I’ve been struggling with melasma since my late 20s. Like many millennials, I’ve never been one to shy away from a tanning bed or an opportunity to spend a day baking at the beach. Eventually, the melasma spots caught up with me as they started to look less like cute, oversized freckles and more like dark patches that definitely didn’t belong on my face.
In the years since, I’ve tried just about everything—serums, creams, sunscreens—you name it. I’ve even kept up with extensive in-office treatments, but as you know, there’s a significant amount of downtime attached, and as a busy beauty editor, it’s hard to take time off and hide away to heal. As consistent as I was, I still struggled with melasma, especially during the warmer months of the year. I finally decided that I needed to find a skin-care routine specifically tailored for melasma sufferers such as myself, as well as some sort of in-office treatment that would treat the spots spread across my cheeks with minimal downtime.
Finally, I found something—PCA SKIN Pigment Correct Peel, which is an in-office peel with minimal to no downtime, that works best when paired with the brand’s at-home skin-care routine. Both are intended to work together to improve the appearance of visible discoloration over time. To me, this felt like a no-brainer—I knew I could easily fit this peel into my jam-packed schedule.
After trying it in-office, I was sold: it quick, it tingled slightly and was virtually painless, and has since become my go-to treatment for my melasma and any residual discoloration. It combines multiple peeling agents at lower concentrations to deliver effective results while still being gentle on the skin. Taken together, it lowers irritation and allows for the skin to naturally return to its normal pH post-treatment.
I love that the brand’s at-home routine—Pigment Gel Pro ($130) and Triple Exfoliation Peel Pads ($60)—is easy to incorporate into my skin-care regimen and helps maximize the results of my peel. After cleansing my face, I use the Triple Exfoliation Peel Pads. They gently exfoliate, leaving my skin feeling smoother and more hydrated without causing irritation or redness. Next, I apply Pigment Gel Pro, which has a lightweight formula that works well in both my morning and evening routines. It leaves my skin feeling instantly moisturized while helping visibly reduce the size and intensity of existing dark spots and prevent new ones from forming.
Since I started using these products, I’ve noticed an improvement in the stubborn patches on my cheeks, and my complexion appears brighter overall. I can’t wait to see my dermatologist for my second peel in a few weeks.
