Anyone had a facial peel?

[HousewifeOfOrangeCounty]

It was recommended to me by the owner of a beauty salon when I asked which facial would be good for me. I have horrible open pores. She said it wouldn't be like 10 years younger and the worse side effect would be a tight feeling. I wonder if anyone's had it done and can tell me more?

These things are just a way of doing a thorough exfoliation but don't expect it to shrink your pores.

I had a course of 5 crystal microdermabrasion facials in a salon and it did nothing for my open pores. I have also had peels. They were a nice way of getting a good exfoliation, but nothing more than that. It was no better than the BHA (salicylic acid) lotion I was using at home for exfoliation (but about a bajillion times more expensive!)

I think to permanently shrink pores you have to go down very deep - i.e. with a dermatologist supervised peel/laser and a week off work after!

I used to have diamond microdermabrasions and the exfoliating effect is great but I prefer alpha beta peels because they do make your pores shrink.

The main reason peels and deep exfoliation are good is that they remove dead skin cells which otherwise just sit on your face and make it look dull. On the cosmetic bars in places like House of Fraser they put products onto your skin but don't take anything off and I don't really understand that...

Mimsy, the higher strength alpha b peels do go quite deep and pores shrink. but yy, unsightly for a bit... defo worth it though.

electra - you have me convinced, but tell me honestly how normal do you look afterwards?

I think it depends on what strength you have. Mine don't make my face actually visibly peel afterwards so nobody knows I've had it done. But if I have any blemishes it usually fades them at the time and my skin looks and feels much smoother immediately.