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I'm looking at my credit card transactions and blown away already, just 3 Makari items and I am $300 poorer instantly. And these products may only last me 2-3 weeks, I am going to be treating my whole body.
When I finally get my starter order, I plan to use the Caviar Cream mostly. Which is about $65 shipped. For 1 ounce.
That might only last me a couple weeks And the other products are no cheaper. Melederm is $100, Fair and Flawless is $180. Even if I find something that works satisfactorily, how much is that gonna add up to per year. The economy is bad and I have school to pay for too
What do you guys find both works AND is low priced?
Anything? And why are they so expensive anyway? How can the ingredients in 1 ounce of cream really cost $60? I can buy a whole a whole new wardrobe for schoo instead of a couple jars of makari.
So, it didn't cost him any money, loss of reputation, time spent on more worthwhile endeavors, etc. to realize that, the way that he looked was just fine?
I do feel that different people are at different stages of development and I thought that I was trying to be sensitive to that by withholding judgment. (Or at least keeping some of my thoughts to myself.)
OTOH, I have no idea how old some of the members are here so maybe my old lady skin drama and gory details aren't appropriate and possibly misleading.
I thought I've made it quite clear in the short time that I've been here that I don't believe lighter shades of skin are better in any way.
I found this AMHD forum searching for info about side effects and safety of hydroquinone. I've posted before that I am frightened about some of the more dangerous methods that people with perfectly fine skin are using to lighten and even attempt to depigment it.
My personal issue is that I feel better with even skin. I've already done tanning to 'even'(disguise) it a bit & I know how that story ends.
I'm not alone in simply preferring to have even skin ...many people esp. women (my husband is 50 different shades but IMO it's different for men) do.
Hormonal changes & pregnancies can trigger melasma and if you've experienced this, you know it stinks. Even wacky tan lines, farmer tans etc can be bothersome and irritating.
OTOH. I realize that there are people like my dh who don't care.
He didn't get this at all at first. I had to explain my little wood varnish stripping project to him as well. He is now curious and full of jokes about my 'restoration' but there is a slightly nervous undercurrent.
On super shallow note, I simply don't like my face to be one color and decolletage another.
We can't cover up the calico in a dinner jacket like men can.
***
My question is how far does all of this groovy self-acceptance go?
Is it negative to treat wrinkles modestly (not Stepford-level botox)? How about surgery for a poochy stomach after several children?
Are these tweaks the 'be-all, end-all' of life? No, but I feel that if something can be fixed safely , why not?
I do feel that different people are at different stages of development and I thought that I was trying to be sensitive to that by withholding judgment. (Or at least keeping some of my thoughts to myself.)
OTOH, I have no idea how old some of the members are here so maybe my old lady skin drama and gory details aren't appropriate and possibly misleading.
I thought I've made it quite clear in the short time that I've been here that I don't believe lighter shades of skin are better in any way.
I found this AMHD forum searching for info about side effects and safety of hydroquinone. I've posted before that I am frightened about some of the more dangerous methods that people with perfectly fine skin are using to lighten and even attempt to depigment it.
My personal issue is that I feel better with even skin. I've already done tanning to 'even'(disguise) it a bit & I know how that story ends.
I'm not alone in simply preferring to have even skin ...many people esp. women (my husband is 50 different shades but IMO it's different for men) do.
Hormonal changes & pregnancies can trigger melasma and if you've experienced this, you know it stinks. Even wacky tan lines, farmer tans etc can be bothersome and irritating.
OTOH. I realize that there are people like my dh who don't care.
He didn't get this at all at first. I had to explain my little wood varnish stripping project to him as well. He is now curious and full of jokes about my 'restoration' but there is a slightly nervous undercurrent.
On super shallow note, I simply don't like my face to be one color and decolletage another.
We can't cover up the calico in a dinner jacket like men can.
***
My question is how far does all of this groovy self-acceptance go?
Is it negative to treat wrinkles modestly (not Stepford-level botox)? How about surgery for a poochy stomach after several children?
Are these tweaks the be-all end all of life? No, but I feel that if something can be fixed safely why not?
I totally get what you are saying,please don't get me wrong.
I am not speaking of you specifically but I do believe there is some point where we have to have self acceptance .
This is who I am and I am fine!
Looks are superficial and that is a lame way to go.
