Retinol Serum Before And After

... devotee. I was occasionally using retinol on my body with acids..., I might outlive my skin! After reading Relaxed Meatball’s review, I... favorite thing to put on before bed. I have no idea... made one batch of rapa serum but have been too lazy.... Recently, instead of washing right after applying my estradiol gel, I’ll ... using my very expensive exosome serum that contained many steps in...

... separate HA product. Most toner/serum/moisturizers have HA. It is... almost all ingredients (Vitamin C, retinol) and foundations, making it a.... How: Apply to damp skin (after cleansing or toning) to prevent... to thickest, usually placing HA before heavier creams. Layering with Other... perfectly with vitamin C, peptides, retinol, and exfoliating acids (like glycolic...

... UltraLift is a lightweight serum aimed at fighting sagging skin...Ingredients and Formulation The serum packs a mix of peptides... skipped other actives like retinol to isolate effects. Six weeks...and Sensory Analysis The serum glides on smooth, like silk ... Available Now!!>>​ Tracking Metrics: Before & After Documentation We snapped photos weekly ... with thick Vitamin C serum. Switched order, problem gone. No...

... UltraLift is a lightweight serum aimed at fighting sagging skin...Ingredients and Formulation The serum packs a mix of peptides... skipped other actives like retinol to isolate effects. Six weeks...and Sensory Analysis The serum glides on smooth, like silk ... Available Now!!>>​ Tracking Metrics: Before & After Documentation We snapped photos weekly ... with thick Vitamin C serum. Switched order, problem gone. No...

... look is way more sought after for women. Look. Everyone knows... know what some nightly retinol and a decent serum can do? Assuming... her scenes in full quality before deciding this maybe? And RE6...

Roughly 80% of people are either underdosing compounds that require a threshold to work, overdosing things that have a ceiling above which you get nothing extra, or confusing compound weight with elemental or active ingredient content. Some of these mistakes are harmless waste. A few are genuinely counterproductive. NMN: Underdosing for age is the primary mistake. Under 35, 250 to 500mg daily. Between 35 and 50, 500mg. Over 50, the human RCT data trends toward 750 to 1000mg for functional outcomes in muscle and metabolic endpoints. The second mistake is running NMN inside a blend where it is the third or fourth ingredient at 50 to 100mg per serving. At that dose you are paying for a label claim. Third: not pairing with TMG. NAD synthesis at meaningful doses consumes methyl groups. 500mg TMG daily minimum is the appropriate co-supplement. NR. Same age-dose logic as NMN. The studied range is 250 to 1000mg daily. The specific mistake here is running NMN and NR simultaneously as though they stack additively. They share the same downstream pathway. Pick one and dose it properly. TMG. The cosmetic dose problem. Many multis include 50 to 100mg TMG. The studied range for homocysteine reduction and methyl donor support is 500mg to 3g daily depending on the indication. At 85mg you are not moving any needle. Standalone TMG powder is inexpensive and allows proper dosing. Above 3g in some individuals, trimethylamine odor develops via the FMO3 pathway. Start at 500mg and adjust. Magnesium. The single most common mistake. The label says 500mg magnesium. What is actually delivered depends entirely on the form. Magnesium oxide is 60 percent elemental by weight but so poorly absorbed that effective delivery is under 4 percent. Magnesium glycinate is roughly 14 percent elemental but well absorbed. Magnesium malate is approximately 15 percent. Magnesium threonate is approximately 7 percent. A product labeled 500mg magnesium glycinate is delivering roughly 70mg elemental. The target for sleep, muscle function, and neurological support is 300 to 400mg elemental daily. Check your label for the word elemental. If it is not there, calculate from the form. Vitamin D3. Two mistakes. First, dosing without testing. 2000 IU produces a very different serum level depending on where you start. Test 25-hydroxyvitamin D and dose to the target of 50 to 70 ng/mL, not by the label recommendation. Second: taking D3 without K2. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption. K2 MK-7 directs that calcium to bone rather than soft tissue. MK-7 at 100 to 200mcg is the studied dose for osteocalcin carboxylation. If your combined D3/K2 product uses MK-4 at 100 to 200mcg, that is not the studied dose. MK-4 trials showing bone benefit used 45mg daily, not micrograms. Omega-3 Fish Oil. The most persistent label fraud in the category. The front of the bottle says 1000mg fish oil. The supplement facts panel says 300mg combined EPA plus DHA. You are eating fish oil filler. The number that matters is combined EPA plus DHA. For cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory effects, and cognitive support the evidence is built around 1000 to 2000mg combined EPA plus DHA daily. Check the actual EPA plus DHA content, not the total oil weight. Triglyceride form absorbs better than ethyl ester form. CoQ10. Two mistakes. Form and dose. Ubiquinone requires conversion to ubiquinol in the body. Under 40 this is efficient. Over 45, conversion declines and ubiquinol is the right default. On dose: for general cardiovascular support 100 to 200mg is reasonable. For migraine prevention the AAN evidence is at 100 to 300mg. For egg quality and male fertility the studied range is 200 to 600mg. A single 50mg softgel in a multivitamin is doing nothing meaningful for any specific application. Creatine. The most studied supplement in existence and still commonly underdosed or over-complicated. 5g daily of creatine monohydrate is the standard. Creatine ethyl ester, buffered creatine, and most branded variants have no evidence of superiority over monohydrate. The loading phase is optional. The dose mistake is the 2 to 3g in blended pre-workout products. At 2g daily saturation takes significantly longer and most people do not maintain it consistently enough to get there. Berberine. The most commonly underdosed functional supplement in the longevity space. The clinical evidence for glucose regulation and AMPK activation is built around 1000 to 1500mg daily in divided doses, typically 500mg two to three times with meals. Products listing 200 to 300mg berberine as a therapeutic dose are selling you a fraction of what the evidence requires. Note also that berberine is a meaningful CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 inhibitor and should be disclosed to prescribing physicians at therapeutic doses. Trans-Resveratrol. Form is the primary mistake. Cis-resveratrol is largely inactive. Trans-resveratrol is the biologically relevant isomer. Products that say resveratrol without specifying trans are often a mixed or predominantly cis product. The second issue is bioavailability. Standard resveratrol has a short half-life. Pairing with quercetin or taking with a fatty meal improves tissue delivery. Below 150mg trans-resveratrol you are likely below the threshold for meaningful sirtuin activation. The studied range is 150 to 1000mg daily. Quercetin. Form and bioavailability are the issues. Standard quercetin has poor oral bioavailability due to limited water solubility. Quercetin phytosome and quercetin with bromelain have meaningfully better bioavailability data. The senolytic evidence used 500mg twice daily in intermittent protocols, not 50mg daily in a multivitamin. Apigenin (My personal fav): Consistently underdosed in combination products at 25 to 50mg. Standalone apigenin at 50mg is the commonly used dose for GABA-A modulation and sleep applications. For CD38 inhibition supporting NAD preservation, standalone dosing is the right approach over a blend with undisclosed amounts. Fisetin. The dosing strategy mistake is the most consequential here. Using fisetin as a daily antioxidant at 100mg is a different protocol from its senolytic application. The senolytic evidence is built on intermittent high-dose protocols, approximately 20mg per kg body weight over two consecutive days per month. For a 70kg adult that is 1400mg over two days, once monthly. Daily low-dose fisetin is an antioxidant play. Intermittent high-dose fisetin is the senolytic play. Know which one you are trying to execute. Spermidine. Dose confusion is widespread. Many products list the weight of the wheat germ extract, not the actual spermidine content. The human cognitive trial used 1.2mg actual spermidine daily from a standardized extract. Products claiming 10mg or 50mg are usually listing extract weight. Check the label for milligrams of actual spermidine, not extract weight. Urolithin A. The pomegranate extract mistake. Urolithin A is a gut metabolite and not everyone converts pomegranate ellagitannins to urolithin A. Gut microbiome composition determines conversion efficiency and a meaningful percentage of people produce little to none. Only pure urolithin A supplements guarantee delivery. The Mitopure trials used 500 to 1000mg daily of pure urolithin A. CA-AKG. The Rejuvant longevity trial used 1000mg daily and showed reduction in biological age markers over seven months. Common combination products include CA-AKG as a secondary ingredient at 300 to 500mg. If the goal is the epigenetic clock evidence, 1000mg is the dose the data is built on. Sulforaphane. Stability is the defining issue. Sulforaphane itself degrades quickly. Correct approaches are either myrosinase-active broccoli sprout extract, where the enzyme converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane in the gut, or a stabilized sulforaphane product paired with myrosinase. Products listing glucoraphanin without active myrosinase rely on gut bacteria for conversion, which is variable. The studied dose range for Nrf2 pathway activation is approximately 10 to 40mg sulforaphane equivalent daily. Hyaluronic Acid. Molecular weight is the underappreciated variable. High molecular weight HA above 1000 kDa is the appropriate form for joint lubrication and skin hydration. Products that do not specify molecular weight are leaving out the most relevant information. Oral HA studies showing skin hydration benefit used 80 to 240mg daily of high molecular weight HA. Many products provide 20 to 40mg with no specification. Collagen Peptides. two mistakes. Dose and timing. The studied dose for skin, hair, and nail outcomes is 2.5 to 10g hydrolyzed collagen daily. For tendon and joint support the Shaw and Baar protocol uses 15g with vitamin C taken 30 to 60 minutes before mechanical loading. The timing mistake for tendon goals is taking collagen post-workout or with dinner when no loading is planned. Vitamin C co-administration is required in the Baar protocol. Vitamin C. The pharmacokinetic mistake. Plasma saturation occurs at around 200mg per dose. Taking 1000mg all at once is less effective than 500mg twice daily for maintaining tissue levels. For collagen synthesis support and immune applications, split dosing provides more sustained plasma availability. Above 2g daily GI side effects increase and absorption efficiency drops. Vitamin B12. Form matters enormously. Cyanocobalamin is synthetic and requires conversion steps impaired in older adults and certain genetic variants. Methylcobalamin and adenosyl-B12 are the active coenzyme forms. For people with slow COMT variants, methylcobalamin can drive catecholamine accumulation and adenosyl or hydroxocobalamin are better tolerated. For Metformin or long-term PPI users, standard serum B12 misses functional deficiency. MMA and homocysteine are the functional markers. Sublingual absorption bypasses the intrinsic factor requirement that declines with age. Folate. Folic acid is the synthetic oxidized form requiring DHFR enzyme conversion to active methylfolate. MTHFR variants, present in roughly 40 to 60 percent of the population in at least heterozygous form, reduce this conversion efficiency. For anyone with MTHFR variants or elevated homocysteine, 5-MTHF is the correct form. Most cheap multivitamins use folic acid. Iron: The most commonly over-supplemented mineral. Iron without confirmed deficiency or low ferritin is unnecessary and potentially harmful due to oxidative stress from excess free iron. Alternate-day dosing improves absorption over daily dosing because daily iron suppresses hepcidin. Ferritin below 30 is deficiency. Above 100 requires no supplementation. Test before you supplement, always. Zinc: Long-term zinc above 40mg daily depletes copper via metallothionein competition. Most people supplementing 25 to 50mg zinc are not co-supplementing copper. Therapeutic ratio is approximately 10 to 15 to 1 zinc to copper. Zinc picolinate and zinc bisglycinate absorb better than zinc oxide. Take with food to avoid nausea. Selenium. Narrow therapeutic window. The difference between adequate intake at 55mcg, the upper tolerable limit at 400mcg, and chronic toxicity is smaller than with most minerals. Many multivitamins already provide 100 to 200mcg. Adding a standalone selenium supplement on top can push into toxicity range with prolonged use. Selenomethionine is better retained than selenite. Iodine. Both directions are common mistakes. Vegetarians and vegans avoiding seafood are frequently deficient at RDA levels of 150mcg. People with Hashimoto's can worsen autoimmune thyroid inflammation with high-dose iodine supplementation. Check thyroid antibody status before adding iodine above RDA levels. Rhodiola Rosea. Standardization is the issue. The active compounds are rosavins and salidroside at a 3 to 1 ratio. The studied ratio is 3 percent rosavins and 1 percent salidroside. Products listing standardized rhodiola without specifying both compounds are unverifiable. Dose range is 200 to 600mg daily. Take in the morning on an empty stomach. Rhodiola is mildly stimulating and causes insomnia if taken in the afternoon. Tolerance builds, cycle it. Ashwagandha. KSM-66 and Sensoril are the extracts with human trial evidence. Generic ashwagandha root powder at unstandardized doses is pharmacologically unpredictable. The studied dose for cortisol and stress endpoints is 300 to 600mg of standardized extract. Higher is not meaningfully better above this range. Stop at confirmation of pregnancy. Lion's Mane. Mycelium on grain versus fruiting body extract is the dominant market problem. Most Amazon products are mycelium grown on grain substrate, meaning the product is substantially grain starch. Fruiting body extract standardized to beta-glucan content is the correct specification. Hericenones, the neuroactive compounds, are found in the fruiting body. The dose in the Mori 2009 cognitive trial was 1000mg dried fruiting body powder three times daily for 16 weeks. L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine. Not interchangeable. L-carnitine is the peripheral form for fatty acid transport and male fertility applications. Acetyl-L-carnitine crosses the blood-brain barrier and is the relevant form for cognition. For fertility, 1 to 3g L-carnitine daily is the studied range. For cognitive support, 1 to 2g acetyl-L-carnitine. A blended 250mg of either is subtherapeutic for both applications. NAC. Application-specific dosing is ignored by most people. For general antioxidant support, 600mg once or twice daily. For PCOS outcomes, 1200 to 1800mg daily. For psychiatric applications, 2400mg daily in divided doses was used in addiction trials. For mucolytic respiratory applications, 600 to 1200mg twice daily. Most stacks include one 600mg capsule without specifying what the goal is. Alpha Lipoic Acid. R versus S isomer distinction is consistently ignored. R-ALA is the biologically active naturally occurring form. Most cheap products are racemic, 50/50 R and S. S-ALA may partially antagonize R-ALA at the receptor level. Studies showing meaningful effects used 300 to 600mg R-ALA or 600 to 1200mg racemic ALA. The 15 to 25mg in multivitamins is cosmetic. Take on an empty stomach. Refrigerate R-ALA products due to stability. PQQ. The studied dose is 20mg daily for cognitive endpoints. 10mg is the lower bound showing any signal. Products listing 5mg PQQ are below the threshold used in positive human trials. Phosphatidylserine. The studied dose is 300 to 400mg daily in divided doses. Most nootropic blends include 50 to 100mg. Soy-derived PS is the source used in most human trials. Sunflower PS has a thinner evidence base despite being increasingly common. Citicoline. One of the most evidence-backed single-ingredient cognitive supplements and consistently underdosed in blends. The Cognizin form has the best human trial data. Studied dose is 250 to 500mg daily. Products including 50 to 100mg citicoline in a nootropic blend are providing a label claim, not a therapeutic dose. Lutein and Zeaxanthin. The AREDS2 trial used 10mg lutein and 2mg zeaxanthin daily. Most eye health supplements are in this range. The mistake is taking these without fat. They are carotenoids and fat-soluble. Take with your largest fat-containing meal. Products at 1 to 2mg lutein are below the AREDS2 dose. Curcumin. Standard curcumin has oral bioavailability below 1 percent without an enhancer. Meriva, BCM-95, Longvida, and Theracurmin all show meaningfully better plasma levels than standard curcumin. Piperine at 20mg increases bioavailability by approximately 2000 percent but interacts with multiple drug metabolizing enzymes. The hepatotoxicity signal is more common with enhanced forms because they work better, delivering hepatically meaningful concentrations in susceptible individuals. Baseline and follow-up liver enzymes at 3 months are warranted for anyone on high-dose enhanced curcumin formulations. Boswellia. AKBA content is what matters. Extracts standardized to at least 30 percent AKBA are meaningfully different from standard boswellia resin. 5-Loxin standardized to 30 percent AKBA is the most studied form. Generic boswellia at 400mg with no AKBA specification may contain very little active compound. Studied dose is 100 to 500mg of the standardized extract. Astaxanthin: Natural versus synthetic is the key distinction. Natural from Haematococcus pluvialis is the predominantly (3S, 3S) stereoisomer. Synthetic is a mixed isomer profile. BioAstin and AstaReal are the most studied natural sources. Dose range is 4 to 12mg daily. For eye health and photoprotection, 6 to 12mg has the better evidence. Fat-soluble, take with food. Probiotics. CFU count is the least informative number on the label. Strain specificity is what matters. Genus and species tell you almost nothing about clinical evidence. The strain designation, the letter-number suffix after the species name, is the clinically relevant identifier. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 have specific evidence for specific applications. A product listing Lactobacillus acidophilus at 10 billion CFU without a strain designation is clinically unverifiable. Glycine. The dose mistake is taking 500mg to 1g daily as a general wellness addition. The sleep quality evidence is built around 3g taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed. The GlyNAC protocol uses approximately 100mg per kg body weight daily, meaning 6 to 8g glycine for most adults. Below 3g the sleep-specific evidence is thin. Pregnenolone: Among the most frequently self-administered hormonal precursors and among the least predictable in conversion. Pregnenolone is upstream of DHEA, progesterone, cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. Conversion is tissue-specific and individually variable. Common self-administration doses are 10 to 50mg daily. Monitoring DHEA-S, total and free testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone at baseline and after six to eight weeks is not optional. Taking this without periodic hormone testing is genuinely flying blind. DHEA. Gender-blind dosing is the main mistake. Women are meaningfully more sensitive than men due to lower baseline androgen levels. 25 to 50mg daily is the studied range in men. In women, 5 to 15mg is typically appropriate to avoid androgenic side effects including acne, hirsutism, and voice changes. Many products are sold at 50mg with no gender-specific guidance. Lab monitoring every six months is appropriate for both sexes. Melatonin: The pharmacological versus physiological dose distinction is the most important point here. The body produces approximately 0.1 to 0.3mg nightly. Most commercial melatonin is sold at 5 to 10mg, which is 20 to 100 times the physiological signal dose. Studies generally show no advantage above 0.5mg for sleep onset in most people and doses above 3mg can suppress endogenous production over time. For jet lag, 0.5 to 1mg is the studied dose. The exception is the oocyte protection data in fertility research which specifically used 3mg. Vitamin E. Most vitamin E supplements are dl-alpha-tocopherol, the synthetic racemic mixture. Natural vitamin E is d-alpha-tocopherol. More importantly, supplementing alpha-tocopherol alone at high doses displaces gamma-tocopherol, which has distinct anti-inflammatory properties. High-dose alpha-tocopherol above 400 IU daily has a concerning signal in the SELECT trial for prostate cancer and in meta-analyses for all-cause mortality at very high doses. Mixed tocopherol and tocotrienol products are a safer profile than isolated high-dose alpha-tocopherol. Biotin. The dose problem here is not efficacy but lab interference. The RDA is 30mcg. Most hair supplements contain 2500 to 10000mcg. Above 1000mcg, biotin interferes with multiple immunoassay-based laboratory tests including thyroid panels, troponin, FSH, LH, estradiol, and progesterone. Stop biotin for a minimum of 72 hours, ideally five to seven days, before any bloodwork. The evidence for biotin improving hair or nails in people without confirmed deficiency is weak. Taurine: The Singh et al. 2023 Science paper elevated taurine in the longevity conversation. The studied dose range in human trials is 1 to 6g daily. The common mistake is 500mg daily from a blend or energy drink, which is close to what food already provides. For longevity applications the animal data used doses equivalent to 3 to 6g daily in humans. Phosphatidylcholine. Dose for clinical applications including cognitive support and liver health is 1200 to 2400mg daily. Most combination products provide 200 to 400mg as a secondary ingredient. For vegetarians and vegans who avoid eggs and have low dietary choline, standalone phosphatidylcholine at a therapeutic dose matters more than a token amount in a blend. Myo-Inositol: For PCOS specifically, the evidence is at 2 to 4g daily. The 40:1 myo to D-chiro inositol ratio (as in Ovasitol) has stronger PCOS evidence than myo-inositol alone. Most products providing 500mg to 1g myo-inositol as part of a women's health blend are below the studied dose. For metabolic and fertility endpoints specifically, the dose matters. Vitamin A (Retinol): Frequently overlooked because it is in most multivitamins and cod liver oil simultaneously. Preformed retinol from all sources combined should stay under 3000mcg daily for adults and is particularly important in women planning pregnancy given teratogenic risk above this threshold. The mistake is not adding up the retinol across a multi, cod liver oil, and any other supplement containing preformed vitamin A. Beta-carotene does not carry the same risk as preformed retinol because conversion is regulated. Check the form. So, the principle across all 50 is the same. Find the active ingredient dose, not the extract or compound weight. Confirm it matches what the human trials you are referencing actually used. Apply age and goal specific calibration. And stop testing multiple new supplements simultaneously because you will never know what is working. Not medical advice though. Supplement decisions in the context of medical conditions or medications should be reviewed with the physician managing those conditions. Let's discuss dosages. submitted by /u/Khaledopolis to r/Supplements [link] [comments]

Here's my post 2 years ago about my textured forehead and skincare routine. Although I saw improvements when I changed products, after some time, babalik yung bumps sa forehead pati yung dryness and itchiness. 😭 What I think went wrong: My sunscreen, since may alcohol component pala si Biore, I think ito talaga naging cause ng dryness sa forehead ko. Altho yes maganda yung velvet finish, pero laging dry yung forehead ko. Pwede din na nasira talaga yung skin barrier ko when I tried some products (Cosrx cleanser and Human Nature toner 😭) way back before that post pa. Pwede din na hindi moisturizing enough yung Klued for me. So I changed ALL of the products I used. Pero I introduced the products slowly. For example, may new product, gagamitin ko muna for 1-2 weeks bago ako mag introduce ng bago. Here's my updated skin care routine that I tried for more than A YEAR bago ako mag introduce ng retinol cream 😂 Sobrang takot ako mag retinol kasi nga baka masira nanaman skin barrier. I use retinol cream 2-3x a week only. Skin type: Combination Routine: Morning 🌞 Step 1. Cleanser: Soul Apothecary Calm + Soothe Oat Step 2. Serum: Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop (TTHS) or 2. Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid (MWF) Step 3. Moisturizer: Purito Oat in calming gel cream Step 4. Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 Evening 🌝 Step 1. Cleanser: Soul Apothecary Calm + Soothe Oat (MWF) or 2. Soul apothecary Gentle Salicylic (TTHS) Step 2 TTHS. Moisturizer: Purito oat in calming gel cream Step 2 MF or MWF. Serum: Good Molecules Hylauronic Acid Serum Step 3 MF or MWF. Retinol: Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream Step 4 MF or MWF. Moisturizer: Purito Oat In Calming gel cream For the attached photo, taken indoor with minimal sunlight from the window and apologies if I have already applied my sunscreen and moisturizer. With this routine, never na ako nagkaroon ng dryness and itchiness sa forehead. I only started using retinol cream this February 2026 and mas nag improve pa skin ko. In a way na nareduce talaga yung fine lines, feeling ko mas may glow na din yung skin. Take note ha, reduced ang fine lines or wrinkles, hindi naman completely nawala dahil botox lang ata makakagawa nyan 😊 But overall I am happy with the results. 🫶🏻 Hope this helps! submitted by /u/reihinno to r/beautytalkph [link] [comments]

