When Orchid Aesthetics Spa in NYC extended the offer to have me try out a few treatments on the house, I jumped at the chance (what girl wouldn’t?). I was a bit alarmed when I arrived for my first treatment and they recommended I get a chemical peel. I mean, who can forget that infamous episode of Sex and the City when Samantha Jones gets a peel before Carrie’s book party and ends up looking like a burn victim and is so horrifying a sight to behold she has to be sent home.
In my mind, Chemical Peels were as severe as botox- an extreme, last-resort measure to try and turn back the clock. While the aging-reversal benefits are vast, it turns out there are many other amazing benefits that women of all ages can enjoy. Chemical peels remove the outer layers of skin, prompting the body to generate a new layer of skin cells to replace the old one which works to heal sun damaged skin, acne, wrinkles, and pigmentation problems.
While I had my hesitations at first, as soon as the specialist at Orchid told me a peel would unclog and shrink my pores, fade old acne scars, and treat and prevent new breakouts, I was sold!
The procedure was pretty simple and painless aside from a bit of tingling. Immediately following, I was stunned to see that the bumps pervading my chin a mere 30 minutes prior were completely gone, with nothing but a bit of redness taking their place.
My face was a bit red but it wasn’t bad at all, it just looked like I was flushed or had left the gym. The positive effects of the treatment weren’t immediate and in the days following I had some redness, dryness and a lot of flaking and peeling which I did not try to buff away on my own as instructed even though I really, really wanted to. I should mention that I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin that will lash out against even the mildest treatments so the aftereffects I experienced probably wouldn’t occur in someone with normal skin. But even still, my reaction wasn’t that bad or even that noticeable to the naked eye. And the final results? So beyond worth it!
Once the peeling and redness subsided (it only took about 4 days), my skin became a spectacular sight to behold. Right now, I do not have a single blemish, my pores are invisible, my skin feels even softer than silk, and simply put, I have a clear, even, and absolutely gorgeous complexion. And the stubborn scars which have served as a reminder of my acne-prone days have faded drastically and I continue to see improvements every day so I’m confident they’ll be gone in no time. Overall, I would say this treatment is a MUST and was worth it in every way.
If you are located in or near NYC, I would highly recommend going to Orchid Aesthetics for your first chemical peel. They have several types of chemical peels to choose from (prices range from $145-$250) and will work with you to decide on the best treatment to suit your individual skin needs. And now is the perfect time to go for it because Orchid Aesthetics is participating in Spa Week, a nationwide event lasting from October 11th-17th that offers full-service spa treatments for only $50.
What do you think? Have you ever tried a chemical peel? Are you thinking about trying one for the first time? Talk to us in comments!
– SABRINA ALEXIS
Written by Sabrina Alexis
