Pumpkin Peel 101

When is a peel really a peel?

Oct 18, 2009

by Kathy Krakora
Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio

With fall here (or at least in some parts of the country), pumpkin skin and body treatments are topping the list of pre-holiday prepping. We know our skin feels smooth and silky as pie after a pumpkin peel. But not all peels seem to be created equal. So we wondered, when is a pumpkin peel really considered a natural chemical peel and when is it more of a gentle exfoliation? We put the question to Kathy Krakora, skin and makeup expert and owner of Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio. Here's how she sliced it up.

I love pumpkin as a facial treatment. Pumpkin enzymes act like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), without the drying effects of an AHA glycolic peel, for instance. In other words, you get great cell turnover, accelerated exfoliation, and powerful nutrients and antioxidants to scavenge those pesky free-radicals -- resulting in smoother, younger looking skin.

A gentle exfoliation is one that will usually not result in a visible sloughing of dead skin. However, results can be achieved from a physical exfoliant such as a light microdermabrasion, a scrub, or a chemical exfoliant -- usually 5% AHA or less. These will diminish fine lines, but the results will not last as long as a medium to deep peel.

A peel would be a medium to deep exfoliation and will usually result in a visible sloughing of dead skin cells. Depending on your skin type, the exfoliation process can be a light flaking of the skin, or a deeper "sheeting" of the skin, where large patches of dead cells will be shed. Peels can be performed through physical exfoliation (microdermabrasion), chemical peels (higher concentrations of AHA 10%+, BHA, TCAs, Jessners and others) or a combination of the two.

We all react differently to products; what may be a light exfoliation for your skin could be a peel on someone else's. In addition, if you do not peel or sheet it doesn't mean something isn't happening at the cellular level, where it counts. So, delight your senses and enjoy the bounty of this time of year!

Visit Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio in Scottsdale and be sure to ask about the 30-minute 10% Pumpkin Peel, now available for $35.