The big reveal

From the 15-minute lunch break fix to intensive renewing routines, face peels have undergone a makeover. Emma McCarthy takes the acid test

SAY the words “skin peel” and the first thing that springs to mind is the angry, vermilioncoloured complexion of a post-chemical peel Samantha Jones circa 2002. But a lot has changed since the Sex and the City horror show that saw its most uninhibited character attending Carrie’s book launch under the protection of a poorly concealing veil.

Nowadays the process of going for a peel needn’t mean forking out hundreds of pounds on Harley Street for the privilege of hiding under your duvet for days. Skin peels have undergone a facelift. In fact, you can now you can squeeze one into just 15 minutes mid-shopping trip.

“The most common misconception about skin peels is that they are bad for your skin and result in excessive redness and flaking, meaning you will need a few weeks off work while the skin repairs itself,” says Fatma Sheheen, founder of cosmeceuticals brand Skin Design London and the brains behind the innovative new Skin Peel Bar which has just landed on the second floor of Fortnum & Mason. “The new generation of peels means a superficial exfoliation, which helps to keep skin healthy and glowing without the downtime.”

With a “Freshlift” menu of express treatments, Sheheen’s 15-minute peels are designed to provide fast, weekly complexion maintenance whether you’re on your lunch break or stopping by to pick up a jar of marmalade. There are currently two peels to choose from: the brightening Cherry Peel is a powerful, rejuvenating solution that tackles pigmentation and uneven skin tone while kick-starting collagen production; the Pink Rock Rose Peel is a gentler option for sensitive types and face-peel virgins that uses a combination of fruitderived enzymes and peptides — in place of glycolic and lactic acids — to dissolve dead cells and speed up renewal while leaving skin deeply hydrated.

Both treatments a re be s p o ke , with ingredient strengths customised to suit

‘The new generation of face peels means healthy, glowing skin — without the downtime’