Review: Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel
Today I want to chat about my all time favorite skincare product of my entire life, the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel. It is the ONE product I would take with me on a desert island if I had to choose, and quite frankly I’m amazed that I haven’t written about it yet! If you’ve followed me for a bit, you know that safer skincare is my J-A-M but I will tell you right now, this is the best product I’ve ever put on my face, safer or otherwise. It can compete with any conventional product you throw my way, and I feel confident that it can help you too even if you aren’t totally on board with the idea of safer skincare!
I usually have two types of people that approach me with skincare questions 1) they’re all in and ready to switch over to safer products or 2) they’re highly suspicious of the idea of “clean beauty” (and rightly so, because this industry is rampant with greenwashing and false claims and fear mongering) and want products that WORK.
The good news is that the Overnight Resurfacing Peel is both safer and effective. You get to check both things off your list with this one. Come sit down and let me tell you a tale of this product I lovingly refer to as “magical unicorn tears”.
These Countertime before/afters were also taken with consistent use of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel every other night.
What is it?
Have you ever noticed that sometimes your skin might feel rough or dry to the touch even though you have skincare products you use on a regular basis? There are a ton of reasons why you might be feeling like your skin is DULL AF (age, stress, and other environmental factors) but essentially what is happening is dead skin cells are building up over time which can lead to clogged pores, rough texture, flaking, blackheads, blemishes, and just skin that feels like it’s lost its GLOW.
Raise your hand if you want to see:
Improved skin texture and radiance
softer, smoother, and glowing skin
more even tone
pore size improvement
IS YOUR HAND RAISED YET?!!
This was me about 2 years ago, I was seeing really amazing improvements in my skin with a new safer regimen, but I was still feeling like my skin was lacking that really healthy glow I wanted to see - it wasn’t until I started using the peel at night that I finally felt like my skin could breathe! I kid you not, the morning after my first use, I woke up SHOOK about how soft my skin felt…I think the words used were “it feels like a baby’s bottom!”.
The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is the product that can solve all of the above potential problems and then some. There are generally two types of exfoliation that are appropriate to use for skincare, one is mechanical (think jojoba beads in a cleanser, or a soft silicone scrubber, or even a microfiber cloth) that will essentially physically slough off dead skin. The other is chemical. Don’t get scared by the word chemical, basically it means that the process of sloughing dead skin cells will happen with the right mixture of safer ingredients applied to the skin to work their magic. Oftentimes we need BOTH forms in just the right amounts to maintain healthy glowing skin.
What does it do?
Essentially what the peel does is promotes cellular turnover for a smoother complexion. It also boosts clarity and radiance, and leaves the skin feeling softer, smoother, and brighter which are all amazing things in my book!
How does it work?
Through a combination of plant based acids that both resurface and soothe and nourish the skin, the peel does two major things:
1) renews the epidermal cells by removing dead skin cells from the stratum corneum (the top layer of the skin
2) while removing the top rough layer of dead skin cells, it also is focused on soothing and rehydrating the skin in conjunction so you aren’t left with any dryness while the process does its thing
What are the ingredients?
As a quick aside, all of Beautycounter’s products are formulated without the use of any ingredient on our Never List. These ingredients are deemed to be potentially harmful to human health, and therefore excluded from all of our products.
For a full ingredient list of what can be found in the Overnight Resurfacing Peel, check HERE, but for now let’s focus on the main stars of the show.
The Acids Active in Resurfacing:
Glycolic Acid - which improves skin texture, resurfaces, and exfoliates
Lactic Acid - which stimulates cell renewal promoting a smoother, radiant-looking complexion
Citric Acid - which helps refine and renew skin
The Acids Active in Soothing & Nourishing:
• Arginine & Fatty Acids - which aid in conditioning and moisturizing skin
Why is it safer?
I briefly mentioned the Never List above and how it guides the formulation at Beautycounter. In specific to the peel, you can rest assured that this product is formulated without synthetic fragrances, PEGs, and formaldehyde-based preservatives that may be found in other similar products.
In conventional chemical peel products, you might also see the use of some resurfacing acids that can typically cause irritation to the skin. The Beautycounter peel uses a really unique combination of resurfacing and soothing acids to ensure that the peel is both safe and effective, minimizing the likelihood of irritation.
I often get the question about is the peel safe for use during pregnancy/breastfeeding - you can read the full response to this question here, but essentially all of Beautycounter’s products are formulated with this vulnerable population in mind. We carefully screen and assess each of our ingredients for 23 distinct safety endpoints, including reproductive toxicity. However, since everyone is different, I’d encourage you to look over the ingredients with your health care provider if you have specific questions about anything. I did and would continue to use any and all Beautycounter products during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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How does if fit into a regimen?
I like to think of my skincare routine (cleanser, prep step, treat step, and protect step) as my basic skin nutrition - these four products (five if you count your eye cream) are the foundational building blocks of healthy skin. The Overnight Resurfacing Peel (along with a few other strategic products) are like the supplements of our skincare routine. Adding these key players into your routine results in THRIVING HAPPY SKIN. Above and beyond the basics, it supports vibrancy and glow. Here are some basics on how to incorporate this product into ANY routine, regardless of what brand or line you’re using!
Use this product at night only. It is designed to stay on overnight. It can increase photosensitivity, so make sure you’re using sunscreen in the first few weeks during the day after you start using (some people won’t have any issues at all, but I like to mention this!)
Use this product every other night in place of your treat step product. So generally on a peel night you’ll cleanse, prep the skin with your toner or essence, then apply the peel (1-2 pumps). over your entire face (take care to keep out of the eyes). Let it completely dry (3-5 minutes), and then add your nightly moisturizer on top. Cream/lotion type moisturizers work best vs. a facial oil on top. Then you’ll go to sleep!
In the morning, do your AM routine as usual.
Special Considerations/FAQs
Who is it for?
The peel is ideal for anyone concerned with dull skin or uneven texture!
It is appropriate for all skin types, however if you are using a prescription based skin treatment, you may want to consult with your doctor first before using.
If you have dry skin, you may want to start by using the peel once a week, and slowly working up to every other night. Make sure you applying moisturizer day and night to ensure proper hydration.
If you have sensitive skin, I definitely recommend a patch test (usually along your jawline) BEFORE you use the product on a large part of your face. Realistically, I recommend everyone, regardless of skin sensitivity patch test first!
Does it actually peel off your skin?
Nope! The name peel can sound misleading, however, this product does not result in a physical peeling off of your skin or the product. The peel will absorb overnight, and will “peel” the dead skin cells off the surface of the skin resulting in super soft and smooth skin when you wake up. Typically people will feel or see results even after the first use!
Is there other products it works best with?
Yes! I highly recommend pairing the peel with your unique regimen, but I have seen BEST results using it paired with its daytime counterpart the All Bright C Serum. You can check out my review on this product as well for more information!
So there you have it friends, the lowdown on my favorite product of all time. Using the peel in conjunction with the Countertime line has literally CHANGED MY SKIN. I have a more even, soft complexion. Pore size has decreased, texture has improved, my skin feels like it’s glowing from the inside, and because that outer layer of dead skin cells has been sloughed, I feel like my skin is better able to use the products that I utilize in my routine that much better! It truly is a magical product and I couldn’t recommend it more! As always, shoot me an email at jess@jessgaertner.com if you have any questions and I’m happy to help!