PCA: Sensi Chemical Peel Review

You'd think that I would have stayed away from chemical peels after the nightmare I went through, right? Well, I didn't! My old esthetician moved back to this side of town so I bought a microdermabrasion and chemical peel package from her.

PCA:Sensi Chemical Peel

About a year after, I went through my skin nightmare (and after my skin had finally cleared up), I decided to get a series of chemical peels- I bought 3 sessions of microdermabrasion treatments and 3 sessions of the Sensi chemical peels. We would be alternating so I would be going in for a microdermabrasion session then the following month I would go in the chemical peel.  I was nervous but I trusted my esthetician. I've never had a problem when I went to her in the past.

The Chemical Peel Process

My esthetician cleaned my face and gave me instructions. If my skin started to burn really badly, let her know so that she could neutralize it. I agreed. She gave me a nice facial then it was time to get the chemical peel. She did 3 layers and it burned so much. She fanned my skin to cool it down but that wasn't much help. I promised to let her know if it got too hot but I was desperate and wanted my skin to peel so I kept quiet. It burned like CRAZY!

I can't say for sure but it took about 10 minutes or so to get the peel done. Then she neutralized it  washed it off . She put sunblock and a moisturizer on my raw skin and gave me a little bag with PCA products (facial wash, moisturizer, sunblock) to put on my skin for the next two weeks.

Ah My Skin is Peeling!!

Day 1 after the peel wasn't so bad. My skin was really tight. By day 3, my skin started to crinkle and peel a little. I looked like an old lady! By days 4-5, my skin started to peel A LOT. My skin peeled for 2 weeks and it wasn't just little flakes here and there. I peeled in SHEETS! It was amazing. Yes, I went to work looking like a monster but who cares! I was making a sacrifice for the betterment of my skin!

Day 1: Tight Skin

Day 3 Crinkled skin and a little bit of Peeling Skin

Towards the end of my peeling

Don't Go Out Into Sun Unless You Want This to Happen to You

When they say don't go out into the sun after a chemical peel, listen! After I got my last peel, I went to a local farmers market the next day. I put sunscreen and wore a big hat but that apparently wasn't enough. The skin under my lower lip blistered. To this day, I'm not sure if it was a burn or a fever blister but I think I got it because I went out into the sun. I had never had this problem with the other peels! Luckily, it healed nicely but I was worried for awhile. I thought it was going to scar!

Blistering skin

RESULTS

I'll share the good news with you first. All my sun spots flaked off, my fine lines were diminished and my skintone was much better.  Red marks also faded away. My skin looked great and I was happy.

The bad news is the PCA Sensi Chemical Peel did not help my indented acne scars and deeper wrinkles stayed the same.

All in all, I thought this was a great peel. If you are getting a PCA Sensi Peel to get rid of indented scars then this is not the peel for you. No chemical peel will get rid of scars. A deep one might soften them up a bit but that's about it. Still, I was very happy with the results. BTW, this peel cost me $120 per session. It was a bit pricey for me since I bought a package for $600 so I haven't gotten them again. I do them at home now. More on that later!

How to Get Rid of Acne and Red Marks

A little over 3 years ago, I decided to give chemical peels a try. I know chemical peels don't get rid of acne scars but I read it can help control cystic acne breakouts and it smooths out fine lines and uneven skin tone.  My regular esthetician moved to the other side of town (an hour away) so I had to find another one. The esthetician I went to was someone who had been recommended to me by my hair stylist. I trusted him and his word so I went and got the chemical peel done with her.

My Skin Problems

  Soon after going to her, I suffered the worst breakout I have ever had in my entire life.  I honestly believe she did not sanitize her tools and she may have used expired products on my skin. I don't know for sure though. I hadn't done anything else to my skin during that time so I know, for a fact, the problem started when I went to her.

I got a combination of cysts and regular acne on my forehead. I don't breakout on my forehead-never have until this happened.  Within days, it spread to the rest of my face. I have never had problems with regular acne so this was new to me too.

My problem areas have always been near my mouth but the cysts were everywhere now. My face was literally swollen, super red and it was painful. The problem was getting worse and I didn't know what to do or how to control it.

It start with a few pimples

Soon, cysts started to invade my forehead

It spread to the rest of my face

How I got rid of the acne

I was desperate and tried everything I could find to "cure" my skin from this infection or whatever it was. I wasn't having any success until I tried this facial cleaner with Salicylic Acid, “Clear Cell Salicylic gel cleanser” from Image Skincare.

Clear Cell Salicylic Gel Cleanser

I washed my face with the "Clear Cell Salicylic Gel Cleanser" 3 times per week. It is very strong so be careful if you use it. Daily use is too much. It will dry out your skin. I have pretty tough skin so 3 times per week was fine for me. If you have sensitive skin or it's very dry, I recommend washing your face with this cleanser 1 time per week.  You can find the cleanser on Amazon for about $25. You don't pay shipping if you are a Prime member. Salons sell it too but the price is doubled!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a little warning: Once you start using the salicylic gel cleanser, you will most likely start to break out for a few days. This is totally normal. The cleanser cleans deep inside of your skin so all that junk that's trapped underneath will start to surface.

After I started using this product, my acne started to fill with puss. I didn't want to be poking at it but I knew I had to keep it clean so I bought a tool to safely squeeze out the puss that was coming to the surface. I cleaned my skin out every day until there was nothing to squeeze out anymore. If you get one of these, just be careful. You could still risk scarring yourself. Make sure the acne/cyst has come to a head before squeezing it out with this tool. I don't recommend squeezing with your hands. It's easier to spread infection. Use the tool. I found mine at the dollar store!

I also use Makeup Artist's 12.5% TCA Peel to help keep my skin from breaking out. Because it's very strong, I only use it every 3 months. 

Pimple tool

How I got rid of the red marks

It took a few months but after consistently washing my face with the salicylic acid and cleaning out the acne with my tool, I was acne free! The TCA peel helps keep acne from coming back. I got rid of the acne BUT I was left with red marks all over my face. 

After doing a ton of research on how to get rid of red marks, I decided to give glycolic acid a try. It gets rid of hyperpigmentation. I didn't trust anybody to touch my skin so I decided to give myself the peel.

I order facial products from Makeup Artist's choice and have always been a satisfied customer so I ordered the 30% glycolic acid peel-sample kit from them.  My kit came with a cleaning solution, the glycolic acid peel, and directions.

I applied the peel to my skin once per week for 6 weeks. By the end of the 6th week, the red marks were gone!!!  I still give myself glycolic acid peels but I do it biweekly. It keeps my skin tone even and helps with fine lines. Double bonus!

We are all different so something that worked for me may not work for you. I do not guarantee this will work for you. It might or it might not but I hope it does!  

Want to see what my skin looks like now??????

RESULTS

 

Acne free Forehead

No more acne or red marks

A note of caution: 

•  Stop using the salicylic gel cleanser or any type of exfoliant 24 hours before you apply the glycolic acid peel.
• Stop using the salicylic gel cleanser a week before applying the TCA peel.  
• Start with a lower percentage of glycolic acid. 30% might be too strong for you. I started at that percentage because I knew my skin could handle that strength.
• Do your research. Don't order from just any online company. I ordered from Makeup Artist because I have ordered from them before and they have a great reputation.