Jessner Chemical Peel: Before/After Photos of the Proven Facial

After a long, hot summer, I went and got a Jessner Chemical Peel to help with my acne and sun damage. Similar to my blogpost review on microneedling, I wanted to document my skin changing through the peeling process. Below you will find daily photos of what my face looked like after the facial, as well as notes that I wrote down during the recovery.

What is a Chemical Peel

First things first, let’s discuss what a chemical peel is! Unlike many other facials, a chemical peel isn’t meant to be relaxing. In fact, depending on the level of the peel, it can sting and cause a burning sensation while the product is being applied. After the facial, the peeling can cause itching on the skin during the healing process. There are three levels of a chemical peel, and it’s important to visit an aesthetician that can properly diagnose which level of peel to give based on skin needs and tone. A chemical peel is usually less intrusive than the microneedling process.

Chemical Peels are meant to help get rid of acne, fine lines, dull skin, and sun damage. The higher the peel level, the deeper it will penetrate the skin, causing a longer healing process. I received the Jessner Peel, which is a mid-grade peel using a combination of acids to help with skin imperfections. This can be tailored to each person depending on skin color, texture, elasticity, and need. Generally, a mid-grade peel can take 5-7 days to heal, and can cause pink/red skin for 7-14 days. It’s important to Make sure to use SPF and moisturize during this process — here is the best moisturizer for summer.

Day to Day Peeling Process of the Jessner Chemical Peel

Day 1 After Jessner Chemical Peel

The first day after the chemical peel shows no peeling, but I was definitely a little red and itchy. During the peel, the products felt a bit like having chili pepper sauce on my face. My aesthetician had a small fan that I used to keep my face cool. With this happening during the peel, I wasn’t surprised to be a bit pink and uncomfortable the next day.

Day 2

Moreover, day 2 after the facial was red and itchy like day 1, but I also started to see some peeling around the corners of my mouth and jaw. During this whole time of recovery (Days 1-5) I didn’t wear makeup to prevent further irritation or pore blockage. Nevertheless, SPF is crucial to the healing of the skin, since it is in a vulnerable state. I used moisturizer and SPF daily to aid in the healing.

Day 3

Clearly, by day 3, my skin was starting to peel a lot more. It wasn’t as itchy or red, in fact, I felt like my skin looked brighter already! With any peel, it’s important to allow the skin to slough off by itself. I ditched my AHA/BHA face wash and opted for a gentle face cleanser. I also didn’t pick at or peel the skin off, or scrub my face when cleansing. If the skin is peeled too quickly, it can leaded to uneven skin tone and discoloration.

Day 4

On the other hand, Day 4 had my skin looking a bit dull, but my face was really peeling at this point! From my forehead to my chin, pieces of dead epidermis hung off my face. This was probably the most difficult day for me because I didn’t really want to be seen in public with my face like this. Luckily, this meant I was near the end of the process and by this stage, my face wasn’t itchy.

Day 5

Finally, my skin was done peeling! Some people take longer to completely peel, but I was diligent with my cleansing and moisturizing routine, which sped up the healing process by a few days. By the end of the week, I could see a noticeable difference in my acne, dark spots, and skin texture. Overall, it was a pretty painless process with results worth talking about. I’ll definitely be doing more peels once a year, if not every quarter.

Have you ever had a peel? If not, have you been thinking about getting one?