14 best chemical peels for glowy, brighter skin

With a creamy, sumptuous texture, Elemis’ papaya enzyme peel packs a number of fantastic ingredients into one tube. However, it is still incredibly gentle. Working on everything from uneven texture and clogged pores, to pesky breakouts and blackheads, this makes it a great multitasker. So, if you’re looking for an overall glow and smoothness to your skin, instead of being someone with a specific issue or skin concern, this could be an excellent peel to pick up and add to your existing skincare routine.

Unlike some of the other peels in this roundup, which you should only be using for around five to 10 minutes, you can leave this on for up to 20 minutes, without the need to build up a tolerance, in most cases. I used it twice a week for around 15 minutes at a time and my skin looked glowy and felt incredibly soft after using this formula.

I noticed an almost instant difference in the uneven texture that I have on my forehead and around my nose. After just one use these areas were both smoother to the touch and looked significantly softer and less dry. And over the colder months, when my skin typically gets very dry and dehydrated, it even improved the flakiness that I routinely experience around my hairline in a few uses and kept this away when using it every week or so over the winter. While other peels target specific concerns or skin issues, I appreciated that this worked on several at the same time with the same efficiency and results.

One of the most viral skincare products of recent years – and for good reason – The Ordinary’s peeling solution is easily one of the most affordable at-home chemical peels on the market. Despite it being less than £9, its high concentration of acids makes it one of the most potent.

Don’t let the deep red colour put you off this lightweight serum-like peel. While I did experience a slight amount of tingling upon first application, this did subside. Even though you can leave it on your skin for up to 10 minutes, it may be worthwhile building up to this amount of time incrementally, particularly if you start to feel any irritation.

You only need a very thin layer of this rather watery formulation to see and feel the benefits from the very first use. As soon as I washed the solution off my skin, it was considerably brighter and refreshed, with the results lasting for several days. Whatever you do, do not use this more than twice a week or for longer than the recommended 10 minutes. Doing either would be a surefire way to damage your skin barrier and cause inflammation and irritation.

Available in three different strengths – universal, extra strength and ultra gentle – depending on your skin type and concerns, there’s a reason why Dr Dennis Gross’ universal daily peels are some of the bestselling at-home chemical peels. And if you’ve never used a peel before, it doesn’t get simpler or more fuss-free than this two-step process.

Either morning or night, depending on your preference, you take the step one pad and swipe it onto clean, dry skin until the wipe dries out. Then, after a minute or so, you do the same with step two.

Instantly, from the very first use, my skin looked glowing and luminous. Not only did it reduce the appearance of pores around the nose, but the first signs of wrinkles and uneven texture on the forehead were improved as well. I also didn’t encounter any irritation or stinging when using any of the three separate strengths, despite having dry skin that has experienced redness from other at-home chemical peels in the past.

If you’re looking for a stronger formulation, Dr Dennis Gross does an extra strength option designed with experienced peelers and those looking to combat signs of ageing or frequent breakouts in mind. For those with particularly dry or sensitive skin, you may want to check out the ultra-gentle daily peel.

Whether you have sensitive skin or have tried peels in the past and experienced some redness, tingling or sensitivity, opting for a gentler option is the way forward. And this peel has an almost cooling gel consistency to it, which I enjoyed.

As it contains a gentler derivative of salicylic acid – one of the ingredients that you’ll typically find in most acne-related skincare products – this works in tandem with the anti-inflammatory heartleaf extract to calm and soothe the skin all while doing its work at resurfacing dead skin and unblocking pores. This combination of ingredients makes it ideal for those with oilier or acne-prone skin.

Even though I don’t have especially sensitive skin, I have had peels cause some mild irritation in the past, yet I didn’t notice or experience anything like that with this one. I sometimes even forgot that I had even applied it, it was that unnoticeable. My skin felt soft and smooth and I could physically feel and see the excess sebum and oil peeling away as I went to remove it. This was particularly noticeable around my nose and chin where many of us may be prone to blackheads and whiteheads.

For those prone to blemishes, breakouts or acne, Sensilis’ azelaic peel is a great pick. Combining an ingredient called azeloglycine, which regulates the amount of sebum on the skin, alongside anti-redness and depigmenting ingredients, it has a lightweight gel-like texture to it. And the reason that too much sebum can become a problem is that it can clog and block your pores, allowing bacteria to grow, all of which can result in a variety of blemishes.

After using it a few evenings in a row, I noticed a marked difference to a cluster of breakouts, including some rather angry-looking under-the-skin spots, which occurred towards the end of my menstrual cycle. And in a day or so these had reduced significantly. I also appreciated the pump applicator, which made it quick, easy and mess-free to apply.