SkinType: Combination-acne prone This all started during the 2020 lockdown. It began as a tiny bump on my chin that I thought was just 'Maskne.' Even though I changed my mask 3 times a day, it just got worse. It spread everywhere, all over my chin, my cheeks, and even my neck. A month after it spread, I was panicking but couldn't do anything because of the lockdown. I tried booking appointments with a dermatologist, but they were always cancelled due to the quarantine. When I finally found one, the fees were so high (because of PPE and extra charges) that I had to back out. I was barely surviving back then; my company put us on a skeletal schedule, and I was only paid for the days I worked. My job was my only source of income. This situation really humbled the bitch in me. The breakout was spreading, it was painful, itchy, and I was crying almost every night. Then I realized: I couldn't just stay like this. I started watching dermatologists and influencers on YouTube (Dr. Daniel Sugai) (Dr. Shereene Idriss) and seeking advice from them since I couldn't go anywhere. And as if battling this breakout wasn't enough, I even got COVID twice during that time. This is just 2020. I fell for the hype and tried all the viral products first. Here are the ones that my skin ended up hating. COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser – I was using this all wrong. I used it as my everyday cleanser, but for my sensitive skin, it was way too stripping. COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence – I’m allergic to Snail Mucin The Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner – also in the Witch Hazel The Ordinary Niacinamide My skin became incredibly sensitive after that breakout. These products are my sister’s holy grails, but they were not good for me. I didn’t lose hope, but I did change my approach. I cut back on harsh ingredients, chose gentler products, and started fixing my diet. 1. I slowly cut back on my sugar intake and forced myself to stop eating so many sweets. 2. I used to drink 6 cups of sweetened coffee a day—even right before bed! I cut that down to just 2 cups of black coffee (no sugar or creamer) and started drinking 3 ltrs of water every day. The difference in my skin's hydration was almost immediate. 3. I finally started being strict about sunscreen. I made it a rule to wear it every time I stepped outside, even if it didn't feel sunny. I also switched to gel-type sunscreens because I learned that heavy creams could clog pores and trigger more breakouts, especially for my oily skin. 4. I used retinol - Pond's Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Serum. (best decision) For the first 3 weeks, I did not see any changes. But I did ’not stop. For the morning routine. Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser/ CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion/ I'm From Rice Toner SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (used this when I see no new pimps popping up) Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+/ PA+++ For the night routine. Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser/ CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion/ I'm From Rice Toner Pond's Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Serum Two months passed, and I noticed that no new pimples were popping up. I was finally feeling better after my second bout with COVID, and I even started exercising. Once the quarantine was lifted, I went to my gynecologist for an annual check-up. I was worried I might have PCOS, but my results were clear. Since my skin was finally healing on its own, I decided not to see a dermatologist anymore. I’m not using these exact products anymore, but they are the ones that truly helped my skin heal. Now, I’ve learned to adapt my routine based on what my skin needs now. Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. I hope my experience helps anyone currently struggling to find their own skin’s balance. Note: I am not a professional dermatologist; I am simply sharing what worked for my specific skin type (oily/sensitive) after years of trial and error. submitted by /u/candymaeve05 to r/beautyph [link] [comments]

Hello! I’m 25, and I just wanted to share my acne journey in case it helps someone or makes anyone feel less alone. When I was younger, my diet was really bad, I have very oily skin, and I used to pick at my face a lot… which made everything worse. I know a lot of you understand how mentally draining it can feel when you’re constantly thinking about your skin and how it looks. My skin isn’t perfect now, but it’s so much better than it used to be. Over the years I’ve focused on: - drinking more water - working out regularly - using an antibacterial silk pillowcase, it helps reduce redness and friction on my skin. Try to find one that’s antibacterial and hypoallergenic. I use one from Luff Sleep. It also helped reduce my hair fall. - and most importantly, patience It honestly took a lot of trial and error to figure out what my skin responds to. I’m sharing my routine below, not because you have to follow it exactly, but in case it gives someone ideas. I also try to keep things relatively budget-friendly and easy to repurchase. I’m also very open to feedback if anyone has suggestions. Morning Cleanser: CeraVe SA Cleanser / Starface Star Wash (alternate) Toner: Thayers BHA or Thayers Unscented (alternate) Niacinamide toner (Good Molecules) Salicylic acid (Artnaturals) Hyaluronic acid (Neutrogena Hydro Boost) Vitamin C (Pacifica) Discoloration serum (Good Molecules) Moisturizer (Neutrogena Ultra Gentle) Jojoba oil (sometimes) Sunscreen SPF 50 (very important) NIGHT Cleanser Hyaluronic acid Retinol (Neutrogena) Moisturizer Jojoba oil EXTRA I dermaplane every 2–3 weeks. When I do: I stop retinol a few days before, avoid actives after (no BHA, retinol, vitamin C for 3–5 days), keep it simple: cleanser, HA, moisturizer, jojoba oil, sunscreen. I also use a silk pillowcase with antibacterial and breathable material, mine is from Luff Sleep. If you’re struggling with your skin right now, I just want to say, I’ve been there. That embarrassed, avoidant feeling is real. But it can get better with time and consistency. You’re not alone submitted by /u/Dear_Try_5471 to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

After a long three year battle with acne. I haven’t had a breakout in months (September 2025, to now March 2026). Finally! Only took three years to solve… EDIT: Thank you all for the lovely responses! I really appreciate it! I’ll summarise the how and skincare here so you don’t have to search: My acne was hormonal, I had irregular periods my entire life and severe PMS. Birth control (Lucette) sorted me right out. Every body is different, I just did some research after trying Rigevidon and Yasmin (neither worked but I was only young). I wash my face with water in mornings and apply SPF & Cerave moisturiser before makeup. Evening I take makeup off with micellar water and then wash face with Cerave hydrating cleanser, before using moisturiser then a retinol serum. Retinols are very harsh on my skin and cause severe eczema instantaneously so Inkey List serum is the only one I’ve found which doesn’t react badly. submitted by /u/lilybeth2002 to r/acne [link] [comments]

Intro: From age 15-30ish, I had a basic routine. AM: water wash face, moisturizer, make up PM: 2-step cleanse, moisturizer Then my skin changed, became more dry and started having seasonal acne. So in 2025, I started looking into new products/routine. I think I’ll make a separate post in a few days for my current routine + my 2026 skincare supplies stock. I tried out more products than shown in picture but threw some out before I started to collect empties. So the following list will include some products not shown in the pic. Skin Type: sensitive, dry, dehydrated. hormonal/seasonal acne Climate: tropical hot humid ❌=WNR= would not repurchase ☑️=G= good, would repurchase if on sale ✅=AR= Already Repurchased CLEANSERS Banila Co Cleansing Balms - previously used Clinique’s take the day off balm and switched to this one a few years ago. loved it. cheaper and has a nice soft scent. highly recommend ✅ Biore Cleansing Milk - wanted to use this as a single step cleanse but it somehow stings my eyes ❌ Matsukiyo Cleansing Oil - amazing find! i saw an influencer mention this is very similar to the shuuemura cleansing oil but much cheaper. tried it and loved it. i probably finished 4 bottles already. ✅ Biore 2in1 MakeUp Remover Foaming Face wash - i’ve used this for over a decade. tried and true. does not dry me out. ✅ Biore makeup remover Wipes - physically and chemically abrasive. i used this back in the day and still had the box so figured i should add here. ❌ TONERS Naturie Hatomugi Lotion - tried and true. on my second bottle. i like to layer this one or two times before moisturizer. then if i feel dry during the day, spritz some on my face ✅ Cosparade Hatomugi Lotion (donki dupe) - saw this on Tina Harris's youtube video. agree with all she said. i'd repurchase ☑️ Sana wrinkle lotion - i heard the retinol content is nowhere near effective so…. ❌ d Program Moist Care lotion - this is super hydrating. one layer is equiv to 3 layers of the naturie lotion. it’s expensive though but for the right price, i’d buy again. ☑️ Cosrx propolis toner - hydrating but left a sticky finish which i didn’t like ❌ Sana wrinkle/brightening lotion - this broke me out and made me discover later on that i’m probably allergic to niacinamide❌ Exfoliating Toner - if anyone has any recs for a Japanese/Korean exfoliating toner, please let me know. I’m currently using a non-AB 0.5% salicylic acid toner and want to switch to an Asian one. EMULSIONS Naturie Hatomugi Milk - inexpensive simple basic emulsion ✅ d Program Moist Care Milk - my holy grail emulsion. ✅ illiyoon ato lotion - it was okay but felt like it didn’t really absorb into my skin❌ Sana wrinkle emulsion - i heard the retinol content is nowhere near effective so…. ❌ MOISTURIZERS Care Cera face/body cream - thick in texture but lightweight on application ☑️ Torriden Solid In Cream - thick cream as last step moisturizer ☑️ Pyunkang Yul Ato Cream Blue Label - ‘no fragrance’ but it has a plastic-y smell that i don’t like. i’m trying to use it up as hand cream ❌ Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream - same as above. weird plastic smell so i’m using as hand cream ❌ Hada Labo premium (blue) - apparently the one i have (thailand) has niacinamide and it broke me out too. ❌ illiyoon ato cream - wasn’t hydrating enough for face though i might repurchase to give it another try for body ❌ SUNSCREENS Hada Labo UV Perfect Gel - i thought i could use this as a single step moisturizer + UV. but it was nowhere near hydrating enough. after 1hr, my skin was dry. might be good for oily/combo skin but not for me ❌ Biore UV Aqua Rich Essence - i like using under makeup ✅ Biore UV Aqua Rich TONE UP Essence - stay-at-home days, i wash face, apply emulsion, and use this sunscreen. i don’t reapply. it’s not sticky yet i don’t feel dry or tight during the day. people seem to have had pilling issues with tone up sunscreens but i didn't have an issue with this one. felt like natural skin ✅ Biore UV Body Care Serum Age Defense - feels heavy on my skin ❌ tinted sunscreens - if anyone has recs for tinted sunscreens or BB creams with SPF, light to medium coverage, please let me know. OTHER Melty Cream Lip - too ‘fluid/melty/oily’ for me. maybe because i’m in hot climate. if you’re in a cooler climate, it might glide on well and not be too slippy, slidey ❌ Donki Goat’s Milk Hand Cream - fragrance was too pungent. felt like my nostrils were being assaulted ❌ UHA Iron/collagen gummies - not soft gummies, more like stiffer gummies. tastes good ✅ submitted by /u/seijurogouu to r/AsianBeauty [link] [comments]

I wanted to share this 1 month poorly censored progress photo, please be kind because I know my hair is a disaster 🤣 These photos are taken in the same lighting, same time of day, same phone, and same room, unedited. I tried to keep everything as same as possible to create an accurate before and after. I started Tretinoin because I have lost 72 lbs and still actively losing plus anti aging purposes. I was becoming concerned in the skin changes in my face and neck. After being recommended I try this cream I went for it. I was using roc retinol, Dr Brandt products, skincuticals etc and I had been using a skin care routine fairly routinely however not correctly as I’ve learned since. But in just a short time I’ve noticed changes in my forehead and even my eye area/eyelids(I do NOT apply Tret anywhere around my eyes). I kept getting comments about what I’ve been doing differently from those around me yet I hadn’t really noticed a difference until I compared. I don’t know if it’s just getting and sticking to a dialed in skincare routine that changed things or if it’s actually the tret doing its thing, maybe both. But I wanted to post this for anyone who has a similar story. I was really thinking I was SOL and was headed for a face lift at the age of 37 a month ago. 🫣 AM: 1.Rinse with water 2.byoma hydration spray 3.Byoma Milk toner 4.COSRX snail essence 5.numbuzin no.2 serum 6.vanicream 7.elf invisible sunscreen SPF 30 PM: 1.rice water bright cleansing oil Neutrogena ultra gentle hydrating facial cleanser or Vanicream cleanser 3.COSRX snail essence VASELINE AROUND EYES, nose folds and on lips tret - 5-6 days a week vanicream on top as needed submitted by /u/Extreme_Effective762 to r/tretinoin [link] [comments]

Before picture was around 2023 to June/July 2025. After picture is this month . I used to be so over-influenced by creators, certified people and advice from random people online telling me to use benzoyl peroxide, BHA, AHA, retinol, etc. They didn't work well for me. During July 2025 | went to China and my mom convinced me to get a facial/extraction (she tried convincing for months Imao), but I just won't do it because everyone online is saying don't do anything harsh on sensitive and broken skin, which is true (?). Then I finally gathered the courage to just do it since my skin was already bad and that was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I was crying and raging for 4 hours straight when they were removing any clogged pores and blackheads. My skin was super duper red and dark red and damaged but after a few days it got better, all because of EGF (epidermal growth factor). This ingredient is my holy grail till now. Enough with the yapping, here's my routine. Morning: wash skin with water only, preferably lukewarm water cus it washes off the products on my skin easier. Then I'll apply sunscreen ONLY and go on with my day. Night: double cleanse, toner, EGF serum, anua azelaic acid 10% (sometimes), moisturiser. Double cleansing I'll use micellar water then go with a sulfur amino acid cleanser. I use a spray toner then PAT it into my skin and immediately use egf serum because it's better on damp skin. Overall it took 2-3 months to get rid of most of my marks and redness. Sorry if this was confusing lol im sleepy submitted by /u/Dapper-Inspector-166 to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

All products I have purchased in 2025 Quick summary of how I feel about each product so you don't have to read my rambling Hello everyone, since the year is almost over, I want to make a list of all the products I have tried in 2025. From left to right and top to bottom, this is my thought: - Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum with Retinol: bad packaging, I can’t control how much I squeeze out, so I always end up with too much product. The product itself absorbs really fast into the skin, so I’m tempted to transfer it into a jar. Tempted to repurchase after I’m done with my current tube. I like it, not love it. - Inkey list Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick: not worth it, so sticky, hard to absorb into the skin. I dislike this product. - Amika Forget Frizz Anti-Frizz shampoo and conditioner: I don't see any improvement on mine fine, frizzy hair. I don't think it's worth it. - Sol de Janeiro's Bom Dia Bright Clarifying AHA BHA Body Wash: I finished the whole bottle, it smells excellent, but it did nothing for my KP skin, I don’t think it smooths my skin either. However, since I love the scent so much, I will repurchase. I love this scent. - Topcials Slather Exfoliating & Smoothing Bar - For Soft Skin: not as good as Soft Service, it dissolves way faster than SS, so I go through this very fast. Also, the crystals are not distributed evenly in the bar, as a result, sometimes one part is rougher than others. I like this, but I would recommend the Soft Service over this. - YSL All Hours Hyper Blur Loose Powder: I have mixed feelings about this powder, someday it looks good, someday it doesn’t. I think it’s not suitable for dry skin. I’m on the fence about this. - Prada Dimensions Multi Effect Refillable Eyeshadow in 07: It is just ok, I have nothing good or bad to say about it, it gets the job done. - NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush: This blush is very glowy and very light. I would say this is completely opposite with the Rare Beauty blush. If you are into light, glowy blush, this is for you. Overall, I enjoyed using this blush when I first got it, but as the year go on, I find more enjoyable formulas like Dior Soft Filter and Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush, I no longer reach for Nars one. I will put this into my project pan in 2026. It's average. - Violette FR BISOU BLUSH Marbled Cream Blush Stick: This is a very natural blush formula, quite matte as well. I enjoy using this, but I don't love it enough to repurchase once it's done. - Rhode Pocket Blush: This product doesn't agree with my skin. It lifted my foundation and emphasizes my pores. Also, it doesn't last on my dry skin, despite I set it with loose powder and CT setting spray. I don't love this. - YSL MAKE ME BLUSH BLURRING LIQUID BLUSH: This is a perfectly average liquid blush, but what makes me rank it as a "so-so" is the packaging. The cap is so flimsy for a $40 blush. This doesn't feel like a high-end product on my hands. I don't recommend, and I don't like it. - Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Stick: This is a very pretty blush, it's creamy, glowy and buildable. The only downside for me is that it has glitters. I'm not a fan of glittery blush, since my skin is flaky sometimes. I like this, but not enough to repurchase - Charlotte Tilbury UNREAL BLUSH HEALTHY GLOW STICK: I prefer this blush over Dior, but the packaging is very light, it feels like I'm holding a drugstore product so it stops me to get another shade in her line. However, if I ever have a gift card, or she ever releases a limited edition packaging for this cream blush, I would definitely open my wallet. The product itself is creamy and pigmented, has less glow than Dior but no glitters. I love this formula but packaging sucks. - Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Cream Blush Stick: I'm not a fan, the packaging got often stuck, the formula is patchy on my skin. I'm glad I bought it on sale. Otherwise, I would be very salty. I don't like this at all - Dior Forever Glow Maximizer in Pearly: Very glittery, not a fan. The pinks and the peach are smoother, from what I see on the internet. However, the shade Pearly is extremely glittery for my liking. Not a fan. Tbh, I didn't notice a trend with Dior products until I start writing this review. Most of their cheeks and highlighters have a lot of glitters in it, and they are big glitters, not the small size ones like Benefit Cookies or Prada highlighters. I don't like this at all - Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Parla: I already love this formula, and it's a staple in my makeup routine, so I of course I love this one as well. This color might actually replace Nectar as my number one shade in this line. I love this and would recommend. - HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick: This one has similar finish to Chanel and Westman highlighter. The price might make you think at first that it's a cheaper alternative to Chanel or Westman, but it's not. It's about the same $/gram as Westman and Chanel is actually cheaper than both. Ofc, if you have a lot of makeup and rarely finish a product, this one is indeed a more affordable option. Hence, even though I like Lady Gaga and this product, there is no way I will repurchase this. I like this and NOT RECOMMEND. - Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain for 12-Hour Wear: This is a waste of money, I rarely have a strong feeling about a product, but I really regret this purchase. I can't return it because I got it through a proxy service. Man, this item dried up so rapidly, despite the fact that I adhered to the recommended storage method. The color is also a fail cause it looks bright pink on me, unfortunately. - Ilia Soft Focus Blurring Blush: This blush is pretty nice. It’s definitely blurring, and all the shades look really soft and pretty on my light skin. It gives that soft, muted blush look that’s trending on RedNote right now. I enjoy it a lot and would recommend it, but the packaging is what keeps me from loving it. For $36, it feels kind of cheap and doesn’t even have a mirror, lol. - YSL Make Me Blush 24H Buildable Powder Blush: Currently my favorite powder blush formula. All finishes (matte, satin) work great. They are very long-lasting and pigmented. The packaging feels nice as well. I love this and would repurchase or get more colors. - Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush: I like this, but not as much as the MAC Glow Play Cushiony Blush. It’s easy to blend and lasts quite a long time on me. The color looks good on my skin as well. The packaging looks sleek, and the plastic feels better than Ilia’s, even though it’s cheaper. I'm satisfied with my purchase, I like it, but I won't go out of my way to recommend it. - Tower28 GetSet® Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush: It’s okay, just a bit patchy sometimes. I guess it’s not really for my dry skin. That said, it is very matte, just like they advertised. I don’t feel strongly about this either way. I don't regret my purchase, but I will pass this to another family member who has oily skin to enjoy. - Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush: like the formula, but the packaging kind of turning me off. I’m a sucker for good packaging, so it takes away some of the fun for me. I know it’s made of recycled plastic, but I don’t think they thought much about the inside. It feels a bit like indie makeup, like something 3D printed, once you open the lid. The product itself is smooth and easy to blend. I don't feel strongly about this, not a fan of packaging, would not recommend. - Maison Louis Marie Fleur de Vanille Hair and Body Mist: Love the scent, very simple vanilla, not extremely sweet so that's plus for me. Love it on me, won't recommend because it is very simple. - Nest Madagascar Vanilla Body Mist: a very warm and cozy vanilla. I really love this scent, so it’s no surprise that I like the body mist too. However, I’d recommend getting the oil or the perfume instead, because the mist doesn’t last very long and the packaging feels cheap. Love the scent, get the perfume or the oil. - Prada Light Glowing Highlighter Powder: I really like this, it's very smooth and gives such a natural glow from within. I wrote a rave post about this product already so I will be quick: Love this, but too expensive to recommend. - Dior Forever Glow Luminizer Highlighter limited holiday 2025: It’s a gorgeous, glittery highlighter. The base is more transparent than yellow, giving a wet, sparkly look. I like using it for a night-out makeup look. - Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Face Palette: They are very glittery, which as everyone knows by now, I'm not really a big fan of. Unlike the holiday limited, this one fell short because it is more white base than transparent. Moreover, these shades look really similar on the cheeks and one pink shade is leaning a bit warm. - Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Lips Healthy Glow Nectar Lip Oil: This is my favorite lip gloss formula. It makes your lips look so full and juicy and the formula is extremely lightweight, not sticky at all. The only downside of this is again, the packaging, it looks very cheap and juvenile. I love it still and would recommend this regardless of the cheap packaging. - Glow Recipe Glass Balm Lip Treatment: Very cute packaging but that's about it. It turns grainy even though I live in hot climate. It's not very hydrating either. I don't like this and do not recommend this - Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick: Many people said this formula is drying but I find it's very sticky and transfers a lot. The color I got - 120 was not great on me either, it turns pale pink on my lip, and washed me out. I’m on the fence about this, and I do not recommend - Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Polypeptide Lip Serum Treatment: I really like the applicator, but I don’t have strong feelings about the formula itself. It’s okay— not too sticky and fairly hydrating. It’s nothing particularly standout, so there’s not much to talk about. One small thing I'm not a fan of is the very sweet scent. I feel pretty neutral about this. - Guerlain Kiss Kiss Bee Glow Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil: Very long-lasting, thick, and nourishing product. The only downside is that no matter which shade you choose, it tends to turn Barbie-pink after a few minutes, since Guerlain and other high-end brands love pH-reactive formulas. I like to use this one at night so when I wake up in the morning, my lips feel nice and soft. I'm satisfied with my purchase, not recommend to anyone. - YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick: A more glossy, thicker formula compared to my favorite lipstick - Candy Glow. I just don't enjoy the thicker consistency and the color 22 looks a bit light on my lips. I like it but I don't think it will repurchase or I have a desire to try another shade. - YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm: I love this lipstick so much, it’s my most-used one right now. The formula is super buttery and hydrating, giving just a hint of color on the lips. One downside is that it’s not very long-lasting. However, it’s extremely easy to apply on the go, and I don’t even need a mirror to reapply. I’ve noticed some people don’t like the scent, but I actually love it, so if you want to try this, make sure to smell it in-store first. Love this and I recommend this. - Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick: Used to be my favorite glossy lipstick before the YSL. I like this one quite a bit, it has more pigment and feels comfortable on the lips. I still like this, just not as much. -Phlur Heavy Cream body mist: I’m not a fan of this one because it’s too sweet and cloying in hot weather. The sugar and coconut notes are very strong, and I don’t notice any creaminess. I’m currently “hate-panning” it. I don’t like it myself, but I’d recommend it if you really love sugary scents. - Danessa Myricks Colorfix Stix: This is a very glittery, wet, foil eyeshadow sticks. I don't even have to use flashlight to make it looks good, unlike *cough\ Patrick Ta* *cough\.* It's very easy to use and such a joy to put on. I love this and would recommend it to pretty much anyone who loves sparkles. Products I already finished and throw away lol - Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Body Cream: Amazing scent, very moisturing. I love this scent so much I already repurchase. I don't notice this helps my KP though. I like this but I don't recommend getting it, unless it's on sale. - FAB KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA: I got this on sale, 50% off and even with the sale, I still this is too much lol. It did nothing for my KP and it's soooo hard to squeeze it out. Just get Dove body scrubs or Tree hut scrub or Naturium (not, if you don't like ELF), they would do the same thing. I don't like this and don't recommend this. - Kerastase Elixir Ultime Refillable Hydrating Hair Oil for Shine: It smells nice but too heavy for my fine hair. I don't notice any difference after finising this bottle so I won't repurchase. I think it's too expensive for what it is. I don't like this. - Amika Reset Cleansing Oil: I don't think this works as good as my try and true Ouai Detox shampoo. I don't think it works at all for me. I got it during the sale so I feel less frustrated. I don't like this and I don't recommend. submitted by /u/scarletofmagic to r/Sephora [link] [comments]

