Right now, touching one’s face is the equivalent of placing your hand on a hot stove: do it and you could potentially get hurt. Thankfully, as long as you’re a diligent hand-washer, maintaining some semblance of a skincare routine at home is still allowed, including the things you’d typically leave to a professional. And while I’m certainly counting my blessings and thankful for the simple things, I’m not going to lie—a facial would be a nice distraction from the chaos. In the meantime, the best at-home chemical peel products come in a close second. So much so, that I may never go back.

Exfoliation and those all-too-familiar tingles let me know that I’m not going crazy with cabin fever. They also work wonders for my complexion. With careful use once or twice a week, any of these formulas will brighten, tighten and smooth the skin so when you do step out, it truly feels like a fresh start. Ahead, some of the best-reviewed options for a modest budget and a random splurge.

Neogen Dermalogy.

Neogen Dermalogy Gauze Peeling Wine Pads

These chemical acid-infused, 100 percent cotton pads are enhanced with wine extract to peel away dead skin cells and deliver antioxidants that will help smooth and firm the face.

Buy: Neogen Dermalogy Gauze Peeling Wine Pads $24

Bliss.

Bliss Jelly Glow Peel

For an even gentler at-home peel experience, try this drugstore exfoliator made with pineapple and papaya enzymes to loosen dead skin cells and brighten the skin over time.

Buy: Bliss Jelly Glow Peel $10.99

Good Janes.

Good Janes Face Gift Papaya Mask

You will fall head over heels with the creamy consistency of this papaya-rich face mask that instantly brightens the face and increases elasticity with continued use.

Hear Me Raw.

Hear Me Raw The Brightener with Chlorophyll+

A green and gooey formula that uses chlorophyll, lactic acid, phytic acid and over a dozen other natural ingredients to give your complexion an immediate boost and smoother tone/texture.

The Inkey List.

The Inkey List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel

The newest addition to The Inkey List’s affordable range is this 10% glycolic acid peel also made with apple cider vinegar to target redness and improve texture.

Drunk Elephant.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial

The notorious Babyfacial is one of the most powerful OTC, pro-level face masks out there. Its formula is a whopping 25% of alpha-hydroxy acids and 2% beta-hydroxy acids to exfoliate and leave you with a brighter and tighter complexion.

Buy: Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial $80

The Route.

The Route The Party Peel

What sets this illuminizing peel a part from other exfoliating products is a patented oxygen delivery system that causes the formula to bubble and start exfoliating the skin instead of causing painful peeling.

The Ordinary.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA

One of The Ordinary’s milder exfoliating blends is this 5 percent lactic acid peel infused with Tasmanian pepperberry to reduce inflammation and sensitivity.

Sobel Skin Rx.

Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel

This pro-level, once-a-week peel is suitable for all skin types and utilizes a generous amount of glycolic acid to nix fine lines and balance uneven skin tone.

Peace Out Skincare.

Peace Out Dullness One-Step Brightening Face Pads

A combo of seven different chemical acids along with brightening niacinamide and antioxidant-rich Evodia fruit extract brighten and smooth the face with weekly use.

Dr. Dennis Gross.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel

The limited-edition version of Dr. Dennis Gross’s iconic peel pads combines three gentle acids and botanicals to exfoliate the face sans irritation.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Lala Kent’s Black Polka Dot Dress at Vanderpump Dogs

Season 8 Episode 12 Vanderpump Rules Fashion

Lala Kent’s black polka dot dress at Vanderpump Dogs while “volunteering her time” is so cute. It seemed that polka dots were quite the theme this episode because I was seeing them on everyone, but I’m not complaining. Polka dot is a print that will always be around and therefor never go out of style. So even though her exact dress is sold out at Forever 21 there will forever be similar styles to get our hands on. So while most of us have nothing but time to volunteer right now something that can make it go by a bit faster is shopping. Even if it’s just a little window shopping, in our browsers that is!

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To Shop Her Forever 21 Black Polka Dot Dress on eBay Size S

Originally posted at: Lala Kent’s Black Polka Dot Dress

It’s looking like now we’re going to be in quarantine, washing our hands and staying six feet away from others, for…a while. While there are way more important things than our nails, it’s nice to keep them up and keep ourselves busy. Essie’s nail polish collection for Spring 2020 features gorgeous pastel hues that will make you not long for the nail salon—for a little. The limited-edition line features the creamy, high-pigment shades you expect from Essie, including the cute names that’ll put a spring in your step—at least while watching Netflix.

