By resurfacing the skin, chemical peels can treat fine lines, sun damage, large pores, and uneven texture -- all visible signs of aging. Our anti-aging candidate, CJ, was a serious challenge because -- in addition to being our oldest volunteer -- she also works outside in the sun.

Dr. Pollei wasn't intimidated. "She's in the sun all day every day, but with her Mediterranean heritage, she looks pretty good," he says. "I got the vibe that even doing the peels was more than she'd do under normal circumstances. But as she saw the benefits, she warmed up to it pretty quickly."

Her Rx: Four PCA peels, one per month, starting with two Sensi Peels and then two Ultra Peels. For her at-home skin care routine, Dr. Pollei recommended PCA Skin Total Strength Serum to fight aging and PCA Skin C&E Strength Max, an antioxidant blend, to boost CJ's already diligent sun protection routine.

Being a treatment newbie, CJ didn't know what to expect -- and she was pleasantly surprised. "I was ready for intense pain, bit it was minimal," she says. "No pain, no drama, no big deal."

And while she did "peel like a lizard," her fourth treatment was "the best yet," she says. "The pain was no worse than the third, but four days post and I can definitely see results. My hyperpigmentation is very reduced."

If you have sensitive skin, your doctor can customize a chemical peel just for you. "It's about tailoring the peel to their needs, plus utilizing a low-dose steroid," says Dr. Pollei.

Victoria, our fourth and final peel candidate, was also the slowest to see a difference. She spends a lot of time outside, and she has some stubborn pigmentation -- but she also has sensitive skin and wouldn't be able to tolerate a superdeep peel. "She had some sensitive skin right out of the gate so the first and second peels, I didn't hit her very hard, but the third was more aggressive," says Dr. Pollei. And when someone with sensitive skin has a more intense peel, the result is redness. "The redness lasted for five to six hours -- I looked like a tomato," says Victoria.

Her Rx: Three PCA Skin peels, one per month, starting with two Sensi Peels and then an Ultra Peel. Dr. Pollei also recommended PCA Skin C-Quench Antioxidant Serum and PCA Skin Rejuvenating Serum to continue gently brightening her skin at home.

While she didn't see a huge improvement in her sun damage, Victoria was still happy with her results. "I do think the quality of my skin has improved," she says. I feel like some of the fine lines around my nose and mouth aren't as bad, and overall I feel like my skin looks more youthful."

It isn't difficult to have a successful chemical peel experience, but some of our candidates had more dramatic results than others. Following the at-home guidelines is key, as is staying out of the sun and using SPF.

We asked Dr. Pollei to play favorites: "I would have to say Audree -- when she came in for photos, I could see the difference in her," he says. "She was carrying herself differently. She interacts in society a little differently than she was before. So the fact that it's improved to the point that she's less self-conscious makes her my favorite."

However, even the women with more subtle changes noticed their skin was significantly glowier after a series of chemical peels -- enough to elicit compliments. "A friend will say, 'you look really good, what did you do?,'" says Dr. Pollei. "And they often can't put their finger on what it is, but they can tell there's a difference." And isn't that really the end goal with any skin treatment?