The VIPeel

When you think of the words "chemical peel", it always seems to generate images of bright-red, peeling, painful-looking skin and almost always makes you think "ouch"! Not any more, though! There is now a new chemical peel called the "VIPeel", which has been developed by a dermatologist in Florida. It is a mid-strength peel, which contains a mix of acids including Phenol, Retin-A and Vitamin C.

This new, innovative treatment only involves about two days of peeling and without any redness. Other benefits include the reversal of sun damage and ageing, reduction in pore size and a boost in the production of collagen. Phew! Sounds perfect doesn't it?

To begin with, your skin is prepped with Acetone (yes, it is used in nail varnish remover!) to remove any excess oil. The liquid peel solution is then applied to your face and neck. You might feel some minor stinging, but the whole thing takes less than 10 minutes. A layer of sunblock is then applied to your face and you are free to go!

A friend of mine who recently had the treatment told me that for the first couple of days she felt fine, although she did look like she was wearing a slightly orange fake tan, but this was only due to the Vitamin A in the mix. On day three, she noticed a tiny patch of peeling skin near her mouth, but the skin was just fluffy and fine, not a huge chunk of it! The peeling then spread around her mouth to the edges of her face and then down her neck. A week on, her skin looked amazing! Her pores were visibly reduced, lines around her eyes were finer and and the brown patches she had had on her cheekbones had disappeared. Basically, she looked and felt 15 again! She is now confident enough to leave the house without make-up on (although never without sunscreen) and her skin just glows!

Collagen levels are also boosted in the weeks after the peel, so skin becomes springier and firmer. You can have the "VIPeel" as a one-off treatment or have a maximum of one every three months as an ongoing anti-ageing programme.

As with all facials and treatments, a consultation with a recommended dermatologist is advised and make sure you read all the information and research the treatment before having it done.