Peels in autumn and winter – and how to prepare your skin for an intensive peel
Reading time: 5 min. · Updated: 11/2026
Autumn and winter are considered the classic peel season. There's a simple reason: after a peel, the skin is more sensitive to light, and in the darker months the sun is weaker. If you're planning an intensive peel, you should also allow a few weeks of preparation. Here's what matters.
Why autumn and winter
A peel loosens dead skin cells and stimulates the skin's renewal. The fresh skin underneath reacts more sensitively to UV radiation. In summer, there is a higher risk that it will be irritated by the sun or that discolouration will develop. In autumn and winter, the sun is weaker and people spend less time outdoors. That's why peels – especially intensive ones – are easy to fit into everyday life at this time of year.
On top of that, the skin often looks dull and uneven after summer. A peel is then a good fresh start.
Even so, in winter too: sun protection belongs on your skin every day after any peel.
Gentle peels: no preparation needed
Intensive peel: how to prepare your skin
The Intensive Peel (ZO 3-Step Peel) is considerably stronger. So that it works well and the skin tolerates it well, the skin is prepared beforehand. Here's how it goes:
A few weeks before
The skin is prepared with a home-care routine, usually with a retinol product. This usually takes four to six weeks. Which product and how long is right for you, we'll discuss in the skin analysis. At first, the skin may react to retinol – more on this in the article Retinol: why your skin reacts at first.
3–4 days before
Pause products that can irritate or dry out the skin: retinol and other retinoids, fruit acids and salicylic acid (AHA, BHA), benzoyl peroxide and vitamin C.
5–7 days before
Avoid depilatory creams, waxing, electrolysis, laser hair removal, dermarolling and dermaplaning on the face.
On the day of the peel
Don't shave your face.
Also important
- If you have ever had herpes, please let us know beforehand. If appropriate, talk to your doctor about preventive treatment.
- Only have the peel once your skin has fully healed from other treatments.
If your skin isn't prepared yet at your appointment, we'll do a free skin analysis at that appointment and plan the peel together.
The days after the intensive peel
After the Intensive Peel, the skin peels for about five to seven days. It may be red and feel tight. That's part of the process. Here's how to support your skin:
- don't pull off or rub away the flakes – they come off on their own
- use a mild cleanser and rich moisturiser
- apply sun protection every day
- pause sauna, solarium and at-home peels until the skin has healed
Plan the peel so that there are no important occasions in the following week. If you want to look fresh before the holidays, for example, plan the peel in good time.
When a peel is not suitable
Avoid a peel during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with active herpes, sunburn, irritated or broken skin. If you are taking medication for your skin, let us know beforehand.
FAQ
It's possible, but harder: the fresh skin has to be consistently protected from the sun. That's why autumn and winter are the better time.
Until the desired result, usually every three to four weeks, then two to three times a year for maintenance.
Then we'll do a free skin analysis at your appointment instead of the peel and plan the next step together.