Love The Ordinary Peeling Solution, but wondering what the best products are to apply after for soothing and healing?
I share a bunch of products I love using to soothe, protect and nourish my skin barrier after a deep exfoliation session. These products include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, aloe and glycerin and will ensure your post-exfoliation glow is hydrated and nourished for best results with no irritation.
What To Use After An Exfoliating Peel
The products I love to use after an exfoliating peel – whether it’s The Ordinary’s AHA BHA Peel, or any other high-content acid peel for my face – include products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica (cica), peptides, gentle emollients and nourishing oils.
Below I share the products I’ve used and loved after applying and removing an exfoliating peel:
1. Hyaluronic Acid Serums Like The Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion
This is one of my most favorite hyaluronic acid products. It is a quick absorbing, lightweight lotion that is packed with hyaluronic acid, a skin care ingredient that attracts and retains moisture in the skin. Even better, hyaluronic acid has been found to boost skin healing. After rinsing off the peeling solution, apply a layer of this lotion on the face and neck before applying your moisturizer to hydrate the skin overnight.
Other hyaluronic acid serums I’ve enjoyed include The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum and The Inkey List’s Hyaluronic Acid – both affordable serums that are also great for applying after your exfoliation session.
2. Moisturizers or Serums With Soothing Ingredients Like Cica
Centella asiatica – also referred to as “cica” is a soothing skin care ingredient that calms irritated skin and is often found in many Korean skin care products. If you have sensitive skin and are looking for some TLC after your peel, cica-infused products will be a must for you (they’re also amazing for healing sunburns!).
I love the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream – this is my go-to emergency cream for burns and skin irritation because it has an immediate calming effect on the skin because it’s made with cica and guaiazulene. The brand also has a soothing Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop serum that I”ve used and love as well (you can view it on my Instagram profile here).
Other creams that I’ve loved in this category include Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Cream (there’s a cica ampoule in this line up too, also amazing!), which has wonderful soothing properties from having cica in the ingredients. I’ve also heard great things about the Dr.Jart+ Cicapair cream for soothing red, irritated skin, so I’m including this for your shopping consideration too. The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Support Serum, which is a pink-tinted serum that is perfect for applying after exfoliation, I review it here.
If you have any form of irritated skin, look for serums or moisturizers with centella asiatica in the ingredients!
3. Moisturizers That Protect The Skin Barrier
Skin care ranges like La Roche Posay, which are made for sensitive skin types, are amazing at creating products that nourish and protect your skin’s natural barrier – making them perfect for applying after a peeling solution.
An amazing everyday cream that I’ve applied after my peels is the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Body Lotion. It is scent free and amazing at nourishing and moisturizing skin. It is one of may favorite moisturizers for my girls since they were babies and it has cured more than one terrible sunburn overnight! A super affordable no-frills, scent free lotion I’ve also loved when my skin needs some extra loving is The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid; it’s a simple but heavy moisturizer that is perfect for applying to your skin after removing your peeling solution.
If you have very dry, irritated skin, I would recommend the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – it’s a heavy moisturizer that is touted by skincare enthusiasts and dermatologists as giving you a skin barrier glow up overnight!
4. Moisturizers Packed With Hyaluronic Acid
One of my most recent skin care loves for hydrating and nourishing skin is the Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream. I’ve had it in my stash for a while now but never got around to using it. I added it into my skincare routine a couple months ago and I am in LOVE! Not only is this a hydrating night time moisturizer, but it’s no nonsense, scent-free hyaluronic acid formula makes it amazing for applying after I use The Ordinary’s AHA BHA Peeling Solution. It’s affordable, moisturizing and has the most unique gel-cream texture.
5. Aloe-Infused Skin Care
Aloe can be a soothing skin care ingredient and has a natural cooling effect on the skin. If you don’t have a natural aloe plant at home to use, I love The Face Shop’s Jeju Aloe Soothing Mist. Apply it directly after rinsing off your peeling solution and then continue on with any gentle serums and your moisturizer. The brand also has a tub of the Fresh Jeju 95% Aloe Soothing Gel* that can be applied before your moisturizer for a cooling, soothing vibe. *Note – the gel contains alcohol denat, which I would not recommend for sensitive skin types, as it can be irritating.
What NOT To Use After The Ordinary Peeling Solution
Be sure to steer clear of skin care products with any of the folliwng ingredients to avoid irritation after a peel:
- menthol – this ingredient creates a cooling effect on the skin, but can also be an irritant
- alcohol – can by drying and irritating
- scents and parfum – fragrances added to skin care can be irritating to sensitive skin types or after using an exfoliating peel.
- Retinoids – do not apply retinol or retinal after your peel, it can increase irritation.
- Vitamin C and acids – stay clear of treatments that include vitamin C, glycolic, lactic, mandelic or salicylic acid after your peel – you’ve already exfoliated your skin, don’t do it again!
I hope this list of products I’ve tried (or heard amazing things about!) helps give you an idea of what to use after a peeling solution for minimal irritation and skin soothing benefits!
