Chemical Peels: One of The Most Powerful Tools in Aesthetics

Interview with Amber Lewis, Owner & Lead Aesthetician / Cosmetic Injector / Surgical Assistant / Medical Assistant

Chemical peels aren’t just about peeling— they’re about revealing healthier, clearer, younger-looking skin that’s been hiding underneath years of sun, stress, and Colorado living. At Luminous Aesthetics, a peel isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” beauty treatment. It’s a medically driven, highly customized reset for your skin’s health, texture, tone, and long-term resilience. In this Q&A, Amber breaks down what chemical peels really do, who they’re right for, and why they remain one of the most powerful tools in modern aesthetics.

For an experienced client who—this isn’t their first rodeo—how do you frame the ROI of a chemical peel?

This is a wonderful question. Chemical peels are long-term investments because we only have one skin system. Whether you get a facelift or filler, you still have the same skin—the largest organ we have—and often the one taking the biggest hit. We’re dealing with sickness, environmental factors, genetics, extrinsic damage. You can get Botox and filler, but those work underneath the skin. Chemical peels work on the skin itself.

Chemical peels are powerful, but they’re not for the weak. You have to understand there’s downtime and you might look a little scary for a bit. They pull everything out. If you’ve had a fun summer and you’re seeing little sunspots on the surface, that peel dives down to the melanocytes and tells that tunnel of pigment to flush out. It finds the sun-kisses, freckles, solar lentigines, age spots—whatever you call them—pulls them up, darkens them, then flakes them off.

The difference between a chemical peel and something more superficial like microneedling is that a peel works from the surface downward. It stimulates collagen, elasticity, and that bouncy, shiny “glass skin” look people want. Only chemical peels can achieve that deep, layered exfoliation. But aftercare is crucial. If you tell me you’re a picker or you love to sunbathe, you’re not a candidate. I just did a peel five days ago and every little flake that came off made me grateful—I love watching that old sun damage peel away. Nothing else can achieve that. Not CO2. Not resurfacing lasers. Only a chemical peel gives you that elasticity and healthy bounce between the collagen fibers.

Not all chemical peels are the same. Walk me through the different options in terms of types, depth, and intensity.

Chemical peels are fully customizable. We have peels that don’t even cause peeling at home—they work on the top surface and sink in to give you glow without the downtime. We have peels we can combine with microneedling to give you resurfacing and peeling at the same time.

Then there are medium-strength peels that give you a few days of peeling. And finally, we have deeper peels that reach into the unseen layers of the skin to pull everything out and rebuild a healthy barrier. These deep peels remove unhealthy tissue—squamous cells, basal cells, damaged cells—and send a signal for new, healthy tissue to grow.

Your downtime and your lifestyle matter. If you’re planning a big hike or marathon a few days after treatment, it’s not the right time for a peel. The aftercare is a lot. We’re here for you, but you have to protect the fresh “baby skin” that gets revealed. Sunblock is non-negotiable, and using barrier-protecting products like Cicalfate or Ceramide-rich healing products is crucial.

For your clients that are 40s, 50s what factors do you assess before choosing that first chemical peel—sun history, past treatments, pigment, or using tools like the Fitzpatrick scale?

All of the above. The first peel is especially important because I need to understand your skin history. Fitzpatrick type isn’t always obvious—someone with sensitive, higher-Fitzpatrick skin may not present that way visually.

I need to know your skin history and medical background:

• What's your family’s skin type/history

• What you’ve used in the past

• Whether you keloid

• Whether you have melasma

• Whether you’ve used retinol or retinoids

• Whether you’re using drying agents

• Whether your skin has been prepped properly

There are peels made specifically for higher Fitzpatrick types and others made for the lowest types. Your first peel won’t be your strongest peel because I need to see how your skin handles it. Maybe you respond better to a TCA. Maybe salicylic is the right path. Customization is key. Allergies matter, sensitivities matter, and nothing is “silly” to disclose—everything matters in choosing the right peel.

How do you compare the cost and longevity of regular maintenance peels versus more advanced peels that are higher cost?

If cost is the main concern and someone wants more value, I might suggest combining microneedling with a chemical peel for more impact. But I don’t customize treatments based solely on budget.

If your skin needs a deeper peel that costs a little more, I’d rather you save your money and do the right treatment once—because doing lighter peels that aren’t right for your skin will feel like a waste. If the lighter peel is perfect for your skin and you just want brightening, great. If your skin needs something deeper once a year, also great. It’s about the right treatment, not the cheapest one.

What is the pricing for your most common chemical peels?

Chemical peels start at $60 and go up to $350. I have one peel that is $550—more in the Jessner peel range. It all depends on what your skin needs.

If a $60 peel is perfect for you because you already have great texture and just want brightening, then that’s wonderful. If once-a-year deep peels serve you better, that’s wonderful too. The right peel is the one that benefits your skin.

We touched on downtime earlier, but recap what affects downtime—skin condition, peel type, lifestyle?

Lifestyle is the biggest factor. In Colorado, we’re active year-round. Hiking, skiing, running—sun exposure isn’t seasonal here. Cold weather doesn’t protect you from UV.

After a peel, your “baby skin” will burn easily.

So, basic after chemical peel protocol is:

• No saunas or hot tubs

• No sweating workouts

• No hot springs

• No skiing

• No hiking

• No major sun exposure…for at least two weeks.

After that, SPF becomes your job every single day. Whether you do maintenance visits or a once-a-year deep peel, the downtime rules are the same. You cannot get a peel and ski the next day.

There are a lot of at-home chemical peel products online. What’s your advice about DIY peels or influencer-promoted at-home products?

This is a controversial take for me. I love that we’re educating ourselves and sharing skincare—it used to be hush-hush and now women talk about everything. There are some at-home options I like.

But I also see products getting pushed by influencers who are paid to promote them, and the consumer doesn’t always understand the limitations or true results. The reason these at-home products can be sold to anyone is because the FDA determined they don’t elicit enough change in tissue to cause damage—but that also means they don’t do much.

If you want medically backed science and real results, you need a professional. An AHA peel from Walmart won’t hurt you, but it’s also not changing your skin. Coffee scrubs on your feet? Go for it. But anything meant to create true change—stem cells, vitamin C, medical-grade ingredients—should be used under professional guidance. Just because a product uses a hot word doesn’t mean it delivers a real result.

What do you love most about chemical peels?

Chemical peels make you look beautiful, but more importantly, they support true skin health. Many of us—myself included—grew up in the sun with zero education about sunscreen. That damage is still sitting deep in the skin and resurfaces as we age. Those collagen and elasticity bands break, the tissue loses strength, and old melanocyte damage starts coming up.

Chemical peels are not just cosmetic. They’re restorative. They help correct old damage and strengthen the skin moving forward. That’s why I love them so much.

Let's get your chemical peel treatment booked! We do a consultation before every service to make sure it's right for your skin and goals. But if you want to ask more questions before you decide on a treatment, book your complimentary consultation.