How to Identify Your Skin Type and Tone

When the sun comes out to play at the beginning of spring, you will notice the way your skin reacts. Do you tend to get sunburns easily, or just tan? It’s helpful to find out your skin’s exact tone to find out just how much sun you can soak up before you put yourself at risk for sun damage.

It’s also important to identify your skin type- whether it’s oily, dry, combination, or somewhere in-between- in order to understand which skincare products and procedures are safe for you. It also provides a great reference for picking out the best products to ensure your skin looks and feels its healthiest.

What is Your Skin Tone?

Dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale to identify skin tones. The scale was created in 1975 by Harvard dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick, who found a direct correlation between a person’s skin color and how the skin responds to UV light. Which of the following best describes the way your skin typically reacts to the sun?

Type I  Always burns, never tans

Type II  Usually burns, then tans

Type III  Sometimes burn, tans well

Type IV  Rarely burns, tans well

Type V  Rarely burns, tans well, brown skin

Type VI  Very rarely burns, tans very well, very dark

What Determines Your Skin Tone?

It all comes down to pigments. Pigments are responsible for all of the different skin colors in the world. One of those pigments; melanin, is like a natural sunblock, protecting you from damaging UV rays. The more melanin your skin contains, the darker your natural skin color will be. This means that those with naturally darker skin are less prone to burns, whereas fair-skinned people tend to burn easily.

Choosing the Right Products for Your Skin Tone

If you fall on the lighter end of the scale, from Type I – Type III, you can safely use Jessner peels, and the entire range of other peels, including TCA peels up to 30% concentration.

If you have very dark skin, some products may permanently change your skin’s pigment. If your skin tone is darker, Type IV, V, or VI, and are considering a TCA peel, make sure to pick one that has a concentration of 10% or lower. Avoid Jessner peels if you fall into these darker skin tone categories. Glycolic peels are a great, safe option for darker skin tones as are AHA Vitamin C peels. 

Learn more about peels here.

What is Your Skin Type?

Once you have identified your skin tone, you should also consider your skin type. Choose products specifically designed for your skin type in order to meet your skin’s unique set of needs from the following:

Normal Smooth and supple, doesn’t produce excess oil or become dry and flaky. You’re lucky if you fall into this category, and can safely choose from a variety of products.

Oily You tend to have larger pores and can be prone to acne. Acne-prone skin can occur well into adulthood and should be treated with products that remove the dead skin from clogged pores to clear blackheads and acne marks.

Dry Your pores tend to be smaller, with visible dry flakes. Moisturizer is important, so pick one tailored to the amount of moisture your skin needs based on its level of dehydration.

Combination The most common skin type. If you have combination skin, your face will typically be normal or dry with an oily area in your T-zone. You may need to treat these separate areas of your face with different products.

Sensitive Sensitive skin which is easily irritated by products designed for normal skin, and becomes red or itchy. Stick to milder treatments specifically designed for you.

Aging Advanced signs of aging include wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and sun damage. These visible issues can be minimized through a variety of treatments.

Want a personalized skincare routine for you? Take our quiz! 

Skincare Tips for Wedding Season

Amidst all of the excitement of planning a wedding – or attending one - a bit of self-pampering does wonders for your mood and helps your true beauty shine through on the big day. No matter how much time you have in your busy schedule, you can always treat yourself to a facial peel. Whether you’re attending a wedding or getting ready for your own, spending a little extra time on your skincare routine is a great way to de-stress while adding a super healthy glow of confidence to your skin. As the day approaches, take care of yourself and make sure you’re ready to shine in all those photo ops!

Boost Your Skincare Routine

If you’re short on time, but looking to make a change in your skin’s health, a product like the 3-Day Vitamin C Facelift Kit is a lifesaver. In three days, its alpha hydroxy acids work to stimulate your skin’s circulation while safely but rapidly exfoliating dead skin cells. Many also find this product invaluable to maintain the skin’s firmness and youthful appearance between peel treatments. It’s suitable for all skin types, and can give you an impressive glow if you only have a few days before the wedding.

