Want Baby-Smooth Skin? It's About Time You Tried A Home Chemical Peel

Peels are the closest thing to having a skin do-over in a bottle or jar. Less expensive than lasers and more effective than daily-use skincare products, chemical peels done at home are a secret weapon for tackling a long list of skin woes: uneven texture, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, dullness, acne scars, and sun damage.

While manual exfoliation involves scrubs, konjac sponges, or facial brushes to physically buff away the surface of your skin, chemical exfoliation smoothes skin by dissolving the top layers of dead cells using acids. Peels “stimulate new collagen and healthy skin cell regrowth, resulting in a radiant complexion,” says Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, a Raleigh, North Carolina dermatologist. Expect a smoother canvas for makeup, and a dewy glow that doesn’t wash off. A peel can also make your skincare regimen more effective because it “removes several layers of skin build-up and congestion, allowing products to penetrate deeper into the skin,” Dr. Solomon says. Here's a quick primer on which ingredients to look for in a DIY peel:

Beta Hydroxyacid (BHA): Unclogs pores and clears up acne lesions. Salicylic acid is the most common one.

Alpha Hydroxyacid (AHA): AHAs like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid exfoliate away dead skin cells and are great for maintenance. Strength is determined by percentage of concentration and duration of application.

Fruit Enzymes: Derived from papaya, pumpkin, and pineapple, these gentle enzymes give skin an immediate glow.

“These ingredients are very strong and shouldn’t be used casually on a daily basis or more than once a week,” warns Dr. Solomon. If you do more frequently than that, you risk over-exfoliating and developing persistent redness, dryness, or even acne and milia. The good news is if you follow instructions right, there is nearly no downtime, aside from possible redness that goes down in 10 minutes to half an hour. Heads up: apply it as part of your routine before bed so you don’t have to worry. Dr. Solomon also advises keeping the rest of your skincare minimalist for 24 hours and avoiding other products with active ingredients like prescription retinoids or vitamin C serums.

Ahead, shop at-home peels excellent for maintenance.