A Licensed Esthetician's Guide to Chemical Peels & Enzyme Exfoliation Treatments

With close to two decades of experience in the esthetics, Morgan Cameron, Licensed Esthetician and Owner & Founder of Enlightened Beauty, is a chemical peel aficionado and all-around skin guru through and through. 

“If you are someone that is thinking about taking the first steps towards transforming your skin, fall and winter are the best time to do it. Even though you can do skin procedures year round, there’s less on your plate if you're doing it in the cooler months when it comes to pre and post-procedure care. In my world, September 7th marks the first day of peel season! Knowing that, you probably won’t be surprised that chemical peels and enzyme exfoliation are my favorite treatments for the fall and winter! It’s also important to note that pre and post care is still really important when doing any skin treatment but definitely when it comes to those two treatments since they are more aggressive.” - Morgan Cameron, Licensed Esthetician and Owner & Founder of Enlightened Beauty

“I love chemical peels for so many reasons, they really help to exfoliate the skin, lift pigment, kill acne bacteria, refine acne scarring, you name it. Peels are a little more aggressive and go deeper into the dermis to create more of a controlled wound.”

"During a chemical peel, the solution is used to remove the outermost layers of skin to improve texture, scarring, acne, and slow the appearance of aging skin."

Before & after image of chemical peel treatments courtesy of Morgan Cameron & Enlightened Beauty

“If I have a client that doesn’t want to jump straight into a chemical peel, I may recommend an enzyme exfoliation treatment. Enzymes work to specifically break down the keratin protein on the skin and have anti-inflammatory properties to balance your skins pH and bring it back to life. Enzyme treatments are for all skin types, especially our on the go clients who are looking for a quick fix for surface skin concerns."

"Enzyme exfoliation treatments are a great alternative option for someone that’s a little weary of doing a deep treatment. With an enzyme exfoliation treatment, the enzymes are really going to work on the surface of the skin, even though it’s not as aggressive, you still will see results with enzymes.”

Before & after image of enzyme exfoliation treatments courtesy of Morgan Cameron & Enlightened Beauty

“By the time you come into Enlightened Beauty, I would say 90% of my clients need peels. The reason for that is because we want results and we want them as fast as we can get them while keeping the health and integrity of the skin at the forefront. In my experience, peels are really the best and fastest way to get results.” 

“On the other hand, enzyme exfoliation treatments are really good if you’re doing a treatment in-between your regular chemical peels or maybe you have an event coming up and you don't want as much downtime as a chemical peel brings. I steer my clients towards enzyme treatments in those two scenarios.

An enzyme exfoliation treatment might also be a good alternative to a chemical peel if you have very reactive and sensitized skin. You can have a spectrum of enzymes that can range from little less aggressive to more aggressive, so having those options are great if you have a client with a compromised barrier and we can’t do anything more aggressive and intense like a chemical peel.” 

“Additionally, some clients are nervous about peels so if you are hesitant, we can start you with an enzyme treatment versus peel right away so you can dip your toe in the water and know what you're getting into before throwing you into a full peel. 

At the end of the day, everyone’s skin is different. At Enlightened Beauty, we create custom tailored plans for your skin in its current state and your long term skin goals.”

“It’s important to note that pre and post care is still really important when doing any skin treatment but definitely when it comes to more aggressive treatments like chemical peels and enzyme exfoliations.

I have been recommending RescueMD DNA Repair Complex post-procedure for the initial recovery phase, in-between treatments and in their daily regimen afterwards. 

Sometimes after specific treatments, we'll use it in the treatment room immediately post procedure but mostly it’s really about home care. My clients use DNA Repair Complex post-procedure at both morning and night. In my practice, it’s taken the place of a recovery balm when paired with a gentle moisturizer. 

DNA Repair Complex is formulated with lapachol, a patent-pending ingredient, which is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compound that helps slows down the reparative process at the DNA level making the skin heal more efficiently and with less errors so you have less redness, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. 

In addition to their hero ingredient, lapachol, the formula contains antioxidants that protect against free radical damage, moisturizers to help protect the skin’s barrier, and collaxyl peptides which help to stimulate collagen and elastin in the skin. All the ingredients come together to provide a healthy environment for skin to function at its best and look its best.” 

"After my client has fully healed post-procedure, I’ll have them continue to use DNA Repair Complex at night before they use their moisturizer so they can support the DNA repair processes. This step is especially important if my client is someone that is going to need 6+ treatments—having DNA Repair Complex in your regimen will continue to keep the skin strong and healthy."

Want to see more from Morgan and Enlightened Beauty? Watch our Instagram Live with Morgan and Ami Mallon, our VP of Brand Development and Medical Education at RescueMD here and comment on the post if you have questions! 

Morgan Cameron is the founder behind Enlightened Beauty in Sacramento, CA. Morgan’s dream has always been to share her passion for helping people feel beautiful in their own skin. Morgan created Enlightened Beauty in early 2014 after my passion for makeup led me to become a licensed esthetician. 

Morgan has been in the beauty industry for over 17 years working for brands and companies such as Nordstrom, Bare Essentials, Too Faced Cosmetics, YSL, and Armani. Since becoming a licensed esthetician, Morgan has worked at several high-end spas and beauty/wax bars in Sacramento before moving to Huntington Beach and working in a waxing boutique.

After deciding to move back to Sacramento, Morgan knew it was time to use all her acquired expertise to launch Enlightened Beauty. Morgan’s focus is not only on helping people feel beautiful in their own skin, but also to offer high-quality skin and beauty products that are always cruelty-free and frequently vegan.

Morgan and her team of skin + body experts at Enlightened Beauty treat the skin as a whole system and talk not only about what’s being used topically but also about what you are putting into your body that could be contributing to the underlying problem. Morgan is also a certified holistic health and wellness coach through Integrative Nutrition and feels there is a direct correlation between mind, body, and soul.

Stay up to date with Morgan and the Enlightened Beauty team on Instagram and check out her website to book a treatment or a virtual skincare consultation online! You can also purchase RescueMD DNA Repair Complex and Restorative Lip Treatment in person at Enlightened Beauty or on her online store.