Everything goes smoothly with the right peeling

Peelings are like weekly cleaning for the skin. The essentials are cleaned every day, but towards the weekend everything should shine again really nicely. But which peeling is right for your skin? And how do peelings work best? You can find the answers here.

The different types of scrubs

Tastes are often different, but soft, smooth skin is actually on everyone's wish list. So it's not surprising that peels are booming. And these are now available in a wide variety of forms, from mechanical to fruit acid peelings to enzyme peelings .

How do the individual types of peeling work, who are they suitable for and where should a professional go? Let's take a closer look at mechanical, chemical, and enzyme peels.

Mechanical peelings – ideal for the body

The word body scrub says it all: This type of peeling scrubs away dead skin with small abrasive particles . They consist of sugar, ground coffee beans, fruit stones or – be careful! – plastic . Incidentally, you can recognize the latter from information such as “PEG” in the ingredients and is bad insofar as you are dumping plastic directly into our waters. (You can also recognize plastic in cosmetics by the terms on this Greenpeace list .) So it's better to go for the natural variants .

They are completely harmless to use on healthy skin on the body and offer many advantages : They make the skin smooth and soft and promote blood circulation. With regular use once or twice a week, they also ensure that fewer hairs grow in after shaving.

Mechanical peels can be pretty harsh on the face . However, I still think it's good, as long as a few things are considered. In particular, daily scrubs, which are sometimes offered for impure skin, dry out the skin far too much. Pimples in particular do not heal faster through ruthless permanent peeling, but the bacteria are only better distributed.

Stop & go for mechanical peels

• Better not for stressed skin and inflammatory skin diseases such as perioral dermatitis , acne or rosacea
• Ideal for the body and for healthy, non-sensitive skin for gentle facial peelings

Would you like to try a DIY scrub recipe ? In the article do-it-yourself peeling we share our tried-and-tested recipes with you.

Enzyme peelings – the gentle way

The effect of enzyme peelings is limited to the surface of the skin, which they clean and disinfect . There, dead skin cells are connected to the fresh ones underneath. You can think of it like a cake where the crust has gotten a bit hard and dark, but it's all one piece with the fluffy batter underneath. Enzyme-splitting proteins gently dissolve the cell structures so that you can simply wash away the old skin cells with water. This is completely natural, because they often contain proteins from papaya or pineapple.

Enzyme peelings are used like a mask: apply once or twice a week , leave on and rinse off. Regularity is important. Not only do you create a fresher complexion , but you can even reduce pigment spots and impurities including pimple marks.

Due to the higher price compared to mechanical peels, they are usually only used on the face. There are hardly any restrictions here , because these mild peelings are actually suitable for every skin type.

Stop & go for enzyme peels

• Under no circumstances in the case of perioral dermatitis, there is a general ban on cosmetics
• Suitable for all skin types

Chemical peels with AHA fruit acids and Co.

This type of peeling is best known as a fruit acid peeling . This works by means of AHA (glycolic acid peeling) or BHA (salicylic acid peeling). It stimulates regeneration and wears away the outer layer of skin. Depending on the concentration, the peeling can also have a much deeper effect. The effect is strong, but so is the skin irritation , because these peelings are very aggressive . Redness, swelling and peeling skin are common side effects - after all, chemical peels are also known as peeling treatments.

🍋 Many serums and cleansing products that are intended to prevent skin aging or impurities contain an AHA or BHA complex . Here the concentration is usually low, but it doesn't hurt to pay special attention to irritation when using it !

Chemical peels put a lot of strain on the skin and are not recommended in my opinion , even if they are very hyped at the moment. Above all, I advise against trying it yourself at home. If you use the wrong dose, you can burn your skin. Only in certain cases can one consider whether the treatment makes sense, for example in the case of annoying acne scars or accumulations of pigment. The desire for relief is understandable here, but then fruit acid peelings definitely belong in the hands of professionals.

Stop-and-go for chemical peels

• Not ideal because it's too aggressive and an absolute no-go for sensitive, stressed skin
• At most recommended as therapy against scars or pigment spots 

My tip: It's better to exfoliate gently and regularly! The clear favorites for the face are the gentle enzyme peels for all skin types.

Time for a how and when exfoliation FAQ

How often are peelings useful?

When it comes to peelings, opinions differ. Some do it consistently every week, others are more opportunistic. The "Och-I-could-yes-again" group scrubs more as needed . The skin could look rosier or is it peeling after the summer vacation? Then down with the old skin cells. Exfoliation is also helpful for healing pimples to free scabbed areas. And honestly, if you're otherwise happy with your skin, why change anything?

But the regularity also has something to offer. With this you support the regeneration continuously. Not only can you enjoy the fresh feeling after an exfoliation more often, you can even better prevent impurities and discolouration . Treat yourself to a scrub once or twice a week at most. Please not every day, this can irritate the skin and is not even necessary.

Do you prefer to use facial peeling in the morning or in the evening? 

in the evening . You usually have a) more time and b) the skin can regenerate optimally overnight. Even if you use a mild enzyme peeling, you are exposing a very fresh, young cell layer that is a little more sensitive. However, since the skin is no longer expected to be subjected to any great strain at night, it recovers in peace and regenerates itself very well.

What is the place of peeling in the care routine?

It comes after cleaning , i.e. removing make-up. I'm a fan of minimalist cleansing because it's particularly gentle and super effective with a make-up remover oil. So after you've removed all makeup residue with a cosmetic pad or washcloth, it's time for exfoliation . For extra care, you can then pamper your face with a light moisturizing serum .

Does a peeling have to work?

That depends on the type of peeling. Mechanical peels, no . They work with abrasives and free the pores with careful massaging. Chemical and enzyme peels need a certain exposure time . How long it is depends on the product. So be sure to follow the instructions here!

Scrub away!
Your Anna