What is it?
A deep herbal peel that's said to regenerate the skin by going deeper than a chemical peel. Used on people with acne, wrinkles, scarring, enlarged pores and those wanting rejuvenated skin. General practitioner Lauren Bramley has been doing it in Hong Kong for about 18 months, but it's been popular in Germany for 15 years.
How can herbs do a better job than chemicals?
Because of the accompanying massage, which increases blood flow and circulation. There's also a slight abrasion of the upper skin layer. Bramley says chemical peels can strip, burn or melt the top layer.
What happens during the peel?
The client is steamed and prepped, then a herb mixture is applied to the forehead, eyes, temples, nose, jaw line and chin, followed by a massage, then a mask is applied and left on for 20 minutes. This may sting a little. The process takes about 45 minutes. People who use retin-A must stop one month before having a green peel. You can also have a peel on your hands to reduce signs of ageing, and on the upper arms, thighs and stomach to improve elasticity.