Can peels become the smarter summer skincare solution? Priyanka Parshurami visits Lakmē Salon Churchgate to experience the new ZYMO and NOVA peels while decoding modern skin concerns with Sharmila Shetty, National Creative Director- Skin Lakmé Lever.
Summer skincare is no longer just about cleansing and hydration. Rising temperatures, humidity, pollution, prolonged sun exposure, and lifestyle stress are accelerating concerns like pigmentation, acne flare-ups, dehydration, dullness, and uneven texture. As consumers move towards result-driven skincare with minimum or no downtime, professional treatments are becoming an increasingly important part of seasonal skin maintenance.
To understand this shift better, Priyanka Parshurami visited Lakmē Salon Churchgate to experience the newly launched ZYMO and NOVA peels under the K-ssence umbrella. During the session, she got into a candid conversation with Sharmila Shetty on how modern peels are evolving to suit Indian skin concerns, lifestyles, and expectations.
Summer Skin Needs Smarter Care:
According to Sharmila Shetty, summer significantly impacts skin behaviour. Heat, sweat, humidity, pollution, and UV exposure collectively contribute to oiliness, breakouts, redness, dehydration, and uneven skin tone. She believes consumers need to rethink their skincare routines with a more preventive and protective approach.
“Broad-spectrum sun protection is completely non-negotiable during summers,” she explains. Alongside SPF, she recommends antioxidant-led skincare with ingredients like Vitamin C and Niacinamide while avoiding harsh actives such as retinol during excessive heat exposure. Lightweight, oil-free and gel-based formulations also become essential during this season to maintain skin balance without clogging pores.
Where ZYMO & NOVA Fit In:
Sharmila highlights that the new ZYMO and NOVA peels have been designed to bridge an important gap in the skincare market. On one side are mild exfoliating products that are safe but slow in delivering visible results, while on the other are intensive clinical peels often associated with downtime and sensitivity.
“Today consumers want visible skin reset and clarity without fear or disruption to their daily lives,” she says.
The ZYMO peel serves as an ideal entry-level treatment for first-time users dealing with dullness, congestion, excess oiliness, and lack of skin clarity, while NOVA targets pigmentation and post-acne marks as a corrective peel.
Beyond Conventional Salon Exfoliation:
One of the biggest misconceptions around exfoliation, Sharmila points out, is treating all resurfacing treatments as the same. Traditional salon exfoliation largely works on the surface level and delivers temporary brightness, whereas peels like ZYMO and NOVA work at a deeper cellular level with progressive corrective benefits.
She explains that while salon facials are often viewed as occasional indulgence, peels function as planned, session-based skin solutions. “The shift is from random exfoliation to systematic resurfacing,” she adds.
Why Recovery Is Just as Important:
A key aspect of the K-ssence protocol is the recovery stage. While peels help remove dead skin buildup and accelerate renewal, they also temporarily weaken the skin barrier.
“The recovery phase replenishes lipids, improves cellular turnover, and supports long-term barrier health,” says Sharmila. “Without recovery, exfoliation can easily become erosion.”
This is where detox and probiotic recovery rituals become essential in reducing sensitivity while supporting glow and hydration post-treatment.
Designed for Indian Skin Concerns:
Indian skin presents unique challenges due to higher melanin activity, making pigmentation and post-acne marks significantly more common. At the same time, consumers are increasingly curious about advanced treatments but remain cautious about downtime, safety, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risks.
Keeping these realities in mind, the treatments have been designed to balance efficacy with safety while still delivering visible results that align with modern consumer expectations.
What First-Time Users Should Know:
For first-time peel users, Sharmila stresses the importance of proper consultation and realistic expectations. Consumers should clearly understand the procedure, aftercare, and the fact that visible correction often requires multiple sessions rather than a single treatment.
Consistent aftercare and adherence to the recommended treatment schedule play a critical role in achieving optimal results safely.
As skincare moves towards more structured, science-backed solutions, treatments like ZYMO and NOVA reflect a growing consumer demand for visible yet manageable skin correction. This also highlights how the new-age peel conversation is shifting from aggressive correction to intelligent resurfacing designed for real lifestyles and real skin concerns.