I know we all want to look good but ..what length are we willing to go to achieve that aim?
My personal issue is that I feel better with even skin. I've already done tanning to 'even'(disguise) it a bit & I know how that story ends.
My question is how far does all of this groovy self-acceptance go?
Is it negative to treat wrinkles modestly (not Stepford-level botox)? How about surgery for a poochy stomach after several children?
Are these tweaks the 'be-all, end-all' of life? No, but I feel that if something can be fixed safely , why not?[/b]
Exactly, Eggo!
Many of the "answers" in Skin Lightening are reminders "I will never understand why you dont want to be YOU!".... Made me wonder if this person ever wears makeups, colors hair, uses anti-aging products, ever used fake bake or self tanners, everrrrr.
I do feel that different people are at different stages of development and I thought that I was trying to be sensitive to that by withholding judgment. (Or at least keeping some of my thoughts to myself.)
OTOH, I have no idea how old some of the members are here so maybe my old lady skin drama and gory details aren't appropriate and possibly misleading.
I thought I've made it quite clear in the short time that I've been here that I don't believe lighter shades of skin are better in any way.
I found this AMHD forum searching for info about side effects and safety of hydroquinone. I've posted before that I am frightened about some of the more dangerous methods that people with perfectly fine skin are using to lighten and even attempt to depigment it.
My personal issue is that I feel better with even skin. I've already done tanning to 'even'(disguise) it a bit & I know how that story ends.
I'm not alone in simply preferring to have even skin ...many people esp. women (my husband is 50 different shades but IMO it's different for men) do.
Hormonal changes & pregnancies can trigger melasma and if you've experienced this, you know it stinks. Even wacky tan lines, farmer tans etc can be bothersome and irritating.
OTOH. I realize that there are people like my dh who don't care.
He didn't get this at all at first. I had to explain my little wood varnish stripping project to him as well. He is now curious and full of jokes about my 'restoration' but there is a slightly nervous undercurrent.
On super shallow note, I simply don't like my face to be one color and decolletage another.
We can't cover up the calico in a dinner jacket like men can.
***
My question is how far does all of this groovy self-acceptance go?
Is it negative to treat wrinkles modestly (not Stepford-level botox)? How about surgery for a poochy stomach after several children?
Are these tweaks the 'be-all, end-all' of life? No, but I feel that if something can be fixed safely , why not?
Let me get this straight,no groovy self acceptance thing going on,
Why cant you just not use anything and have your normal skin color?
I totally get what you are saying,please don't get me wrong.
I am not speaking of you specifically but I do believe there is some point where we have to have self acceptance .
This is who I am and I am fine!
Looks are superficial and that is a lame way to go.
I know we all want to look good but ..what length are we willing to go to achieve that aim?
Oh, until the hydroquinone pickles my brain?! J/k
How far? Well, I'm done when I'm relatively even. The sunscreen is for life, as it should be for everyone.<casts meaningful look around the room>
Oh well, my husband (he's Euro & very melanin-challenged) doesn't listen about that either.
Glycolic peels are safe AFAIK..they keep you smooth and yummy so that's a keeper but less frequently.
My aesthetican said that 3-6 months is the max rec. for HQ (at 4%), so I'll drop that part Februaryish whether I'm monchromo or not.
That's what I don't understand about some of the threads here and at other sites ~ How people plan to bleach their entire bodies for years? It seems beyond toxic and even if it could be done safely, exhausting.
Also the high % HQ creams I've read about make my eyes burn just thinking about. I don't if it's online bravado or creative storytelling but the tales of long-term use of super strong blends worries me.
Your consciousness can always evolve but if you've damaged your vehicle irreparably, well that just sux tragically.
Let me get this straight,no groovy self acceptance thing going on,
Why cant you just not use anything and have your normal skin color?
Impatience and vanity? I have an event in Dec.
Yes, I could only use sunscreen and a loofah or scratchy gloves (am I allowed to exfoliate intentionally in this scenario?) and eventually snap back but that would take forever.
I could also do say...lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil & papaya soap too. That would help it along but still much more s-l-o-w-l-y than with my dear peels & potions. ...and i'd reek like a salad in the process.
After my first real east coast winter at college, a friend from home asked ...no..more like delicately accused me of lightening myself...nope. I didn't see the sun for months!
