What Is a Chemical Peel?
Before we get into the details about Alicia Keys’ chemical peel, let’s go over the basics of chemical peels. Basically, a chemical peel resurfaces the skin. It uses a mix of chemicals to take off the top layers of your skin, resulting in fewer wrinkles, fine lines, and blemishes.
There Are Three Main Types of Chemical Peels:
Superficial Peels:
Superficial peels are relatively mild, and you can even do them from the comfort of your own home with over-the-counter peel products. They use mild acid to take off the very top layer of your skin.
Medium Peels:
As the name implies, these peels have a medium strength. That means the chemicals remove the top and middle skin layers. Unlike superficial peels, medium peels must be done by a dermatologist or an experienced skincare professional.
Deep Peels:
Deep peels are the strongest type of chemical peel. Using heavy-duty lactic acid, they go through more layers of skin than the superficial or medium peels.
Note that they must be done exclusively by a dermatologist or skincare professional. Sheet mask chemical peels use alpha hydroxy acids, known as AHAs, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and phenol.
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What Are the Benefits of a Chemical Peel?
Here’s a list of the benefits of chemical peels:
- Smoother, softer skin
- Improved skin texture
- Reduced wrinkles and fine lines
- Reduced blemishes and acne breakout scars
- Even skin tone
- Faster cell turnover rates
As you can see, there are many helpful benefits! Plus, you can do chemical peels on your face, neck, chest, hands, and other body parts.
Keep in mind there may be side effects, like irritation and redness from dead skin cells. It’s best to talk directly to a dermatologist about your options to ensure you have the safest experience possible.
Alicia Keys Chemical Peel: Worth the Hype?
So, let’s see what information we have about the Alicia Keys chemical peel! Allure magazine published an interview with Alicia, who said she gets “light peels all the time.”
Clearly, Alicia looks as stunning as always, so her chemical peel routine is working. However, remember that everyone’s skin is unique! What works with an Alicia Keys chemical peel may not work for you. Consult a dermatologist for the best skincare results.
The Process of Having a Chemical Peel Done
Depending on the type of peel you get, the chemical solution and the process will be different. Also, yours may look very different than the Alicia Keys chemical peel process, depending on what your dermatologist recommends. Generally, the process that dermatologists use follows these steps:
- Cleanse and prep the skin area to be treated.
- Apply the chemical solution.
- Leave the solution on the skin for a set time, then neutralize and remove it.
- Use a post-peel treatment to calm and protect your skin.
As we mentioned above, chemical peels range from superficial to deep. The most popular type is the superficial peel, which uses alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs).
Medium peels take longer than superficial ones since they reach deeper skin layers. More time is necessary to heal after the peel.
As a reminder, deep peels must only be done by a trained professional. As you may guess, their recovery time is the longest of all chemical peels. In fact, your skin may even be sensitive to the sun for up to a year after the treatment!
Alicia Keys Chemical Peel: The Basics
In 2006, Alica Keys used glycolic acid peels to improve her acne, and they helped immensely. Since then, she’s been vocal about her affinity for chemical peels. She even gives them all the credit for how clear her skin is!
According to Alicia, anyone can benefit from a peel, skin type aside. However, remember that everyone’s unique. Everyone’s skin may react differently.
We can’t stress enough that you must work with a dermatologist to get the most satisfying results! They will use your medical history and current medications before giving you a peel and inform you of any risks.
Also, you’ll want to know all about the risks of peels before diving in. Side effects may include skin irritation, redness, and swelling. Rarely, people may get scarring from them.
Alicia Keys saw huge improvements from her chemical peels. Her acne retreated, leaving her with beautiful, clear skin. Over the years, she’s maintained her clear skin with ongoing chemical peels.
Alicia Keys’ Chemical Peel Experience
Everyone was curious to hear all about the Alicia Keys’ chemical peel routine, so when she revealed her experience, people were all ears.
Here’s the scoop: Renee Rouleau is Alicia’s esthetician. Rouleau gave the pop star a glycolic acid peel, which uses alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). This type of peel exfoliates the top skin layer, leaving behind brighter skin. AHA peels may also remove wrinkles and fine lines, leaving skin looking younger.
The first peel made Alicia’s skin look smoother and brighter. As you can guess, she was pleased with the results! After that, she got another peel to keep up the smooth look.
It just goes to show that chemical peels may improve the skin’s appearance. If nothing else, Alica Keys’ chemical peel results showed us that. Anyone can, under the guidance of a skin expert, use peels to help with their skin. Alicia is no exception!
How to Take Care of Your Skin After a Chemical Peel
After using a chemical peel to reduce those fine lines and wrinkles, what’s next? How do you care for your skin, post-peel? Understanding how to take care of your skin after a chemical peel is critical to achieving the best results. Below are our top tips for post-peel skin care.
1. Avoid Direct Sunlight
For at least two weeks (or longer, depending on the peel), avoid direct sunlight. Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen if you must be exposed to sunlight.
2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated
Stay hydrated! Post-peel, make sure you drink lots of water. Nourish your skin with high-quality moisturizer throughout the day.
3. Avoid Picking at Your Skin
Resist the urge to touch or mess with your skin after the peel. It may be slightly irritated or itchy, but scratching will make it worse. Picking at your skin can even cause scarring or marks. The key takeaway here is to let your skin heal naturally.
4. Avoid Using Harsh Products on Your Skin
Stay away from further harsh chemicals if you’ve just had a chemical peel procedure. That includes strong soaps, facial cleansers, or exfoliants. Remember, your skin was just exfoliated via chemicals! Be gentle to avoid further irritation, and don’t scrub the skin.
5. Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Of course, consult your licensed skincare professional for the most relevant pointers on post-peel skin treatment. Following their instructions will ensure that you have the best experience and results possible!
