Beauty / Anti-Aging Treatments / The Lunchtime Peel

Since I am a 'mature' woman of 55, I'm always on the lookout for skin products for my face that will reduce the fine lines that occur as a woman ages.  I found a Lactic Acid Chemical Peel on Amazon.com, ordered it, and couldn't wait to try it out.  I was a little leary leery about applying it to my face since I have sensitive skin.  The claim says that Lactic Acid has less potential for allergic reaction than other facial peels, making it good for first-time users.  I read the included instructions, then reread them to be sure I got it all straight.

First I started with a freshly washed face, followed by a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol to further cleanse my face.  The instructions say to gather cleansing pads, cotton swabs, and a blow dryer before applying the liquid.  The blow dryer has to have a 'cool shot' button in case my face gets too hot during the processing time.  (Now, I'm a little worried!)  I applied the liquid thinly, and felt my face start to tingle.  Per instructons, I waited a couple minutes, then reapplied.  Now my face feels REALLY hot!  I was suppose to wait 30 minutes before I rinsed with cold water.  I made it about 25 minutes and just HAD to wash that stuff off!

After I rinsed my face, I gently towel dried, then applied a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment with pain reliever.  My face was a little pinkish, and still burned in some spots, so I wondered how this was going to look after I put my makeup on!

I had to use a light touch while applying my foundation, but once all was said and done, and the pain subsided (which was at least a couple hours later), my face looked fresh and dewy!  (Well, OK, maybe the dewy part came from the greasy antibiotic I smeared all over my face!)  For the rest of the day, my skin felt taut and refreshed! It's recommended to wear a sunscreen following a chemical peel, since the the skin will be sensitive. There is no peeling... at least not today.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

The Lactic Acid chemical peel is often called the "Lunchtime Peel" because it can be done in about 30 minutes, and doesn't have noticeable peeling like some stronger peels do.  With regular use, this product should improve dry skin, acne, and fine lines.

The instructions don't tell you how often you should do the treatments, but I assume it can't be too close together or you'll want to rip your face off from that burning feeling!  I think once a month might be good.

Even though you have to suffer for beauty with this product, I'll keep using it to see how things develop over time.

Update on May 11, 2008 02:01

May 10th:  I have some dry redness just under each eye, at the top of the cheekbone area.  It kind of looks like I have two black eyes from far away!  No other parts of my face reacted this way, so it may be due to the fact that I mowed the yard shortly after I used the product, and the wind and overcast sky may have contributed to this condition.

Update on May 13, 2008 11:49

May 13, 2008  The slight problem I had with the dry skin on my upper cheekbones has all but peeled off.  I suppose you have to expect some dryness, because after all, it IS a chemical peel, but it was minimal.  In my opinion, it makes me look like I've had a good rest, as if it removed the stress lines.  I really can't explain the change, but it's there!  Weird, huh?