Who Remembers the 2001 Golden Globes?

Travel back with me to a time when Nokia was the cellphone brand of choice, when pant zippers were no longer than 7.9 inches and when we were at peak Sex and the City obsession. For those of you who experienced the moment in real time, you might recall the four SaTC women attended the 2001 Golden Globes because, well, they were up for a billion awards. Actually four. But it felt like a billion.

Kim Cattrall was (rightfully) nominated for Best Supporting Actress. By this time, all fashion-bedazzled eyes were on these four women when they showed up on a red carpet, because they were always perfection. So when Kim Cattrall showed up looking a little more flushed than usual, the gossips started chattering about Cattrall squeezing in a chemical peel that day, and having the whole thing on a public stage accidentally.

Look, I hate to admit how long ago 2001 was because frankly it feels like yesterday. But it’s a drinking-age adult ago. We have to admit that a lot was different back then. And while you could give a wink and a nod to having these sorts of treatments, there was heavy judgement if there were visible affects from it. So Cattrall was shamed. And I was groomed to believe chemical peels were bad news to be avoided. But like I said, a lot has changed since 2001.

Let’s Talk About AlphaRet Peels

There are a wide variety of chemical peels ranging from light micropeels with lactic acid to deep TCA peels. Dr. Wooten has a great blog post that goes into detail about the benefits of chemical peels and the precautions you should take before and after treatment. I’m going to share my experience with you. If you’re interested in a chemical peel, Dr. Wooten’s post is a must-read.

My first treatment was in December, with four total over the course of several months. I was looking for a simple way to brighten up my ruddy, winter complexion and the team at Beleza suggested the Alpharet Peel combined with the A-Team Duo skin care offered by SkinBetter. My immediate thought was, “I wonder what my recovery time will be like.” I was picturing Ms. Cattrall and her scarlet face, thinking I would have to hide from public for a few days after treatment while my face returned to its usual alabaster. Before I could even ask, the Beleza team assured me that this particular peel was quite mild and, while I would need to be careful about my sun exposure, the recovery time would be minimal. I could come in the morning, receive my treatment and walk out of the office without any concerns.

We started each treatment by removing my makeup. Then we did a little dermaplaning, which is a simple process of using a fine razor to gently exfoliate and sweep away dead skin and fine hairs. Then came the peel. In the images here, you can see the peel is painted on with a brush. We kept the solution on my skin for a few minutes. And then the peel was removed with a gentle cleanser that helped to neutralize the peel solution. Finally, we moisturized. The end result was an immediate glowy, dewy skin like I had never had before!

The longer-term effects were that my skin more efficiently absorbed moisturizer, my foundation went on more evenly and my skin appeared fresh and bright, even in the dead of PIttsburgh’s winter. See below for a selfie I took in my car immediately following my second treatment! You will notice that my skin doesn’t even appear unusually flushed.

My experiences with Beleza have been consistently positive. I am always fully informed about what the procedure or treatment is like and the best course of care after. I love working with an entire office of women who always make me feel comfortable and cared for. After the 2001 Golden Globes, I assumed I would never try a chemical peel. But I am so delighted with my experience at Beleza. 10/10 would recommend!

Learn more about the other treatments I have received from Beleza.

This post was created in partnership with Beleza Plastic Surgery. Beleza provided these services to me at no cost. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pricing for the services I received are as follows: Normally, peels (dermaplaning included complimentary) are priced at $200 each, but when patients pre-pay for a package, each peel is then discounted down to $150. The total for services plus skincare from SkinBetter was $910.30. Beleza offers financing options at 6 months/0% interest for any charges over $200.00.