Protocol 03
Carbon Peel in Gibraltar
A liquid charcoal mask is painted on, allowed to sink into the pores, and then lifted away by laser. Forty minutes, no downtime, and you can wear make-up the same evening. Known here as the Carbon Doll facial.
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Reviewed by Dr Natalie Olivera, BDS (Hons) MFDS RCS (Eng), general dentist and Level 7 aesthetics clinician · August 2026
The Specification
The specification
- Treatment length
- 40 minutes
- Number of sessions
- Four to six for a visible change
- Interval between sessions
- Two to four weeks
- Downtime
- None. Flushed for about an hour
What It Does
It is a deep clean with a laser at the end of it.
Pores look smaller because they are emptier, not because they have shrunk.
Congestion and blackheads across the nose, chin and forehead clear over a course.
Oiliness settles down, which is the change people notice first.
Texture reads smoother, and skin takes make-up better afterwards.
One session gives an immediate, short-lived glow — which is why it is the treatment people book before a wedding or a flight. The lasting change to congestion and oiliness comes from a course of four to six.
How It Works
The carbon is the target. Without it the laser has nothing to hold on to.
Charcoal goes in. Light takes it back out, and brings the contents with it.
The mask goes on.
A fine liquid carbon is painted across the area and left to settle for a few minutes. It works its way into the pores and binds to the oil, dead cells and debris sitting in them.
A first laser pass warms the skin.
A gentle pass across the whole area. It feels warm rather than sharp, and it is doing two things: heating the carbon and stimulating the deeper layer of the skin.
A second pass lifts it all away.
A higher-energy pass shatters the carbon, and it leaves taking what it bound to with it. This is the loud part — it clicks and snaps — and it is over in a few minutes.
Cool, soothe, sunscreen, done.
The skin is cleaned, calmed and given SPF. You will be flushed for about an hour. There is nothing to hide and nothing to recover from.
Is It Right For Me
Best on oily, congested and thickened skin.
It suits oily and combination skin, visible pores, blackheads, dull or thickened texture, and mild breakouts. It works on the face, the back and the body, and it is safe on every skin type when the settings are right.
It suits less well very dry or reactive skin, and it is not a treatment for deep lines or loose skin. If that is what is bothering you, a consultation will point you somewhere more useful.
We will not treat over an active cold sore, an infected breakout, or freshly tanned or sunburnt skin. Tell us if you are using a retinoid, an acid, or a prescribed acne treatment — some of those need a break of days or weeks first.
Plate — the basin
The Tariff
Gibraltar charges no VAT.
Priced by area.
| Treatment | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon peel, face | 40 min | from £100 |
| Carbon treatment, back | 40 min | £120 |
| Carbon peel, body | 40 min | from £150 |
A course of four to six is what changes congestion for good. We do not sell courses up front — you book them one at a time, and you can stop whenever you have had enough.
Aftercare
Nothing here is difficult. The sunscreen is the one that matters.
Forty-eight hours of leaving your skin alone.
SPF 50 every day, and reapply it. Skin that has just been treated pigments easily. In this climate that is the whole aftercare instruction in one line.
No acids, retinoids or scrubs for forty-eight hours. Wash with something plain, moisturise, and go back to your routine after two days.
Skip the gym, sauna and steam room for a day. Heat on flushed skin makes the flush last longer than it needs to.
Make-up is fine the same evening. Most people go back to work straight from the appointment.
Questions
The carbon peel, answered.
What is a Carbon Doll facial?
It is the same treatment. Carbon Doll is the name it is booked under and carbon laser peel is what it is. We use the plain name on this page because that is what people search for, and the marketing name in the room because that is what everybody calls it.
Does it hurt?
No. The first pass feels like warmth spreading across the skin. The second pass snaps and is loud, which surprises people more than it hurts them. Nobody needs numbing cream and the whole thing takes forty minutes.
Can I have it before an event?
Yes, and it is one of the most-booked treatments for exactly that. Two to three days before is the sweet spot: the flush has gone and the glow is at its best. If you have never had one, do not book your first the day before a wedding.
How many will I need?
One for a glow that lasts a week or so. Four to six, two to four weeks apart, to genuinely change congestion, oiliness and texture. After that most people come back every couple of months to hold it.
Is it safe on darker skin?
Yes, with the right settings. The carbon is what the laser targets, not your skin, which is part of why this treatment is more forgiving across skin types than many others. We still assess your skin type first and adjust accordingly.
Will it clear my acne?
It helps with congestion, blackheads and mild breakouts, and it calms oiliness. It is not a treatment for moderate or severe acne, which needs medical management. If that is what you have, say so at the consultation and we will be straight with you.
Can I have it on my back?
Yes, and back congestion responds well because the skin there is thicker and takes the treatment easily. That is booked as the carbon back treatment at £120. It is a quiet, unglamorous appointment and people are very glad of it.
Can I combine it with anything?
Our signature facial pairs a carbon peel with a rejuvenation pass in one visit, which is the most complete version of this in the clinic. It is on the skin treatments page at £160.
Signature