A few years ago I decided to try the GlobalBeautyCare Retinol face cream and was HOOKED on it. Just this year, my local Dollar Tree stopped selling it which led me to trying to find another good face cream from Dollar Tree on TikTok. I’ve since then joined this subreddit and have been using it to find reviews on products before I buy, and to know what products to stay away from. As someone who has used high end products most of my life (Clinique, Vichy, Biotherm, Estée Lauder, etc.), I wanted to offer short reviews on products I’ve purchased! Not pictured: GlobalBeautyCare Retinol face cream: My OG favourite face cream from Dollar Tree. Perfect consistency and doesn’t cause any oiliness or breakouts. 8/10 GlobalBeautyCare Smooth & Lift face cream: This one is…. Okay. It’s more of a gel texture which I usually like, but this one is very light/watery and requires you to use a bit more to feel moisturized. 5/10 Global Beauty Care Smooth & Lift face wash: it’s a no from me 💀 it does lather nicely, but I don’t feel as if it really penetrates the skin for a deep clean. It also caused breakouts for me which is uncommon. The smell is also slightly offputting to me. 2/10 Eve St. Clair & Spa Soap Body Washes: It sucks because these ones actually smell great! But they do not lather well at all and require you to use a big portion of the bottle. 3/10 Ioni Extreme Brow Glue: The best hold from a brow glue I’ve yet to come across. Wish my store still had it!! 9/10 Pictured: XtraCare Hair Mask: I just used this today and no complaints so far! It smells nice and my hair feels thicker and my curls are more defined. 8/10 LovU Hand Cream: it’s a no. It doesn’t absorb well into my skin and also feels sort of rubbery? It also provided me with no moisture. 1/10 Indeed Watermelon Melting Balm: This is my go to face wash because it is always in stock at my local store, and it’s the only one I trust right now 😂 (I want to try the Hydro Plus cleanser but haven’t seen it in store yet!!). It gets the job done, the only downside is it smells/tastes a little weird and I always end up getting a little taste lol. 6/10 Pro Silk Body Wash: I actually enjoy this one!! It lathers much nicer than the other body washes I’ve tried. The consistency and smell are both nice. 8/10 Crest Bubblegum Mouthwash: Idc if this is for kids, I will continue to try and put everyone I know on it 😂. It’s SO tasty and doesn’t have the overwhelming mint/flouride flavour most mouthwashes have. 10/10 Indeed Microbiome Essence: This is nice!! It leaves my skin feeling more glowy and smooth after using it, and makes a good base for skin care routine. 8/10 Kindly Keratin Conditioner: This conditioner isn’t bad!! It smells nice and definitely leaves my hair feeling softer. 7/10 Total Body Care Cocoa Butter Lotion: I bought this lotion hoping it would smell like cocoa butter and was disappointed to find out it just smelt like weird rubber/plastic which a lot of lotions from Dollar Tree seem to suffer from. It also does not absorb well into the skin and feels very lightweight and watery. 1/10 Old Spice Clean Cotton Antiperspirant: So surprise I’m actually a man 💀 (a gay one ofc). But as someone who doesn’t love to smell musky or aggressively ‘manly’, this scent is great!! Smells very clean. One of my favourite finds so far!! 9/10 Pro Silk Salon Hairspray: Nope!!! This is terrible. Little to no hold and the squirt mechanic is just odd for a hairspray imo. 1/10 Dermasil Cocoa Butter Lotion: oh my god. I have literally never smelt anything more astounding in my life. It is SO good. If you like cocoa butter products you will find ecstasy in this. The lotion itself applies decently. It isn’t as intensively moisturizing as it could be, but it definitely is something I seek out and repurchase often for the smell alone. 9/10 Natural Peppermint lip balm: I swear these used to be better 😭 the flavour isn’t really there anymore and it feels like they really only moisturize the surface level of my lips. I do use it though so it’s alright I guess lol. 5/10 Power Serum: this is one of the products I’ve read reviews on from this subreddit, and y’all are gonna hate me…. But I don’t think I love it 😭 I find that the serums are very watery and don’t have the ever so slight creamy/moisturizing aspect that most serums have. The scent is also very artificial to me like a lot of other products. This one feels a bit more moisturizing than the Smooth & Lift serum though!! I’ll definitely still use it. 5/10 Smooth & Lift Serum: Very watery and dries almost immediately. I’m not sure it did much of anything for my skin honestly. 3/10 Styling Brow Glue: this caught my eye becuase I could tell it was a dupe of the Nyx brow glue which is great. This one is alright honestly!! Definitely not as strong as a hold, but gets the job done for sure. 7/10 Ioni Brow Pens: so I first had the three tipped pen which I found super convenient and quick to use on a day to day, I emptied it and I’ve now switched over to the regular one tip pen. They are quite identical in formula, but the three tipped one definitely was easier for me to apply while maintaining a natural look. 7/10 DeepFresh Eco Keratin Oil Shampoo: Meh. It has the typical hotel shower shampoo smell to it, and doesn’t feel beneficial to my hair other than a surface level cleaning. I also find my hair gets oilier faster if I use this shampoo. 4/10 Global Beauty Care Makeup Wipes: Pretty good!! They get the job done for sure and leave my skin feeling clean. The scent is light and pleasant. 7/10 Eco Wet Wipes: I like these wipes because they’re the best deal. They are completely unscented which I know a lot of people look for. They do tend to tear easier than most wipes but definitely are still useable. 6/10 Stud Wipes: yeah I don’t like the smell of these 😭 I also find the texture to be very cheap and almost like a wet paper towel roll. They rip apart so easily. The only advantage is that these ones are flushable lol. 5/10 Dermasil Night Cream: This is actually a pretty intensive night cream lol, I enjoy it once in a while but if I use it too often I will get a little oily. Great for hydration though!! It does take a little bit of effort to lather into the skin but pretty solid product. 8/10 XtraCare Anti Wrinkle Cream: This is my current go to moisturizer! I love how creamy it is. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and doesn’t cause any breakouts or oiliness! Maybe even better than the GlobalBeautyCare Retinol cream!! 9/10 Anomaly Leave in Conditioner: this conditioner should be left in the store. I have never been more overstimulated by anything in my life. The product basically falls out of the tube as soon as you open the cap, and it is SO sticky. I would feel the need to wash my hands multiple times after applying the product. The stickiness doesn’t go away when it’s in your hair either. It is just the grossest feeling/texture ever for a leave in conditioner and it felt almost more like a gel or styling product. 1/10 submitted by /u/shrekbussy to r/dollartreebeauty [link] [comments]

I came off the pill in 2020 after being on it since 2016, and by August 2022, my skin developed painful, cystic acne. I was prescribed Duac (Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide) , which worked great at first, but after about 13 months, I was told to stop by the GP. Since then, I’ve tried retinol, Epiduo (benzoyl peroxide and adapalene), Lymecycline, and Dermatica formulas ( Adapalene 0.1%, Niacinamide 4% , Clindamycin 1%) with mixed success, plus lifestyle changes like going gluten-free. My skin always clears up when I’m abroad, but it flares up within a week of being back in the UK. Epiduo eventually made my skin sore, so I stopped it and switched to a more soothing routine. Since mid-2023, I’ve been getting random episodes of redness, heat, and flushing, plus swelling and pressure under my jaw when I’m off treatment, like deep nodules forming under the skin. I’ve done multiple rounds of antibiotics but don’t want to rely on them anymore, and I’m hesitant to go straight onto Accutane. My current routine is as followes: AM wash my face with just water form the tap and a wash cloth, I then I then spray my face with filter water which I follow up with hypochlorous acid spray, I imidiatly go in with Byoma's Barrier Repair Eye Cream under the eye, wait about 10 mintues and use Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner and Hydrating Serum to lock in moisture leave all to spoke in then I finish with The Inky List Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30. PM I use Elims Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm which I work into my skin for 5 mintues add water and emulsify for another mintue, I then use Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser which I rise off, I then spray my face with filter water, I dry my face with a clean paper towel and the use Byoma's Barrier Repair Eye Cream under the eye and layer over Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream and add Cerave Healing Ointment to my lips and every second night I use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% on the other nights I use Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner and Hydrating Serum. I leave the product on my skin for 10 mintues I then finish with Byoma Barrier+ Treatment moisturiser, this has been my routine for the past month. I’d really prefer to try spironolactone first, as it seems like it's hormonal. My skin right now is as bad as it was in 2022, but more swollen and unpredictable. I’ve got a dermatology appointment in December, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s had similar symptoms or knows what this could point to, whether hormonal, immune-related, rosacea, environmental, or something else entirely. Please help... submitted by /u/Ok_Possibility_548 to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

Would love to hear this group’s thoughts on my routine, which has truly taken years of trial-and-error to perfect. I’m an aging (ha!), very pale, woman with very sensitive/reactive skin and also a history of rosacea/acne vulgaris which both popped up around 35 (such fun!). I had horrible cystic acne as a teenager but went on two courses of Accutane in high school which was magic and completely cured my skin, but did leave me with permanent dryness. My routine is a mix of very high-end, prescription, and pharmacy products. I go for effectiveness and most of all, my skin liking something (not peeling or reacting). Cost is generally not an issue. Would love to know what this group thinks. I’d say right now, I’m pretty content. I wish Plated didn’t work quite so well for me but that’s my really only lament about my routine. Everything seems to layer well. I don’t have pilling. I can wear makeup over my AM routine no problem. Here is my AM routine, in order: Dr. Haushka Cleansing Milk - Truly my OG cleanser. It removes makeup. It makes my skin soft. No stripping. An honorable mention to Josh Rosebrook Essential Moisture Cleanse which I will use if I want to do a double cleanse. SK-II Toner - What hasn’t been said? This is an amazing, well-loved product for a reason. It instantly evens out my splotchy redness. Plated Intense Serum - grumble grumble price. But I do think it’s helping me rebuild collagen after major weight loss. Plated Eye Serum - again, begrudgingly does seem to be fading my hereditary dark eye circles. Finacea - if you have rosacea, you know this cream. It’s 15% azelaic acid. I get it from Australia where it’s over the counter. It’s amazing. Alastin Vitamin-C - a newer addition, replacing the Sunday Riley CEO cream, which was very moisturizing. This one has better clinical results and sits better under my makeup. Biore Aqua sunscreen - purchased direct from Japan. Truly no better sunscreen out there in my opinion. PM routine: Same cleanser Laniege Cream Skin - I switch my toner up at night because of retinols and dryness. Dual Tone - that Thiamidol is no joke. If you haven’t tried this, run! La Roche Posay Redermic - for my sensitive gals, give this a try. I tried truly EVERY other retinol under the sun, including supposedly gentle ones like Altreno and Medik8. They all made me peel and itch. This is the only one that I can use every night. It’s amazing. Barbara Sturm Riche Cream - I add this on in the winter to help with dryness. Her creams are very very good. Last photo is stuff I use intermittently: Barbara Sturm Scrub - once a week before I dermaplane. I’ll use an SK-II mask after weekly as well. Looking to try the 111Skin ones and see if I like those better. Cle de Peau magic + Tower 28 - if my skin is angry or irritated, I will drop everything and use only the Cream Skin, this product, and the Tower28 balm. Brings my skin back to normal in a week. Generally happens after lasers, etc. Soolantra - if you have ever had bad rosacea with acne vulgaris, this is a game changer. I find now that it’s under control, I don’t use this regularly. But about once a year, those demodex mites will flare up and o need add this in for a week or two. submitted by /u/cljenna to r/SkincareAddictionLux [link] [comments]

Started Oct 2023 SM Bicutan Branch then lumipat kami sa bulacan. Yung kinuha ko before worth 13k di ko na gano maalala basta sure ako 5 sessions ng Axilight UA at (8 or 10?) Diode Laser. Take note na di nakakaputi ang diode. Para sa buhok lang talaga siya. Yung una kong session bago ko kunin yang 13k is nasa 2k+ ata pero iisa lang yun. Tapos last year kumuha ako ulit ng 5 sessions ng axilight nasa around 7k un. Kumuha din ako ng Intensive UA nila mga nasa 3 session natapos ko worth 4k ata di ko na tanda. Basta hinihigop yung kilikili ko jan. Nasa around 26-29k (may membership fee pa pala) nagastos ko kasi binibili ko rin yung axilight serum nila nasa 3 bottles na ata naubos ko tapos 1 retinol cream, 2 jar ng anti inflam. Partida 3-4x a week lang din ako maligo (HAHAHAH) since wfh ako. Next target ko is wink kaso di ko mahanap ung shop nila sa trinoma naliligaw ako hahaha. Tip ko lang is kapag nakapang5 session na kayo iremind niyo na wag taasan or else baka magasgas kasi ganyan nangyari sakin balak balak ko pa nga sila ireklamo sa fda at dti e buti nalang di lumala and nawala naman. Kasi if magasgas sayang lang din yung ilang session na pinunta niyo. Check your branch reviews na rin. Yang nasa pic medyo may buhok na pero di ba di halata. 3-4 mos na yan kasi alam ko either june or july ako last nagpalaser. I started plucking when I was 10 kasi ginagaya ko nanay ko lol a decade and a half of shaving, plucking, waxing. For me I recommend SM pulilan and SM bicutan branch. Wag SM baliuag lol jan ako namrublema. submitted by /u/Madrasta28 to r/skincarephilippines [link] [comments]

pic 1: taken AFTER my accutane course. my acne here is still much better in this then it used to be. Apologies for the low quality, I hated pictures because I was super insecure hence why I don’t have ones from before accutane either. pic 2: makeup only on my eyes and lips, nothing on my skin except sunscreen and moisturizer. My eyebrows are microbladed. FULL DISCLOSURE #1: I am not a dermatologist nor a licensed esthetician. I am a registered nurse with a basic understanding of microbiology and human anatomy who has spent way too many hours on skincare YouTube. What I’ve detailed below is what worked for me, and by no means what works for everyone else. FULL DISCLOSURE #2: I’ve had pico laser done once in office to help with post inflammatory hyperpigmentation as well as laser removal of my flat facial moles. FULL DISCLOSURE #3: I am not sponsored by, nor do I have any conflict of interest with any of these brands I list. Things I’ve tried that didn’t work (before y’all come for me please remember that I started this journey when I was like 10 😂) - benzoyl peroxide (I am allergic 😭) - spironolactone - clay masks - scrubs/ physical exfoliation (St. Ives 😱) - peel off masks - salicylic acid acne clearing pads - proactiv (the entire set) - pore strips - Mario badescu drying lotion - witch hazel - Clinique clarifying lotion - 10 step Korean skin care routine (I didn’t curate it, I just bought blindly based off of what had good reviews 🤦‍♀️) - snail mucin - essence and/ or toner - Chinese medicine (I don’t even know what I was taking tbh.) - not moisturizing “because I was too oily” - any type of DIY mask (lemon juice, egg, honey, olive oil, yogurt, rice water, u name it) - topical clindamycin Things that worked but don’t currently use: - Accutane (I did a 6 month course; acne came back eventually but SO much improvement in severity) - CeraVe SA cleanser - rx Sodium Sulfacetamide cleanser (cleansing with sulfur is one of the things I truly believe saved my skin. I still break out when I go without my sulfur for too long. I think it’s bullshit when people say your face wash doesn’t matter - sulfur absolutely matters for me) - oral doxycycline (worked only while I was actively using, but was worried about antimicrobial resistance) - ZitSticka Skin Discipline multivitamin capsules (genuinely helped my skin but was too expensive and was able to wean off of them over the course of trial and error x 1 year) Current Regimen AM: - cleanse CeraVe hydrating cream to foam cleanser - serum: glossier super pure (niacinamide and zinc - been repurchasing this for over 6 years now) - moisturizer: glossier after baume (my HG moisturizer: super thick and luxurious but doesn’t break me out) - sunscreen + vit c: melano CC sunscreen spf 50++++ PM - first cleanse: glossier milky jelly cleansing balm (doesn’t really matter what first step cleanser I use tbh. I’ve used banila co, the inkey list, CeraVe makeup balm, etc. as long as it removes makeup and sunscreen well I’m good) - second cleanse: Dermaharmony 5% Sulfur and 2% Salicylic Acid Liquid Castile Soap (I switched to this from using CeraVe SA + rx Sulfur cleanser because I was tired to carrying around 2 bottles as well as having to get an rx for my sulfur wash. I absolutely still need Salicylic acid AND sulfur in my regimen. - moisturizer: glossier after baume - agency skincare formula for hyperpigmentation: tretinoin 0.035% + tranexamic acid 5% + dexpanthenol 1% + niacinamide 4% - when I’m super dry, esp in the winter: Elizabeth Arden advanced ceramide capsule (I usually just use like 1/3 of a capsule and leave the rest in the clean spot for later. Glossier future dew works okay too, just doesn’t spread as nicely) + I skip my retinol for a night General rules (these are also critically important) 1. Don’t touch your face unless you’ve just washed your hands. 2. Dedicate a towel for your face and treat it like it’s sterile. Don’t use it for anything else but your face. Don’t hang it near the toilet (invisible fecal particles erupt from your toilet when u flush). 3. Change your face towel and your pillowcases at LEAST every 4ish days. I like to do every 2. I have a million old T-shirts that can be used as pillowcases. When a side gets “old”, flip it to the other side and you’re gucci. 4. Pat when you’re drying with a towel. Be gentle. Don’t rub your face ever. I also prefer to lather my face wash with a foaming net until I have a thick, dense cloud. You don’t want to be tugging or manually scrubbing at your skin. Let the micro bubbles do the work. 5. Please wash that damn makeup sponge/ brush with soap and water after every use 😩 and deep clean with boiling water if it’s safe to do so every couple of uses. I just throw my wet beauty blender in the microwave with some water in a bowl for 3 minutes every 6-7 uses (the manufacturer does not recommend this as it may cause the blender to deform or lose integrity. I’ve never had an issue. Move forward at your own discretion) Treat your makeup like it’s sterile too - only a clean brush/ clean finger is allowed to touch it. Sorry it’s so long! I hope this helps someone :) submitted by /u/plaesma to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

I'll go first, mine will be Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Youth Watery Serum Oil. I want to love this product so much since I love the smell and the bottle it came in. I saw the online reviews and watched so many videos before making a purchase at $150 per 1oz. That's hefty for sparkly, scented serum oil. I used it religiously and followed the routine to a T. If anything, I think it made my rosacea worse. I stopped using. Another one is the Skinceuticals C Feurilic Vitamin C. I stopped using it after a retinol accident and didn't want to make my sensitive skin worse. I reintroduced vitamin C and my skin did not tolerate it well. Needless, to say I took these two products out of my skincare routine. My dermatologist recommended Eucerin Radiant Tone with Thiamodol which my highly sensitive skin tolerated better in lieu of vitamin C and retinol. It'll be a slow journey (get rid of dark spots) for me. submitted by /u/BohoFox1 to r/SkincareAddictionLux [link] [comments]

