Unless you’re aiming to target sun damage or acne scarring (which require stronger solutions), you won’t feel much at all. The peel I tried used light lactic acid to detox the skin and help the blocked pores around my jaw. It tingled a little, and for a few hours after. Glycolic, Salicylic and Mandelic peels tend to feel the same. 

The thought of my skin looking raw had previously put me off trying peels, but it’s really not like that. At most, you’ll be a little pink – which is how I looked when I walked out the salon – but, overall, my skin was glowing. It was a flushed, healthy glow (the kind you try to create wth makeup). A little SPF 50 and I was good to go. 

Over the next few days, the area around my mouth and chin felt very tight and was dry in appearance. I applied a lot more moisturiser than I usually would to keep it hydrated, but within 72 hours, the dryness had cleared altogether. I didn’t feel my ‘best self’ until it had cleared up, so if you’re booking a peel before a special occasion, I’d head there a few days before. ​

The best bit of a peel is the after-effects, which continue to improve for a few weeks. Straight away my skin appeared fresher and clearer, makeup and skincare were sitting more comfortably on my face, and I skipped my every-other-day at-home acids regime for at least one month. ​

My top spots for microdermabrasion in London would be Skinworks and Harley Injectables. Enjoy. 

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