The 8 Best Chemical Peels To Do at Home

If the words ‘chemical peel’ fill you with fear, we don’t blame you.

Putting acidic chemicals directly onto your skin seems a little warped and terrifying. But trust us when we say that there are so many benefits to chemical peels— and they’re perfectly safe to use at home!

Rather than going for an expensive salon treatment to rejuvenate your skin, opt for an at home chemical peel to enjoy a newly smooth and radiant complexion.

Whether you want to tackle lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, or acne, chemical peels target specific skin concerns in a way your everyday skincare routine can’t.

That’s why peels are must-haves in your beauty routine.

Discover more about healing pigmentation in How Can I Make Hyperpigmentation Marks Fade Faster?

Dr Michelle Rodrigues explains the benefits of chemical peels, the different kinds of peels and when you should (and shouldn't!) do a peel at home in the YouTube video below...

Is a Chemical Peel at Home Safe?

A chemical peel at home isn’t quite the same as abrasive in-clinic treatment. Facial peels designed for home use are perfectly safe to use on your own.

These products typically contain Alpha-Hydroxy Acids, such as Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid, as well as Vitamin A, Retinol, and Salicylic Acid to offer a complete skincare transformation. All these ingredients are perfectly safe unless you have sensitive skin.

The acids from a chemical peel at home may be a little too harsh and cause an unwanted reaction. It’s also best to avoid at home chemical peels if you’re pregnant.

If you’re still unsure if a chemical peel at home is right for you, listen to our related podcast. We detail the benefits of a chemical peel in Episode 12: Chemical Peels Aren't As Scary As They Sound.

How to Do a Face Chemical Peel at Home

Once you’ve found the best at home facial chemical peel for you and your skincare concern, we recommend doing a patch test. Patch tests are essential when you do a chemical peel at home, as some of the ingredients can be harsh on the skin. You want to check for reactivity before going full force!

Once you’ve got the go-ahead from your patch test, it’s time to get peeling! Always look at the individual product’s instructions for how long to leave the product.

You definitely don’t want to go over the recommended amount of time when it comes to a chemical peel at home. Apply the peel directly to your skin and watch your timer like a hawk.

If you’re using a chemical peel at home for the first time, you may want to leave it on for half the recommended time until your skin builds a tolerance.

Find out more about using chemical peels in How To Peel Your Face Off (In A Good Way, I Promise).

How Often Should You Do a Chemical Peel at Home?

Some of the best at home chemical peels can include some strong ingredients. It may take time for your skin to build a tolerance to them.

We recommend starting by using your skin treatments once a week. Then, you can build up usage over time as your skin becomes accustomed to the ingredients.

In between sessions, we recommend using an exfoliator to keep dead skin cells and impurities under control. Browse through Should I Exfoliate Before, During, or After Cleansing? to learn more about exfoliating.

How Long Does It Take to Heal From a Chemical Peel at Home?

Most at home chemical peels have little to no downtime. Therefore, you can enjoy the benefits of a rejuvenated complexion from the get-go.

However, with other stronger chemical peels, your skin may take up to 7 days to completely heal.

Always check the individual product to see how strong it is and how much downtime it requires.

Our Recommended Products to Try a Chemical Peel at Home

Before attempting a chemical peel at home, you must remember that there are different levels that you can choose from. From the most potent at-home chemical peel to the lightest, it is essential to check the ingredients and instructions to ensure they are compatible with your skin. Superficial or light chemical peels offer the mildest option. These can be used to manage fine lines, acne, dry skin and more. 

Medium and deep peels make up the next levels of at-home chemical peels. These require a longer recovery as they produce more dramatic results than the superficial options, and are generally used to treat more severe blemishes.

Before we give you a round-up of the best chemical peels to do at home, have you heard of our mask finder? Take our mask quiz to find the perfect products for your needs.... or continue reading our roundup below!

A Light Chemical Peel at Home

You won’t look back once you’ve introduced a chemical peel into your skincare routine.

But we still recommend starting with a mild formula to allow your skin to adjust to the stronger chemicals.

Light chemical peels work by removing the topmost layer of the skin. As such, you might feel a tingling or warming sensation as the peel gets to work. Generally, they include ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid or salicylic acid, to experience a non-invasive way of removing dead and damaged skin cells and revealing a new, smoother layer of skin. Unlike at-home chemical peels, the formulation of a light chemical peel in the salon can be adjusted to your individual skin needs.

Now let's get into some of our recommendations for experimenting with light glycolic and salicylic chemical peels to get you started on your at-home chemical peel journey.

8 Best at Home Chemical Peels

A Strong Chemical Peel at Home

If you’re looking for an at-home chemical peel for wrinkles, acne, or hyperpigmentation, you may want something a little stronger to tackle your skincare concerns.

We don’t recommend jumping in straight away with these treatments, though.

It’s best first to let your skin adjust to chemical peels with milder formulas.

Those who have experienced a deep chemical peel will be familiar with the redness and swelling they can cause. A burning or throbbing may also accompany this. Sounds awful, we know. But when you choose a strong chemical peel to use at home instead of a professional option, these reactions should be nowhere near as severe.

A deep peel usually contains high concentrations of trichloroacetic acid, which is what makes it the strongest of chemical peels. While this ingredient is not typically found in at-home peels, ingredients like AHAs, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid are used in higher concentrations in formulas to create a stronger chemical peel result at home.

Here are some of our recommendations for the safest, strongest at home chemical peels.

Chemical Peel at Home for Acne Scars

Acne can cause discomfort and irritation, but it’s not just active blemishes that can cause concern. Spots can leave lasting marks, causing pigmentation and discolouration of the skin.

When you choose to try a chemical peel at home, it can have a profound impact on acne scars. For instance, it can result in a smoother skin texture, lightening dark spots and unclogging pores to protect against future breakouts.

By removing the top layer of the skin, at home chemical face peels are an effective way to maintain and rejuvenate the skin in relation to acne and scarring. Along with the intense exfoliation, using a chemical peel at home can also trigger the body to produce collagen, which also fills in acne scars for a smoother complexion.

Alpha-H has two attractive options that will transform your skin if you're looking for the best at-home chemical peel for acne and scarring.

Chemical Peel at Home for the Body

Just like at home chemical peels for the face, chemical peels for the body can provide deep exfoliation to renew and revitalise the skin. Great for those with oily skin, enlarged pores, maturing skin, discolouration, or loose skin, a whole body peel or targeted body chemical peels can offer various benefits. Using ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and more, there is a selection of formulas available to find the perfect chemical peel to suit your skin.

Find out how to give yourself an at-home facial and how to make your facial customised to you in the YouTube video below...

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