Follow-up/Update: Brazilian Peel by AHA!

(Image Credit: http://Sephora.com)

 In my previous Sephora Haul post, I mentioned that I got two vials of the Brazilian Peel, which are good for two applications. 

What the Brazilian Peel is, is a Glycolic Acid in a higher percentage than Glycolic AHA's you may find at the drugstore without a prescription. The Brazilian Peel contains 30% Glycolic Acid, as opposed to the typical 10% you may find in select stores. The Brazilian Peel Kit contains four vials, which is to be used once a week for four weeks. So it is basically, a one month Glycolic treatment.

Ingredients: Gel- Water, Glycolic Acid (and) L-Arginine, Propylene Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea (Açai) Pulp Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance Q-Mag Neutralizer- Water, Magaldrate, Glycerin, Methyl Ethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate.

Glycolic Acid — An alpha hydroxy acid derived from natural sugar cane.

Acai (Euterpe Oleracea Pulp Oil) — Grown wild in the Amazon jungle, the acai berry is rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E – as well as Omegas 3, 6 and 9; it’s an exceptional natural anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the effects of free radicals as it promotes healthy skin.

Magaldrate — a blend of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide that neutralizes acid and draws out impurities.

Still Confused?

A Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from sugar. It is one of the main AHA's found in skincare. Other main AHA's include: Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Etc.

What does an AHA do for your skin? An AHA.. well, is an acid. It will gently peel/exfoliate your uppermost layer of skin, exposing your fresher skin underneath. Using a product with an AHA won't give you a new complexion overnight. It takes commitment, and it means using the product daily for however long you may need it based on your skin. Not everybody needs an AHA, and if you have good radiant skin, it may not be necessary. AHA's best treat rough skin, sundamaged skin, dull/lifeless skin, scarring and mild discoloration. You will find that the AHA will peel away your impurities and reveal a more even, radiant complexion.

Products you may find at the drugstore contain AHA in low to mild concentrations. I own AmLactin (Lactic Acid 12%) and Alpha Hydroxy 10% Enhanced Cream (10% Glycolic Acid) which are suitable to daily use. Like I said, the Brazilian Peel contains 30%, which is why it is meant to be used once a week for four weeks. It is three times as strong as the current products I'm using, so I should be seeing visible results after one use.

My main concern with my skin right now is that I have some scars on my cheeks and forehead from past blemishes. I use an AHA daily, and it does fade them - but it doesn't fade scars very quickly. I'd say it takes almost a month to adequately fade a scar 100%. 

REVIEW: I was very excited to try this product out, and I tried it for the first time on Friday as a part of my daily skincare routine. I cleansed my face as usual, applied my BHA and then applied the Brazilian Peel.

Inside the vial is two side by side gels (one side is white, the other is clear). The directions are to remove the cap and dispense the product into your palm. When the product is extracted, you take your finger and mix the two gels together. Once you start mixing the gels together, you'll almost instantly feel a very warm, heated sensation on your palm. The consistency of the gel isn't very runny or watery like you may think - It's actually somewhat thick and goopy. One the product is mixed, you'll end up with a palm full of a clear, cloudy gel. You must act quickly now and apply it to your face in even strokes. It dries very quickly once it hits your skin, so it's important to get it all on your face before it dries in your hand. After it has been applied, you can't really work with the product much - as it has dried, so don't worry about having it perfectly blended. I only used 1/2 of the vial, as I wanted to get double the use from it. It says on the label to use it all - but I've read that others have saved half and used it at a later time, and it worked fine for them. After a minute or so, I feel a slight burn and throughout the ten minutes you're supposed to leave it on, my skin feels a little tight. After ten minutes, you rinse your face with cool water. After I rinsed my face, my face felt very fresh and clean - just as it would after I would use a cleanser. I applied my Argan Oil as a moisturizer soon after, and had no irritations/burning or sensitivity. 

The following morning, my blemish scars were a less noticeable than the previous day. One scar in particular I was keeping an eye on was a recent scar right above my eyebrow that was a small red blotch. It seemed to have faded to a lighter pink - and I'd say faded by 30-40%. My overall complexion looked great & I had no dry spots. 

I decided to finish the vial that night on my freshly cleansed skin. I mixed the product as usual and felt the same warm sensation on my palm. I smoothed it quickly on my face and this time, I didn't feel the slight burning sensation. I was a bit worried that it wasn't going to be effective. I did though, have the slight tightening feeling throughout the ten minutes. Again, I washed my face with cool water and applied Argan Oil as a moisturizer. 

This morning, I'm very happy with the results. Right away I lifted my bangs and examined the scar above my brow. It's barely noticeable now, and only looks like a slight shadow. I'd say it's 80% gone, and with one more treatment would be 100% gone. Any other minor scars have lightened up a bit. There is one scar on my nose from a past blemish that lightened, but not as much as the scar above my eyebrow. So, it depends on the severity of the scar. My complexion again, is looking good. I don't have any irritations. The only "irritation", if you would even call it an irritation, is I had a small area around my mouth that had either dried up a little or peeled a little. With a quick scrub & a little moisturizer it was gone, with no redness or inflammation.

I'm very happy with the results of this so far. I had expected it to be a little more intense, considering it's called a "peel" and the packaging is a syringe. I'd say this is more like a mask. It does work faster at fading scars, but you shouldn't expect overnight results. It really depends on your individual skin, but for myself, I'm 100% confident in saying that my (minor) scars would be completely gone if I used the full 4 piece set (using each syringe twice). I do think the product is over-priced ($23 for one syringe & $78 for four). I do think it's a good tool to quickly put your skin in better condition if you have a special event coming up.

I have one syringe left, and I will let you know my final opinion about the product once I've used it up!

If you have tried this product, I'd love to know your thoughts in my comments below.