I Got a Chemical Peel at Massage Envy for the First Time (Here’s Why I'd Go Back)

I was under no illusions that a chemical peel would take the same approach as some of the more, shall we say, laissez-faire facials that I was used to. This treatment was about getting down to business and getting results. Which, of course, is why I was all the more surprised (and thankful) when my esthetician really managed to make the experience feel as relaxing and luxurious as possible.

We went through multiple steps of cleansing and prepping my skin using PCA SKIN® products before applying the peel itself, and each one came with a strong-yet-soothing facial massage.

When it was time to apply the PCA SKIN® Brightening peel (which features resurfacing heroes like lactic and mandelic acids), I received fair warning of what to expect and was encouraged to communicate my feelings and any discomfort to my provider. After the first layer was swiped across my face, neck and chest, I was asked to rate my pain level from one to ten. I was experiencing some stinging, but I put it at a two. This continued for two more rounds—with a few moments of rest in between—with the stinging getting a bit more intense each time. After the third pass, during which my pain level had reached about a six, my esthetician called it—she could tell that this was as much as my skin could handle.

At this point, I could feel more intense burning, primarily at the tops of my cheeks, but it soon settled down as my skin was treated with a cooling hyaluronic acid serum, revitalizing eye gel and the PCA SKIN®'s beloved ReBalance moisturizer (which would play a big part in my aftercare).

By the time I got dressed to head out, my skin felt tight and tingly. Thanks to the finishing cocktail of serums and slathers, it also looked slick and shiny, though I could see some red patches already starting to appear (which is a normal reaction, I would learn from my esthetician).

After the session, my esthetician met me at the front desk where she thoroughly explained how to best take care of my skin over the next week. Drinking lots of water and avoiding the sun were two biggies, as well as using the PCA SKIN® post-procedure kit, which comes with the treatment. It includes everything one could need to support their skin post-peel, including a gentle cleanser, the aforementioned ReBalance cream, the CliniCalm formula (featuring 1% hydrocortisone to soothe irritated skin), and the Collagen Hydrator, a rich moisturizer to help rebuild and repair.

I also purchased three PCA SKIN® products the team suggested to extend my results: the Hyaluronic Acid Boosting serum, Hyaluronic Acid lip mask and Hyaluronic Acid overnight mask.

My esthetician broke down the exact routine I was to follow for the next seven days (though there were also instructions in the kit mapping it out in case I forgot), so I felt pretty confident leaving the Massage Envy® franchised location and awaiting the arrival of my fresh complexion.

In the days that followed, I used my PCA SKIN® aftercare kit to a T and was diligent about sun protection; I didn't leave the house until my face was coated in a layer of sunscreen and there was a baseball cap on my head.

The first few days after the peel, my skin still mostly felt tight and a little tender. Interestingly, my neck and chest area, which I thought would be more sensitive, did not feel irritated at all.

I received my peel on Friday. On Saturday, my face was still red and shiny. By Sunday, I started to see the redness fade into patches that looked like dry, dark spots. Monday is when the first signs of peeling began, starting around my mouth and lower cheek area, then spreading everywhere else as the week progressed.

The peeling itself was painless, though not the most gorgeous my skin has ever looked. Thankfully, I work from home, so I could somewhat obscure the flaking from behind a Google Meet camera (although even early on, one of my colleagues complimented my complexion on how glowy it was). I would say that the peeling reached its peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, after which the flaking subsided, and my skin started to even out. (Pro tip: Applying the PCA SKIN® CliniCalm and ReBalance creams helped to reduce the flakiness enough to jump on camera or run to the coffee shop.)

By Friday, exactly seven days after the treatment, I could start seeing the results. I woke up with minimal peeling, and after washing my face, most of the flakes seemed to slough off for good. My complexion looked brighter and more even-toned; my pores—from the corners of my nose to the tops of my cheeks—clear and free of any congestion. Some sun spots and texture that had popped up on my face and chest this summer had appeared to fade, and all-around, my skin felt baby-soft and smooth. It was the same feeling I get after applying a physical exfoliant in the shower, only now it lasted all day. Better yet, my complexion had a luminous sheen whenever it caught the light—I was literally glowing.

And I still am. I've begun to incorporate the PCA SKIN® hyaluronic serum and overnight mask into my routine, which really feels like it has replenished my skin's hydration. It's been more than a week since my visit to the Massage Envy® franchised location, and my complexion has never looked better.

Even with the five-ish days of flakiness I experienced after the Brightening peel, I'm still planning to make it a regular part of my annual upkeep; I'll no doubt be blocking off another week in a few months to go through the process again. Between the expert care I received at the Massage Envy® franchised location, the easy-to-follow post-procedure routine of PCA SKIN® and, most importantly, the noticeable results, it's a skincare investment I could feel good about making again and again. (Plus, I'd take a little stinging over a needle any day.)