Hi everyone I Have been lurking around this site for quite sometimes but never registered. I was looking for tips on lightening and have read some crazy advices. I first have tried makari which broke me out in hives. Then I tried hypercreme which gave me stretch marks on my thighs and legs ( I think that sh*t had steroid in it, it lightened me like crazy but stretch marks were also the other prize). Anyway I then tried thienna's method and drank tonnes of MSM with no results. Then followed kojic acid which lightened me unevenly. So I finally decided to go the dark side and bought some hydroquinone cream. I bought obagi 4% which lightened me but stopped after a while. I was so tired of this results so I purchased some photographic grade hydroquinone powder. I study chemistry at university so I asked questions about HQ and what kind of product to best mix it with. I found out HQ powder is moderatly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol. But don't go rushing into your medical cabinet and grabbing medical grade alcohol. You will need for a 20% concentration:

Dpg di propylene glycol: Used in skin care products, has a glycerin like consistence and a good carrier. You can buy it on eBay or Google it for about £15 or $22

HQ powder I got 600 grams for about £30 or $45

A good moisturizer: I use E 45 moisturizing lotion for face and body 500ml for £4.60 or $7. it is perfect because the bottle has a pump which stops the HQ from oxidising.

And retin A gel or cream 0.1% I use the gel because it penetrates the skin better.

So when you get all of these, buy some gloves, lab mixing spatula or get plastic spoons that you can throw away, mixing clear tub with a lid that is clear so you can see if there is any crystals that have not dissolve.

First heat up some water in a pot you are not going to use for cooking, then pour about 25 to 30 ml of. The propylene glycol in the tub close it and put it in the pot and heat it until it goes from the glycerin like consistence to water like ( really fluid).

Cool it for about 30 secs, then add the 10 grams of HQ powder rapidly so air doesn't get in it too much. Close the tub and let it in there for 5mins. It will dissolves slowly.

After the 5 minutes, shake the tub rapidly, look if there is anymore crystals and let it sit if you observe any.

After the crystals have dissolved pour about 50 to 75 ml of your lotion in little by little, mixing it with the propylene glycol. Then add about 10 grams of retin a. This is optional. I do not mix my retin a to the lotion because it irritates my neck and chest. So I put some lotion in my hand then add a pea size of retin a and mix them together when I apply it.

Pour the solution in a opaque pump bottle so no light and air can get inside it.

Now you are ready to use it.

Happy lightening.:D

Ps: for those of you have been dissolving your HQ in water, it will probably not dissolve and will oxidise straight away. And I have read about others who received brown HQ creams, People trust me this has long oxidised and will hardly be effective.

I forgot to add I have been using this for 3 weeks and have gone up about 3 shades on my face and 1.5 shade for my body although my back and stomach are still so stubborn and are lightening slowly. Your skin is going to peel a lot because of the retin a and reveal light pathes of skin. It happened mainly on my thighs and upper arms but it all blends in after a while. The retin a is used to allow an even penetration of the product therefore your lighten skin will be even.:)

Hi Doloress, this sounds very interesting, I want to try it but where did u get the hq? I am from the uk.

So what kind of alcohol did you use?

And you also didn't let us know how to mix it with everything and how much to use!!

Where is dolores, I have other questions too... hehe

Hiya wannabe I have been so busy. What would you like to know? I will be glad to answer :)

It's OK dolores... I have a lot of questions, and I'm sorry in advance for asking you all these questions. But here it goes... so I was wondering 1. where did you purchase the hq powder and other materials for the cream, you can even pm if you like... 2. do you have to heat up the water to a certain degree or when we feel like it can be dissolable? We heat up the water in like a regular pan or something and then put the bottle that we are going to make the cream in inside the hot water, right? Can we use any type of lotion or should we use a specific one? I also wanted to add vitamin c and e into my hydroquinone cream to get a better affect, do you know if that would be OK to do? If so, when do you think I should add them to the mix? I also read somewhere that cetyl alcohol should be used to dissolve the hq, would that work, or have you ever tried it? Another thing I was wondering was, what strength of hq would the mix you listed above create? Will it be like a 10%, 20% etc... I know I have lots of questions and they might be stupid, but I want to make sure I have everything clear before I make my own mix.

Anyone used hydroquinone liquid rather than powder, or anyone know where I can get some powder in the UK?

Hiya wannabewhite I am really sorry I haven't reply to your question. Ihave not been well and was at the A&E after falling sick.
I am also from the UK and if you send me your email I can PM the photographic website as soon as possible. I have never used cetyl alcohol but you can try and tell me the results. I used about 25 to 30 ml of Propylene Glycol.
1. I first boil water in a regular pan and then pour propylene glycol in a clear jar that I then place in the water. When the water has boiled, I take out the jar and let it sit for about 30 secs max and add my 10 grams HQ powder in it. Mix it using a spoon. There will still be a few Crystals that have not dissolve; let it sit and then look if they have dissolved, if not shake the jar vigourously and try to grind the crystals left with your spoon by pressing it against the jar walls. Once they are all gone, Add any cream you prefer I use E45 but you can use Eucerin and so on, and then mix it altogether. You can add vit e and vit c but I really don't know the effect of that as I have never tried that before.
This is to make a 20% solution.
If you are still not clear do not hesitate. I also use retin A 0.1%. It is so hard to find anything in this country like HQ powder and retin A but I did I if you would like to know just ask the retin a is shipped from the US and I have to wait for around 1.5 week to 2 weeks but its worth it.