Hi guys! *For title it should be Lasers/Skincare/Beauty Hacks *I have tan skin so lasers are a bit complicated due to risk of hyperpigmentation I.e. IPL not mentioned DISCLAIMER: PLEASE double check this with the science, before/afters, own skin and goals, and research articles. I'm not a dermatologist but a majority of my friend circle are physicians and we all do this anyhow before trying anything. I don't have time to cite articles etc and this is just MY experience SO I thought after spending so much money and buying all the overhyped products I should share what worked for me to reduce my skincare regimen and allow me to be makeup free for work. So I've been deep into skincare for a long time and I wanted to officially share it as a lot of my friends asked me to. We don't gatekeep here and I thought Reddit would be the best place. My background: I'm into digital portraits and it requires an understanding of good ratios of the face. I'm also into deep diving into skincare hacks like all of us. Here's what I think works off the top of my head. Procedures Ultraclear + Coring: forget ponytail facelifts, lip lifts, belphs, skinpinch, brow lifts, etc until you try this first. A good tech can get you the results you want. Ask to core where you want max lift. Make sure they pass with all the levels. It's painful so use your own numbing cream (I think some Russian brands are stronger available online), numb for a long time, and opt for the laughing gas or whatever. Make sure to have them use eye shields for your eyes. Have them core in the direction of the lift you want. Ask for a map of how they did it. You'll want 2-3 over a year to get the full lift you want. Nothing supersedes this procedure. For healing: 10% vinegar soaks + ointment + Benev exosomes + Alastin skin nectar. Hydroquinone to prevent spots from forming. Moxi Level 3: It works REALLY well but it's a baby compared to Ultraclear. Make sure to try level 3 for maximum lift. You can do a series of 3 if you're not ready for Ultraclear. Fontana 4D: It also works REALLY well and can contour your cheeks skin the buccal fat removal. Moxi Level3/Fontana 4D def made me hot again after 20lb weight loss causing signs of aging before my wedding. Again do a series of 3 for max results. Ultraclear did the most though, I would do all 3 until I die or go broke. BBL Laser: It works and makes you look like you have foundation on (and gets rid of under eye darkness) but because of techs fears of hyperpigmentation (a real fear) it's hard to find someone to do it. PRF/EZGEL: My under eyes looked better but also the swelling stretched out the skin so it also looks worse? Not worth it. PRF or PRP is useless, the gel is the only thing worth trying. Laser Hair Removal: Make sure they are using the newest machine that is practically painless, find a center that does a full body membership it's cheaper, you'll need 8-12 sessions. The painless one is worth it just get it done all over at Morpheus: painful and melts fat stay away. I did it 3 times, it got rid of my beautiful under eye fat pads, it slimmed my buccal fat, and it got rid of some acne though. It's not worth it due to pain and fat melting and lack of skin tightness effects it so claims. Katalyst EMS Suit >> Emsculpt: They cost the same and both work but you can keep Katalyst for life. Just use settings on abs/butt and get up to level 400, you can thank me later! I had Emsculpt 5X on butt and AB's, it works temporary, now we own. 2 Katalyst suits and they make sure fit whenever we want and honestly just as fast. Emsella: Amazing for sex drive and preventing or helping with prolapse issues! Also works for urinary issues post kids :). Do 6 sessions for prevention and amazing sex. Coolsculpt: Bullshit. Can burn skin btw. HIFU: Melts fat. But it works:) so use in the right areas. J Plasma: feels like lightening bolts attacking skin and limited outcome, stay away. PDO Threads: Forget it, painful, invasive, temporary. Omnilux Redlight Mask: Get the MENS version. It works. Jovs: it breaks apparently l but I'm gonna try it and update yall later. Also curious about Amiro devices given what they say they do/tech they use. ZIIP Halo + Silver Gel >Nuface: It works better than all the other main home microcurrent devices I've tried (nuface, medicube, 2 others on amazon) get the silver serum as daily easy skincare. Forget the other ones. Things on my list: Sofwave, Emface (per reviews sounds useless?), Syllifirm, Profound, comment and lmk I'll try it if it sounds safe and effective. Injections: Botox: Prevent wrinkles (but tbh this is BS until you have a baby line forming), get rid of wrinkles, shrinks muscle. What I've liked: TMJ/Jaw Slimming (30-50U per side), TRAP TOX (amazing and makes your neck longer), LIP FLIP, NOSE TIP, BROW LIFT (only do the tail of the brow not the whole brow) and PLATYSMA (prevents face sagging and actually works, prob the most underrated and important area for Botox!). Filler: Deep Lasers ("lift" = volume) >> Sculptra (natural body makes volume) >> Slow Down on Fillers >> Injector >> Price/Injectable. Fly to the right person LA, Miami, or New York. Make sure the area they inject, they do often. Treat multiple areas BUT WITH 1/3 THE ACTUAL DOSE you want and go again twice. This prevents the botched look. Dissolve overfilled lips, it hurts, but it's worth it. ALA/Glutathione/Vit C: Shrinks pores and evens out skin tone. Make sure to add ALA for max pore shrinking. It also helps regulate sugar. You can also opt for liposomal. Go to a reputable IV center and make sure to have labs to get ALA. Peels/SkinCare: 30%+ Glycolic Acid On Body - Fast way to clear scars and evens out skin tone. Start low and increase slowly to prevent a burn. TCA Peel - Amazing for anti-aging tbh. But go to a spa and have them do it (face or full body) because it's more serious. Musely Spot Cream - Amazing stuff if you're lazy like me and don't like to do 100 things. Combines all the stuff you want for face skincare. Apostrophe Triple Cream for Rosacea - Top 3 ingredients that work for rosacea in 1 bottle. Also look into low dose naltrexone. Also moxi or ultraclear helps. Benev Exosomes + Microneedling: Use for scars and face/body with a home microneedling pen (max the number of needles Dr Pen is good). Calecium Exosomes + Microneedling: A godsend for hair growth. Retinol Gel .1% + Stack With Hydration: get it prescribed. Level up to max %, look up how to layer with coconut oil/moisturizers/Benev to prevent the ugly phase (breakouts, dry skin). Don't need if have Musely spot cream or alternate days. Clindamycin/Benzyl Peroxide Compound Cream: Get it prescribed and store it fridge now. It's the only thing that reliably clears up my acne overnight (I've tried dozens of acne products over 16 years). Alastin Skin Nectar: My main moisturizer post laser. * Wanted to add for Daily I use Prakti Maha mask because it works like under eye filler almost when you stack it on and gets rid of my acne without extra stuff about 60-70% of the time. I combine with Clarins double serum or snail stuff just depends. Also considering plated exosomes. Ourself Lip Plumping: If you don't want lip filler or just want to maximize lip size try this brand it's from the makers of one of the actual fillers and it works. Minoxidil>Grandelash>Latisse: Latisse darks eyelids /under eyes and lose eye fat so stay away!! It's so hard to get that fat back!! Use castor oil for eyelash durability and oral minoxidil for eyelash growth. Pills: Oral Minoxidil: Max your eyelashes and hair volume Low Dose Accutane: Freeze eggs before doing this. Derm will prescribe for chronic acne especially if on back etc. It will also help reduce size of tip of nose if issues with rosacea or thick skin. Gets rid of acne but horrible side effects even at a low dose. Spirinolactone: NOT FOR ME - will give me headache, dehydration, makes me dumb because I'm so dehydrated, worse breakout for months, also just not worth taking this pill. It may work for others? Eyes: Lumify (duh) Hair: Nanoplastia > Keratin Straightening > KBond20 > Olaplex > Dyson Teeth: SMILE Whitening (in office dental procedure) INSANE will get you white instantly Request for double frequency teeth cleanings Purple Toothpaste = Safe Alternative to Home Teeth Whitening that works better Boka Nanohhydroxy Toothpaste (so you don't loose enamel) Toothbrush with Water Flosser Combined (another lazy girl hack) Therabreath (contains xylitol known to prevent cavities) Mind Hacks: TDCS headband :) works for insomnia, works for mood I'll copy past all my comments into above later I use Elemind headband + Calm Sleep Powder for sleep after having sleep issues - (don't want to take meds, Benadryl is very bad for long term health and linked to increased dementia risk) Multivitamin: Make sure it has 5 methylfolate not "folic" acid. Try pure encapsulations or if you want to eat food-source multi try TEND prenatal bar chocolate flavor. Vit D: Try to get level to 60-90 it's suppose to help with a lot of things including depression!! Alzheimer prevention! Even used by oncologists to decrese cancer risk!! I take 50k unit every week and recheck my level after a month to make sure it's atleast 80. I used to have depression. Astaxanthin: 2000x more potent antioxidant than Vit C. It can give you an orangish glow if you overuse or if you're aiming for that! I used to use Vit c and other antioxidants. Omega 3/DHA (fish derived not algae!): Take it or eat fish it's good for you. DHA 1000mg I've been using for 10 years and it makes me smarter and remember more for exams etc. Silica Drops + Collagen 10G Daily w Hylaronic Acid + 100G Protein Daily > Nutrafol > Biotin/Hair Nail Vitamins: yes the standard female nutrafol works, I prefer Minodixil it's faster and better for me and less big pills lol. 1G Water A Day - Eat good food, drink water. Take collagen, eat protein 100G daily, fat 50G daily. Otherwise this is useless. ADD POTASSIUM (prime powder packets) to SLIM FACE SWELLING. Add gua sha or lymph suction drainage also to help. Sauna/Ice Water on Face also works. Low Fat is a FAD - Hit 50G fat a day - obv is you need to optimize weight lower calories and cut inflammatory food like most non vegetable carbs. You can take a food allergy test also and optimize. For example no tomato skins, no onions for us. Exercise (weights good for bones: BUT for brain benefits it's only with aerobic workouts!): increased bdnf and prevents depression also improved blood flow from skin - look into the research and thank me later - you need to burn 1200cal a week to hit this Dairy Does Cause Breakouts - cut it out and see if there's a change for acne Colustrum: ARMRA works better than others but they all work. It's good for gut health aka good for skin. Seed Probiotic: the best strains here. Rosacea/Autoimmune Skin Stuff: Look into low dose naltrexone and astaxanthin. Autoimmune issues cause the face to look puffy! PCOS/Hunger Cravings: Inositol 6G powder or gummy inositol/myoinositol Vitamin: Tend Prenatal Bar (hate daily pills) Gummy CoQ10 200mg Tru Niagen NAD+ (gives me energy) OM matcha mushroom powder (this flavor specifically has a blend that makes me happy/laughing next day, I use when stressed) Silica Drops (makes my hair shiny, nails stronger within weeks) Zinc Picolinate 30mg (if sick or acne) Fisetin (or Qualia monthly) gets rid of dead cells I just feel good when I take it Vital Protein Collagen/Hylaronic Acid Dessicated Beef Liver or Shilajit (micronutrients) Multivitamin: Pure Encapsulations ONE I don't take pills daily except multivitamin or depending on my aim. But these are what work for me and what I've read that makes sense and I've tried without side effects and some benefit x Inpsitol is a miracle that everyone should know about it'll legit make you less anxious too Deodorant: Chlorella Liquid (removes body odor) > Native > Certaindri. want to try the weekly devices out there that actually stop sweating but weighing risks. Native covers me all day smelling good and I used to sweat through EVERYTHING. Nails: basic - sally hansen hard as nails clear (drop 3-4 magenta drops of any brand in for a natural pink nail look) - silica drops make nails tough af - only do RUSSIAN manicures they are magic thank me later SUN: the sun is your enemy for skincare, it's time to be aware of this all the time! Legally UV tint the max of your front car window (there's a way to uv protect without darkening so it's legal). Always wear long sleeves or a hat. Cover face with hand when walking and unprotected. I use supergoop clear sun stick because I'm lazy and it's a stick and doesn't have white caste. I'm sure there's better ones but this is the best clear stick I found. The powder makeup ones are BS and don't actually protect you. A HAT + Long Sleeves >> Weight Loss: I have a chubby face if my BMI is above 19 genetically. Find the BMI you need for optimizing your face. I drink all my water before eating. I drink black decaf with monk fruit (stevia is not as safe, Splenda is bad news) instead of lattes. I put all my food on a salad instead of rice. I don't eat grain carbs because it makes me bloated. I eat spinach daily because it has highest potassium (reduces face bloating). I try to have have less than 1.5G salt daily. I also make sure there is IODINE in my salt for my thyroid (pink salt is causing iodine deficiencies and thus thyroid issues!). No dairy because it gives me acne (try cashew milk 25 cal). I hit 100G protein via NATURAL NO POWDER sources. Then I sleep by getting my fat intake (50g) and veggies cooked with seasoning I like or whatever I want to eat (kind of a baby Intermittant fast but more lax). If I'm craving sweets I eat frozen fruit and add fake honey (monk fruit sweetened avail sprouts). If you made it this far, the most important thing is to be at a healthy weight, eat right, drink water, no alcohol (I've heard from friends: Passion flower extract "anxiety" > IV NAD (addiction)), no smoking(I've heard from friends: Chantix > Wellbutrin> Nicotine Patch > Tapering Nicotine Vape ), no all nighters (if insomnia look above TDCS headband elemind > Calm Sleep Powder > Sublingual Melatonin). This is all I could think of but I've tried a lot feel free to DM me. I've also deep dived into fertility and dementia stuff for friends/family! If you want reccs DM! You can fact check me but I research this stuff just like we all do so you'll find out or realize this is likely the consensus. submitted by /u/Mindmaster04129 to r/30PlusSkinCare [link] [comments]

SKINCARE ROUTINE 🧔🏻 AM - BYOMA Jelly Cleanser - PeachSlices Snail Mucin Toner - BYOMA Facial Spray - BYOMA clarifying serum - BUBBLE DayDream Serum - GoodMolecules Super Peptide Serum - NO B.S Caffeine Eye C ream OR The - Ordinary 5% Caffeine Eye Serum - PeachSlices Snail Mucin Moisturizer - LaRouche Posay SPF 50 Sunscreen PM BYOMA Jelly Cleanser PeachSlices Snail Mucin Toner BYOMA Facial Spray BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Serum OR Minimalist Glycolic acid GoodMolecules Super Peptide Serum OR NO B.S Vitamin C Serum KLIENS Avocado Eye Cream ERUCIN Skin Balance Night moisturizer submitted by /u/Pissing_Possum to r/Skincare_Addiction [link] [comments]

I was 26 in the pic with acne and I'm 31 now. I don't do my full routine every night but I do most of the time. I work in medical aesthetics so l have access to a lot as well. The things I feel like made the biggest difference: Retinol Mandelic acid Sulfur masks Salicylic acid serum Benzoyl peroxide as an occasional cleanser and not as a spot treatment. I don't use spot treatment in general as i feel like it makes me more red and I like to treat the skin evenly. It's a lot, but l've built up my products and tweaked routines and treatments over the last 5 years to find what works for me, l've still got a ways to go but I'm really happy with where I'm at now. It's my passion, so l don't mind having a longer routine. Skin routine Skin routine 1. 1st cleanse Skin Better Cleansing Gel 2. 2nd Cleanse Hydrinity Prelude 3. Mist Hyacyn Active Spray 4. Vivant 15% mandelic acid serum, let sit for 5 min 5. DMK Beta gel 6. Hydrinity restorative HA 7. Skin Better Alto Advanced Vit c 8. Hydrinity Vivid Brightening serum 9. Skin better Mystro 10. Skin better trio 11. Hydrinity eye complex 12. is clinical eclipse SPF 50 PM 1. 1st cleanse Epicutis oil cleanse 2. 2nd cleanse skin better cleansing gel or revision papaya cleanser 3. Skin better peel pad (if using) or blemish and age defense (if using) 4. Mist with Hyacyn active spray 5. DMK beta gel 6. Hydrinity restorative HA 7. Tretinoin .5 or skin better clearing serum 8. Skin better trio luxe 9. Hydrinity eye complex Weekly -Skin better peel pads 2x a week -DMK ACU masque 3x week -Skin ceuticals blemish and age defense on nights I’m not using a retinol -5% BPO cleanse, leave on for 60 seconds -LED mask 5 nights a week after cleansing before product Yearly: BBL 4x a year Chemical peel 4x a year Halo resurfacing laser 1x a year Microneedling 2x a year submitted by /u/Agreeable-Pitch-5461 to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

