So although I documented with lots of pics on my instagram (@aesthetics.by.megan) at the time following on from my peel, I thought I’d do a quick blog about it too!
Most of my followers will know that I got in to offering Medical Grade skincare options after getting adult acne at the grand age of 27 which affected my confidence massively. I had tried several different well known skincare brands and some random suggestions I found on the internet with little or limited success. I genuinely felt like I was never going to have good skin again. Then I saw some before and after photos an Aesthetic colleague had posted of results she achieved with PCA peels.
TOP: 2018 (after seeing some limited success with skincare) BOTTOM: 2019 (after healing from PCA 4% Pure Retinol Peel)
I was straight on the case, and loved the PCA ethos of not testing on animals and using ingredients which are free of synthetic dyes and fragrances, mineral oil, petrolatum, lanolin and phthalates. After a few PCA Perfecting Peels (a gentle grand total of 0.2% retinol per peel) my skin had soon cleared up and I was feeling MUCH happier! I felt able to get away with only wearing a mineral powder foundation, which was a huge step for me.
Fast forward a year, and although my skin is now really clear, I feel I can sometimes see hints of uneven skin tone where I have been left with some scarring and this makes me feel self conscious as I am quite lazy and love to get away with wearing as little make up as possible! Cue the entrance of the PCA 4% Pure Retinol Peel.
I was scared it would be painful, as it was stronger than the peels I was used to but it really wasn’t. I didn’t feel any pain at all, but after around 3 – 4 hours I would say I felt a bit itchy.
The next day, I woke up and washed my skin like normal, applying extra SPF before leaving the house to make sure my skin would be protected as the peels make it more sensitive and can make you prone to hyper pigmentation if you don’t protect yourself!
After the Perfecting Peel (with a gentle 0.2% retinol content) I used to get slight peeling which I felt was barely noticeable to others and which usually lasted up to 3 or 5 days. The peeling also usually only occurs (for me) first thing in the morning and late at night. However, with the 4% Pure Retinol Peel, I had quite a lot of peeling! I love the peeling process as I can see the fresh skin coming through, but there was a lot of peeling with the 4% peel!
Apparently, the worse the condition of your skin is, the more you are likely to peel, so my skin was obviously still in need of this peel despite appearing to look much better on the surface. The peeling lasted in total around 8 days for me, and although I felt I peeled a lot, I didn’t get a single comment so I’m not really sure anyone else noticed?!
During the 8 days of peeling, I would say my skin felt itchy, but I didn’t experience any pain. I did do the peel during the summer though, so made sure to keep my face in the shade and to apply SPF (as we should all year anyway but that’s another conversation for another time…) in order to protect myself. Four weeks after the first 4% Pure Retinol Peel, I had another one because I was so in love with the results!
I was going out daily wearing a Teoxane cream with just a slight tint and SPF, and it felt AMAZING to not be hiding behind foundation! I also got so many compliments on my skin, it really helped boost my confidence and believe that I had finally left the acne (and its scarring!) behind. After the second peel, I didn’t peel as much so the downtime was much less, but I aim to try a 6% pure retinol peel later this year so my skin is ready and glowing for Christmas!
You can book PCA Perfecting Peels or PCA Pure Retinol Peels with the team at Aesthetics by Megan by following the link below:
If you would like to contact Megan to discuss your skin concerns, to learn about the other treatments she has available or just to learn more about her experience, there are contact details on the links below: