Whether it’s fine lines or dark spots you’re struggling with, the best facial peels for aging skin can help restore a youthful complexion. We’ve handpicked the top peels to speed up cell turnover, soften rough patches, balance out discoloration, and help diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Nurture your skin with enzyme peels at Naturopathica today.
Key Takeaways
- Clinical data shows peels can improve the appearance of fine lines by more than 50% and overall clarity by 90%.2
- Glycolic and Lactic Acid are AHAs commonly included in peels that dissolve the dead cells that impact your complexion
- We love fruit enzymes because they’re a gentler form of exfoliation that brightens and smooths the skin.
- Superficial peels can be used at home, but medium/deep peels are best used by professionals.
- Naturopathica has all the different types of enzyme peels you need to breathe fresh life into your skin.
Understanding Different Types of Peels
Not every peel uses the same ingredients and they don’t even all work the same way. The best facial peel for your skin depends on the ingredient, how deep it penetrates the skin, and what trade-offs come with it.
Common Peel Ingredients
We think the best way to talk about peels is to divide them into one of two categories - AHAs and fruit enzymes.
There’s more research behind AHAs than any other type of ingredient for aging skin. Glycolic Acid is the smallest AHA, which is why it’s used over Lactic or Mandelic Acid. It can work deeper into the skin to support collagen production and improve texture.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD, FAAD, explains that Glycolic Acid can be quite effective for “reducing the appearance of sun damage.” King went on to say that six months of topical Glycolic Acid stimulated “a 27% increase in epidermal thickness.”1
Lactic Acid is gentler and can hydrate the skin more than its Glycolic counterpart, so it might be a better starting point for anyone with dry or reactive skin.
Then you have fruit enzyme peels, which, as the name suggests, are powered by fruit-derived proteases (types of enzymes). Papain from Papaya, proteolytic enzymes from Pumpkin, etc. They work by digesting dead cells, but leaving healthy skin.
There’s a third type of peel, though - those that combine AHAs with fruit enzymes for a two-pronged approach to exfoliation. Naturopathica’s peels fall under this category, which is why they’re often called the best facial peels for aging skin.
Depth of Penetration
Superficial peels (AHAs < 10% or enzyme-based formulas) only work on the skin’s surface. They’re the best at-home facial peels for aging skin because the risk of scarring, hyperpigmentation, or prolonged downtime is next to none.
On the other hand, medium-depth peels (20-35% TCA, high-concentration Glycolic Acid) can get into the upper dermis. They must be applied by a professional. Deep peels are considered “surgical-grade” and have the lengthiest recovery process.
Side Effects and Safety
The depth of penetration more or less dictates how safe it is, what sort of side effects you may experience, and how long it’ll take for your skin to bounce back. It’s normal to deal with mild redness and tingling even with a superficial peel. This should go away within an hour.
What is not normal is a peel causing burning, blistering, or peeling for more than two days. That suggests you used something that was too strong for at-home application.
You shouldn’t layer peels with Retinoids, Vitamin C serums, or any other exfoliating acids on the same day, either. You’ll need to make sure to use SPF in the days after your peel because your skin will be much more sensitive to the sun. We recommend Calendula Essential Hydrating Lotion SPF 30.
What Are the Best Facial Peels For Aging Skin?
There are so many peels on the market, all claiming to be the best. We looked at what the research had to say and handpicked 6 of the best facial peels for aging skin.
Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel
This Sweet Cherry enzyme peel is our top pick for uneven tone and hyperpigmentation. It can help brighten dull, sun-damaged skin through a blend of Sweet Cherry Puree with 3% Lactic Acid and Vitamin C. The Resveratrol content from cherry paired with fruit enzymes pulls double duty - exfoliation with antioxidant protection.
Naturopathica Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel
A trifecta of Pumpkin Puree, Lactic Acid, and Gluconic Acid comes together in this Pumpkin enzyme peel to slough away the buildup that clogs pores and dulls the skin. You get the perfect amount of exfoliation without the sensitivity that stronger AHAs are notorious for causing.
The Pumpkin peel benefits go beyond addressing congestion, though. The enzymes support skin turnover. It’s why customers see noticeably smoother skin by making this peel a regular part of their ritual.
