughly nurtures it.

It is effective for removing dead skin cells and oil residues. The peel effectively removes whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, acne scars, and wrinkles from the skin, thus enhancing its texture and glow. It also helps shrink pore size, prevents them from getting clogged, and reduces the occurrence of ingrown hairs on the face. In addition to this, the peel can stimulate collagen production and the antioxidant properties of glycolic acid peels also reduce the appearance of dark spots and melasma.

3.     Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a super-effective exfoliant that helps treat a range of skin conditions including wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. Since salicylic acid is oil-soluble, it deeply penetrates the skin and dissolves debris that clogs pores. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help control the skin oil and heal red inflamed pimples.

Salicylic acid peels are commonly used as anti-aging peels as they help soften fine lines and wrinkles, treat sun damage, and improve your complexion. They are specifically helpful for treating acne and blackheads and can also fade dark spots, freckles, and melasma.

Even after the first application of the salicylic acid peel, your skin will feel much softer, smoother, and glowing. You’ll also notice better skin texture and your skin pores will become smaller.

How to Apply Chemical Skin Peel?

Chemical peels including lactic acid peel, glycolic acid peel, salicylic acid peel are usually performed by a dermatologist, but you can also do light peels at home. If you have never used these peels before, go for a mild product with nearly 10 percent of concentration. You can gradually increase peels to stronger dilutions of 30-40 percent for future use.

Follow these steps to apply any of these peels at home:

• Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. Pat dry with a soft towel and let your face completely dry before applying the peel.
• Apply a thin layer of the peel on your face. Don’t apply on lips, eyes, and nostrils. You can use a cotton ball or an applicator that comes with the package to evenly distribute the peel.
• Let the peel stay on your face for 30 seconds to one minute or the recommended time.
• Neutralize the peel if directed.
• Then gradually apply the subsequent peels and leave them for up to five to ten minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with plain water.
• Finally, apply a gentle moisturizer.

Final Words

Exfoliation is the secret to getting softer, smoother, glowing, and young-looking skin. The use of herbal exfoliating agents is common but their mode of action is slow and they give results after multiple applications. On contrary, the chemical peels described above are rapid in action and give natural, smooth skin instantly by exfoliating the surfaces of your skin.

Have you already used any of these peels? Do share the results with us in the comments below.