Warning this will be a long post, it has everything I've learnt in the past couple of years from hair growth, to styling, to weightloss, to nervous system regulation and more. I'm in my early 30s, I have 3B hair, tall, two years ago I was obese, prediabetic, I had anxiety problems, now I'm just a tall [seemingly ;) ] effortlessly pretty black girl and I want all my beauties on here to have my beauty secrets. Topics discussed: Haircare Style Makeup Teeth Skincare Weight loss vs Fat loss Healthy Fat loss Body Recomposition Inflammation Gut Health How to lower androgen/testosterone levels Nervous System Regulation/Stress Management Tea Cycling Seed Cycling Hair I have PCOS so it affects my hair growth and causes hirsutism, basically male patterened facial hair and male patterned baldness. Hair Growth: Here is the true secret sauce to hair growth, stimulating your scalp. I do daily scalp massages with a bamboo brush (even the bristles are made of rounded bamboo) very gentle. This is the one I use: Golab Beauty I do short strokes which prevents any tangles. Morning and Night. I then go in with a scalp serum, I use The Oui scalp serum but it costs a pretty penny. In the first yearish I used (The 'Ordinary' Haircare Growth Set Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density) which worked wonders and was cost effective. At nights I seal with any scalp oil that has rosemary oil. Sadly Mielle's formula no longer works for me, but As I Am rosemary oil has been working, I also like the Camille Rose Rosemary Oil Strengthening Hair and Scalp Drops. For Washing my hair I suffer from sebaceous dermatitis which causes scaliness. Paradoxically my scalp is so oily which is what triggers the ezcema and develops the dry patches. Reversing my PCOS symptoms fixed this but what also helped was the Nizoral shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole. It's harsh so I do it once to twice a month at most and I always follow up with a moisturizing shampoo, and of course finish with a wash out conditioner & leave in conditioner. Hair Retention: This is the info we all know about preventing breakage but I'll include just in case. Hair growth happens in the scalp like said before but to retain that growth it's important to wear protective hairstyles (especially while asleep), a silk/satin bonnet or wrap, silk/satin pillowcase, do not let your hair air dry at night. There is debate about this but I've seen hair specialists and scientists say our hair is especially fragile when wet (especially curly/kinky hair). Therefore, we are much more prone to snags and breakage while our hair is wet. So going to bed make sure your hair is dried. If you're air drying your hair during the day try not to touch it too much - as little manipulation as possible. Personally choose to diffuse/blow dry my hair and this has prevented most of the breakage I was previously experiencing. Lastly, moisturize and oil your ends. I won't pretend like I know which order is best or even if it's important but I've found that using hair moisturizer/diluted leave in conditioner then hair oil works best for me. Hirsutism/Facial Hair: Spearmint essential oil. I add 1-2 drops of the oil to my moisturizer each time I put on my moisturizer and it helped A LOT with reducing my facial hair. I also drink a lot of spearmint tea. Spearmint specifically has been proven to lower androgen/testosterone levels which is why it helps. I also took supplements which I'll include at the end because they served multiple purposes. Be sure not to add the oil to the entire bottle because that will ruin your moisturizer's formula. Just add the drops in your palm/finger tips and mix in your face cream each time you moisturize your jawline, chin, underneck. Also, do this after moisturizing the upper part of your face without the oil because it's harsh and the scent can be irritating to your eye area. Body hair: Personally I sugar wax my arms and legs, the hair has grown back so thin now. I make it myself and follow tutorials from abetweene on youtube. Hair colour/Hairstyle: This will depend on your face shape and color season. I'm a dark winter colour season and I have a heart face shape. I used the Dressika app to discover my color season before I could afford to get myself professionally assessed and I got the same results. Just be sure to use natural lighting, like by a window. Once you have your colour season you can choose hair colours that work best for you (although natural almost always works best). For my hairstyle I try to choose styles that compliment my heart shaped face. I used the youtube channel Dear Peachie to help me with figuring this out. Style I think most of us know about Kibbe and colour seasons. This was how I upgraded my wardrobe. I'm a soft dramatic so I wear things that work for my tall height and accentuate my waist. This was the game changer with colour seasons. Most of us know about our true seasons, but it can get restrictive. Sister seasons and colour dissonance is also helpful to know. My colour season is dark winter, so my sister seasons would be dark autumn and true winter. Thid gives me more wiggle room to style myself. Dissonance are colours that are outside your true season and your sister seasons, you sprinke this in to add interest. Think of an outfit that is extremely matchy and cohesive but has that one accessory or item that stands out and adds interest. It's really fun in art and in fashion. For my shoes I've started wearing dancing heels which help my flat feet lol and look stylish. Heel insoles help too, as well as the product Shoe Gummi. I still can't last more than 2, 3 hours at most but it's definitely bearable compared to before. Matching pajamas and loungewear. You just feel so luxurious dressing up at home and they can (should) be comfy :) Accessories: I wear glasses that work with my heart shaped face. I have a neutral leaning warm undertone so I wear gold jewelry, if I wear pearls or other gem stones I mix in gold to provide more harmony with my skin. Perfume, wear what works with your body chemistry. Some smell delictable on people I know and icky on me, and vice versa. Wear what works for you. Nails, press ons. So convenient, so cheap. Hair accessories, bows, barretes, clips, scrunchies, a ribbon, you could be wearing jeans and a t shirt but a simple hair accessory upgrades the look automatically. Makeup I used the youtube channel Dear Peachie to help me with finding eye looks, brows, blush placement for my face shape I have a low visual weight face and I am a romantic ingenue, because of this I go for more subtle looks that emphasis two facial features maximum at a time (eyes, lips, cheeks). Don't get me wrong I love glam bold makeup but soft and subtle makes me glow, I turn heads when my makeup is done like this. Teeth Wax free floss (Cocofloss $10 expensive but I love it 😅, Burst black floss, Moon graphite floss, Twice floss, Dr. Jen’s silk floss) Oil pulling (coconut oil with clove & tea tree oil, or Guru Nanda oil pulling product) Brush teeth Tongue scraper (not everyday, couple of times a week and not too hard) Alcohol free mouthwash (TheraBreath) More so related to my lip area but I try to use wrinkle preventing straws or when I do use regular straws, I place it on the side of my mouth. The reason this works is because puckering the lips excessively causes smokers lines/wrinkles around the mouth. Skin Skincare. This was something that took me a while to work on because of my PCOS, age, weight and etc. Facial Care: The basics includes chemical exfoliation, retinol, moisturizer/recover. I cycle my nightly skincare routine with this in mind and always keep the same morning routine. Mornings look like this (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, vitamin c/peptide serum, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, finish with sunscreen). My nights I alternate these routines in this order Night 1 - Chemical Exfoliation (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, glycolic/lactic acid, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows) Night 2 - Retinol (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, retinol, moisturizer, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows) Night 3 - Moisturizer/Recovery (Oil cleanser to help while I use my gua sha, Water based cleanser, eye cream, retinol, moisturizer with a drop or two of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire face, spearmint oil mixed with face cream on the jawline & neck area, castor oil on lashes and brows) Repeat Night 1 - 3 (sometimes I need more days to recover if my skin is sensitive or acting up, do what works for you personally) Other things that I've done/used to help: red light therapy (helps with both hair growth, so I use it on my scalp, and with stretch marks so I use it on my face and body), Microcurrent device (helps with collagen production and stretchmarks) - I use the brand NuFace & NuBody, Volufiline (a skin serum I mix with eye cream that helps with hollowness under the eyes, Kigelia Africana Skin Cream (I use the brand Maelys B-Perky which contains this ingredient and helped to tighten my chest area and my loose skin on the area), face yoga and myo fascia face massage, these help with the tautness of my face (basically everything else helps with wrinkles, these exercises and the microcurrent helps and prevents, sagging especially jowls). I follow tutorials I search for from youtube. Body Care: Similar to facial care body care includes exfoliation, retinol, moisturizer/recover Night 1 - Physical Exfoliation (Dry brush/Body Scrub, Hydrating lotion with a few drops of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire body) Night 2 - Retinol (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, retinol body wash, retinol body lotion) Night 3 - Moisturizer/Recovery (Jojoba oil to help while I use my gua sha, Hydrating lotion with a few drops of glycerin, rosehip oil as sealant on entire body) Again, repeat Night 1 - 3 use more days for recovery if needed Stretch marks/loose skin: Whether due to weight gain, pregnancy, etc. we can't ever truly get rid of loose skin or stretch marks but moisturizing the skin and derma rolling can help with the appearance. Especially derma rolling. Do NOT derma roll while pregnant but you can do so after when you’ve recovered and talk to your doctor (if you've had a c section you have to wait before derma rolling). I used this video as motivation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChG8aSvEU6A For the body I never went beyond 1.5mm it worked for my deepest stretch marks. If this is too aggressive 1.0mm still works just as well. Make sure you use 70% alcohol as this is what experts say is better at disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%. Make sure you disinfect the derma roller before and after use, and make sure you disinfect your area of contact before rolling as well. Do not do heavy workouts workout or sweat inducing activities for at least 3 days after and avoid harsh products. I started derma rolling while working on losing weight (at the beginning of my journey while still obese) and continued a year after losing 130lbs. Derma rolling works by causing micro tears, the skin heals the area and in the process of doing so develops more collagen - leading to thicker skin, lighter stretch marks and tighter skin. Since I did this before losing the weight it helped my skin adapt a lot. I won't pretend like I have 0 loose skin or stretch marks but it's barely visible. Someone has to be intimately close to notice. Obviously genetics, how slowly you lose the weight, diet, and moisturizing the skin helps but my PCOS contributed to low collagen (thin skin) and so the derma rolling really helped. Weight loss vs Fat loss Tons of info here but I promise if you read through it helps to know this stuff. Weightloss comes down to calories in versus calories out. I know that's rudely simpliflied and not that easy, but it truly is the answer to weightloss (which may be fat, water, or muscle). This is why people can eat barely nothing, lose weight but their shape stays the same (basically skinny fat). It's also why fasting or going low carb works so fast (water weight is the first to go). Fatloss on the other hand is more complicated. This involves our TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure). TDEE includes: Resting/Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), Metabolic Equivalent of Task or Exercise activity thermogenesis (EAT), Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), Thermic Effect of Food (TEF), and Adaptive Thermogenesis (AT). BMR (~70% daily energy) the energy taken to exist, so tasks like breathing. Your sex, body composition (muscle to fat ratio), age, and genetics play a role in this EAT (~5% daily energy) the energy taken for exercise weight lifting, swimming, high intensity walks, etc. NEAT (~15% daily energy) the energy taken for non exercise movements like walking, fidgeting, showering, standing, etc TEF (~10% daily energy depending on the macronutrients of your meal) the energy taken to digest, protein has the highest TEF of all the macronutrients, Carbs have a TEF of around 5-10%, while Fats have the lowest TEF, around 0-3%. Adaptive Thermogenesis (AT) is the changes in energy expenditure (energy used) that occur in response to changes in energy balance. For example when you eat more food than you need, your body may increase energy expenditure to prevent weight gain eg. move more, eat less the next day, etc.. On the other hand, when you eat less food than you need, your body may decrease energy expenditure to conserve energy and prevent weight loss eg. less movement, eat more the next day. Other things that affect AT include diet composition (eg high/low protein, high/low carb, calorie dense foods, etc), physical activity (eg. weights vs. cardio), and environmental factors such as temperature and altitude. Things that influence AT can make weight management challenging, as it can lead to plateaus or rebounds in weight loss efforts. This is why lack of sleep, hormonal issues, aging, etc. makes weightloss harder. Here is a clearer example of this Things that affect calories in: 8-9 Hours of sleep (Maintains metabolic homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, hormonal processes). Compromised sleep lead to: Increased Gherlin (hunger hormone - feeling hungrier & therefor eating more) Decreased Leptin (sensation of satiety - needing to eat more to feel full) Insulin resistance: This is when the cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don't respond well to insulin and can't easily take up glucose from your blood. This results in excessive sugar in the blood & as a result the body produces more insulin in order to try to help the cells obtain the energy from glucose. This leads to weight gain as the insulin increases hunger. Also, since the body is insulin resistant, the excess glucose is converted to fat for long-term storage. Things that can cause insulin resistance: PCOS, Inactivity/sedentary lifestyle, family history of diabetes, gestational diabetes, hypertension, alcohol abuse, poor sleep habits, high cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, high bodyweight, acromegaly Things that affect calories out: Body Composition (Fat to muscle ratio) Gut health Compromised sleep affects our energy levels which leads to Decreased NEAT (Non exercise activity thermogenesis) Hypothyroidism (lowered levels of T3 and T4) Thyroid hormones T3 and T4 affects every cell and all the organs in your body by regulating the rate at which your body uses calories/energy which is known as our bmr, meaning this affects your metabolic rate. Too few calories lowers daily NEAT By eating below your BMI (calories needed to perform basic biological processes), your body makes up for this through energy conservation by lowering your NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis). Basically you lack the energy to perform your normal daily activities. This also affects your body composition and cardio health as you become sedentary (stop moving as much). Healthy Fat loss So to lose fat in a healthy way you need to: Get enough sleep (8-9 hours per night) Manage your stress levels/nervous system regulation Look after your gut health Manage inflammation Increase your daily steps (8-10k per day) Weight lift Eat high protein (protein takes the most amount of energy to digest). Manage your insulin resistence Eat in a caloric deficit (make sure your calories in do not exceed calories out). Futher information about the bold items in the list is included below. Also, I know this all seems overwhelming but keep in mind you are creating a lifestyle change. This is not a quick fix. To manage your insulin resistance (info from the book Glucose Goddess by Jessie Inchauspé): Eat within an hour of waking up Protein with breakfast Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal (diluted in a glass of water) Eat foods in this order, veggies -> protein -> fat -> starches -> carbs -> sugar Never eat sweets/dessert/carbs on an empty stomach (dessert after dinner) Keep refined carbs and added sugar at a minimum. Minimize alcohol intake Try to minimize sodas, fruit juice and sweet drinks (this is because there is no fiber to help with the glucose spike or at least try to have these drinks after eating something fiberous) Only eat fruit whole, not transformed eg. eat the orange instead of having the orange juice, again fiber makes a world of a difference Put clothing on your carbs. Eg. have protein/fats/fiber with your carbs A short walk after carb heavy meals Fasting - this is controversial and I should add a disclaimer, if you in any way shape or form have or had an eating disorder, especially restrictive eating, I highly recommend against fasting. Intermittent fasting has a lot of studies out there that were done on men. The book Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz includes a nuanced view of fasting that takes into account our hormones and our monthly cycle. She also has a free app 'Fast like a girl', you log your period and it tells you how long to fast. However, bioindividuality is key here, genetics, etc. Please if you are considering fasting make sure you get bloodwork done first. Manage your electrolyte levels, do not neglect iron and protein levels. Personally, I prefer using the other methods since fasting can also inadvertently worsens insulin resistence due to increased stress/cortisol which cause higher hunger cues. Some with insulin resistence found fasting to be helpful. So make sure you do what works for you and always consult your doctor. Supplements: Vitamin D paired with Vitamin K1 & K2 Magnesium Biglycinate (I take this before bed) Omega-3 Fatty Acids Turmeric Coenzyme 10 (Take with Clomid & Vitamin E) N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) Inositol Zinc (Important to Note: It works inversely with testosterone - raises testosterone if your levels are low and lowers it if your levels are high) To eat in a caloric deficit, calculate your TDEE and subtract 200-500 calories from that number. I like using this calculator. https://tdeecalculator.net Eg. If it's calculated to be 2000 calories, you subtract 200, so 1800 should be your daily calorie intake. For the activity levels make sure you do not oversell yourself. Here is a general guide: Sedentary: Office job sat all day or less than 3000 steps per day Lightly Active: Exercise 1-3 times per week or 3-10k steps daily (up to 3-4 miles daily) Moderately Active: Exercise 3-5 times per week or 10-15k steps daily (up to 4-7 miles daily) Highly Active: Hard exercise 6-7 training days per week or 15-20k steps daily (up to 7-10 miles daily) Extremely Active: Intense daily exercise/hard physical labour 7 days a week or 25k+ steps daily (up to 10 miles daily) As you lose weight your body adapts so after a while you may need to recalculate your TDEE and deficit. Once you are at your ideal weight, you no longer subtract the 200-500, you simply eat the TDEE amount to maintain but you do this gradually. After I lost the weight I came out of the deficit by adding 50 calories to my daily intake per week, till I was at maintenance/my TDEE. This prevented me from gaining fat or water weight. Lastly, muscle mass (increase in muscle raises your metabolic level, meaning you burn more calories at rest). This is ideal and is also how you'll see someone who is short, seemingly small but weigh more than you imagined. Muscle density weighs more than fat. Think of a 50 pound dumbbell versus 50 pounds of feathers, you would need a whole lot of feathers to match the weight. Same difference, you need a larger volume of fat to equal to the same amount of muscle. Therefore, lifting weights is ideal because you will become more toned, burn more calories at rest, be able to eat more even when you've lost the weight to maintain your phisique, you'll be more insulin sensitive, and you will have stronger and higher bone density (really important for women, we lose up to 5% of muscle mass per decade after the age of 30). Body Recompositon: Weightlifting for health (and aesthetics), lose fat & gain muscle It is possible to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. I followed Huskular Goddess and and LexiiGettingFit for inspiration and they were really the ones that opened my eyes to the concept of body recomposition (gain musle while losing fat). The benefits of this is as you're getting smaller your TDEE is increasing. This means by the time you lose the weight you'll still be eating an adequate amount. The other benefits include insulin sensitivity versus insulin resistence, higher metabolism, and a improved body composition like I mentioned before in the dummbell versus feather example. The downside is the number on the scale won't have a dramatic shift while your clothes will be fitting looser. Again, weight density plays tricks on us and it's easy to get caught up in body dismorphia but I promise it works. In order to sustain and build muscle while losing fat, you need to be consuming enough protein while remaining in a caloric deficit. So 60-80g of protein per day minimum to lose 1-2lbs per week. Ideally it should be 0.8-1g of per pound of lean body mass. Eg, someone is 300lbs and they want to get down to 150lbs. They would eat 120-150g of protein per day. If this is too much, try to get at least 60-80g like I mentioned before. Remember even though 1-2lbs per week sounds small, the changes are significant because of the muscle gained. You will look and feel smaller. Weightlifting for a rounder booty (I reshaped my glutes by weightlifting. Hormones can actually affect the shape and my PCOS did a number on me. I developed a V shape over the years. Round, square, heart, A shapes are all based on your bone structure and fat placement. Some of us just have those stubborn fat deposits in certain areas that are genetic, even when we lose the weight, it's a smaller version but the same shape. V shape on the other hand is largely seen in older women post menopause and in younger women with hormonal disorders. This is becuase the hormonal imbalances also causes muscle imbalances. Regulating your hormones helps but it won't grow the muscles for you, so I used Fit With Emely's glute guide based on your glute shape (completely free, I watched all her videos to get this info and it took me two years to go from a V shape to a round shape. Here is the guideline for each shape: Glute Maximus - Everyone should be working on glute maximus. It builds the shelf and overall size. Step ups (all variations), hip thrusts (all variations), lunges, rdl, leg press, all squat variations Glute Minimus - (V and Square shapes), this muscle fills in the middle between the top and lower glute. Hip abduction, single leg bridge, Standing hip abduction/cable raises Gute Medius - (Heart, Round, and A-shaped) this muscles builds a longer hip for top portion of the glutes. Eg. Single leg squat, Single leg deadlift, Cable clamshells, Reverse lung, step ups Underbutt - Everyone should be working on underbutt but this is especially useful for V shaped folks. It works the hamstrings and lower portion of glutes. Good mornings, single leg rdl (also works minimus), single leg hip thrust (also works maximus), hip abductors (also works minimus) How to structure workout: Warm up/Dynamic Stretches (specific to the muscle group you're working eg. lower body warm up or upper body warm up, etc.) Compound exercises (2-3 exercises eg. single leg rdl, good mornings, leg press - for each exercise you do 3-4 sets, 8-12 reps, with 3-4 minute rest between sets). That probably sounds like a foreign language to some, so for instance: Start excercise 1 Set 1 (repeat exercise 1 - rdl 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 2 (repeat exercise 1 - rdl 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 3 (repeat exercise 1 - rdl 8 times) Move on to exercise 2 Set 1 (repeat exercise 2 - leg press 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 2 (repeat exercise 2 - leg press 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 3 (repeat exercise 2 - leg press 8 times) Move on to exercise 3 Set 1 (repeat exercise 3 - good mornings 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 2 (repeat exercise 3 - good mornings 8 times) 3 minute rest Set 3 (repeat exercise 3 - good mornings 8 times) Secondary Workouts (2-3 exercises eg. step ups, bulgarian split squats, lunges - for each exercise you do 3-4 sets, 8-12 reps, with 3-4 minute rest between sets) Isolated/Accessory Movements: these exercises work one part of the muscle more than others, for example an overbias on the underbutt/hamstring like I mentioned before to help with the V shape ( eg. hip abductors, kickbacks, glute bridge, lying leg raises, etc. (1-2 exercises high repetitions, low weight 2-3 sets, 15-20 reps, 1-2 minute rest between sets) Static stretch/cool down (specific to the muscle group you're working eg. lower body cool down or upper body cool down, etc.) Keep in mind that you only need to work on a muscle group 2-3 times a week. So I only do glutes Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Also keep in mind while I work the lower body I am also working my upper body (eg. while doing rdls I am lifting the weight with my upper body), which is why I don't have tailered upper body days, this is for aesthetic reasons, and because weightlifting more than 3 days per week is not feasible with my PCOS. My full routine is: Monday- lower body Tuesday - Pilates/core Wednesday - Rest (I still go for walks on these days) Thursday - lower body Friday - Pilates/core Saturday - lower body Sunday - Rest (I still go for walks on these days) I also used primarily resistance bands in the beginning because gym equipment intimidated me (not anymore :) ). I started with 25lb resistance and went up to 125lbs. I use the product BandBar which allowed me to use the resistance bands like a barbell at home. This isn’t the only option and you can definitely buy resistance bands and do it without the bar. BandBar For the ab separation from being obese, I did this workout 3 times a week (also helpful post pregnancy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smiGsW-mQX0 For my chest to help with getting perkier boobs (the derma rolling was what made the biggest difference, but this exercise helped as well though it took 6+ months for the changes to be significant. Women tend to take longer to grow chest muscles): https://youtu.be/hg7_R29jGIE?feature=shared I also did workouts to help with my posture and mobility 3 times a week (any I could find online) The last thing I will say is be mindful that you may gain weight initially when you start lifting weights. This is due to slight inflammation/water gain from foreign tension, which will last about a month or two before you adapt BUT your body will adapt, I promise. Keep in mind if it's days before your period or if you are on your period. It's not if, but when, our weight fluctuates. As long as you are in a deficit and doing everything right, the number will go down. Do not get discouraged!!! Here is the edit to this post which includes my supplements, how I managed my inflammation, and how I improved my gut health. I also edited the information I shared prior to include a few more tips and lifestyle changes I made, and included a few more details. I also rearranged things so there is a separation between style/hair/skin and health information. The post is getting really long so I may create a separate post for personal development/mindset tips. Inflammation In my case my inflammation was caused by my PCOS, insulin resistence and my obesity, but it can be caused by chronic stress, other autoimmune disorders like IBS, Crohn's disease, etc, smoking/alcohol, age related diseases, environmental toxins, diets high in processed foods, sugars, trans fats & high omega-6 fatty acids. In my case the inflammation from the PCOS led to gut inflammation due to the high levels of coritsal (stress hormones) in reaction to the high testosterone and insulin resistence. I also experienced metabolic inflammation (non alcoholic fatty liver disease), skin inflammation (as I mentioned earlier the ezcema on my scalp, alopecia, and hirsutism), adipose tissue inflammation, chronic low grade inflammation (this led to edema or fuid retention -> insulin resistance and my high testosteron/androgen levels also exacerbated this). To fix this these were the thin I added to my life: Dry brushing 2-3 times a week Body Gua sha Face Gua Sha or Face Yoga or Myofascial Massage Jump Rope Trampoline/Rebounder Vibration Plate (very useful for after a workout or while sitting down) Acupressure mat Arvigo (Mayan Abdominal massage) & Lymphatic drainage massage Leg elevation, I sleep with a pillow under my knees. In the evenings I keep my legs up. Massages Sweat more (exercise/sauna/steam room) Portable Infrared Sauna (reduce cortisol by 25%) Microcurrent Compression socks Castor oil pack 3-4x per week Eliminate inflammatory triggers (mine were gluten & dairy) Switch to sourdough Eliminate seed oils Avoid alcohol & smoking Supplements Vitamin D paired with Vitamin K1 & K2 Magnesium Biglycinate (I take this before bed) Omega-3 Fatty Acids Turmeric Coenzyme 10 (Take with Clomid & Vitamin E) N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) Teas that helped Turmeric Red Rasberru Leaf Tea Fennel Chamomile Gut Health Your microbiota needs the right bacteria in the right amount to perform its hormone regulating functions properly. When the type or number of bacteria gets disturbed by events such as stress, or poor diet, or your gut can no longer accomplish its job meaning you'll have inflammation, increased risk of chronic disease, skin conditions, mental health issues, weakened immune system, nutrient absorprion problems, and weight management challenges. For weight loss issues, gut microbiomes influence hormones in producing and signaling leptin and ghrelin (these hormones regulate hunger and fullness signals). Inflammation and insulin resistence is also associated with gut health problems as mentioned before. Energy extraction from foods, certain gut bacteria are more efficient at extracting energy from food, particularly carbohydrates. When there is an imbalance, more calories can be absorbed from food leading to difficulties gaining or losing weight. Things I did to improve gut health/intestinal permeability: Ate foods rich in digestive enzymes (mangoes, pineapple, etc.) Pre and probiotics (incorporate bifidobacterium and lactobacillus) Favorite brand: Seed Heath Probiotics Pickles (without vinegar): Great source of prebiotics Apple Cider Vinegar/Kimchi/Kombucha/Sauerkraut Beware of certain types of vinegar contain chemicals which kill bacteria, “the good bacteria”, and leave the yeast Candida albicans alone. Raw apple cider vinegar contains: Natural probiotics (friendly bacteria), which may help with your immune system and gut health. Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (diluted in a glass of water) before each meal Balsamic vinegar: Acetic acid is the active compound in balsamic vinegar. This acid contains strains of probiotics that aid digestion. The probiotics found in acetic acid can help promote good gut health and digestion while supporting overall immune function. Raw Carrots (has the type of fiber that binds and flushes out toxins in gut, good to have as daily hormone & digestion support) Limit Processed foods and Sugar No drinking or smoking Stress managment (which I'll expand on just below) Increase fiber intake Regularly exercise Supplements Ginger L-Glutamine Olive leaf extract (especially helpful if you have candida overgrowth) Turmereric Teas Ginger Lemon Balm Lower androgens/testosterone Teas Nettle Tea Spearmint tea Spearmint oil topically for hirsutism Supplements Schisandra (adaptogen - stress management & hormone balance) Saffron (Also helps reduce testosterone, lower blood pressure and prevents bad cholesterol) Inositol Holy Basil Magnesium Biglycinate (I take this before bed) Omega-3 Fatty Acids Coenzyme 10 (Take with Clomid & Vitamin E) Zinc (Important to Note: It works inversely with testosterone - raises testosterone if your levels are low and lowers it if your levels are high) Nervous System Regulation/ Stress Management Stress is one of the things that age us the most, and people with PCOS already have higher levels of cortisol so these are the things I do to manage my stress levels: Regulate circadian rhythm, direct sunlight upon waking up. I use a sunrise alarm clock lamp for this Same bedtime everynight (pre midnight) Invert screen colors at bedtime (red filter on screens) Pillow under knees No loud alarms Magnesium biglycinate supplement before bed Regulate circadian rhythm, view the sunset before bed. I use a sunrise alarm clock lamp for this Spend a few minutes breathing through left nostril only Epsom salt foot soak Journal Get back to using my coloring books (I even invested in alcohol based markers it's so fun). Regulates me and gets me in touch with my inner child Time with friends, my puppy, and my family Supplements Holy Basil (adaptogen - stress management & hormonal balance) L-Theanine Magnesium biglycinate Teas Red raspberry leaf (adaptogen - stress management, also good for menstrual cramps) Reishi Mushroom Lemon Balm Night time mocktail (have after dinner and not on an empty stomach due to the sugar levels in the tart cherry) Teaspoon of tart cherry (high levels of melatonin) Magnesium biglycinate powder Probiotic soda (good for gut health) Tea cycling On your period Nettle leaf: Increase iron levels Moringa: Increase iron levels Red Raspberry leaf: Helps with period cramps (best to drink throughout the month, especially at the end of the luteal phase Chamomile: Helps with wellness wind down routine when you're feeling extra tired Follicular phase Focus teas: Peppermint, Spearmint Adaptogens: Lion's mane, Adaptogen latte, and Chaga mushroom Detox: Dandelion Root Ovulation phase Detox: Dandelion root tea Bloating: turmeric tea latte/golden latte Estrogen dominance - symptoms (bad hormonal migraines, hot flashes, nausea): Schisandra berry, Lemon balm Luteal phase PMS symptoms: Raspberry leaf, Schisandra berry, Ginger root (powder or tea) The best teas for PCOS Spearmint For reducing androgens & lowering hirsutism (facial hair) Cinnamon tea (improves insulin sensitivity) Chamomile tea (Adaptogen) Nettle Tea (reduce androgens) Red raspberry leaf (adaptogen/stress relief, also good for menstrual cramps) Schisandra (adaptogen/stress relief & hormone balance) Saffron (Also helps reduce testosterone, lower blood pressure and prevents bad cholesterol) Ginger (ginger offers anti-inflammatory, fertility and hormone-balancing benefits, aides digestion ) Seed Cycling What is seed cycling? Seed cycling refers to the consumption of specific seeds at different times of the month in order to improve the production and levels of sex hormones, specifically estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Seed cycling divides the female menstrual cycle into two parts: During the first half of the menstrual cycle, or days 1 through 14, seed cycling encourages daily consumption of flax and pumpkin seeds. During the second half of the menstrual cycle, or days 15 through 28, seed cycling encourages daily consumption of sunflower and sesame seeds Results from seed cycling will not happen overnight. Normally women observe improvements after approximately three months of seed cycling adherence. It took me about 4ish months. The Benefits of Seed Cycling: Support hormonal balance, alleviate PMS symptoms, decrease hormonal acne, alter irregularity of menstrual cycles, and fight stomach bloating and fatigue. submitted by /u/Plane-Ice-1828 to r/vindictapoc [link] [comments]