A Few Weeks Before the Wedding

A medium-strength peel can take care of blemishes and wrinkles, including those caused by blocked pores and sun damage, but keep in mind that your skin will take a few weeks to heal after the treatment. If the wedding is 2-3 weeks away, try the Fusion Peel - Medium Strength.

For a Major Change Planned in Advance

If you would like to take care of some more serious skin issues like deep wrinkles and have months to spare ahead of the wedding day, a deep peel such as TCA is for you. Make sure to prepare your skin for this serious treatment by using a daily exfoliator for at least a week in advance of your TCA peel. Also note that this peel is not recommended for darker skin tones or those new to peel treatments. Follow these precautions, and your skin will be transformed and wedding-ready about two months after your peel!

Take Care of Yourself Post-Peel

If you’ve just had a peel, you may find your regular moisturizer is suddenly too harsh to use. Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream is a great way to maintain your skin’s health after your peel. Its extremely light formula makes it non-irritating and gentle enough for everyday use and has a calming and cooling effect on your newly sensitized skin. It’s also essential to remember a to wear a moisturizer with broad spectrum of at least SPF 30 every day.

DIY Salt Scrubs for Cinco de Mayo

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! While you’re enjoying fresh guacamole, salsa, and salted margaritas, why not give your skin a treat? Here are two ways to make your own colorful facial scrub using some of those same ingredients. Not only are these scrubs revitalizing for your skin, they smell great and are an affordable alternative to salon treatments.

Benefits of Scrubs

A gentle exfoliating treatment at least once a week makes all the difference in your skincare regimen. It helps you to loose those old skin cells and expose the healthy young skin underneath. The motion of sloughing off dead cells increases blood flow in your face and helps to remove the stubborn dirt and oil that can clog your pores and cause recurring breakouts.

The ingredients in these recipes are a nod to Mexico, and they’re packed with benefits for your skin!

Avocado Oil

Great for hydrating and softening the skin, avocado oil can also help to clear acne.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is both rich in antioxidants, which work to reverse signs of skin damage, and extremely moisturizing.

Fine Sea Salt

The trace minerals in sea salt encourage your skin to retain moisture and grow new cells. Note: Regular iodized table salt has sharper granules that may be too rough on your skin.

Lime juice

The acidity of lime juice’s citric acid works as an exfoliator as its Vitamin C content rejuvenates the skin.

Lime Zest

Lime zest carries some of the antiseptic benefits of lime essential oil, and has an invigorating, uplifting scent.

Cilantro

This herb deserves to be a staple not only in your kitchen, but in your skincare routine. It has antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent, and cooling properties which make it a great treatment for acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Tomato

A seemingly unorthodox yet effective skincare ingredient, tomatoes are full of the antioxidant lycopene which helps your skin keep its youthful elasticity.

Cilantro Lime Scrub

·       1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

·       juice of 1 lime

·       1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped

·       ½ c fine sea salt

·       Lime zest, finely grated

Tomato Avocado Scrub

·       1 Tbsp. avocado oil

·       ¼ c cilantro leaves

·       ¼ c tomato

·       ½ c fine sea salt

For both recipes: Blend together all of the ingredients, except the salt. Stir in the salt just until combined. In gentle circular motions, apply the scrub. Rinse with water, then cleanse your skin as normal to remove any residual oils. Store your new DIY scrub in an airtight container, and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Enjoy your smooth new skin and feel invigorated to go out and join the fiesta!

The perfect gift for anyone: VC30X Anti-Aging Serum, VC30X Eyelift Kit, and Age Defy SPF

What's the perfect gift for anyone? The gift of Vitamin C nourishment and brighten her day!
The MedPeel Vitamin C30x Anti-Aging Serum, Vitamin C30x Eyelift Kit, and Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream  are the perfect addition to any skincare routine for all skin types!

