The clocks go back this weekend. Darker evenings, big jumpers out of the loft, and a school run that suddenly feels like it needs a head torch. And in my little studio in Park Farm, Ashford, it marks the start of something I'm looking forward to: peel season.
If you've been curious about chemical peels but never quite got round to booking one, this one's for you.
Why autumn is peel season
A chemical peel uses a carefully chosen blend of acids to lift away dull, dead skin cells and encourage fresher skin to come through. For a while afterwards, your skin is more sensitive to the sun, which is why timing really matters.
In summer, that's tricky. Long bright days, holidays, sports days, sitting in the garden until nine o'clock. Even with the best intentions, it's hard to keep freshly peeled skin out of the sun.
Autumn and winter make it so much easier. The sun is lower and weaker, we spend more time indoors, and you're far less likely to be lying by a pool a week after your treatment. It's simply a kinder time of year for your skin to recover.
You still need SPF every single day, though. Yes, even on a grey November morning in Kent. More on that below.
What summer left behind
This is the time of year when lots of my clients start noticing what the summer has left on their skin: uneven patches, freckles that seem to have joined up, a tired, dull look, or texture that wasn't there in the spring.
I hear it in almost every consultation at the moment: "My skin just looks flat." That's exactly the kind of thing a well-chosen peel, or a course of them, is designed to help with. Every skin is different and I'll never promise you a particular result, but I love seeing how much fresher and more even skin can look with the right plan.
A note if you're in perimenopause
Hormonal changes can make pigmentation more noticeable, and you might find your skin is drier or more reactive than it used to be. That doesn't mean peels are off the table. It does mean your skin deserves a careful, tailored approach.
This one's personal for me too. I'm navigating my own skin changes, so I know how frustrating it is when skin you thought you understood starts doing its own thing. In your consultation we'll talk about your skin as it is now, not as it was ten years ago, and choose the right peel (or the right alternative) together.
The two peels on my menu
I keep things simple with two professional-grade peels:
The Brightening Peel for dullness, uneven tone and pigmentation.
The Blemish Control Peel for breakouts, congestion and oily, blemish-prone skin.
Every new peel client has a free patch test first, so we know your skin is ready. If you're not sure which one you need, that's completely fine. That's what the consultation is for.
What a peel actually feels like
Most people feel a warm, tingling sensation for a few minutes while the peel is on. I stay with you and keep an eye on your skin the whole time. Afterwards, you might see some light flaking for a few days, or very little visible peeling at all. It depends on your skin and the peel we use.
One peel or a course?
A single peel is a lovely refresh. For things like pigmentation or breakouts, a course of peels spaced a few weeks apart usually gives better, longer-lasting results.
That's another reason I love starting now. A course that begins in late October can run comfortably through the darker months, and if you've got Christmas parties in the diary, there's still time to plan around them.
My autumn peel aftercare rules
SPF every day, rain or shine. Ashford in November still counts.
Hands off. Let any flaking come away on its own. No picking.
Pause strong actives like retinol and exfoliating acids for as long as I recommend.
Keep it gentle. A simple cleanser and a good moisturiser are all you need.
Skip the heat. No saunas, hot yoga or very hot showers for a couple of days.
You'll always leave with full aftercare advice, and you can message me with any questions.
Ready for peel season?
If you're in Ashford or anywhere across Kent and you've been thinking about a peel, this is a great time to start. Book your free consultation and patch test through the website, or send me a DM with the word "GLOW" on Instagram and I'll help you work out which peel suits your skin.
Liz x
Photo: Kat von Wood on Unsplash.
