Now is the perfect time of year to give your skin care regime a spring clean, and one of the best places to start is with a derma peel.
But not everyone is ready to commit to the discomfort and lengthy recovery associated with a traditional deep peel.
However there are many more options available now, such as the Obagi Blue Peel Radiance, a gentle yet effective peel consisting of a unique blend of acids that is suitable for all skin types.
Doctor Essaad Awad at Pour Moi cosmetic in Canford Cliffs, Poole, says it is proving to be a very popular treatment for her clients and invited me to try it.
“It is good for targeting fine lines, uneven slain tone, acne and mild to moderate photo damage,” she explains. “I recommend that my clients have it about four times a year. It is not an expensive treatment – it is a light, refreshing peel which removes the dead cells on the upper layers of skin, saving your skin smoother and more refined.”
Once I was settled on the treatment couch, Dr Awad gently cleanses my neck and face and uses a gel to protect the delicate areas around my eyes, nose and lips. She then applies a solution to prepare my skin followed by the first application of the acid solution.
There is an intense feeling of heat and itchiness for about a minute after the salicylic solution is applied. It isn’t painful – the worst part is worrying that it will get worse or never stop. But Dr Awad fans my skin and soon the heat subsides. A second layer is then applied and left on my skin for 12 minutes.
Dr Awad hands me a mirror to point out what she refers to as ’frosting’ – white patches which shows where the most skin damage is and which areas are more likely to flake.
Afterwards she cleanses the skin and applies a moisturiser called Hydrate and sun block which is particularly important after a peel.
The treatment isn’t painful and Dr Awad explains every stage so you know what to expect.
What I like about the Blue Peel Radiance is that you get instant results without having to sign up for a course.
My skin immediately looked toned, smoother and brighter. It felt a little tight and I was told that some small areas of more sensitive skin can become a little red but it’s nothing a good moisturiser and a little foundation won’t sort out.
I didn’t have any redness or flaking, my skin just looked fresher as if I had spent a day skiing or windsurfing.
So if you can’t afford the price-tag and want a general skin spring clean rather than anything more corrective, then the Obagi Blue Radiance is the best option.