Last weekend I visited a local cosmetic dermatologist I hadn’t seen before. My goal was to simply have a consultation to discuss my sun damage concerns, but, since time allowed, I went ahead and had a treatment. You might think this was for my face, but, thanks to almost neurotic sunscreen use since I was 14 years old, my face isn’t too sun damaged. My arms are a different story!

Since returning from vacation I’ve been paying more attention to how sun-damaged my arms are looking. The tiny freckles are part of how my skin responds to sun exposure even with high-SPF products (remember, no sunscreen is 100% effective at blocking the sun’s rays) and aren’t cause for concern. What bothers me are the larger, more mottled brown patches that only seem to be getting worse with age. It was time to do something about it!

After ruling out a series of Fraxel Refine treatments (I didn’t want to pony up $2,000 for a series of five, though from what I understand that’s a reasonable price), I decided to have the Vi Peel done. This peel, which was the only one this particular dermatologist offers, is a blend of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), tretinoin, salicylic acid, phenol, and vitamin C. According to the dermatologist, she no longer offers other types of peels because her patients have been thrilled with this one. I didn’t explore whether that’s true or not, but I was eager to see what the Vi peel could do for my sun-abused arms.

Before the peel commenced, I had to read and sign a consent form—standard practice before doctor-performed cosmetic procedures—but that’s where I paused to ask a question before signing on the dotted line.  

What stuck out was the statement that by signing the consent form for the Vi Peel I was waiving my right to request information about the percentage of active ingredients in the peel. Were they serious? I asked the dermatologist about this and she said yes, this form must be signed or they cannot administer the peel. I asked if she would tell me the percentages off the record and her response was that the company that sells the peel (Kalil Medical Products) won’t tell her, either, citing “proprietary information.” Imagine that!

OK, I understand the proprietary portion, but come on! This is a professional peel that’s only sold to and authorized for use by physicians or nurses. Next I asked what they’d do if a patient had an adverse reaction that required medical attention—would the company divulge the percentages then? She wasn’t sure, but suspected they would, and of course she mentioned that none of her patients had experienced a negative reaction to the peel. I didn’t feel pressured to go on, but I was stuck: either I consent or walk away.

Reluctantly, I signed the form. My logic, and mind you my brain was running low on caffeine and it was early in the morning, was that this is being done on my arms, not my face. Given the company-mandated subterfuge at hand, I probably wouldn’t have gone through with the peel if it was being applied to my face.

As for the procedure itself, it was quick and, true to claim, painless. My arms were cleansed, and then the liquid peel was poured onto disposable gauze pads and stroked in a series of three successive layers over each arm, from my wrist to the bicep area. The odor was, well, it didn’t smell good. I can’t imagine having this applied right beneath my nose, and because the peel is left on skin, you smell it for hours afterward.

Once the peel had been applied, I was given detailed post-care instructions and sent home. The peel needs to be left undisturbed for at least four hours after being applied, so I didn’t shower or apply skin-care products to my arms until later that day. Since then, I’ve either been wearing long sleeves (not the best idea at the height of summer) or slathering on sunscreen so as not to undo the eventual results.

I was told that by day three I’d notice peeling as if my skin was recovering from sunburn. So far that hasn’t happened; my skin feels tighter, has a subtle sheen, and looks a bit tan (that’s common). It has also been itchy, but nightly application of Paula’s Choice Slip Into Silk Body Lotion provides welcome relief.

By day seven I’m supposed to see the full effect, meaning signs of sun damage should be noticeably diminished. That’s exactly what I hope to see but whether or not I’ll go back for another Vi Peel remains to be seen. They’re pricey ($250 per treatment) but if the results are impressive enough I could see having it done again. I’ll comment on my progress soon, so be sure to check back! In the meantime, have you had the Vi Peel? Other peels? Did you like the results? Share your experience with us!

I got this email from a dear friend whom I’ve known for almost 30 years. We practically grew up together and she is completely familiar with my books, Beauty Bulletins, and she even uses my products. She wrote:

HI Paula: I saw this “Garnier” product that is a Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller that you can massage on your neck, etc. that tightens the skin. What do you know about this product as I do like Garnier products. You are the expert.
Love, Tonya

Well at least she was kind enough to say I was the expert, but really, how could she of all people ask a question about whether or not a Garnier product could lift her 55-year-old neck tighter then it is? I was flabbergasted. Could cosmetic advertising even seduce my extended family? I guess so.

I emailed her back the following:

Before I answer, tell me what you’re curious about. Why are you asking me? This will be really helpful for me.

She then emailed me this:

I wanted to use it to tighten under my jaw line and neck if it were to help at all. I am also looking into doing Thermage on my neck and face for $2,400 as I talked with my dermatologist about it 2 weeks ago. I thought before I did that I could try this Garnier product for tightening. It has beech tree extract, vitamin A, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids if that helps.

I was dejected and despondent, all that work and one ad can take a wise woman concerned about her appearance and make her as vulnerable as a child. I responded and said there isn’t a tree of any kind, any vitamin or fatty acid that can tighten a millimeter of skin. There isn’t a cosmetic product on earth from any cosmetic company that can replace cosmetic corrective procedures. The claims are not real, they are illusions. And by the way, I would not do Thermage I would do Fraxel, the results are far more impressive.

I’ll get over this. It happens all the time. I should have a dime from every woman who wonders if such-and-such a product can live up to its claims, by now I could have bought Hawaii! I just thought my family and friends were different. I’m more sympathetic then I sound. Once in a while, depending on the ad, I experience a nano-second of doubt, wondering, can it be true, I wonder what the research is about. We’re all vulnerable to some extent. Watching the changes on your face is a bummer. The promises even though they can’t lift up your skin they can momentarily lift up your hopes. The results for me is that it gives me that much more motivation to keep doing what I do! And after all, my friend did check with me first, though sometimes she strays, it’s never for too long when the reality shows up in the mirror.

I’m not one to keep my beauty secrets a secret. Why bother. It just creates a distance between women and clouds reality. If your boobs are fake so what? From any perspective plastic surgery or cosmetic corrective procedures such as Botox, dermal injections, or laser resurfacing, should not be shocking or embarrassing. They are just choices like having sex, going on vacations, or dieting, and how much you do or don’t do is up to you.

For me, because I’m in the public eye more then most, I also don’t want people guessing at what I’ve had done. Sort of like we all do to celebrities, wondering what happened to Meg Ryan’s lips or Melanie Griffin’s face, or Penelope Cruz’s nose, or the fact that no celebrity or model over the age of 40 can raise their eyebrows (that’s Botox). And I surely don’t want to mislead people thinking that my face looks like it does simply because I use my products.

So for the record, I had breast implants in 1984 (I have not had them redone, they are the same ones and still look pretty good), a tummy tuck in 2006 (that looks great but I had serious complications after the surgery was over), dermal injections (twice now since 2000), Botox (every 6 or 7 months for the past several years), Thermage (that was not worth the trouble), IPL (about 4 times, which worked pretty well for brown skin discolorations and red surfaced capillaries), and FRAXEL (which has been very good for smoothing and firming).

As I do more, which I’m sure I will, I’ll let you know how it goes and why I made the choices and decisions I’ve made. Mostly I’m trying to avoid plastic surgery for as long as possible, that step seems truly scary as there are just too many examples of where people just don’t look the same and if anything they look really weird or other-worldly.