Put down Ballet Slippers and the Wicked, for now at least, and give one of these trendy pastels a chance. Play around with nail art while you have the time. These would also look amazing with the “skittles” trend of each nail painted a different hue. Choose from Rainwear Don’t Care (a creamy white-based taupe), Feeling Wellies (a soft pastel yellow with red undertones), Kissed by Mist (a mid-toned cool pink with blue and pink pearl flip, Spring in Your Step (a lilac with pink iridescence pearl), Can-Dew Attitude (a muted celadon green) and Make a Splash (a dusky blue nail polish with a blue and violet pearl flip).

Image: Essie.

Can-Dew Attitude

Image: Essie.

Feeling Wellies

Image: Essie.

Kissed by Mist

Image: Essie.

Make a Splash

Image: Essie.

Rainwear Don’t Care

Image: Essie.

Spring in Your Step

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

A few years ago, an acquaintance of
mine whom I will refer to as Margo shared with me a disturbing story. She had
taken her healthy, independent 90-year-old aunt to the physician’s. Her aunt,
who was of sound mind and body, had been struggling with mobility due to a
deteriorating hip.

The physician examined the aunt and
agreed that she could probably benefit from a hip replacement, but because of
her age, the message was mostly “Why bother?” Margo was taken aback and
responded with some insistence, “She is quite healthy and would benefit from
this procedure for a better quality of life.”

After some resistance, the physician
agreed, made the proper referrals, and the aunt underwent surgery. Four years
later, although frailer, Margo’s aunt continues to live alone, relying on
minimal help from Margo, and walking a bit slower but independently.

Should Age Matter?

Margo has been a steady advocate for
the older adult in need of a louder voice. Several years earlier, her mother,
in her late 70s at the time, was having issues related to the heart. Medical
tests revealed that Margo’s mother needed quadruple bypass surgery.

Because of her age, the physicians
expressed hesitancy about having her mother undergo such an operation. Margo
pushed for this, and consequently, her mother underwent this complicated
procedure, recovered, and went on to live a better quality of life.

Unfortunately, Margo’s mother died
after succumbing to cancer a couple of years later, but Margo was pleased that
her efforts provided her mother with robust final few years.

The Right to Die Vs. the Right to Live

I decided to write about this because
there seems to be a movement for the right to die more than the right to live.
Being a therapist, I am well aware there has always been a way to die whether
we like it or not.

Some say by legalizing this, more
people can be euthanized with dignity or, putting it more bluntly, commit
suicide. For someone whose parents were given morphine as a way to leave their
earthly lives painlessly, I do not join the chorus of those who wish to pass
the Right to Die laws.

I was ambivalent when the question was
put on the ballot in my state of Massachusetts years ago, but after reading the
language, I voted against it. Sadly, much deception goes on, and I would be
most disheartened if innocents, because of their age, would be sacrificed “for
the greater good.”

We Have Come a Long Way

Medical innovation has come a long way
and appears to answer the calling to provide a higher quality of life. Healthy
living, new medications, and less invasive, life-saving procedures offer older
adults more choices.

Now they can live longer and in a way
unimaginable half a century ago. Sadly, our youth-oriented society continues to
deem people of a certain age obsolete.

More people like Margo are fighting
for the older adults’ right to live, and not just live, but do so with dignity
and grace. There are more organizations such as Sixty and Me, which
recognize the needs of the sexagenarian and older. Although 60 is not precisely
the new 40, in many ways, it is in the 21st century.

At one time, over the hill was deemed
to be the age of 40. Eventually, the magic number for being washed-up increased
to 60. Because of the Boomer generation, this message is changing every day,
right before our eyes. I suspect the Gen X population will push this to age 75
and forward.

Why Not?

Many years ago, my husband and I were
in the Berkshires. We were talking with an older couple, and I will never
forget something the gentleman stated. He had prostate cancer in the early
years of being a septuagenarian. His doctor said to him that maybe he should
forgo treatment because of his advanced age.

The man was clear with his doctor that
he wanted to do what was necessary to continue living an otherwise healthy
life. As was evidenced, the man was alive and well as he shared his tale. I
applauded him. With zest, I exclaimed, “Good for you!”

Whatever one’s age, they should have
the option to live their lives as fulfilling as possible. If that means having
a procedure that improves and thus extends their life, I say, “Why not?” The
right to live is their right.

What do you think about the right to
die? Would you fight your own right to live? Would you undergo a surgical
procedure to improve your quality of life? Please share your thoughts with our
community!