Hey-Oh! So, I see some form of this question multiple times per day in various skin and personal care subs: How do I deal with my hyperpigmentation? I also asked myself this question a few years ago. See, I'm prone to freckles and a little melasma and I set out to figure out a way to solve it with years of research, trial and error, testing, talking to dermatologists and professionals, and scouring every medical article I could get my hands on. I wanted to share my findings and research since this is a common concern, especially among people in their 30s. This started as a small post about my routine and ballooned into a massive book about hyperpigmentation. I hope it's helpful! DISCLAIMERS: I use the term "brightening" instead of "lightening" which is a subtle distinction. None of the ingredients or methods I recommend bleach your skin as "lightening" would suggest, but they can reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. "Brightening" tends to be a confusing term in skincare, but for the purposes of this post, I use it as a descriptor for anything that helps prevent or reduce melanin in hyperpigmented skin. I will use the term "hyperpigmentation" ad nauseam as a catch-all term for excess pigmentation in the skin including freckles, melasma, PIH and dark spots. This does not encompass moles which are different. This is also different from redness, which is a whole other post. Speaking about hyperpigmentation requires some sensitivity to very real issues around it including cultural implications. This post is not intended to moralize hyperpigmentation nor is it intended to alienate the normal melaninization of skin across various tones. Hyperpigmentation refers to excess melanin production on the skin in the form of spots that are darker than the surrounding skin. It's not bad or wrong, nor does it speak to anyone not "doing a good enough job" of taking care of themselves. I do repeat myself a few times in here but that is for people who are skipping around the article. I want to be as thorough as possible even if you're jumping to the parts of the post you need. I do run an online dermatology practice and skin care consultancy, but in order to protect the integrity of my advice, I do not promote my business, I don't give direct medical advice, I don't link to any products/websites, and I don't have any products I've formulated myself to promote. This is going to get long because I wanted to cover everything re:hyperpigmentation. But for your reading pleasure and ease, I have divided this post up so you can get whatever information you need: Table of Contents Types of Hyperpigmentation What Causes Hyperpigmentation? How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 1: The Ingredients How to Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 2: The Routine and Recommendations Body Hyperpigmentation Nuclear Options Let's get to it! Types of Hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation refers to excess melanin production in the skin, but it can actually take a couple different forms. Knowing the type of hyperpigmentation you're experiencing is key to understanding if and how it can be treated. Freckles: Freckles are incredibly common, especially for people with lighter skin tones. They are small, brown or reddish-brown dots often clustered on the skin. They develop on the surface and are not raised bumps. Freckles can appear anywhere on the body but are common on the face. Freckles are permanent, but the color, contrast and severity can vary and be tempered. Melasma: Melasma appears as dark patches or splotches around the face, though usually found on the forehead, upper lip, and high on the cheeks. Melasma forms deeper in the skin and appears more amorphous than freckles, moles, or age spots. It can create a “muddy” appearance and is very common among pregnant and postpartum women due to hormonal factors. But it can literally happen to anyone and anywhere on the body. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurs when damaged skin forms melanin during the healing process leaving dark spots. This is common after acne, injuries, eczema, burns, and other trauma to the skin. Exposure to UV rays during healing can make PIH worse. Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) is similar, but leaves pink or red marks on the skin as a result of damage to the capillaries from injury or inflammation. Basically, when skin is compromised by injury, as part of the immune response cells will begin to generate melanin in an attempt to prevent further damage from UV exposure, so what will happen is the wound/legion/blemish will heal but the pigmented skin remains. Age Spots: This is kind of a forgotten form of hyperpigmentation. Sun spots, also referred to as liver spots, and solar lentigines are large spots/patches of dark skin with distinct borders. They vary in color from light brown to almost black. They develop on the surface of the skin usually later in life, but reflect damage that often occurred from improper sun protection at a younger age. They can appear on the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms, usually on areas that had UV exposure. For many people, they can begin to appear in your 30s or 40s. What Causes Hyperpigmentation? There are a number of factors that can contribute to the formation of hyperpigmentation. Generally, it forms as the result of a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Everyone is unique, but these are some of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation and dark spots: Genetics can play a role in the development of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in several ways: Melanin production: Melanin is the pigment that provides color to our skin, hair, and eyes. The amount of melanin produced and distributed in the skin is largely determined by genetics. People with a greater genetic predisposition to melanin production in their skin are more likely to experience hyperpigmentation and dark spots as a result of sun exposure, hormonal changes, and other factors. People with darker skin are also more prone to melanin production in the form of hyperpigmentation. Genetic anomalies: Certain genetic anomalies, such as oculocutaneous albinism, can affect melanin production and distribution in the skin, leading to an increased risk of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Family history: If you have a family history of hyperpigmentation or dark spots, you may be more likely to develop these conditions yourself. Enzymes and genes: The enzymes that control melanin production and distribution are regulated by specific genes. Variations in these genes can impact melanin production, leading to an increased risk of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Sun (UV) Exposure. In addition to genetic determination of melanin production, UV exposure is the leading environmental cause of hyperpigmentation and the formation of dark spots. Melanin is the pigment that provides color to our skin, hair, and eyes. It acts as a natural sunscreen (but don't treat it like natural sunscreen!!! This isn't the point of the exercise), absorbing UV radiation to protect the skin from damage. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) in the skin go into overdrive, producing more melanin to protect the skin from further damage. This increased melanin production can result in dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Hormones. In addition to genetic determination of melanin production, hormones and hormonal sensitivity is a leading internal cause of hyperpigmentation and the formation of dark spots. One of the most well-known examples of hormonal hyperpigmentation is melasma, a condition characterized by dark, amorphous patches on the face, particularly on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip. Melasma is often associated with hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, hormonal therapy, or birth control pill use. The hormonal changes can stimulate an increase in melanin production, resulting in dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation. This can happen irrespective of UV exposure, though the sun does exacerbate it. Hormones can also affect melanin production by altering the skin's metabolism and pigmentation pathways. For example, high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands during stress, can trigger an increase in melanin production, resulting in hyperpigmentation. Inflammation, Injury & Trauma to the skin can result in hyperpigmentation by triggering an increase in melanin production. When the skin is inflamed or injured, it triggers a response from the body's immune system, which can stimulate an increase in melanin production as a protective measure. For example, acne breakouts or other skin injuries can result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is characterized by dark spots or areas of discoloration on the skin. The dark spots are a result of an increase in melanin production in the affected area, which occurs in response to the inflammation or injury. In addition to acne and other skin injuries, other conditions that can result in PIH include eczema, psoriasis, and insect bites. Medication Side Effects. Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation on the skin. Medications that can cause hyperpigmentation include: Tetracycline antibiotics: Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline, can cause discoloration of the skin and teeth when taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Chemotherapy drugs: Certain chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin and daunorubicin, can cause hyperpigmentation, especially in areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. Hormonal medications: Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills and estrogen replacements, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if they are taken for an extended period of time. Antimalarial drugs: Antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Isotretinoin aka accutane when taken for acne can cause hyperpigmentation due to the increase of cell turnover and exposing delicate new skin cells to UV rays before they have shored up. If using these medications is necessary for your livelihood, it is not recommended to stop their use without the recommendation of your doctor. How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 1: The Ingredients When looking for skin care products to treat and prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots, it's important to look for ingredients that can help encourage cell turnover, curb melanin production, and block harmful UV rays. A lot of these things overlap with treatments for other conditions like acne and general anti-aging, but I've noted ones that specifically work on the mechanisms controlling melanin production. Now, this is an extensive list, but I know it doesn't have everything. I've included the ingredients that had the most compelling evidence and/or worked the best for me or people at my practice. But it's also not necessarily a shopping list. You don't have to have all of these things to treat hyperpigmentation, but I'll get to that in the routine portion. This is more to be used as a tool that can help you diversify your routine if you find one ingredient or another doesn't work for you. And it can help you determine if a product targets hyperpigmentation based on its ingredients. There's lot's of options. Some of the key ingredients to look for include: Retinoids that increases cell turnover. Retinoids like tretinoin, adapalene, retinol et al, can help treat hyperpigmentation by promoting the turnover of skin cells and increasing cell growth, which can help fade dark spots and improve overall skin tone by replacing pigmented skin cells at the surface. While retinoids are extremely effective, they do have some caveats. First, they can be sensitizing to a lot of users, but this can be tempered by using different form functions, different application methods, or different concentrations. Second, because it's constantly turning over skin exposing delicate new skin cells to the elements, it can actually worsen hyperpigmentation if you're not vigilant about sun protection and avoidance. Tretinoin and other retinoids are firewalled behind a prescription in some countries and may be more difficult to obtain. But retinol/al is available in OTC forms. SPF represents a class of many ingredients designed to protect the skin from UV rays and the damage that occurs from exposure. UV exposure is one of the biggest causes of fine hyperpigmentation and wrinkles so adequate protection is essential. I know I'm not winning any science awards for this declaration, but a lot of people who struggle with hyperpigmentation aren't adequately protecting themselves from the sun. But you also have to be kind of realistic. Even with perfect protection and avoidance, sometimes your hyperpigmentation will still flare. This happens during the summer for a lot of people and something even I grapple with. The key is to do your best and SPF actually works well with numerous other ingredients (like the ones listed below) to help solve that problem. Arbutin is a Tyrosinase Inhibitor that blocks melanin production. Arbutin, or the synthesized version called alpha arbutin, is a favorite brightening ingredient because it's a slow-release derivative of hydroquinone that inhibits melanin production. This results in both healing and prevention of dark spots, especially when paired with topical acids. It metabolizes on the skin into hydroquinone which is super effective for hyperpigmentation while being a less controversial and hard-to-come-by ingredient than pure hydroquinone. More on hydroquinone in part 6. Tranexamic acid is another Tyrosinase Inhibitor. This was first used in wound care and it was found to have profound effects on hyperpigmentation. Although it's an acid, it's not a chemical exfoliant, kinda like how hyaluronic acid is not a chemical exfoliant. The exact mechanism by which tranexamic acid works to reduce hyperpigmentation is not fully understood, but it is believed to work by reducing inflammation by blocking plasmin which contributes to melanin production when unchecked. It is particularly effective in treating melasma and one of my personal favorite ingredients. Kojic Acid is another Tyrosinase Inhibitor. Kojic acid is a natural skin brightener that is derived from various fungi. Kojic acid can also help to exfoliate because it's a slight chemical exfoliant, which can remove dead skin cells that contribute to hyperpigmentation and improve overall appearance. But it does both things: block melanin production and turn skin cells over. Azelaic Acid has a lot of things going for it that can help with hyperpigmentation. It's an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic that disrupts melanin production. Azelaic acid works by inhibiting the production of melanin in the skin like those other tyrosinase inhibitors. In addition, azelaic acid also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which help to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin by reducing melanin production as a result of injury or inflammation. It's also an anti-acne ingredient that can address the root cause of PIH by reducing acne on the skin. It's pretty awesome and available in OTC and prescription strengths. Niacinamide is another one that directly and indirectly addresses hyperpigmentation. It's a skin soother that decreases inflammation and it naturally reduces sebum production which can curb acne which can curb PIH. It actually took me a little while to figure out that this was another solid hyperpigmentation treatment for these reasons because I used to look at it as being more of an acne treatment. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that works by inhibiting the transfer of pigment within the skin, which can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone. So while it doesn't block tyrosinase, it prevents transfer of pigmented skin cells to the surface. Vitamin C aka L-ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that fights free radical damage. It treats and prevents hyperpigmentation in three ways. First, it reduces free radical damage from UV exposure which helps increase the effectiveness of SPF when worn together. Second, it is also a tyrosinase inhibitor that blocks melanin production. And finally, vitamin C encourages skin cell turnover. The key is finding a nice stable version of it. Glycolic and Lactic Acid. Since this list is getting long I am going to group these together. Glycolic Acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid that penetrates into the pores to treat pigmentation by providing general exfoliation and resurfacing of the skin. The result is improvements in dark spots, texture and other signs of aging. Lactic Acid is also an AHA but with a slightly larger molecular size than glycolic acid so it doesn't penetrate as deep and acts more as a surface exfoliant. As a result it provides more gentle exfoliation to buff away surface pigmentation with an added benefit of acting as a humectant to seal moisture into the skin. Licorice Extract is a plant extract that inhibits melanin production. Licorice root extract contains a compound called glabridin, which has been shown to have skin brightening effects as, you guessed it, a tyrosinase inhibitor. In addition, licorice root extract also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce redness and inflammation associated with hyperpigmentation. I'm seeing more and more of this pop up in skin care. Soy Proteins are another plant extract that inhibits melanin production. They contain compounds known as isoflavones, which have been shown to help reduce the amount of melanin produced by melanocytes in the skin. Additionally, soy proteins have antioxidant properties that can help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to hyperpigmentation. How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 2: The Routine and Recommendations This is adapted from numerous comments, posts and DMs I've written on the topic and also comprises a large portion of my own personal routine and routines we recommend to patients. This is a generalist routine meaning it targets all the forms of hyperpigmentation I've mentioned; freckles, melasma, PIH, and age spots though it can be tweaked to address these individually more specifically. This is really my jumping off point for people to get a good idea of what they can achieve as a baseline with OTC ingredients before fine tuning or enlisting the help of a dermatologist. For a lot of people, this is enough to fully resolve, but even if it gets you part of the way there, this should give you a good idea of reactivity. A few caveats: Freckles cannot ever be 100% eradicated. You can however reduce their appearance and prevent them from getting darker. It's important to have realistic goals and understand that sometimes our genetics will overrule any routine we have. This routine and any hyperpigmentation routine will not address moles. Moles are a totally different thing that can only be eradicated through removal by a medical practitioner. Moles can be raised or not, but no amount of topicals will get rid of them. Melasma is a beast. Sometimes it can be treated with OTC topicals, sometimes it requires prescription strength topicals like hydroquinone, sometimes you need in-office procedures like fractal lasers or IPL. Again, this routine is a jumping off point to see what you can accomplish at home before going down that road. You'll notice I don't mention products with all the ingredients I listed above. This is because the more you put on your face, the greater your risk of causing irritation. Again, you can adjust and tweak by switching out products with these ingredients or add/subtract as it suits your personal needs. If you're struggling with hyperpigmentation while pregnant or breastfeeding, these recommendations may need to be paused. Alright, let's get to it! AM routine -- The Goal: Heal, Protect, and Prevent. In order of application following a lukewarm water rinse: Azelaic acid Alpha Arbutin Vitamin C serum Moisturizer SPF The combo of C+AZ+AA+SPF is an absolute powerhouse for healing existing hyperpigmentation and preventing new hyperpigmentation from forming. It makes your SPF more effective, it inhibits the production of melanin from UV exposure (not your natural melanin production though), and it speeds cell turnover with dual antioxidant action and gentle chemical exfoliation. The result is brighter skin in a few months of consistent use. For Azelaic Acid, this is the ingredient for serious treatment. It's considered one of the most effective ways to reverse melasma aka serious hyperpigmentation short of hydroquinone -- which is both controversial and hard to get. It brings a little bit of exfoliation to the table in addition to inhibiting UV melanin production, but it also has a slight antiseptic property which can help with acne. Paula's choice Azelaic Acid Booster is the only one I've really tried after sampling the Ordinary's in-store and not liking the texture. I get about 6 months out of a tube and a little bit goes a long way. For Alpha Arbutin, the Ordinary's formulation is pretty solid. I prefer the Ordinary's AA 2% + HA as opposed to their AA 2% + Ascorbic Acid 8% as I don't believe the quality and stability of their Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is great. That's why I opt for a separate Vitamin C serum step. But the AA + HA also has a little bit of lactic acid in it which provides some gentle exfoliation and encourages AA deeper into the skin where it's more effective. Lactic acid is mild enough that it's safe for use in a morning routine, but you still want to protect with SPF. There are a couple AA products floating around but I think TO's product is probably the best, most straightforward one. Alpha Arbutin metabolizes into hydroquinone on the skin so is basically one of the best OTC pigment correctors you can get. For Vitamin C, the gold standard really is Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. This is stupid expensive though so I’m going to suggest Timeless Vitamin C. I like that it comes in an airless pump that prevents oxidation over time. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that increases the rate of skin cell turnover bringing forward new, skin cells while simultaneously improving the effects of SPF. It's a great foundation for a fix. These ingredients can be layered on one right after the other then topped with your moisturizer (I like a basic one like cetaphil daily lotion), then topped with your SPF. The SPF I would recommend is Canmake UV mermaid gel in clear as this will not leave a white cast on your skin and it’s generally a very elegant SPF. It's SPF 50 which means it gives really good protection, but there are numerous SPFs you can try. I personally like anything from La Roche Posay, any Neutrogena SPF that's not formulated with ethylhexylglycerin, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, Biore Aqua Rich (another Japanese brand), Trader Joe's SPF if you can get your hands on it, and EltaMD. Of all the products I’ve tried that could act as a stand-in for vitamin c, azelaic acid, and alpha arbutin, there’s one Japanese serum from Hada Labo called “whitening lotion” which has had the biggest impact on my hyperpigmentation in a single product of anything I’ve tried. This might be a little too effective though, I actually find that it washed me out within the first 2 weeks of twice daily use, so now I only use it in the morning. And I’m not a fan of the translation… which is a direct but mistranslation. It’s not a bleaching lotion, it also relies on a form of vitamin C and tranexamic acid to brighten skin. But it's a really interesting to try if you wanted a simplified morning routine in which case I would apply this, then your moisturizer, then your SPF. PM routine -- The Goal: Renew and Reveal. In order of application: Cleanse Buffer Tranexamic acid and exfoliant OR retinoid** Moisturize To cleanse, I have a really basic recommendation that will remove your SPF, makeup, and any grime/sebum from your day. Start with Cetaphil gentle cleanser. This is a gentle, hydrating cleanser that will break up your SPF really effectively. Massage in and rinse. Then apply a foaming cleanser, I recommend Cetaphil daily cleanser which foams. This will sweep away anything that’s left and give you a good foundation for the rest of your routine. While this doesn't directly help hyperpigmentation specifically, it's a critical step especially for people who are acne>PIH prone. It also gives you a nice clean slate to apply the rest of your skincare. I've tried dozens of cleansers but always come back to these two as good basic options. For your Buffer this is an important step that can be done prior to using a chemical exfoliant or retinoid: applying an occlusive that will block the active from more sensitive skin. I recommend buffering around your eyes and nostrils with La Roche Posay Cicaplast balm because it kind of doubles as a nice eye cream, but this can also be done with basic vaseline or aquaphor for a more budget-friendly option. For Tranexamic Acid, my holy grail TXA product, La Roche Posay Glycolic B5 is actually a multipurpose serum that combines ingredients to treat hyperpigmentation with chemical exfoliants. It contains two hyperpigmentation heavy hitters -- Tranexamic acid and Kojic Acid which are great for melasma -- and two exfoliants -- Glycolic Acid and Lipo-Hydroxy Acid (LHA) which is like fancy salicylic acid -- so it both reveals new skin cells that are less prone to pigmenting from UV exposure while sloughing away your old skin cells. You can use this 2 or 3 nights per week. On off nights, just cleanse and moisturize. For a Retinoid if you can get prescription tretinoin, this is going to be the best bet. Your doctor will advise you on the concentration. More on that in part 6. It will help speed up the rate of cell turnover bringing new, unpigmented skin cells to the surface faster. Some other OTC options include differin (which is rated more for acne but uses the same mechanism for cell turnover so it's also effective in this use case) and retinols. Now, I haven't tried every retinol on the market but I have two that I stand by: SkinCeuticals retinol and L'Oreal retinol serum. The SkinCeuticals is, in my opinion, the closest to RX tretinoin in terms of efficacy, but it's a little pricey. The L'Oreal also does a really good job and is a little more affordable. It's currently my go-to OTC on the days I'm not using my RX retinoid tazarotene. You can use this 2 or 3 nights per week. On off nights, just cleanse and moisturize. ** My recommendations for tranexamic acid and retinoids CANNOT be used in the same night. You'll nuke your skin. And for most people, both aren't necessary, you can get away with using one or the other. If I had a preference, I would say use the TXA serum instead of a retinoid, but if you can build up a tolerance to using them both without damaging your barrier, they work really well together. So, proceed with caution. If you want to use both, use them on alternate nights and give yourself a night or two without either to let your skin recover. For me personally, I do retinoids on Sundays, and Wednesdays, chemical exfoliants on Mondays and Thursdays, and I let my skin rest (cleanse, moisturize, squalene oil) on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On top of whichever active you choose, apply your moisturizer. You can use the same one you use in your morning routine, the Cetaphil daily lotion as it’s nice and light. I also like La Roche Posay Toleraine double repair for a ceramide-based cream alternative if you want something richer. You do not want to "slug" over actives. This advice gets mixed in a lot. Slugging refers to applying an occlusive layer over your skincare such as vaseline, aquaphor, oils like squalene oil, or healing balms like La Roche Posay Cicaplast balm. While this can be done on hydration nights, it should not be done on nights when you're using chemical exfoliants or retinoids as this may make them too effective causing irritation and breakouts. Body Hyperpigmentation Ok, I need everyone to be a grownup for two seconds. These products and methods (both from the prior section and this section) should NOT be used on your genitals. First, you can cause serious irritation or infection by applying active skincare to your genitals. Second, it's really not going to do anything to change the pigmentation of the skin there. The skin on your genitals is different than your body and facial skin and it pigments in different ways for different reasons so it's not going to respond to topicals the same way the rest of your body does. Don't even try it. To be perfectly clear, these are the areas you should not be applying skincare: labia majora, labia minora, vaginal entrance or vagina, clitoral hood, perineum, anus, intergluteal cleft aka inside your butt crack, penis, or scrotum. And I say this as someone who chaffed the precipice of her "intergluteal cleft" in an unfortunate crunches-in-the-wrong-gym-shorts accident leaving me with some deeply incriminating hyperpigmentation and earning me the nickname "skid mark" from my ever loving boyfriend. It faded after a year but you can still send prayers. These are areas you can apply skincare but do so with absolute caution and at your own risk: bikini line, mons pubis, inner thigh up to the groin fold, butt cheeks. Ok, now that we've got the disclaimers out of the way, let's move forward. Hyperpigmentation can also occur on body skin for the same reason it appears on the face, but it can also be triggered by friction. And because body skin is different from facial skin, it requires a slightly different approach. This is my recommendation for both hyperpigmentation and KP (Keratosis pilaris) because they rely on the same mechanism for treatment: chemical exfoliation. In the case of body hyperpigmentation, I recommend a two prong approach: a body wash in the shower and a topical treatment to be used after. Oh, and SPF again if there are areas that are exposed to the sun, and I have a holy grail SPF recommendation for this. Now you may have noticed in my facial skin recommendation that I did not mention CeraVe as a treatment brand. I have posted numerous takedowns of CeraVe on other threads so I won't rehash them here suffice it to say that it's no longer a brand I can in good faith recommend since it's acquisition by L'Oreal. This is often the brand that's considered when treating KP on the body, but I don't believe their formulations and ingredient quality works for everyone. For the body wash, I recommend Neutrogena body clear with Salicylic acid. This is an exfoliating body wash that will help clear away dead skin cells on the surface allowing new ones to come through. To be effective, you want it to sit on your skin for a little while. I recommend lathering it up and applying it after turning off your shower faucet and letting it sit for 2 or 3 minutes. This is when I like to knock out shower emails. Then rinse away. On towel dried skin after your shower, apply AmLactin Bumps Be Gone. Again, this is formulated for KP but the reason I like it is because it contains lactic acid which will also give the assist on brightening hyperpigmented body skin. The wash and this should be effective, but you might also want to mix in a few drops of the alpha arbutin serum I recommended for your facial routine, maybe three drops per application area (each leg, each arm, chest, etc). I generally don't encourage facial products on the body because it's not an economical use for them, and also because body skin is a little more resilient and doesn't need skincare that's formulated for more sensitive facial skin. The AA serum from the Ordinary is very affordable however and is a good hyperpigmentation generalist. Another one that I mentioned in the facial hyperpigmentation portion that can work well on the body is the Hada Labo whitening lotion. Again, this is formulated around tranexamic acid which is very effective for hyperpigmentation and a little bit if this stuff goes a long way. I buy it in bulk from Japanese Importers though it's also available on Amazon for a slightly higher price. If you find yourself in Asia, stock up on it. I use this specifically for fading tan lines that happen (even with diligent/neurotic SPF use) around my fitness watch and the straps of my workout tops that I run in. You also want to wear SPF on areas that are exposed to the sun to prevent pigmentation from occurring. The one I absolutely love that’s not your 90’s banana boat is Aveeno Protect + Hydrate lotion with SPF 60. This is a great SPF for a lot of reasons: it finishes like a lotion instead of a sunscreen, it dries down totally clear, and it has a pleasant, slight sweet scent. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being bare skin, 10 being banana boat slathered on by your mom in 1997, and regular body lotion being a 2, I give Aveeno Protect + Hydrate a 2.5 in terms of texture and feel-finish. I use it as my daily lotion on my neck, arms, shoulders, and chest. If you're more active you might need a heavier hitter here like a sport sunscreen. Nuclear Options In general, I recommend trying OTC topical solutions for any skin concern before heading down the in-office procedure route. Part of this is because you can usually put a good dent in what you're struggling with by using OTC topicals, making in-office procedures and RX treatments easier and more effective. Part of it is so you have a good maintenance routine in place to use after the fact to preserve the results of your in-office procedure which can sometimes be costly. Lastly, while some procedures can solve the immediate problem completely, topical skincare can be really effective at treating other adjacent conditions like redness, acne, and fine lines. Side note: I haven't listed every possible compounded medication because there are a lot, and many compounded meds are formulated to tackle multiple issues like acne and hyperpigmentation. I also tend to favor single note skin care (aka, products with very few ingredients) as this allows you to combine or remove certain actives and gives you a better sense of reactivity. For tougher-to-treat hyperpigmentation such as melasma, if your topical routine doesn't totally clear the problem in 6 to 8 months, a visit to the dermatologist might be helpful. Here are the heavier-hitting procedures and topicals that can go the extra mile after you've exhausted other options. Medical Grade Peels: Medical grade chemical peels can be done by dermatologists. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or phenol peels may be done for cases of severe hyperpigmentation, but high concentration BHA or AHA peels are also commonly used. I do these twice a year. Because of the strength of the acids used, these must be done by a medical professional with careful followup. ***IPL Therapy and Laser Therapy may not work for everyone and in some cases may exacerbate hyperpigmentation so you really want to work with dermatologists with a lot of experience in treating cases similar to yours to determine if these interventions are appropriate for you. IPL Treatment: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy can treat hyperpigmentation by targeting the melanin in the skin with a broad spectrum of light wavelengths, heating and breaking the melanin down. IPL is particularly effective for treating sun damage and age spots, as well as other forms of hyperpigmentation. The treatment is relatively non-invasive, with minimal downtime, making it a popular option. This is also a great treatment for the redness associated with enlarged blood vessels (often confused for broken capillaries) on the surface of the skin which can also appear alongside hyperpigmentation. There isn't any clinical evidence to support at-home IPL devices being effective in the same way. That doesn't mean it's not possible, it's just not studied enough to be certain. Most at-home IPL devices do not operate in effective wavelengths the way professional grade ones do. Laser Therapy: Fractional and CO2 lasers can be used to treat a range of hyperpigmentation issues, including sun damage, age spots, and melasma. The treatment works by removing the top layers of skin, which contain the excess pigmentation, revealing fresh, healthy skin cells underneath. The lasers also stimulate the production of collagen, which helps to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydroquinone: This isn't an in-office procedure like the aforementioned treatments, but it is firewalled behind a prescription meaning you can only access hydroquinone in effective concentrations by working with a doctor. This is a somewhat new development at least in the US following some covid-era rejiggering of prescription clearances. HDQ is controversial because it's a skin bleaching agent which has some cultural implications in places where light skin is favored over natural pigmentation. HDQ technically works the same way other OTC tyrosinase inhibitors do (in fact arbutin actually metabolizes into HDQ when applied to the skin), pure HDQ happens to be the most powerful version of them. It lightens any skin it touches, not just hyperpigmented skin in higher concentrations which can make it tough to use. This effect isn't as profound in the other tyrosinase inhibitors I mentioned making them much easier to use over HDQ which, in high concentrations, must be dotted on the skin in only hyperpigmented areas. So HDQ is really reserved for intervention in extreme or OTC treatment-resistance cases. Tretinoin and Prescription Retinoids: This is going to be dependent on what part of the world you're in, but in a lot of countries, tretinoin and its counterparts like tazarotene are only available through prescription. I mentioned retinoids in the routine so if you're able to get your hands on a prescription from a doctor, it may be more effective than OTC retinols. Most doctors will prescribe a retinoid over hydroquinone, so this is usually easier to procure and can be quite effective on its own as a hyperpigmentation treatment. OTC differin is the only retinoid available over-the-counter (in the US) which can also be used for hyperpigmentation. Prescription Azelaic Acid: This is another one that's available in lower concentrations over-the-counter (which can still be quite effective) but there are prescription strength grades of azelaic acid. This is usually reserved for rosacea treatment as it tends to target redness and flushing, or as an acne treatment because of its antiseptic properties, but it can also be an effective hyperpigmentation treatment for its tyrosinase-inhibiting ability. If you made it this far, congratulations! I hope this information is helpful. While it is extensive and based on massive amount of research, experience, experimentation and work with professionals, it may not be perfect and it may not be suitable for everyone. Feel free to offer any constructive criticism or ask any questions in comments. I am always open to expanding my understanding. submitted by /u/YourBrilliantLayer to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]