The MedPeel Vitamin C30x Anti-Aging Serum gives skin a highly-concentrated dose of Vitamin C that rapidly penetrates the skin for immediate results. Powerful antioxidants help repair and protect skin from harmful free radicals and inflammation leaving skin smooth and radiant. The MedPeel Vitamin C30x Eyelift Kit is the perfect thing for people of all ages to target the delicate skin around the eye area. When used together twice daily, this duo infuses the skin around the eyes with hydrating and tightening properties - now that’s a lift anyone will love! To top it off, include MedPeel's Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream packed with hyaluronic acid. This moisturizing formula is perfect for sealing the Vitamin C products into the skin and protecting the skin.

Surprise anyone with this daily skincare essentials gift set great for all ages and skin types!

How to Properly Treat Eye Aging

When we start to age, under-eye wrinkles (also known as crow's feet or smile lines) are often the first visible sign of aging. The reason these fine lines and wrinkles appear is because the skin loses its ability to replace the collagen and elastin proteins that keep your skin supple and smooth.The skin around the eyes is more delicate than the facial skin because it lacks the ability to create oil like the rest of the skin does, as this area is thinner and dryer. Sun-damage and facial movements such as squinting, laughing, and frowning all contribute to increasing the wrinkles in the immediate eye area of the face.

There are ways to intervene and slow down this area of aging by using the correct products daily to treat this area. Apply Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) based products daily to this specific area help stimulate, plump and exfoliate the area gently. Products containing Hyaluronic acid, Glycolic acid, peptides, and Vitamin C as the primary ingredient will help maintain the firmness of the immediate eye area. You will want to make sure this area stays hydrated by applying a serum and moisturizer, morning and night to tackle the dehydration of this area to turn back the clock and slow down the aging process .

Diet also plays a key factor in keeping the delicate skin in the eye area stimulated. Making sure you have a diet rich in Vitamin C, E, and omega-3 fatty acids with play a key role. Fill your plate up with fresh fruits, veggies, and fish because these foods contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants to keep your skin looking fresh and youthful.

Lastly, make sure you use these products consistently and eat correctly. If you are not consistent, you will not see consistent results.

Best Product Regimen For An Oily/Acneic Skin

If your skin is oily/acne prone, a consistent regimen is important to have. Salicylic acid based products are ideal for oily/acne prone skin types. All skin types should make sure that the skin is cleansed twice daily am/pm, preferably with a gel based cleanser.

A salicylic 2% daily exfoliator is a great aide to maintain anti-bacterial exfoliation to use daily after cleansing. Salicylic acid helps kill the root bacteria of Acne Vulgaris. For best results Follow with a Tea tree based serum and moisturizer, Tea tree is a natural anti-bacterial based natural ingredient. An SPF 30 moisturizer should be followed up with after applying the serum and moisturizer to protect the skin from UV rays.

Oily/acne skin types can surely benefit from Salicylic peels 10%, 20%, and 30%. The Salicylic 20% and then advancement to the Salicylic 30% would be beneficial for oily mature aging and those skin types who have had prior experience with usage of both the Salicylic 10% and 20% for a series of 6-8 peel treatments. Being equipped with these daily skincare products and occasional peel treatments will benefit oily/acne prone skin types and enable this skin type to maintain clarity.

Gift-giving ideas for mature dry skin

Looking for a skincare gift for someone with dry/mature skin? Skin-Peel has what you need!

Glycolic peels can help improve the appearance of sun damage, fine lines, age spots and wrinkles. They're a great low-aggression peel that doesn't product visible peeling but still stimulates collagen production, helping improve the appearance dry/mature/sun-damaged skin types.

If the skin has deep wrinkles and severe dark spots, the TCA 10% peel would be a more aggressive peel option to tackle those concerns effectively. We recommend the Glycolic 10% Daily Exfoliator post-peel to keep up your results. This exfoliator is very effective at maintaining mature/dry/sun-damaged skin on a daily basis -- safely.

You will want to make sure that you have a gentle daily cleanser such as the Pre-Peel Cleanser. This cleanser is an excellent cleanser to prep your skin before using a peel! For deeper exfoliation, our Glycolic Micro Peel Scrub is an excellent choice for dry, mature, or sun-damaged skin types. This blend of acids helps rejuvenate, tighten, and firm skin while boosting collagen and elastin production. 

This combination of products would be the perfect gift for anyone that would like to see some progressive changes in their aging skin!