Many of the "answers" in Skin Lightening are reminders "I will never understand why you dont want to be YOU!".... Made me wonder if this person ever wears makeups, colors hair, uses anti-aging products, ever used fake bake or self tanners, everrrrr.
I know..I stopped straightening my hair years ago but I still use a mountain of different conditioners, aloe gels, spritzes, even my own concoctions etc. to maintain my 'natural' hair.
I have a couple of discreet(easily hidden with clothing) tattoos and few extra holes in my head too...so it's hard for me to say where someone else should draw the line. ...garsh, if I were named the Empress of Earth, honestly I probably would make it a rule that people should make the best of their given skin coloring. ...Sort of polish it up, rock it and live life.
There's always fashion to drive us nuts.
That proclamation would also come from experience and having to do a clean up job when I should have taken better care of myself. My aesthetician told me what to do and what not to do but I didn't listen.
OTOH
Everytime I read one of those 'mono' posts I hope that it's a lie or prank because that entire depig idea is terrifying and sad to me.
Beyond the racist/colonial echoes around bleaching.... I've been trying to look at lightening thing in a body modification context. One person's modification might be considered a type of mutilation by someone else?
Can you tell I'm reeeeeeally trying to get my brain around this?lol.
I don't want to harshy judge people who I assume are already stressed about feeling too dark.
eta: On yet another hand, I don't want to enable or imply that I agree with the negative color assessments either.
I'm also flashing on body dysmorphia. hmm I don't know, I'm so out of my depth. Maybe I'll just stick with talking about melasma & peels for now.
****
I'm rambling and I apologize for OTing your thread GB. To answer directly, I think some of the lightening products are ridiculously priced because the companies play on people's desperation and/or impatience.
if I were named the Empress of Earth, honestly I probably would make it a rule that people should make the best of their given skin coloring. ...Sort of polish it up, rock it and live life.
OTOH
Everytime I read one of those 'mono' posts I hope that it's a lie or prank because that entire depig idea is terrifying and sad to me.
Beyond the racist/colonial echoes around bleaching.... I've been trying to look at lightening thing in a body modification context. One person's modification might be considered a type of mutilation by someone else?
Can you tell I'm reeeeeeally trying to get my brain around this?lol.
I don't want to harshy judge people who I assume are already stressed about feeling too dark.
eta: On yet another hand, I don't want to enable or imply that I agree with the negative color assessments either.
I'm also flashing on body dysmorphia. hmm I don't know, I'm so out of my depth. Maybe I'll just stick with talking about melasma & peels for now.
****
I'm rambling and I apologize for OTing your thread GB. To answer directly, I think some of the lightening products are ridiculously priced because the companies play on people's desperation and/or impatience.
umm, that would be me and F & F...the impatience
I loved this read -- I would love to be part of ur Earth Empire!
On the area of "depig" I think people are under the false impression that term implies total vitiligo stripping of color like with mono. Actually if one googles "depigmenting agents" it's clear the dermatological profession uses that term to refer to all skin lightening items even the mild ones like licorice, bearberry, collectively: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1068091-overview
To me, anyone impying that AMHD having a Skin Lightening category under Health & Wellness sheds a dim light on darker skins just doesn't see the light.
I wondered why there's no comparable cat for tanning since its pretty obvious that more Americans and Europeans TAN than LIGHTEN; the reason must be tanning is the cancerous option and just as well, tanning whether intentional or inadvertent chronic actinic damage, often results in the desire to lighten up darkened area whether they be small dark solar lentiges on the face, neck, chest, hand etc, or large darkened areas on the face, neck, chest, hands, etc
Well it remains a fact, millions more people are tanning than "lightening" yet no one tells/asks those tanners (paraphrasing) "Why can't you just love the skin you're in?"
I do agree with the reminder but not with the casting of judgment implied with that tone when used in context of an answer to a question about the nature of skin lightening products, nor the lack of reciprocity with tanning, esp when one considers most skin lightening endeavors are to some extent a wellness response following somewhat repentant excess sun exposure in one's youth.
Since you mentioned Fair & Flawless prices, yes the starter kit is $180 yes perhaps harsh skin lightening critics are are onto something - since skin lightening is highly elective, like most any non-surgical cosmetic mod, these companies likely see the opportunity to prey on desperation and so especially the overpriced ones are more bold-faced about being most concerned with lightening up our wallets.
J/k
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