Primp

Fast track: Beauty shortcuts that’ll shave moments off your prep time

As much as we’d love to schedule regular sessions at our favorite medi-spa, extralong lunch breaks for yet another “doctor’s appointment” aren’t always possible. But there’s no excuse not to squeeze in a before-bed peel with the Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads ($35) by Philosophy, available at Nordstrom (Natick Collection, 290 Speen Street, Natick, 508.318.2600). Like the anti-acne pads of our middle-school days, these glide over the face and neck, exfoliating, evening skin tone, and diminishing the look of fine lines with nary an uncomfortable tingle.

Totally apeeling

Sweetsmelling Green Apple Peel ($39) from Juice Beauty is right at home beside organic fruits, veggies, and other goodforyou foodstuffs that line the shelves at Whole Foods (various locations) — it’s created with a base of organic apple, lemon, and fruit juices, plus raw cane sugar. Considering our skin absorbs up to 64 percent of what we smooth on it, according to the beauty brand, we’re happy to minimize the harsh chemicals included in our primping regimen.

Looking for a professional-grade peel — or as close as you’re willing to attempt without the supervision of a trained aesthetician? We suggest the 3-Minute Peel ($128) from Laboratoire Remède. Its intensive blend of ingredients to slough off dead skin cells, soften fine lines, and add firmness and protection is übereffective, though the brand does suggest slathering on sunscreen for at least a week after the treatment — and, for sensitive types, gradually working up to the full three minutes. Laboratoire Remède is stocked at www.blissworld.com.

We were bombarded with not-so-nice memories of chemistry class when testing Amore Pacific’s Treatment Enzyme Peel ($60), but it did bring out the entranced little kid in us. Though bottled as a powder, the formula works itself into a lather when mixed with water; its live, microencapsulated papain enzymes, derived from green papaya, then work to exfoliate, minimize pores, even skin tone, and resurface skin. Just don’t let the “living” part weird you out — it’s plant-derived. Find it locally at Neiman Marcus (5 Copley Place, Boston, 617.536.3660) or www.neimanmarcus.com.

Professional peels often invite redness and irritation — total post-spa buzz kills. Downplay those negatives with the three-step Laser APeel ($100) treatment system from Dr. Brandt, available at Sephora (Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.4200). Packaged with a prepping solution, peeling solution, and soothing gel, the kit contains the real deal — glycolic acid — for nononsense exfoliation; it also incorporates skin soothers, such as lactic acid and green tea.

Got a beauty question? Get in touch: beauty@stuffatnight.com.

Big night

Sleeping beauty: Get pretty overnight