Hey-Oh! So, I see some form of this question multiple times per day in various skin and personal care subs: How do I deal with my hyperpigmentation? I also asked myself this question a few years ago. See, I'm prone to freckles and a little melasma and I set out to figure out a way to solve it with years of research, trial and error, testing, talking to dermatologists and professionals, and scouring every medical article I could get my hands on. I wanted to share my findings and research since this is a common concern, especially among people in their 30s. This started as a small post about my routine and ballooned into a massive book about hyperpigmentation. I hope it's helpful! DISCLAIMERS: I use the term "brightening" instead of "lightening" which is a subtle distinction. None of the ingredients or methods I recommend bleach your skin as "lightening" would suggest, but they can reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. "Brightening" tends to be a confusing term in skincare, but for the purposes of this post, I use it as a descriptor for anything that helps prevent or reduce melanin in hyperpigmented skin. I will use the term "hyperpigmentation" ad nauseam as a catch-all term for excess pigmentation in the skin including freckles, melasma, PIH and dark spots. This does not encompass moles which are different. This is also different from redness, which is a whole other post. Speaking about hyperpigmentation requires some sensitivity to very real issues around it including cultural implications. This post is not intended to moralize hyperpigmentation nor is it intended to alienate the normal melaninization of skin across various tones. Hyperpigmentation refers to excess melanin production on the skin in the form of spots that are darker than the surrounding skin. It's not bad or wrong, nor does it speak to anyone not "doing a good enough job" of taking care of themselves. I do repeat myself a few times in here but that is for people who are skipping around the article. I want to be as thorough as possible even if you're jumping to the parts of the post you need. I do run an online dermatology practice and skin care consultancy, but in order to protect the integrity of my advice, I do not promote my business, I don't give direct medical advice, I don't link to any products/websites, and I don't have any products I've formulated myself to promote. This is going to get long because I wanted to cover everything re:hyperpigmentation. But for your reading pleasure and ease, I have divided this post up so you can get whatever information you need: Table of Contents Types of Hyperpigmentation What Causes Hyperpigmentation? How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 1: The Ingredients How to Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 2: The Routine and Recommendations Body Hyperpigmentation Nuclear Options Let's get to it! Types of Hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation refers to excess melanin production in the skin, but it can actually take a couple different forms. Knowing the type of hyperpigmentation you're experiencing is key to understanding if and how it can be treated. Freckles: Freckles are incredibly common, especially for people with lighter skin tones. They are small, brown or reddish-brown dots often clustered on the skin. They develop on the surface and are not raised bumps. Freckles can appear anywhere on the body but are common on the face. Freckles are permanent, but the color, contrast and severity can vary and be tempered. Melasma: Melasma appears as dark patches or splotches around the face, though usually found on the forehead, upper lip, and high on the cheeks. Melasma forms deeper in the skin and appears more amorphous than freckles, moles, or age spots. It can create a “muddy” appearance and is very common among pregnant and postpartum women due to hormonal factors. But it can literally happen to anyone and anywhere on the body. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurs when damaged skin forms melanin during the healing process leaving dark spots. This is common after acne, injuries, eczema, burns, and other trauma to the skin. Exposure to UV rays during healing can make PIH worse. Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) is similar, but leaves pink or red marks on the skin as a result of damage to the capillaries from injury or inflammation. Basically, when skin is compromised by injury, as part of the immune response cells will begin to generate melanin in an attempt to prevent further damage from UV exposure, so what will happen is the wound/legion/blemish will heal but the pigmented skin remains. Age Spots: This is kind of a forgotten form of hyperpigmentation. Sun spots, also referred to as liver spots, and solar lentigines are large spots/patches of dark skin with distinct borders. They vary in color from light brown to almost black. They develop on the surface of the skin usually later in life, but reflect damage that often occurred from improper sun protection at a younger age. They can appear on the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms, usually on areas that had UV exposure. For many people, they can begin to appear in your 30s or 40s. What Causes Hyperpigmentation? There are a number of factors that can contribute to the formation of hyperpigmentation. Generally, it forms as the result of a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Everyone is unique, but these are some of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation and dark spots: Genetics can play a role in the development of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in several ways: Melanin production: Melanin is the pigment that provides color to our skin, hair, and eyes. The amount of melanin produced and distributed in the skin is largely determined by genetics. People with a greater genetic predisposition to melanin production in their skin are more likely to experience hyperpigmentation and dark spots as a result of sun exposure, hormonal changes, and other factors. People with darker skin are also more prone to melanin production in the form of hyperpigmentation. Genetic anomalies: Certain genetic anomalies, such as oculocutaneous albinism, can affect melanin production and distribution in the skin, leading to an increased risk of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Family history: If you have a family history of hyperpigmentation or dark spots, you may be more likely to develop these conditions yourself. Enzymes and genes: The enzymes that control melanin production and distribution are regulated by specific genes. Variations in these genes can impact melanin production, leading to an increased risk of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Sun (UV) Exposure. In addition to genetic determination of melanin production, UV exposure is the leading environmental cause of hyperpigmentation and the formation of dark spots. Melanin is the pigment that provides color to our skin, hair, and eyes. It acts as a natural sunscreen (but don't treat it like natural sunscreen!!! This isn't the point of the exercise), absorbing UV radiation to protect the skin from damage. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) in the skin go into overdrive, producing more melanin to protect the skin from further damage. This increased melanin production can result in dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Hormones. In addition to genetic determination of melanin production, hormones and hormonal sensitivity is a leading internal cause of hyperpigmentation and the formation of dark spots. One of the most well-known examples of hormonal hyperpigmentation is melasma, a condition characterized by dark, amorphous patches on the face, particularly on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip. Melasma is often associated with hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, hormonal therapy, or birth control pill use. The hormonal changes can stimulate an increase in melanin production, resulting in dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation. This can happen irrespective of UV exposure, though the sun does exacerbate it. Hormones can also affect melanin production by altering the skin's metabolism and pigmentation pathways. For example, high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands during stress, can trigger an increase in melanin production, resulting in hyperpigmentation. Inflammation, Injury & Trauma to the skin can result in hyperpigmentation by triggering an increase in melanin production. When the skin is inflamed or injured, it triggers a response from the body's immune system, which can stimulate an increase in melanin production as a protective measure. For example, acne breakouts or other skin injuries can result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is characterized by dark spots or areas of discoloration on the skin. The dark spots are a result of an increase in melanin production in the affected area, which occurs in response to the inflammation or injury. In addition to acne and other skin injuries, other conditions that can result in PIH include eczema, psoriasis, and insect bites. Medication Side Effects. Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation on the skin. Medications that can cause hyperpigmentation include: Tetracycline antibiotics: Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline, can cause discoloration of the skin and teeth when taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Chemotherapy drugs: Certain chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin and daunorubicin, can cause hyperpigmentation, especially in areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. Hormonal medications: Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills and estrogen replacements, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if they are taken for an extended period of time. Antimalarial drugs: Antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, can cause hyperpigmentation in some individuals, especially if taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. Isotretinoin aka accutane when taken for acne can cause hyperpigmentation due to the increase of cell turnover and exposing delicate new skin cells to UV rays before they have shored up. If using these medications is necessary for your livelihood, it is not recommended to stop their use without the recommendation of your doctor. How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 1: The Ingredients When looking for skin care products to treat and prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots, it's important to look for ingredients that can help encourage cell turnover, curb melanin production, and block harmful UV rays. A lot of these things overlap with treatments for other conditions like acne and general anti-aging, but I've noted ones that specifically work on the mechanisms controlling melanin production. Now, this is an extensive list, but I know it doesn't have everything. I've included the ingredients that had the most compelling evidence and/or worked the best for me or people at my practice. But it's also not necessarily a shopping list. You don't have to have all of these things to treat hyperpigmentation, but I'll get to that in the routine portion. This is more to be used as a tool that can help you diversify your routine if you find one ingredient or another doesn't work for you. And it can help you determine if a product targets hyperpigmentation based on its ingredients. There's lot's of options. Some of the key ingredients to look for include: Retinoids that increases cell turnover. Retinoids like tretinoin, adapalene, retinol et al, can help treat hyperpigmentation by promoting the turnover of skin cells and increasing cell growth, which can help fade dark spots and improve overall skin tone by replacing pigmented skin cells at the surface. While retinoids are extremely effective, they do have some caveats. First, they can be sensitizing to a lot of users, but this can be tempered by using different form functions, different application methods, or different concentrations. Second, because it's constantly turning over skin exposing delicate new skin cells to the elements, it can actually worsen hyperpigmentation if you're not vigilant about sun protection and avoidance. Tretinoin and other retinoids are firewalled behind a prescription in some countries and may be more difficult to obtain. But retinol/al is available in OTC forms. SPF represents a class of many ingredients designed to protect the skin from UV rays and the damage that occurs from exposure. UV exposure is one of the biggest causes of fine hyperpigmentation and wrinkles so adequate protection is essential. I know I'm not winning any science awards for this declaration, but a lot of people who struggle with hyperpigmentation aren't adequately protecting themselves from the sun. But you also have to be kind of realistic. Even with perfect protection and avoidance, sometimes your hyperpigmentation will still flare. This happens during the summer for a lot of people and something even I grapple with. The key is to do your best and SPF actually works well with numerous other ingredients (like the ones listed below) to help solve that problem. Arbutin is a Tyrosinase Inhibitor that blocks melanin production. Arbutin, or the synthesized version called alpha arbutin, is a favorite brightening ingredient because it's a slow-release derivative of hydroquinone that inhibits melanin production. This results in both healing and prevention of dark spots, especially when paired with topical acids. It metabolizes on the skin into hydroquinone which is super effective for hyperpigmentation while being a less controversial and hard-to-come-by ingredient than pure hydroquinone. More on hydroquinone in part 6. Tranexamic acid is another Tyrosinase Inhibitor. This was first used in wound care and it was found to have profound effects on hyperpigmentation. Although it's an acid, it's not a chemical exfoliant, kinda like how hyaluronic acid is not a chemical exfoliant. The exact mechanism by which tranexamic acid works to reduce hyperpigmentation is not fully understood, but it is believed to work by reducing inflammation by blocking plasmin which contributes to melanin production when unchecked. It is particularly effective in treating melasma and one of my personal favorite ingredients. Kojic Acid is another Tyrosinase Inhibitor. Kojic acid is a natural skin brightener that is derived from various fungi. Kojic acid can also help to exfoliate because it's a slight chemical exfoliant, which can remove dead skin cells that contribute to hyperpigmentation and improve overall appearance. But it does both things: block melanin production and turn skin cells over. Azelaic Acid has a lot of things going for it that can help with hyperpigmentation. It's an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic that disrupts melanin production. Azelaic acid works by inhibiting the production of melanin in the skin like those other tyrosinase inhibitors. In addition, azelaic acid also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which help to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin by reducing melanin production as a result of injury or inflammation. It's also an anti-acne ingredient that can address the root cause of PIH by reducing acne on the skin. It's pretty awesome and available in OTC and prescription strengths. Niacinamide is another one that directly and indirectly addresses hyperpigmentation. It's a skin soother that decreases inflammation and it naturally reduces sebum production which can curb acne which can curb PIH. It actually took me a little while to figure out that this was another solid hyperpigmentation treatment for these reasons because I used to look at it as being more of an acne treatment. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that works by inhibiting the transfer of pigment within the skin, which can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone. So while it doesn't block tyrosinase, it prevents transfer of pigmented skin cells to the surface. Vitamin C aka L-ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that fights free radical damage. It treats and prevents hyperpigmentation in three ways. First, it reduces free radical damage from UV exposure which helps increase the effectiveness of SPF when worn together. Second, it is also a tyrosinase inhibitor that blocks melanin production. And finally, vitamin C encourages skin cell turnover. The key is finding a nice stable version of it. Glycolic and Lactic Acid. Since this list is getting long I am going to group these together. Glycolic Acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid that penetrates into the pores to treat pigmentation by providing general exfoliation and resurfacing of the skin. The result is improvements in dark spots, texture and other signs of aging. Lactic Acid is also an AHA but with a slightly larger molecular size than glycolic acid so it doesn't penetrate as deep and acts more as a surface exfoliant. As a result it provides more gentle exfoliation to buff away surface pigmentation with an added benefit of acting as a humectant to seal moisture into the skin. Licorice Extract is a plant extract that inhibits melanin production. Licorice root extract contains a compound called glabridin, which has been shown to have skin brightening effects as, you guessed it, a tyrosinase inhibitor. In addition, licorice root extract also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce redness and inflammation associated with hyperpigmentation. I'm seeing more and more of this pop up in skin care. Soy Proteins are another plant extract that inhibits melanin production. They contain compounds known as isoflavones, which have been shown to help reduce the amount of melanin produced by melanocytes in the skin. Additionally, soy proteins have antioxidant properties that can help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to hyperpigmentation. How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Part 2: The Routine and Recommendations This is adapted from numerous comments, posts and DMs I've written on the topic and also comprises a large portion of my own personal routine and routines we recommend to patients. This is a generalist routine meaning it targets all the forms of hyperpigmentation I've mentioned; freckles, melasma, PIH, and age spots though it can be tweaked to address these individually more specifically. This is really my jumping off point for people to get a good idea of what they can achieve as a baseline with OTC ingredients before fine tuning or enlisting the help of a dermatologist. For a lot of people, this is enough to fully resolve, but even if it gets you part of the way there, this should give you a good idea of reactivity. A few caveats: Freckles cannot ever be 100% eradicated. You can however reduce their appearance and prevent them from getting darker. It's important to have realistic goals and understand that sometimes our genetics will overrule any routine we have. This routine and any hyperpigmentation routine will not address moles. Moles are a totally different thing that can only be eradicated through removal by a medical practitioner. Moles can be raised or not, but no amount of topicals will get rid of them. Melasma is a beast. Sometimes it can be treated with OTC topicals, sometimes it requires prescription strength topicals like hydroquinone, sometimes you need in-office procedures like fractal lasers or IPL. Again, this routine is a jumping off point to see what you can accomplish at home before going down that road (and more on that at the bottom in part 6). You'll notice I don't mention products with all the ingredients I listed above. This is because the more you put on your face, the greater your risk of causing irritation. Again, you can adjust and tweak by switching out products with these ingredients or add/subtract as it suits your personal needs. If you're struggling with hyperpigmentation while pregnant or breastfeeding, these recommendations may need to be paused. Alright, let's get to it! AM routine -- The Goal: Heal, Protect, and Prevent. In order of application following a lukewarm water rinse: Azelaic acid Alpha Arbutin Vitamin C serum Moisturizer SPF The combo of C+AZ+AA+SPF is an absolute powerhouse for healing existing hyperpigmentation and preventing new hyperpigmentation from forming. It makes your SPF more effective, it inhibits the production of melanin from UV exposure (not your natural melanin production though), and it speeds cell turnover with dual antioxidant action and gentle chemical exfoliation. The result is brighter skin in a few months of consistent use. For Azelaic Acid, this is the ingredient for serious treatment. It's considered one of the most effective ways to reverse melasma aka serious hyperpigmentation short of hydroquinone -- which is both controversial and hard to get. It brings a little bit of exfoliation to the table in addition to inhibiting UV melanin production, but it also has a slight antiseptic property which can help with acne. Paula's choice Azelaic Acid Booster is the only one I've really tried after sampling the Ordinary's in-store and not liking the texture. I get about 6 months out of a tube and a little bit goes a long way. For Alpha Arbutin, the Ordinary's formulation is pretty solid. I prefer the Ordinary's AA 2% + HA as opposed to their AA 2% + Ascorbic Acid 8% as I don't believe the quality and stability of their Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is great. That's why I opt for a separate Vitamin C serum step. But the AA + HA also has a little bit of lactic acid in it which provides some gentle exfoliation and encourages AA deeper into the skin where it's more effective. Lactic acid is mild enough that it's safe for use in a morning routine, but you still want to protect with SPF. There are a couple AA products floating around but I think TO's product is probably the best, most straightforward one. Alpha Arbutin metabolizes into hydroquinone on the skin so is basically one of the best OTC pigment correctors you can get. For Vitamin C, the gold standard really is Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. This is stupid expensive though so I’m going to suggest Timeless Vitamin C. I like that it comes in an airless pump that prevents oxidation over time. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that increases the rate of skin cell turnover bringing forward new, skin cells while simultaneously improving the effects of SPF. It's a great foundation for a fix. These ingredients can be layered on one right after the other then topped with your moisturizer (I like a basic one like cetaphil daily lotion), then topped with your SPF. The SPF I would recommend is Canmake UV mermaid gel in clear as this will not leave a white cast on your skin and it’s generally a very elegant SPF. It's SPF 50 which means it gives really good protection, but there are numerous SPFs you can try. I personally like anything from La Roche Posay, any Neutrogena SPF that's not formulated with ethylhexylglycerin, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, Biore Aqua Rich (another Japanese brand), Trader Joe's SPF if you can get your hands on it, and EltaMD. Of all the products I’ve tried that could act as a stand-in for vitamin c, azelaic acid, and alpha arbutin, there’s one Japanese serum from Hada Labo called “whitening lotion” which has had the biggest impact on my hyperpigmentation in a single product of anything I’ve tried. This might be a little too effective though, I actually find that it washed me out within the first 2 weeks of twice daily use, so now I only use it in the morning. And I’m not a fan of the translation… which is a direct but mistranslation. It’s not a bleaching lotion, it also relies on a form of vitamin C and tranexamic acid to brighten skin. But it's a really interesting to try if you wanted a simplified morning routine in which case I would apply this, then your moisturizer, then your SPF. PM routine -- The Goal: Renew and Reveal. In order of application: Cleanse Buffer Tranexamic acid and exfoliant OR retinoid** Moisturize To cleanse, I have a really basic recommendation that will remove your SPF, makeup, and any grime/sebum from your day. Start with Cetaphil gentle cleanser. This is a gentle, hydrating cleanser that will break up your SPF really effectively. Massage in and rinse. Then apply a foaming cleanser, I recommend Cetaphil daily cleanser which foams. This will sweep away anything that’s left and give you a good foundation for the rest of your routine. While this doesn't directly help hyperpigmentation specifically, it's a critical step especially for people who are acne>PIH prone. It also gives you a nice clean slate to apply the rest of your skincare. I've tried dozens of cleansers but always come back to these two as good basic options. For your Buffer this is an important step that can be done prior to using a chemical exfoliant or retinoid: applying an occlusive that will block the active from more sensitive skin. I recommend buffering around your eyes and nostrils with La Roche Posay Cicaplast balm because it kind of doubles as a nice eye cream, but this can also be done with basic vaseline or aquaphor for a more budget-friendly option. For Tranexamic Acid, my holy grail TXA product, La Roche Posay Glycolic B5 is actually a multipurpose serum that combines ingredients to treat hyperpigmentation with chemical exfoliants. It contains two hyperpigmentation heavy hitters -- Tranexamic acid and Kojic Acid which are great for melasma -- and two exfoliants -- Glycolic Acid and Lipo-Hydroxy Acid (LHA) which is like fancy salicylic acid -- so it both reveals new skin cells that are less prone to pigmenting from UV exposure while sloughing away your old skin cells. You can use this 2 or 3 nights per week. On off nights, just cleanse and moisturize. For a Retinoid if you can get prescription tretinoin, this is going to be the best bet. Your doctor will advise you on the concentration. More on that in part 6. It will help speed up the rate of cell turnover bringing new, unpigmented skin cells to the surface faster. Some other OTC options include differin (which is rated more for acne but uses the same mechanism for cell turnover so it's also effective in this use case) and retinols. Now, I haven't tried every retinol on the market but I have two that I stand by: SkinCeuticals retinol and L'Oreal retinol serum. The SkinCeuticals is, in my opinion, the closest to RX tretinoin in terms of efficacy, but it's a little pricey. The L'Oreal also does a really good job and is a little more affordable. It's currently my go-to OTC on the days I'm not using my RX retinoid tazarotene. You can use this 2 or 3 nights per week. On off nights, just cleanse and moisturize. ** My recommendations for tranexamic acid and retinoids CANNOT be used in the same night. You'll nuke your skin. And for most people, both aren't necessary, you can get away with using one or the other. If I had a preference, I would say use the TXA serum instead of a retinoid, but if you can build up a tolerance to using them both without damaging your barrier, they work really well together. So, proceed with caution. If you want to use both, use them on alternate nights and give yourself a night or two without either to let your skin recover. For me personally, I do retinoids on Sundays, and Wednesdays, chemical exfoliants on Mondays and Thursdays, and I let my skin rest (cleanse, moisturize, squalene oil) on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On top of whichever active you choose, apply your moisturizer. You can use the same one you use in your morning routine, the Cetaphil daily lotion as it’s nice and light. I also like La Roche Posay Toleraine double repair for a ceramide-based cream alternative if you want something richer. You do not want to "slug" over actives. This advice gets mixed in a lot. Slugging refers to applying an occlusive layer over your skincare such as vaseline, aquaphor, oils like squalene oil, or healing balms like La Roche Posay Cicaplast balm. While this can be done on hydration nights, it should not be done on nights when you're using chemical exfoliants or retinoids as this may make them too effective causing irritation and breakouts. Body Hyperpigmentation Ok, I need everyone to be a grownup for two seconds. These products and methods (both from the prior section and this section) should NOT be used on your genitals. First, you can cause serious irritation or infection by applying active skincare to your genitals. Second, it's really not going to do anything to change the pigmentation of the skin there. The skin on your genitals is different than your body and facial skin and it pigments in different ways for different reasons so it's not going to respond to topicals the same way the rest of your body does. Don't even try it. To be perfectly clear, these are the areas you should not be applying skincare: labia majora, labia minora, vaginal entrance or vagina, clitoral hood, perineum, anus, intergluteal cleft aka inside your butt crack, penis, or scrotum. And I say this as someone who chaffed the precipice of her "intergluteal cleft" in an unfortunate crunches-in-the-wrong-gym-shorts accident leaving me with some deeply incriminating hyperpigmentation and earning me the nickname "skid mark" from my ever loving boyfriend. It faded after a year but you can still send prayers. These are areas you can apply skincare but do so with absolute caution and at your own risk: bikini line, mons pubis, inner thigh up to the groin fold, butt cheeks. Ok, now that we've got the disclaimers out of the way, let's move forward. Hyperpigmentation can also occur on body skin for the same reason it appears on the face, but it can also be triggered by friction. And because body skin is different from facial skin, it requires a slightly different approach. This is my recommendation for both hyperpigmentation and KP (Keratosis pilaris) because they rely on the same mechanism for treatment: chemical exfoliation. In the case of body hyperpigmentation, I recommend a two prong approach: a body wash in the shower and a topical treatment to be used after. Oh, and SPF again if there are areas that are exposed to the sun, and I have a holy grail SPF recommendation for this. Now you may have noticed in my facial skin recommendation that I did not mention CeraVe as a treatment brand. I have posted numerous takedowns of CeraVe on other threads so I won't rehash them here suffice it to say that it's no longer a brand I can in good faith recommend since it's acquisition by L'Oreal. This is often the brand that's considered when treating KP on the body, but I don't believe their formulations and ingredient quality works for everyone. For the body wash, I recommend Neutrogena body clear with Salicylic acid. This is an exfoliating body wash that will help clear away dead skin cells on the surface allowing new ones to come through. To be effective, you want it to sit on your skin for a little while. I recommend lathering it up and applying it after turning off your shower faucet and letting it sit for 2 or 3 minutes. This is when I like to knock out shower emails. Then rinse away. On towel dried skin after your shower, apply AmLactin Bumps Be Gone. Again, this is formulated for KP but the reason I like it is because it contains lactic acid which will also give the assist on brightening hyperpigmented body skin. The wash and this should be effective, but you might also want to mix in a few drops of the alpha arbutin serum I recommended for your facial routine, maybe three drops per application area (each leg, each arm, chest, etc). I generally don't encourage facial products on the body because it's not an economical use for them, and also because body skin is a little more resilient and doesn't need skincare that's formulated for more sensitive facial skin. The AA serum from the Ordinary is very affordable however and is a good hyperpigmentation generalist. Another one that I mentioned in the facial hyperpigmentation portion that can work well on the body is the Hada Labo whitening lotion. Again, this is formulated around tranexamic acid which is very effective for hyperpigmentation and a little bit if this stuff goes a long way. I buy it in bulk from Japanese Importers though it's also available on Amazon for a slightly higher price. If you find yourself in Asia, stock up on it. I use this specifically for fading tan lines that happen (even with diligent/neurotic SPF use) around my fitness watch and the straps of my workout tops that I run in. You also want to wear SPF on areas that are exposed to the sun to prevent pigmentation from occurring. The one I absolutely love that’s not your 90’s banana boat is Aveeno Protect + Hydrate lotion with SPF 60. This is a great SPF for a lot of reasons: it finishes like a lotion instead of a sunscreen, it dries down totally clear, and it has a pleasant, slight sweet scent. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being bare skin, 10 being banana boat slathered on by your mom in 1997, and regular body lotion being a 2, I give Aveeno Protect + Hydrate a 2.5 in terms of texture and feel-finish. I use it as my daily lotion on my neck, arms, shoulders, and chest. If you're more active you might need a heavier hitter here like a sport sunscreen. Nuclear Options In general, I recommend trying OTC topical solutions for any skin concern before heading down the in-office procedure route. Part of this is because you can usually put a good dent in what you're struggling with by using OTC topicals, making in-office procedures and RX treatments easier and more effective. Part of it is so you have a good maintenance routine in place to use after the fact to preserve the results of your in-office procedure which can sometimes be costly. Lastly, while some procedures can solve the immediate problem completely, topical skincare can be really effective at treating other adjacent conditions like redness, acne, and fine lines. Side note: I haven't listed every possible compounded medication because there are a lot, and many compounded meds are formulated to tackle multiple issues like acne and hyperpigmentation. I also tend to favor single note skin care (aka, products with very few ingredients) as this allows you to combine or remove certain actives and gives you a better sense of reactivity. For tougher-to-treat hyperpigmentation such as melasma, if your topical routine doesn't totally clear the problem in 6 to 8 months, a visit to the dermatologist might be helpful. Here are the heavier-hitting procedures and topicals that can go the extra mile after you've exhausted other options. Medical Grade Peels: Medical grade chemical peels can be done by dermatologists. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or phenol peels may be done for cases of severe hyperpigmentation, but high concentration BHA or AHA peels are also commonly used. I do these twice a year. Because of the strength of the acids used, these must be done by a medical professional with careful followup. ***IPL Therapy and Laser Therapy may not work for everyone and in some cases may exacerbate hyperpigmentation so you really want to work with dermatologists with a lot of experience in treating cases similar to yours to determine if these interventions are appropriate for you. IPL Treatment: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy can treat hyperpigmentation by targeting the melanin in the skin with a broad spectrum of light wavelengths, heating and breaking the melanin down. IPL is particularly effective for treating sun damage and age spots, as well as other forms of hyperpigmentation. The treatment is relatively non-invasive, with minimal downtime, making it a popular option. This is also a great treatment for the redness associated with enlarged blood vessels (often confused for broken capillaries) on the surface of the skin which can also appear alongside hyperpigmentation. There isn't any clinical evidence to support at-home IPL devices being effective in the same way. That doesn't mean it's not possible, it's just not studied enough to be certain. Most at-home IPL devices do not operate in effective wavelengths the way professional grade ones do. Laser Therapy: Fractional and CO2 lasers can be used to treat a range of hyperpigmentation issues, including sun damage, age spots, and melasma. The treatment works by removing the top layers of skin, which contain the excess pigmentation, revealing fresh, healthy skin cells underneath. The lasers also stimulate the production of collagen, which helps to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydroquinone: This isn't an in-office procedure like the aforementioned treatments, but it is firewalled behind a prescription meaning you can only access hydroquinone in effective concentrations by working with a doctor. This is a somewhat new development at least in the US following some covid-era rejiggering of prescription clearances. HDQ is controversial because it's a skin bleaching agent which has some cultural implications in places where light skin is favored over natural pigmentation. HDQ technically works the same way other OTC tyrosinase inhibitors do (in fact arbutin actually metabolizes into HDQ when applied to the skin), pure HDQ happens to be the most powerful version of them. It lightens any skin it touches, not just hyperpigmented skin in higher concentrations which can make it tough to use. This effect isn't as profound in the other tyrosinase inhibitors I mentioned making them much easier to use over HDQ which, in high concentrations, must be dotted on the skin in only hyperpigmented areas. So HDQ is really reserved for intervention in extreme or OTC treatment-resistance cases. Tretinoin and Prescription Retinoids: This is going to be dependent on what part of the world you're in, but in a lot of countries, tretinoin and its counterparts like tazarotene are only available through prescription. I mentioned retinoids in the routine so if you're able to get your hands on a prescription from a doctor, it may be more effective than OTC retinols. Most doctors will prescribe a retinoid over hydroquinone, so this is usually easier to procure and can be quite effective on its own as a hyperpigmentation treatment. OTC differin is the only retinoid available over-the-counter (in the US) which can also be used for hyperpigmentation. Prescription Azelaic Acid: This is another one that's available in lower concentrations over-the-counter (which can still be quite effective) but there are prescription strength grades of azelaic acid. This is usually reserved for rosacea treatment as it tends to target redness and flushing, or as an acne treatment because of its antiseptic properties, but it can also be an effective hyperpigmentation treatment for its tyrosinase-inhibiting ability. If you made it this far, congratulations! I hope this information is helpful. While it is extensive and based on massive amount of research, experience, experimentation and work with professionals, it may not be perfect and it may not be suitable for everyone. Feel free to offer any constructive criticism or ask any questions in comments. I am always open to expanding my understanding. submitted by /u/YourBrilliantLayer to r/30PlusSkinCare [link] [comments]

