Peel Away the Years

A facial peel is the quickest way to rejuvenate your skin. Take your pick from these four varieties.

If you find yourself looking in the mirror thinking your skin looks sallow and, well, stuck in a rut, get your glow on with an at-home face peel. These are like a professional facial in a jar, only less money, simple to use and easy on your skin. They work by thoroughly exfoliating your face on the surface and beneath the skin to reveal baby-faced freshness. Here, how to pick the treatment that's right for you:

Chemical Peels
Think of these as super-strength cleaners, but without a brush, mop or vacuum in sight. Powerful exfoliants like alpha and beta hydroxy acids use their muscles to slough away dead cells on the surface and deep under the skin.

One to try: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Daily Face Peel is a two-step process. All you do is wipe the first pad over your face, wait two minutes, and then use the second one. Pads are infused with five different skin-friendly acids, including glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, which exfoliate, unclog pores, and stimulate collagen so wrinkles are less noticeable and skin is firm and radiant. The formula is gentle enough to use every day.

Enzyme and Natural Fruit Acid Peels
If your skin has a sensitive side, fruit acid treatments, such as those from apples, pumpkins, or papayas, may be more your style. These don't exfoliate as intensely as alpha and beta hydroxy acids, so skin is less likely to react.

One to try: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is a detoxifying mask that uses pumpkin enzyme to gently dissolve dead cells while stimulating new ones. Other ingredients like vitamin A help protect, nourish and repair the skin. Apply a thin layer to face (avoiding

the eye area), leave on for one to five minutes, and say "hello" to a gorgeous glow. Use once or twice a week.

Oxygen Peels
When blemishes are your nemesis, an oxygen peel can help perfect your complexion. It sounds a little Jetson-esque, but the process is simple. Simply blending hydrogen peroxide and a catalase enzyme creates oxygen

One to try: Philosophy The Oxygen Peel requires some prep work, but the results are worth it. Break open and mix one enzyme capsule with warm water in the enclosed container. Shake well and wait one minute for a gel to form. Apply a thick layer to entire face (don't rinse). Next, apply oxygen foam and leave on one to three minutes before rinsing. The solution exfoliates, smoothes and hydrates to unmask brighter and clearer skin. Use once a week or three days in a row during a breakout.

Microdermabrasion Peel
An uneven terrain is no match for microdermabrasion. Unlike the sandblasting effect the in-office procedure has on your skin, the at-home version paves rough patches by letting you control the level of exfoliation.

One to try: Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System's dual process uses microdermabrasion followed by a chemical peel, leaving no cell unturned. Gingerly rub the derma-crystals into your face for about a minute to rid skin of surface debris. Then apply the activator, which contains chemical exfoliants, including lactic acid, and let it penetrate your skin for a smoother, softer, more even-toned complexion. For best results, use twice a week