Don'ts

Use Exfoliants
Even if you're just getting a light, superficial peel, temporarily discontinue using any products containing Retinol, acids like Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid, or scrub exfoliants for a minimum of 48 hours before your peel to prevent over-exfoliation.

Wax Your Skin
Skip that lip, brow, or face wax for at least 24 hours before your peel. The same rule applies to the dermaplaning hair removal technique, as both are a form of exfoliation.

Self-Tan
Along with wearing SPF and avoiding prolonged sun exposure, skip the tanning bed. Tanning bed lamps can generate 12 times more UVA light than natural sunlight, so they put you at risk of sun damage. Also, don't bother using a self-tanner. A professional peel will strip away the color—and perhaps not entirely evenly.

Apply Makeup or Skin Care Products
Arrive at your professional peel appointment bare-faced. This means no makeup or skin care products.

DOS

Address Broken Skin
If you've ever gotten lemon juice into a cut, you know it's not a pleasant experience. Hold off on getting a peel until any cuts or other skin woes have healed.

Prevent Sunburn
Similarly, you don't want to apply a peel to compromised, sunburned skin. To prep for a peel and for general skin health, wear a SPF of 30 or higher every day to protect your skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, and reapply at least every two hours.

Moisturize Your Skin
If your skin is dry, tight, and flaky, you might experience discomfort during and after your peel. Keep your skin hydrated during the days leading up to treatment with a gentle moisturizer.

Most clients find it unnecessary to apply makeup, as the skin will be smooth, dewy, and radiant following your treatment. If you would like to apply makeup, allow approximately 15 minutes for the pH of the skin to stabilize before applying foundation.

Use Gentle Skin Care Products
When it comes to skin care after a professional peel, stick to gentle formulas that won't irritate or dry your freshly peeled skin. When receiving a PCA SKIN Professional Peel, for example, you will receive a post-procedure kit that contains a complete regimen of travel sized products that are strategically selected to ensure that the skin stays calm, soothed, and hydrated following your treatment. Included in the kit are the following products:
PCA SKIN Facial Wash, a gentle cleanser that hydrates and exfoliates the skin while cleansing.
CliniCalm 1%, a soothing treatment with maximum strength 1% hydrocortisone.
Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF 30, the hydrating sunscreen we mentioned earlier.
ReBalance, the same gentle moisturizer we mentioned earlier as well.
Collagen Hydrator, a rich moisturizer that hydrates and firms skin.

Cleanse Your Skin with Tepid Water
Your skin may be sensitive post-peel, so wash your face with lukewarm water to prevent additional sensitivity.

Commit to Daily Sunscreen Use
Your skin is more sun-sensitive post-peel, so wear a SPF to protect your skin from sunburn and sun damage.

Pick at Your Skin
It may be tempting to pick at your skin as it begins to peel—but hands off! Picking can cause scarring, bleeding, or an infection. Instead, allow your skin to shed on its own. You can trim large pieces of skin with small, blunt, sterile scissors if needed.

Complicate Your Skin Care Routine
Keep your skin care routine simple after a professional peel. The goal post-peel is to keep your skin hydrated and protected. So, stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
As a general rule of thumb, you can resume your usual skin care routine about one week after a medium-depth peel and slightly longer for a deep peel. This varies based on your unique needs and the products you normally use, so consult your skin care professional for tailored advice.

Expose Yourself to Heat
Avoid heat sources or activities that crank up your body temperature. This includes hot showers, saunas, hot tubs, intense workouts, and sun exposure. Heat—especially when accompanied by sweating—can hinder recovery.

Seek Additional Cosmetic Procedures
Wait until your skin fully recovers before getting additional treatments like laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, waxing, or injectables.