Hey dolores if I pour propylene glycol in clear jar, and then later on add hq to it, wouldn't the hq oxidize from the clear jar, or oxidize when we are mixing it because there's no lid on the jar at that time?

The clear jar I use has a lid on it and I placed the jar in a brown paper bag when I mixed it with the HQ powder. I mix the 2 rapidly so the minimum air enter it, then I place the closed jar in the paper bag in a closet to shelter it from light. My cream does not turn brown at all. I avoid making big batches because after about 2 weeks it starts turning slightly brown so I make a jar that will last for about 1 tp 1.5week.

Thanks for the advice now that I'm in africa I have to be mixing my own 20%, I do it a little differently though, I also put lemon in my mix so I can get an instant peel

Hi lighter, with the retin A gel I use, I got a lot of peeling and no irritation. I have used lemon before but it irritated my skin and made scrath like crazy. You are so lucky I wished I could visit africa. Have a nice time!

Sorry lighter but do you mind sharing how you do your mix. It is interesting to see other people method and how are your results?

So lighterrr you make your own mix to? I thot you always purchased from the .net people... girl I guess your lucky because you had good results with their products, because I sure haven't... I tried to be patient and apply it throughout the day, but there are hecka other people who are on the same boat as me... I wish I was as lucky as you, because I hate wasting my hard earned money! Hey if you don't mind is there any way you can pm me your before and after pics... I would love to see your results...

Thanks dolores for helping me out, now all I need to do is figure out where to get good hq powder from and then ill mix it at home too.. can you private messege me with that info if you don't mind... I sent you a pm last night, I don't know if you got it yet...

doloress the propylene glycol I bought wasn't glycerin like its already water like, is that normal? And also you said you don't make a lot, enuf to last like a week and a half, so actuaully how may ounces do you make at a time?

Hi wannabewhite I have pm the website for the HQ powder.
Krazycee, the propylene lglycol I use like I said in my very first post is dpg gi propylene glycol because that is the kind used in cosmetic. Did you first check if the propylene glycol you bought could be used in skincare products? There are many kind of propylene glycol and it is important to buy the right one. Please check with the person you bought it from to avoid any kind of trouble with your skin. I make 100 ml of the cream that can last a week so I know for sure that it won't oxidise.

so lighterrr u make ur own mix to? i thot u always purchased from the .net people... girl i guess ur lucky because u had good results with their products, because i sure haven't.... i tried to be patient and apply it throughtout the day, but there are hecka other people who are on the same boat as me... i wish i was as lucky as you, because i hate wasting my hard earned money! hey if you don't mind is there any way u can pm me ur before and after pics... i would love to see ur results...

Hi want to be
Yes I am in africa right now that's whyy I don't post that much anymore internet over here is very challenging anyway here is my recipe

Pure 99% hq powder, rubbing alcohol, lemon, and cream of my choice, but I really wwant to stop using hq soon thought I think its to dangerous healthwise and I am now realizing that I have a son that I want to be around to see for some time:)

I know well if your at your desired color than it would be good for you to move to natural products... I think the injections are not as bad, because glutathione is suppose to be good for you... thanks for your recipe. Did you get the powder from them as well, or you got it from somewhere else.

i know well if ur at ur desired color than it would be good for u to move to natural products... i think the injections are not as bad, because glutathione is suppose to be good for you... thanks for ur recipe. did u get the powder from them as well, or u got it from somewhere else.

Yeah I got my hq usp from them also, its already processed for cosmetic usage, I am not sure about the photo grade hq though, I have not tried that

Hi everyone i Have been lurking around this site for quite sometimes but never registered. I was looking for tips on lightening and have read some crazy advices. I first have tried makari which broke me out in hives. Then i tried hypercreme which gave me stretch marks on my thighs and legs ( i think that sh*t had steroid in it, it lightened me like crazy but stretch marks were also the other prize). Anyway i then tried thienna's method and drank tonnes of MSM with no results. Then followed kojic acid which lightened me unevenly. So i finally decided to go the dark side and bought some hydroquinone cream. I bought obagi 4% which lightened me but stopped after a while. I was so tired of this results so i purchased some photographic grade hydroquinone powder. I study chemistry at university so i asked questions about HQ and what kind of product to best mix it with. I found out HQ powder is moderatly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol. But don't go rushing into your medical cabinet and grabbing medical grade alcohol. you will need for a 20% concentration:

dpg di propylene glycol: Used in skin care products, has a glycerin like consistence and a good carrier. you can buy it on ebay or google it for about £15 or $22

HQ powder I got 600 grams for about £30 or $45

A good moisturizer: i use E 45 moisturizing lotion for face and body 500ml for £4.60 or $7. it is perfect because the bottle has a pump which stops the HQ from oxidising.

