Today peeling is one of the most popular procedures that women choose in beauty salons or do it themselves at home.
If you want to smooth and cleanse your skin, get rid of post-acne marks and signs of photoaging, as well as erase fine mimic wrinkles, feel free to choose almond peeling.
BeautyHack tells everything you want to know about this procedure.
For whom?
Almond peel is a type of chemical surface peel. It is carried out with the help of phenoxyglycolic acid, which is extracted from bitter almond extract (read about salon peeling with vitamin C in this material).
The peculiarity of this type of procedure is that, in comparison with other acids, the mandelic acid molecules are quite large in size - they penetrate less into the skin and hardly injure it.
Almond peeling is considered one of the most delicate for skin renewal and cleansing of dead cells. It is suitable even for people with sensitive skin, as it almost does not cause allergic reactions. But one of its biggest advantages is that almond peeling can be done even in the summer season - the risk of hyperpigmentation after the procedure is minimal.
Cosmetologists advise almond peeling to prevent signs of premature aging, as well as in the presence of pigmentation, hyperkeratosis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne and to increase skin elasticity. Also, almond peeling is often recommended to prepare the skin for such a serious procedure as laser resurfacing - it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
Features of mandelic acid
Peeling based on almond or phenoxyglycolic acid is a gentle procedure after which the skin looks healthier and more radiant, and the complexion is evened out. After it, you will be able to immediately lead an active lifestyle, go to events or meet with friends - there is practically no rehabilitation period for the procedure. This type of peeling owes all these advantages to the special properties of mandelic acid, which include:
Exfoliation - mandelic acid loosens the upper stratum corneum, resulting in intensive cleansing of the skin from dead cells and surface impurities.
Lifting effect - peeling accelerates the production of collagen and elastin, and also triggers the regeneration of skin cells, which helps to smooth expression lines.
Bactericidal effect - in structure, mandelic acid is similar to antibiotics of the macrolide group, therefore it effectively inhibits the growth of bacteria on the surface of the skin and reduces the risk of infection.
Whitening - by removing dead cells, almond peeling smoothes the skin, evens out its tone and brightens.
Cleansing - mandelic acid cleans the pores of the skin from excess sebum and reduces their size - this helps to eliminate comedones, relieve inflammation and reduce oily sheen.
Antioxidant effect - mandelic acid effectively blocks free radicals and eliminates skin damage caused by them, and also protects against negative environmental factors.
The principle of the procedure
An almond peel is usually done in four stages.
For starters, the beautician cleanses the skin of makeup and other impurities with a soft gel or mousse. After that, the skin is degreased with a special lotion - sometimes, before the peeling procedure, the master can additionally apply a gel with a low concentration of acids to prepare the skin for intense acid effects.
At the second stage, the main active composition is applied to the skin - an active agent based on mandelic acid. It can be applied in two ways: with quick strokes for a gentle effect, or by pressing on the skin with a cotton pad for intense exfoliation and deep cleansing (you can find the 10 best scrubs for delicate skin here). The exposure time of the drug will depend on the condition of the skin and the desired effect - usually the cosmetologist selects all the parameters individually and can correct them during the procedure, depending on the reaction of the skin.
The third stage neutralizes the action of the acid - for this the cosmetologist cleans the skin with a special gel, after which he thoroughly rinses off all the products with warm water.
The fourth stage is the most pleasant - during it a soothing mask and a light moisturizer are applied to the face.
Post-procedure care
Usually, almond peeling is easy and without complications, so after the procedure, the skin does not require special care. But since its main function is exfoliation, cosmetologists warn that after peeling a feeling of dryness may appear or the skin will begin to peel off a little.
In order to restore it faster, during this period it is better to abandon decorative cosmetics, as well as home scrubs and peels. Moisturizing and nourishing masks will help to eliminate discomfort - they need to be done regularly at least twice a week. And for skin care, it is important to use a special regenerating cream, which the beautician will select for you after the procedure. With the right care, minor flaking and redness will go away in a couple of days (see 12 products for perfect skin here).
When should the procedure be abandoned?
Almond peeling will smoothen the skin and help restore the beautiful skin tone, but it also has its own contraindications. The procedure should not be done during pregnancy and lactation, as well as if you have inflammation of the skin or exacerbation of a viral herpes infection. Also, some components of almond peeling can cause allergic reactions - this point is also worth paying attention to.
Before signing up for an almond peeling, consult with your beautician or specialist - he will diagnose the skin, give recommendations on caring for it and be able to answer all your questions.
Text: Anya Sherstneva
