Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel: the product that made my dull skin glow

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for Beautycounter product swaps linked in this post and this Oliveda AHA + HT Serum is a perfect replacement. Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

Ever since I switched to cleaner skincare products (namely Beautycounter and Colleen Rothschild), my skin has been in pretty great shape. Like any skincare routine, it took a little while to notice a difference but over time (and especially after months and years), my skin definitely improved with a consistent skincare regimen. I’ve gotten more compliments on my skin in the last few years than ever before in my life, and that’s pretty amazing considering I’m almost 40 and have two young kids!

There is one product that I noticed had an immediate difference when I started using it: Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing Peel (this Oliveda AHA + HT serum is a great alternative). The first time I used it, I could tell my skin was softer, brighter and smoother. I used it for years, and then switched to a Retinol Oil for a little while (I’m a skincare junkie and love to try new products). But when we got pregnant with our second child, I switched back to the Overnight Resurfacing Peel since it’s a safe (and SUPER effective) alternative to retinol. And now that I’m breastfeeding, I’m still using and LOVING it. Actually, I’m wondering why I ever stopped using it.

Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel Review

What does a resurfacing peel do?

First, let’s talk about what a resurfacing peel actually does. While it sounds like it may be a product that you “peel off” your skin, that’s not actually the case. A resurfacing peel has active ingredients in it that help your skin cells turnover, which results in brighter, tighter skin. The peels like this are are referred to as “chemical exfoliators” because they penetrate the top layer of skin (epidermis) and encourage new collagen growth in the inner layers of skin (dermis) to reduce wrinkles and promote elastic, healthy skin. (source)

Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel Key Ingredients

• Glycolic Acid – This improves skin texture, resurfaces, and exfoliates.
• Lactic Acid – This stimulates skin cell turnover which results in a smoother, more radiant complexion.
• Citric Acid – This helps refine and renew the skin.
• Arginine & Fatty Acids – These soothe and nourish the skin (perfect when paired with the more active acids).

What acids are in the Beautycounter Resurfacing Peel?

Most acids used in skin care are either alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs). They are effective in improving the appearance of the skin by breaking down dead skin cells on the surface of skin, like a chemical peel. The Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel uses a combination of acids, some that resurface skin, and others that soothe, hydrate, and protect skin. So, it’s an AHA/BHA Peel.

It also contains malic acid, phytic acid, and ascorbic acid to help gently resurface. Rather than hyaluronic acid, it contains sodium hyaluronate. Why do they use that instead? The molecule size! Sodium hyaluronate has a much smaller molecular size so it can more easily penetrate skin. This is a really helpful article about the difference between hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate, if you’re interested!

Benefits of the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel

• Improves skin texture
• Promotes cell turnover for a smoother complexion
• Boosts radiance
• Minimizes the appearance of pores
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines
• Reduces appearance of dark spots and age spots
• Evens skin tone
• Improves acne (as skin cells turn over, it will be easier to get gunk out of pores, which can lead to breakouts)

How to use the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel

You’ll only want to use the peel at night, and since it contains active ingredients, you may want to start by using it every other night to allow your skin to adjust.

• First, wash your face to remove dirt and makeup. I like to use a cleansing balm to wash my face at night.
• Follow with your “prep” step. This is typically a toner, but I use an essence for my dry skin.
• Next, apply 1-2 pumps of the Overnight Peel into your hand and gently spread a thin layer across your clean face. Be sure to apply it to your face, neck and décolletage. Applying product all the way down to your décolletage is often neglected, but it’s so important since that area shows signs of aging too!
• Let the peel absorb and dry completely, for 3-5 minutes, before you apply your moisturizer. It’s normal for your skin to tingle a bit, especially when you first start using the product, but it’s safe for all skin types. I use Beautycounter’s Supreme Cream as my night-time moisturizer, but if your skin is less dry than mine, you may like this Adaptive Moisturizer better.

Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel results

Here’s what I’ve noticed about my skin since adding the peel in:

• It’s smoother
• My pores are smaller
• Skin tone is more even and brighter
• It’s SO soft – I have to stop myself from touching my face!
• Acne scars that I thought would be lifelong blemishes are gone – they lightened up in about a WEEK
• The deep wrinkle between my eyebrows has lessened

Beautycounter Peel Before and After

I even think my skin looks just as good without makeup now as it does wearing makeup. That alone is pretty amazing considering I had horrible breakouts for years.

