The 20-Minute Chemical Peel: Perfect For Ladies Who Lunch

Calling all ladies who lunch! Take a break from exploring Portland’s food truck scene for a day and treat yourself to a lunchtime chemical peel and a brighter, more youthful complexion. At Luxe Laser, we offer an assortment of aesthetic skin care options, and our light and quick peels take just 20 minutes. Let’s dive in and take a quick look at peels and how they can transform your skin.

As Certified Advanced Estheticians, there is a limit to the depth at which we can exfoliate the skin. While the boundary may seem ambiguous, the chemical potency, the number of layers applied as well as the type of active chemical all play a role in just how deep your chemical peel can be.

While a super deep peel may seem like the best option for youthful and beautiful-looking skin, we believe a restrained approach with gentle, yet effective exfoliation yields very satisfying results. This approach, while it does require more patience, more time and more office visits, encourages cell renewal and sheds away imperfections gradually with every visit.

These treatments are lower in risk for lines of demarcation around the face where the product has and has not been applied. Additionally, heavy-duty Phenol peels and their ilk, while fascinating to watch on Instagram and TikTok, pose a significant risk for heart attack! Your skin is an organ, and the absorption of these toxic chemicals into the bloodstream is directly linked to complications with cardiac function. Peel at your own risk! We believe that a slow and steady approach is the best way to approach chemical peels.

What Is A Chemical Peel? 

A chemical peel is a non-invasive treatment that involves the application of an acidic solution to the skin, which results in a controlled trauma response. The acid reacts with the cellular bonds of the skin, which causes a degradation to the integrity of the skin, resulting in a peeling effect, and a loosening of the skin from the surface.

There are several types of chemical peels, and the depth of the peel is relative to the potency of the active acid agent, of which there are many options. Different types of chemicals are better for different concerns and skin types, for example, we offer a “Sensi Peel”, which is safe for clients with darker skin color and more melanin, who are more sensitive to hyper/hypo pigmentation with a chemical peel.

The 411 On Peel Depths – How Deep Should You Go? 

The Deep Chemical Peel – Often a Phenol Peel, this peel travels to the dermis and is a one-and-done procedure, while posing major risk as well as an intense amount of downtime. While this type of peel is effective for those seeking a solution for deep wrinkles and aging skin, it is fraught with risks. This type of peel needs to be performed by a doctor, such as a plastic surgeon, or dermatologist and often requires anesthesia.  

The Medium Chemical Peel – Often compromised mainly of Trichloroacetic acid, this peel still needs to be performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon and requires significant downtime. This peel travels to the dermis to resolve more advanced skin irregularities such as acne scarring and deeper pigment issues.  

There is downtime involved, as the skin will be tender, raw, dry and swollen for 7-14 days afterward. Any treatment that involves treating the dermis, which is the inner layer of skin under the epidermis, necessitates the need for a doctor’s supervision as there are more risks associated with treating to this depth. 

The Light Chemical Peel or “Lunchtime Peel” – This type of chemical peel targets the outermost layers of the epidermis, which build up over time creating a dull and lifeless look to the skin. Routine exfoliation is the key to healthy, glowing and beautiful skin and light chemical peels are a great way to accomplish that. 

We source our peels from PCA, a trusted leader in the advanced skincare space. You can learn more about our PCA chemical peels here.

A light chemical peel can be done in about 20 minutes, from check-in to check-out, hence the name “lunchtime peel” – you can do it on your lunch break. Peeling will start to show especially on areas of expressive movement, like around the mouth and between the brows, on day 2. This peeling will gradually resolve over the next few days to a week, resulting in a baby-smooth glowing complexion. 

Some people who incorporate regular exfoliation into their skincare regimen may not notice visible peeling with their peel, as they are already reducing the amount of built-up dead and brittle skin cells – the “stratum corneum,” in their daily routine. Contrary to what you may think, you don’t have to visibly peel to have a good result! The skin cells still will be loosened and dissolved to reveal a beautiful layer of skin underneath.   

Our collection of PCA chemical peelsfeatures specialized formulas for plenty of different concerns, from teen skin with a focus on regulating sebum overproduction to clients with an anti-aging focus. We even have peels that are safe for clients of color, which is an important consideration with a heightened risk of hyper/hypopigmentation in skin that has more melanin. Consider stopping by our medspa in Portland for a quick and painless PCA chemical peel and get ready to glow! 

Chemical peels aren’t just for faces! Consider a chemical peel for the back, shoulders, booty, or any area where you’re experiencing congestion, and let PCA work its magic. Warmer weather means fewer clothes, and with a chemical peel, you won’t have to let skin problems affect your confidence this summer! 

Why Summertime is Perfect for Peels 

Skin that has been exposed to the sun and picked up a tan becomes inappropriate for laser treatments, at the risk of incurring a burn or a blister. While laser hair removal and a laser facial might be off the table, mechanical treatments such as microneedling, Hydrafacials and PCA chemical peels are ideal for correcting skin concerns and promoting gorgeous and healthy skin in the summer months.   Additionally, summertime sun damage resulting in age spots, freckles and unevenness are all great reasons to get a peel in the first place! Give us a call and let’s reveal your most beautiful self with a quick, effective and efficient PCA lunchtime chemical peel in Portland . . . now doesn’t that sound aPEELing?