Glytone Rejuvenating Mini Peel Gel
Professional-grade Glycolic Acid gel with 10.8% free acid value. That means more of the acid is bioavailable to the skin’s surface than in similarly concentrated products that don’t have the optimal pH. A simple choice for texture and fine lines.
Naturopathica Ageless Bakuchiol Duo
It’s not a peel, but anyone with aging skin can benefit from Naturopathica’s Ageless Bakuchiol Duo. You get two products in one purchase.
The Holy Basil & Bakuchiol Ageless Night Oil delivers one of the best alternatives to Retinol to encourage more elastic, firmer-looking skin. Meanwhile, Holy Basil (AKA Tulsi) helps minimize the appearance of skin stress and aging while fighting off free radicals. The Power Seed Blend helps smooth, lift, and brighten the complexion without any irritation.
You also get the Passion Fruit & Bakuchiol Ageless Eye Serum, which is specifically formulated to help diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles/puffiness around the eye area. It’s made of Bakuchiol, Passion Fruit, and a blend of three potent botanicals: Persian Silk Tree, Horse Chestnut Tree, and Mastic Tree.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Mini Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads
This is a two-step pad system. The first features a five-acid blend (Glycolic, Lactic, Malic, Citric, Salicylic). The second neutralizes with antioxidants such as Green Tea.
You could make the case these are the best at-home facial peels because the acids are not very concentrated. Or, you could fall on the other side of the fence and say that the product isn’t strong enough to deliver the results you’re looking for.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
This exfoliant peel has the strongest acid concentration on this list at 25% AHA (a blend of Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic, Malic, and Tartaric Acids) with 2% Salicylic Acid. It’s not meant for unsupervised use given its aggressiveness, but there are soothing agents such as Allantoin and Bisabolol to offset the strength.
How Well Do Peels Work For Aging Skin?
There is no shortage of evidence that the best facial peels for aging skin can make a difference in the appearance of texture and complexion.
A randomized trial at Massachusetts General Hospital showed that 76% of patients using Glycolic Acid improved on a clinical photoaging severity scale after 22 weeks.3
A more recent study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology treated 32 women monthly with Lactic Acid peels. The results - 53% improvements in fine lines and 91% improvement in clarity/brightness. The study was done across multiple skin types.2
And despite not being a peel, there’s strong clinical evidence for the Holy Basil & Bakuchiol Ageless Night Oil. 97% of participants said the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles improved, while 91% saw hyperpigmentation improve. There was also a 34% improvement in skin elasticity (compared to baseline) after four weeks.
Should Everyone With Aging Skin Use Peels?
The vast majority of people with concerns surrounding aging skin could benefit from some form of exfoliation. But whether peels are the right choice is another story. They’re certainly not the best fit across the board.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kachiu C. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAD, Immediate Past-Chair of the International Peeling Society said it best. “I don't look at the patient's age when deciding on which peel products to use, but rather, I look at the quality of their skin, the size of their pores as well as other indicators.”4
In other words, you should zoom out and look at the big picture. Are you on prescription Retinoids, battling active rosacea, or recovering from a recent procedure? Now may not be the right time to add a peel to your routine - at least, not without professional guidance.
There may be gentler anti-aging skin care products worth exploring first, such as serums and moisturizers. You can take our skincare quiz or reach out to our customer service team for one-on-one support picking the perfect skincare products.
Bottom Line on the Best At-Home Facial Peels For Aging Skin
Enzyme peels are generally looked at as the best facial peels for aging skin because they’re gentler without compromising on results. You can progress to AHA-based formulas when you’re ready to go deeper. Our 10% Glycolic Acid pads with Aloe Vera are a great alternative to AHA-based peels.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re following the instructions on your product carefully to avoid causing more harm than good. That includes cycling around more aggressive actives and building in recovery days.
References
- Dr. Hadley King, MD, FAAD. "Glycolic Acid Peel 101: What You Need to Know Beforehand." IPSY.
- Fanning J, et al. "Treatment of mild-to-moderate facial cutaneous aging using a combination peel containing 6% trichloroacetic acid and 12% lactic acid." Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(11):3033-3041.
- Stiller MJ, et al. "Topical 8% glycolic acid and 8% L-lactic acid creams for the treatment of photodamaged skin." Archives of Dermatology. 1996;132(6):631-636.
- Dr. Kachiu C. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAD. "Facial Peels 101: Which Types Work Best on Older Skin?" AARP.