Before

Here’s a photo before I started using the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel (without foundation, post-workout, no filter added). I mean, it looks fine, right? This was a few years before I started taking my skincare seriously.

After

And here’s a photo (right after washing my face and moisturizing), again without any foundation or concealer, after using the Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel consistently. I particularly notice the acne scars around my lips and on my chin are gone and the sun spots on my nose have lightened. And look how flawless my makeup looks now that my skin is so healthy!

The Overnight Peel will give you quick results vs. some of the other Beautycounter products that take more time to notice a visible change.

A few tips:

• Use the peel in place of your regular serum a few times a week. It’s considered a “treatment” in the “cleanse, prep, treat, hydrate” routine all good regimens should include. And you don’t need to double up on the treatment each night! Just use your regular serum in the morning.
• Skip your face oil the night you use the peel. It won’t hurt anything but some oils may lessen its effectiveness.
• Do not skip a moisturizer afterwards!!
• If the tingling is intense, don’t use the peel again for 3-5 days. You can gradually increase use, using the peel up to 5x a week. If you have extra sensitive skin, you could do a patch test as well.
• Leave the peel on overnight (don’t rinse!) and just complete your usual morning skincare routine.
• Note: You should always be wearing sunscreen, but you especially need to wear it daily if you’re using this product. I love Beautycounter’s sheer face sunscreen and wear it every day under my makeup.
• Your skin won’t actually peel, nor do you peel the product off. It’s the no-peel peel!

Is the Beautycounter Overnight Peel safe for pregnancy?

In short, yes (it’s what I used while pregnant, and I’m currently using it while I’m breastfeeding). It goes without saying because it’s a Beautycounter product (all Beautycounter products are pregnancy-safe), but this peel is a MUCH safer option than most anti-aging serums and peels on the market, including retinol or Retin-A. Beautycounter tests all of their products with safety in mind, especially for those who might be extra vulnerable, like pregnant women and babies. Of course, check with your doctor since every pregnancy is different, but Retinol is on their Never List for a reason. And the Beautycounter Overnight Peel does not contain retinol. (Your OBGYN will tell you to not use Retinol or Retin-A during pregnancy!)

The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is also formulated without synthetic fragrances, PEGs, or formaldehyde-based preservatives that are often be found in other peels. Many peels use high levels of one or two resurfacing acids which may cause irritation. Since this peel uses a combination of resurfacing acids and soothing acids, it improves cell turnover to improve skin texture while still being gentle on the skin. Basically, you don’t have to trade off to get the benefits you want!

More Skin Resurfacing Products

The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is effective on its own, but it works even better when paired with other skincare products. I’ve found that when I use a resurfacing product like the Peel one night, my skin needs to be nourished and hydrated (I call this recovery), the next day. I rotate my resurfacing products with hydrating, soothing products like a face oil, and my skin has never looked better. This is called skin cycling, which you can read more about in this blog post.

Once a week, I use Beautycounter’s AHA Face Mask for deep exfoliation and smoothing. It’s a super strong product, which is why I only use it once a week.

I also use peel pads once a week. I switch between iS Clinical Peel pads (more aggressive – review here) and the Colleen Rothschild peel pads, which are better for sensitive skin.

When I am not pregnant or breastfeeding, I use the Colleen Rothschild Retinol Supreme Night Oil. This contains vitamin C, so it’s a total powerhouse. It helps improve skin texture and cell turnover, while also brightening dark spots. And it’s much better for sensitive skin than a typical retinol since this is in oil form. This is the first retinol I’ve actually liked!

The bottom line

The Overnight Peel is a MUST HAVE in my skincare routine and it’s a great addition to any skincare routine and it pairs beautifully with the All Bright C Serum in the morning!

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If you’ve tried the Beautycounter overnight resurfacing peel, I’d love to hear what you think! And if you don’t have a skincare routine you love, fill out this quick questionnaire and I’ll help you!

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