I’ve been a big fan of every Beauty Pie skincare product that I’ve tried so far, and their 5-minute miracle facial peel is no different. Despite having five minutes in the name, you can leave it on a bit longer if you have particularly congested skin or clogged pores. And the results are immediate. After just one application my skin felt smoother and looked visibly brighter and glowier, without my skin feeling tight or tingly in the slightest.

In fact, I’ve been using an iteration of this product the last few winters when my dry/dehydrated can become even drier and flakier. And it’s one product that I can rely on to remove these dry patches without stripping the skin.

Unfortunately, it’s not suitable for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin, which is the only reason that it doesn’t get five stars from me. And if you’re a Beauty Pie member, you can bag this product for the great price of £19.50, otherwise you will need to pay the full RRP of £35.

For a true salon or spa-like experience at home, look no further than Dr David Jack’s yellow face peel. With clinics up and down the country, this clinically inspired peel has been designed with pigmentation, dark spots and discolouration in mind. As someone with freckly skin, I had noticed some new pigmentation pop up along my jawline – even after religiously applying SPF all summer long.

While the rich and buttery-feeling mask can be applied all over, if you’re looking to target specific areas or want to make the product last a bit longer, you can also concentrate it on any problem areas you might have.

I didn’t experience any discernible tingling or irritation and noticed that my skin looked brighter and much more glowy, while simultaneously feeling softer, following just one application. After the second or third use I started to see a difference in the pigmentation and darker spots on my skin, and I will be continuing to use it going forward to see what the long-term results are like. Additionally, it has the added benefit of being cruelty-free and had me feeling like I had just been for a salon treatment after each use. The only real negative is the price, with it coming in just shy of £150. That price does include an accompanying application brush and washcloth, and you can save 15 per cent if you set up a subscription. But it could save you money in the long run if you swap out some of your usual salon treatments for it.

If signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles, are your biggest concern, U Beauty’s resurfacing flash peel could be a great option for you. A little goes a long way, and I only really needed a pea-sized amount to cover my entire face each time. It was a bit tingly, yet this soon subsided after about a minute or so.

As someone who is starting to see some fine lines on their forehead and around the under-eye area, along with where you would typically see crow’s feet and laughter lines, after just two uses I found that both had lessened and weren’t quite as noticeable. At the same time, those areas looked smoother and more hydrated. So, if you are just starting to notice fine lines, or are looking to add more anti-ageing products into your existing routine, investing in this peel could be well worth it.

It is one of the more expensive at-home peels, but much like the Dr David Jack peel, you can save some money simply by setting up a subscription. Depending on your budget and your overall skin goals, it might be worth the additional expense, especially when you consider the fantastic blend of acids and actives that it contains.

For those of us who like our skincare to work overnight, this peel from Medik8 is the perfect addition to your night-time routine and it benefits from some pretty impressive skincare technology. With something called crystal encapsulation, this means that the glycolic acid is gradually delivered into the skin throughout the course of the night. Because of this, there shouldn’t be as high a chance of irritation occurring or it being too strong a percentage of acid for your skin. This also makes it suitable for beginners or those who might have been a bit wary of at-home peels in the past.

I didn’t experience any irritation as I slept. In fact, I barely noticed that it was on my skin at all. It also absorbed into my skin quite quickly, so there was no need to worry about it smearing onto my silk pillowcase as I lay down or tossed and turned over the course of an evening.

This peel has a creamy, almost moisturiser-like texture to it, which my skin certainly appreciated. You also only need a thin layer of product for noticeable results. Even if you’re tempted to apply the peel more liberally, I would warn against this, as too much of the product can leave your skin feeling a bit tacky, which obviously isn’t ideal right before bed. The blend of hydrating ingredients also added moisture back into the skin, and I woke up with smooth skin that had a clear, glass-like appearance to it.

Depending on your budget, one luxury peel certainly stands out from the crowd and that is the La Prairie cellular 3-minute peel. You may only get 40ml of product for upwards of £200, but instead of it being a daily peel or one that you use on alternate days, it is meant to be used on a weekly basis. Plus, you only need to apply it for three minutes for it to work, making it a quick and easy option if you’re short on time or don’t want to spend any longer on your skincare routine than you already do.

Applying it with the accompanying brush helped me to cover my face in a matter of seconds and I noticed an improvement in the texture of the uneven skin on my forehead and around my nose, as well as the appearance of some larger pores, after just one use. A little also goes a long way, but because of its rather lofty price, I did find myself being rather conscious of how much I was using and applying. If money is no option for you, it could be one to pick up, especially if you manage to find it on sale.