The taut red skin. The floppy hat and dramatic veil. The screaming onlookers. Even if you haven’t watched every season of Sex and the City, someone who did probably told you about the most pivotal (and agonizing) moment of season five’s “Plus One is the Loneliest Number” episode. Even something as monumental as Carrie Bradshaw’s first-ever book release party couldn’t upstage Samantha Jones’s splotchy, beet-red face, the result of a chemical peel she got to “look fresh for the party.” The second-hand embarrassment was so bad, a lot of us swore off chemical peels before even trying one. Older and somewhat wiser, I can confirm that all of us were bamboozled. Show Sex and the City is rightfully iconic, but it got a lot of stuff wrong. A newspaper columnist with a one-bedroom (and walk-in closet) on the Upper East Side, a designer wardrobe and enough cash to take cabs everywhere? The math doesn’t add up, even for the late ’90s and early aughts. And I’m still mad at myself for thinking Miranda wasn’t the coolest and most level-headed one. But I’m willing to argue that Samantha’s chemical peel disaster is one of the more offensive missteps because it’s the literal opposite of reality. Chemicals peels are, in fact, the best kind of boring—let me explain. GIPHY. Understandably so, the word “chemical” isn’t the sexiest skincare term, but ironically, chemical acids are the magic sauce for a dream glow that’s bright, free of breakouts and even-toned. There is a slew of myths associated with chemical peels, like the one that says you should quarantine yourself for days after since your face will look as though it’s been sitting in a slow cooker. On the contrary, I went to an event and dinner just minutes after getting a PCA Skin peel at Skin Spa New York. Though my skin is resilient and acclimated to AHAs and BHAs, I still go for the Sensi peel because its gentle, but effective formula includes all of the exfoliants I love minus the downtime; lactic acid, kojic acid and L-ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C), to name a few. And if I have a hormonal pimple or two, a peel helps to get rid of them faster as well. According to Ava Lu, the SkinSpa Senior Esthetician who managed my appointment, it’s affectionately called “the gateway to chemical peels” since it’s “really great for people with a lot more sensitivity” and easy to make stronger with additional layers of the topical formula. Admittedly, I don’t get chemical peels as often as I’d like, so I am always surprised at how fast the entire process—about 20-30 minutes total—actually is. After changing into a robe, removing my necklace and putting on some very snazzy goggles to protect my eyes, Lu cleansed and sanitized, my face and neck and got right into the fun part: applying the chemical solution to my entire face a number of times; in my case, just three. Courtesy of Author. In between each layer, Lu was sure to fan my face and gage how I was feeling before moving onto the next one. So soothing. GIPHY. A few minutes (and one amazing shoulder massage) later, she applied a water-based cream to wrap everything up and voila!, I was done. The next morning, I woke up to a noticeably brighter complexion and barely flaked days after. Now more than a week after my peel, my skin feels like it just got a fresh start…and I didn’t have to hide under a hat while the solution worked its magic. The morning after. Design: Cierra Miller/STYLECASTER. Not too bad, right? With that being said, I know you’re officially dying to schedule your own appointment, so here are the beginner tips to keep in mind according to Lu: Pre- and Post-Care
Yes, You Will Peel—But Not Too Much
GIPHY. Go Once a Month If You Can
Maintain Your Daily Routine
Don’t Neglect Your Neck
This post was created by STYLECASTER for PCA Skin. How long does a PCA chemical peel last?The effects of this peel can last for 10 years, so it's done only once. You won't need repeated treatments.
How long do you peel after a PCA peel?Everyone's experience will be different. However, on an average, you will see flaking by day two or three following the treatment. It is possible to see flaking for up to five or six days. With all PCA peels, only light to medium exfoliation will be experienced.
Are PCA chemical peels good?PCA Chemical peels increase the skin's cell turnover rate, bring new skin cells to the surface, diminish dark spots, reduce fine lines & wrinkles, clear breakouts as well as restore youthful and radiant appearance. They are safe for most skin types.
What can I expect from a PCA peel?PCA SKIN® superficial peels result in little to no downtime but create dramatic and visible results. Treatments may cause slight redness, tightness, peeling, flaking or temporary dryness. Most patients find it unnecessary to apply makeup, as the skin will be smooth, dewy and radiant following your treatment.
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