I've been seeing A LOT of misinformation surrounding collagen supplements in skincare, both here and elsewhere on social media. Some of this misinformation has even come from quite famous dermatologists (!!!). I wanted to attempt to debunk a lot of these myths in a Q&A style format, using arguments I've seen people use before, with embedded references in case people want to explore the data for themselves. --- All of this oral collagen supplement stuff is just faddy Instagram nonsense. The use of collagen peptides for modulation of tissue behaviour dates back to the 1970s. It’s a very old (and big) field. ​ If you drink collagen it doesn’t magically avoid digestion and pop up in your skin. The vast, vast majority of collagen supplements are hydrolysates, which is when the collagen is chewed up into pieces during processing. This results in small peptides, depending on how much you digest them during manufacturing. They’re not really whole collagen molecules. No one in the field (I hope) thinks that whole, intact collagen you drink magically replaces collagen in your skin. This is a bit of a straw man argument that’s used a lot. They’re peptides with specific properties. ​ OK. So that doesn’t mean they avoid digestion. Proteins are digested into amino acids the stomach. Actually they can avoid digestion. Studies on oral collagen supplementation in mice have shown that they can reach the blood intact. Scientists have used radioactive carbon-14 in collagen supplements to show a spike in blood radioactivity immediately after ingestion. This radioactivity accumulated in the cartilage, which is a collagen-dense area. They also confirmed that the peptides hadn’t been digested by taking scrapings of the “other side” of the gut wall (facing the blood) and found that the peptides were large and intact: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/129.10.1891. We also know that multiple peptides can be transported across the gut intact by the peptide transporter PEPT-1, and also by other means (an excellent review covering in vitro and in vivo evidence is here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2019.02.050.) ​ But there’s no evidence that they then make it to the skin. There’s actually a lot of evidence that they make it to the skin. This animal study found very rapid skin accumulation (within an hour or so) of a variety of collagen peptides after mice were given oral collagen hydrolysate. There are similar radioactivity experiments using C14 that prove signal in the skin after collagen supplementation. ​ Has their ability to avoid digestion been shown in humans? Yes –it’s been proven that humans have a flux of collagen peptides in the blood after an oral supplement. The exact composition of the peptides depends on the supplement given. But interestingly, it seems to match the mouse kinetics pretty well. Admittedly, it’s more difficult to prove that they reach the skin in humans. You can’t give a human a radioactive supplement (well, it’d be difficult). But we have evidence of their benefits in human skin, coupled with in vivo data to support this notion. ​ So they get into the skin – big deal. That doesn’t mean they do anything. Collagen peptides aren't inert protein, they're bioactive – they have cell signalling properties. Collagen peptides can cause profound changes to the genetic programming of cells. They can cause cells to up-regulate collagen mRNA, for instance. They can also decrease MMPs (which chew up your collagen), and up-regulate elastin mRNA, which is beneficial for skin health. Exactly how they do this is still being researched. They can interact with cell receptors to change their behaviour and function – such as the receptor DDR2, or a variety of integrins. Or, they can be taken up by peptide transporters and change the genetic landscape of the cell. Some papers have even found antioxidant functions. ​ A lot of this is in vitro evidence. That doesn’t mean they benefit the skin. There is a small mountain of in vivo data showing that oral collagen peptides can increase skin hydration, elasticity, collagen content etc, dating back decades. There are also over 19 double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials in humans showing that they can benefit the skin. In this meta-analysis, they found that there was an overall net benefit for collagen supplements when all of the data was pooled. There was also a formal bias assessment (since many of these are commercial), and it wasn’t found to be a problem. ​ This is just because you’re giving protein, which your body uses for collagen building. You could give ANY protein and it would do the same thing. Not true at all. This has actually been tested. Dozens of in vivo studies have used a control protein (usually your run-of-the-mill proteins like casein or albumin), and shown that you only get these skin-beneficial effects with collagen peptides. The difference is that collagen peptides have specific bioactivity. They’re not just inert building blocks for protein. This has been shown recently in an open-label, randomised trial using an oral collagen supplement in hospital patients, which looked at skin elasticity and hydration. In the control group, they balanced this out by increasing their general protein intake. While the study has some shortcomings (it’s not a double-blind, placebo controlled trial), it is consistent with the wider in vivo data. There are a lot of robust clinical studies from other fields showing that oral collagen peptides have specific properties beyond inert proteins that the body uses for food. In this randomised double-blind trial for burns, patients were given either collagen hydrolysate or an equivalent amount of soy protein, and the collagen hydrolysate was superior. Futhermore, in this very fascinating recent study, humans were given either collagen supplements, or a control protein, and it was found that their extracted serum had specific bone-modulating activity only in the collagen group. ​ A lot of the clinical trials of collagen supplements for skin were commercially funded, and they often had other things like vitamins and minerals in the supplement. That’s true, and it’s a shortcoming. Beauty does not receive the same scientific rigour that—say—a cancer drug would receive. Governments and charities won’t fund this. However as mentioned above, bias analyses have been favourable. But in the wider context of trials from other fields that used pure collagen peptides, and the in vivo data (no company is making Deluxe Hair Glow Collagen Mix for Fabulous Mice…. so the in vivo studies are quite far away from commercial interests), it is all very consistent. There was no trial (to my knowledge) that failed, outside of metabolism studies for fitness. It’s also worth noting that there were some human clinical trials that used only collagen hydrolysate with no added actives, which were beneficial for skin. ​ A Youtube dermatologist said they don’t do anything. I’m not going to take them Great. This isn’t health advice, nor an argument that you should take collagen supplements. This is purely rebutting the argument that there is “no evidence” for them working, when ironically, they’re actually one of the most well-studied actives in the beauty sphere. The data aren’t perfect or complete – by any means. But I’m willing to bet that the evidence is a whole lot stronger than most of the things people do for their skin. Even the retinol studies can come out poorly under meta-analysis, but retinol doesn't seem seem to receive the criticism or skepticism of collagen supplements. ​ Are there any dangers with collagen supplements? Can you recommend a brand? This isn't medical advice; discuss any dietary supplementation with your doctor. This is just a post about the science from a procrastinating nerd. Edit: typos submitted by /u/Typical-Sagittarius to r/SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]