All About Gommage: French Peeling Method

There is not a single beauty serum, cream, product or product that we would not jump at the opportunity to try or at least explore. So, when "facial massage" started circling the beauty world, we just было know more. Luckily, we have experts like certified dermatologists and experienced estheticians to keep us up to date.

To begin with, we found out that gommage is a French term, and it is not new at all; rather, it just took a little time to grow up in the US. Dermatologist and CEO of Curology, David Lorcher, explains that "hommage" in French means "wash", and in cosmetic terms - exfoliation. 

What you need to know about Facial Hommage

We are familiar with exfoliation and its many skincare benefits — but gommage is not ordinary exfoliation method. It combines both physical and chemical exfoliation to help remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and make it noticeably brighter, but unlike a physical facial exfoliation or a chemical exfoliating serum, gommage goes through multiple steps and is reported to be gentler. Not surprising, given the fact that he comes from France, and french beauty it's all about simplicity and taking care of your skin. 

“Traditional gommage exfoliating formulations are creams, pastes, liquids, or gels that are allowed to dry completely after application,” Dr. Lorcher says. Now comes the eraser part. Saime Demirovich, Co-founder GLO Spa New York, explains that after the gommage dries, you “gently but quickly rub the area with your fingers, which exfoliates the product and with it the dead skin cells.”

The remnants of peeling are very similar to the touch of an eraser with a pencil on a page of paper - this is how this skin care product got its name. 

The benefits - smoothing, polishing, brightening - mirror those of other forms of exfoliation, with the added bonus of a noticeable increase in skin volume. “The unique way of exfoliating helps improve circulation, leaving your face plumper and hydrated,” explains Demirovich.

The difference between gommage and other exfoliation methods

As a rule, if you use a physical and chemical exfoliator at the same time, it can cause skin irritation. That's the beauty of gommages—they combine both forms of exfoliation without being too overbearing. “Unlike traditional exfoliators, which use harsh ingredients to physically remove dead skin cells, gommage typically uses enzymes and acids to break down dead skin cells,” says Dr. Lorcher. "The physical component of exfoliation is as gentle as your fingers when you wash off the product."

But, of course, with any type of exfoliation, no matter how gentle, if you have very dry or sensitive skin, Dr. Lorcher advises to proceed with caution and consult with a skin care specialist.

How to Incorporate Facial Gommage into Your Daily Skin Care

You can start using the gommage in your routine just like any regular physical peel on freshly cleansed skin. Facial gommage is gentler than other forms of exfoliation, but that doesn't mean you have to overdo it. It means to stick regimen once a week until your skin adapts and "up to twice a week if desired, if your skin tolerates it well," says Dr. Lorcher.

Ready to try Gommage? Our favorites:

Odacité Rose Bioactive Scrub 

This gommage product offers spa treatments without leaving home. Enzyme-rich renewing gel helps remove dead skin cells to refresh dull, tired skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, konjac root for cleansing, and rose water for soothing. 

Gommage Gentle Exfoliating Cream 

This powerful yet gentle enzymatic exfoliator and scrub is made with ingredients like Lime Caviar (AHA), Bamboo Bio-Enzyme and Matcha to help get rid of visibly dull, uneven skin and smooth the surface of your face.

SKIN&CO Truffle Therapy Gommage

This exfoliating gommage cream has a luxurious truffle scent and contains ingredients from Italy for amazing skin care. Exclusive Superoxide Dismutase extract helps fight signs of aging and damage caused by free radicals.