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Home > Health & Wellness > Skin Lightening   »   My progress (melasma & sun damage) pics & maintenance questions

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Old Oct 9, 2009, 04:58 PM
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My progress (melasma & sun damage) pics & maintenance questions

I thought I'd share some pics for anyone else dealing with melasma and/or sun damage.

These are pix of my forehead. The top one was taken July 31st and the bottom was taken on Oct 7th.




Left was July 31st ---- Right was Oct 7th




These below (red shirts) are to give an idea what happens when I neglect to do any sort of sun protection or intentional exfoliation.
I was basically washing & moisturizing only. The photo on the left is not my darkest tan. Apologies for the quality. These are photo of framed photos. I hope it's enough to give you an idea of how dark (and uneven) I can get.



On a good summer, I could approximate Kelly R.'s (left) color (not as red though) here




the problem is that my untanned parts were closer to Sanaa L.'s color in this photo





I'd love to hear from anyone who has maintained an even complexion for years. What is your regimen? Have you found any nutritional, dietary elements that help?

I've been reading all sorts of things from taking gluthathione and vit-c to avoiding caffeine & aspartame.

I'm currently using sunscreen faithfully, sometimes hats.. Products are:

Fair and Flawless Parfait
Fair and Flawless Resurfacing Cleanser (it's like a gentle scrub)
Dove Soap
Likas Papaya Soap (when i remember to use it)
Othine HQ cream
Belo Whitening Lotion on my arms and knees (just started with this week)


My goal is to have an even color all over. My forehead, back of neck, forearms, knees, and back of hands are the most out of whack.

It's crazy, I used to lay out try to even my skin shades! It looked good for a while but got gross again when the dark tan faded became got patchy. Lots of sun was also a problem depending on what sort of clothes I wore..some times I'd get an awful farmer's tan...or chocolate head, caramel boobs, you name it. arrgh.

Of course I thought the answer was even more sun or foundation. sigh.

Anywho, Thank you in advance for any help or experiences you can share.

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Old Oct 24, 2009, 03:19 PM   #21  
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Woww!!! Your results are amazing. Are you still on the F & F and glycolic peels then ?
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 03:26 PM   #22  
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i am so jealous by the way :|
could you tell us exactly what your regime is/products and what order and timing etc

i would love to have results like yours :|
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 11:17 PM   #23  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MAHARANI View Post
Woww!!! Your results are amazing. Are you still on the F & F and glycolic peels then ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by fairr View Post
i am so jealous by the way :|
could you tell us exactly what your regime is/products and what order and timing etc

i would love to have results like yours :|

Hi Maharini & Fairr!

I'm cut pasting my regi that I posted in the celeb example thread

Protection (sunscreen and hats)



Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby SPF 60


Anthelios 60 Melt-in..(less chalky than the Neutrogena)

not cute but hey, if I know I'm going to be out or walking in the sun I have one of these hats in my bag handy.

http://www.e4hats.com/_e/dept/62-001...shing_Hats.htm

))))))

For brightening of face and neck until last week
(it's arm time):

Fair and Flawless Soho Lightening Parfait


Othine HQ 3 % cream

cleansers:

Fair and Flawless Resurfacing Cleanse
r (gentle scrub..awesome)

Dove sensitive fragrance free soap


Likas Papaya Soap


Random extra:

Glycolic 35% Peels 1-2x a week depending on how skin feels

***

* So for AM: I wash with one of my cleansers, pat or let air dry, then apply F & F or Othine to my face and neck...applied my sunscreen about 30 min before going out during the day.



* PM: same minus the sunscreen


* Once or twice a week perform 35% glycolic peel on face and neck


I'm now trying a similar routine on my arms. Sometimes I'll sneak in a midday wash and reapply Othine if I have time.

HTH!
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 11:22 PM   #24  
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thankyou!

Comments on this post
EggoMini agrees: You're welcome! :>
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 11:37 PM   #25  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden_Girl View Post
Eggo your so lightskin now, you look great and it's so natural. to me you look like your between a 6 and a 5 olive, or Rihanna's complexion on the chart. I would love to reach and maintain this by December or January. what's next on your list to do?
Thanks GG! I'm on arms & hands hardcore now (using remainder of FF facial/ Othine/gly peels)...They're way more resistant than the face. I have lovely peelies (skin flakes) all over them now, but at least there's progress.

I think I'm looking at Januaryish for my arms to match..hopefully. I don't know, they're tough & I didn't do any sunscreen on them this summer. I only protected my face and neck. sigh. So it could take longer, we'll see. Hopefully they'll tolerate the HQ 4% & RA well.

Im off and on with the back of my neck it's sensitive and I have good days and cruddy ones.

I asked my husband earlier and he says I'm about a 6.5 on that skin shade chart & closer to the level 6 if I'm up late tired or in the mornings. I just think he's trying to scare me, I'm still brown. ...I thought 7 olive ish (yes, the old-school Rih pic there) but maybe I'm subconsciously averaging in these arms and hands.

That combination of FF and Othine is crazy. I haven't applied them to my face since the 14th of October but it feels like my face has continued to lighten a bit? Is that normal?!

The undertone(?) is now more natural though and it matches my chest's undertones a bit closer than when I first quit.
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 11:37 PM   #26  
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Thanks Eggo for listing what gave you success. where can I get one of these hats and what are they called. I seen them before, are they fishermen's hats?
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Old Oct 24, 2009, 11:54 PM   #27  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden_Girl View Post
Thanks Eggo for listing what gave you success. where can I get one of these hats and what are they called. I seen them before, are they fishermen's hats?
yep. fishing hats!! I've seen some better styles with larger brims.. like for gardening or with UV protective fabrics but I have a huge head and thick hair. Most of the cute ones don't come in my size.

So these are the best I've found so far.

I get them from e4hats.com

large alien head sizes


Extra Big Size Fishing Hats - Big Hat, Fedora of Big Sizes at e4Hats.com


normal folx
..lol

Outdoor, Sunblock Hats - Outdoors at e4Hats.com

I like these..they have a larger brim but I'd probably have to a serious tie down puff to get it on big my head. Even then it might be a brain squeezer.

Explorer Outdoor Hats - Outdoor, Sunblock Hats of Outdoor at e4Hats.com

this is cute too

Sunblock Aussie Hats - Outdoor, Sunblock Hats of Outdoor at e4Hats.com

If anyone sees a cute sunhat in a 3XL anywhere, feel free to PM me!
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Old Oct 25, 2009, 02:08 PM   #28  
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Originally Posted by EggoMini View Post
EggoMini

Do you know I have been buying from that company for 10 years. I purchased the oversize visor and I would not be without it in the summer and whenever it is sunny so even on cooler days, basically whenever the dreaded sun is out. I have been asked where I get the visor from as it isn't that common in the UK as far as I have seen, but that company has been a life saver for me. I love them !!
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Old Oct 25, 2009, 02:16 PM   #29  
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[quote=EggoMini;2050244]Thanks GG!

I asked my husband earlier and he says I'm about a 6.5 on that skin shade chart & closer to the level 6 if I'm up late tired or in the mornings. I just think he's trying to scare me, I'm still brown. ...I thought 7 olive ish (yes, the old-school Rih pic there) but maybe I'm subconsciously averaging in these arms and hands.

QUOTE]


I know you said your husband is white. Just curious to know what his thoughts are about your regime. I know you mentioned that you are really trying to correct sun damage, but does he ever question what you are doing?
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Old Oct 25, 2009, 03:40 PM   #30  
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so I'm a redtone 8. Interesting. the olive tone 8 looks lighter than the red tones.
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