How to prep your skin for a chemical peel (and what to stop doing 2 weeks before)
Most peel results are decided before you even sit in the chair. Here's the honest 2-week prep protocol — and the products you need to put down.
A chemical peel isn’t a “show up and resurface” treatment. The two weeks before your session decide how well the actives penetrate, how evenly your skin responds, and whether you peel beautifully or end up irritated and patchy.
I’ve watched well-intentioned clients sabotage perfectly chosen peel formulas by doing exactly what their skincare TikTok told them to do the week before. Here’s the honest prep guide.
Two weeks out
This is when prep starts — not the day before.
Stop using:
- Retinol / retinoids (including over-the-counter retinol serums). They make skin more reactive to peel actives.
- AHA, BHA, glycolic, lactic, salicylic — any chemical exfoliant. Your peel will already deliver these at higher concentrations.
- Vitamin C serums above 10%. They can compete with the peel chemistry and worsen reactivity.
- Scrubs, exfoliating brushes, microdermabrasion at home. Stop all manual exfoliation.
- Tanning beds, sunbeds. Just don’t.
Start using (if not already):
- A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
- A simple hydrating moisturiser (hyaluronic acid or ceramide-based is fine).
- Mineral SPF 30+ every single day, even indoors near windows.
One week out
By now your skin should be in a calm, hydrated baseline state. If anything still looks irritated, message me — we may delay the peel a few days. Better to delay than to peel angry skin.
Add:
- Heavier hydration at night. Layer a hyaluronic serum under your moisturiser. Goal: skin barrier at peak strength.
- More water intake. Aim for 2 litres a day if you can. Hydrated skin peels more evenly.
Continue avoiding:
- All actives (retinol, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C above 10%).
- Hot showers on the face. Lukewarm only.
- Aggressive cleansing tools (Clarisonic, washcloth scrubs).
48 hours before
This is the final stretch. Mistakes in this window show up in the peel result.
Stop:
- Waxing, threading, or any hair removal on the treatment area.
- Eyebrow tinting, lash tinting if near the peel zone.
- Plucking strays — leave the skin alone.
Do:
- One full litre of water minimum the day before.
- Sleep 7+ hours. Tired skin reacts unpredictably.
- Confirm your aftercare plan: do you have somewhere quiet to be for 3–5 days post-peel? If not, reschedule.
Day of
Morning of:
- Gentle cleanse only. No makeup. No SPF. No moisturiser. Come with a clean canvas.
- Eat normally. Hydrate. Show up on time — skin temperature matters and we don’t want to rush.
Bring:
- A hat for the walk home. UV after a peel is a recovery killer.
- The post-treatment kit if I gave you one in advance.
The single biggest mistake clients make
Stopping prep “a few days before” because they think 1 week is enough.
It isn’t. Retinol stays active in skin for up to 2 weeks after the last application. Even a single retinol application 8 days before a peel can change how your skin reacts to the acids.
If you forgot and used your retinol 5 days ago, message me. We may shift your peel by a week. It’s not dramatic — it’s just honest.
The single biggest mistake clinics make
Recommending the same prep protocol to every client.
If you’re Fitzpatrick V or VI, prep changes — we often add a hydroquinone or kojic acid prep cream 2 weeks out to reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk. If you have melasma, prep changes again. If you’re on doxycycline or any photosensitising medication, prep changes again.
That’s why I do the free 15-min consult before every first peel. We talk through your skin, your history, your products, and build a prep plan that fits you specifically — not a generic checklist.
Which AlumierMD peel and when
Seven formulas. I pick one for your skin during the consult. For reference:
| Concern | Likely peel |
|---|---|
| First-timer, sensitive skin | Enzyme Re-Texturing |
| Oily/congested, acne-prone | Refining Clay or BHA 20 |
| Pigmentation, uneven tone | Glow Peel or Radiant 30 |
| Resilient, normal skin, fine lines | AHA Duo |
| Dry, dehydrated | Deep Moisturising |
Don’t pre-pick. Let me see your skin first.
What to do for 7 days after
Different post — different content. Short version: no retinol or acids for at least 5 days post-peel, SPF religiously, hydration, hands off the peeling skin. Full post-peel guide coming soon.
— Maimoona Silkentouch Aesthetics · Cambridge, ON