And retin A gel or cream 0.1% i use the gel because it penetrates the skin better.

So when you get all of these, buy some gloves, lab mixing spatula or get plastic spoons that you can throw away, mixing clear tub with a lid that is clear so you can see if there is any crystals that have not dissolve.

First heat up some water in a pot you are not going to use for cooking, then pour about 25 to 30 ml of. the propylene glycol in the tub close it and put it in the pot and heat it until it goes from the glycerin like consistence to water like ( really fluid).

cool it for about 30 secs, then add the 10 grams of HQ powder rapidly so air doesnt get in it too much. Close the tub and let it in there for 5mins. it will dissolves slowly.

After the 5 mins, shake the tub rapidly, look if there is anymore crystals and let it sit if you observe any.

After the crystals have dissolved pour about 50 to 75 ml of your lotion in little by little, mixing it with the propylene glycol. then add about 10 grams of retin a. This is optional. I do not mix my retin a to the lotion because it irritates my neck and chest. so i put some lotion in my hand then add a pea size of retin a and mix them together when i apply it.

Pour the solution in a opaque pump bottle so no light and air can get inside it.

Now you are ready to use it.

Happy lightening.:D

Ps: for those of you have been dissolving your HQ in water, it will probably not dissolve and will oxidise straight away. And i have read about others who received brown HQ creams, People trust me this has long oxidised and will hardly be effective.
How many shades so far have u lightened with this mix?

doloress I looked at the site where I bought the propylene glycol from and it states its used for cosmetic purposes anyway, I mix me up a batch 2 day I made a 7 oz. batch, so basically I double the ingredients, anyway when I mix the hq in the propylene glycol it turn brown, is that normal? But when I mix the lotion with it it wasn't brown. As long as the lotion isn't brown right?

doloress i looked at the site where i bought the propylene glycol from and it states its used for cosmetic purposes anyway, i mix me up a batch 2 day i made a 7 oz. batch, so basically i double the ingredients, anywho when i mix the hq in the propylene glycol it turn brown, is that normal? but when i mix the lotion with it it wasn't brown. as long as the lotion isnt brown right?

HQ will always turn BROWN when exposed to air, kind of like the toilet water you communted on earlier,:eek: but ohhh well, that's in the past, but give it a try hq works great in lightening

HQ will always turn BROWN when exposed to air, kinda like the toilet water you communted on earlier,:eek: but ohhh well, thats in the past, but give it a try hq works great in lightening


Is it just HQ that goes brown when exposed to air or mono too?
Because I used to use the mono from eBay, you know the 3 % one, and it all went brown when exposed to air! So maybe they were just using HQ and not mono?

is it just HQ that goes brown when exposed to air or mono too?
Because i used to use the mono from ebay, you know the 3 % one, and it all went brown when exposed to air! So maybe they were just using HQ and not mono?

I believe they both turn brown, hq quicker than mono, cause I had some old mono that also turned brown on me after some time

i beleive they both turn brown, hq quicker than mono, cause i had some old mono that also turned brown on me after some time

Oh OK thanks for info..
At the moment I'm using what I thought to be old mono, but it hasn't turned brown at all so I'm thinking it may be mercury or something else.. whatever it is, its working well, but I will definitely be stopping if I find out its something other than mono...

oh ok thanks for info..
At the moment im using what i thought to be old mono, but it hasnt turned brown at all so im thinking it may be mercury or something else.. whatever it is, its working well, but i will definitely be stopping if i find out its something other than mono...

Well I am trying to waen off mono, hq etc, I got this new retina 10% its suppose to be super strong, I am going to start trying it with my pills,soap and injections to see if ill be able to maintain on this regimn. That's as natural as I can get for now:D

Hi krazycee,
If it turns slightly brown is because it has been exposed to air a little mine did that the first time but after I poured my lotion in it it was white so I didn't reallyworry abut that and it worked great. Hi sweetchica I think I have lightened about 5 shades. My brothers call me Michael jackson lol even though I am not like him.

Hi krazycee,
if it turns slightly brown is because it has been exposed to air a little mine did that the first time but after i poured my lotion in it it was white so i didnt reallyworry abut that and it worked great. hi sweetchica i think i have lightened about 5 shades. my brothers call me Micheal jackson lol eventhough i am not like him.


Oh OK then, I was a bit worried at first, but now that I know that's normal I'm going to use it and see what happens, hopefully it works!

Will rubbing alcohol work for this? Thanks

I am so happy that the homemade hydroquinone cream is working for you! I will get started on making mine, but I want to make sure I get all the right products before I start... I would hate to be dissapointed again...

Hey does anyone know whre to buy dpg dipropylene glycol in US stores? I don't want to get it online because of the shipping fee and the time it takes for them to ship out...

Hi doloress, I live in london and would love to try "your cream" lol. I am new to this site so I haven't worked out how to pm anyone. Please email me. I am on hotmail.co.uk and my email is debzakaloud@ please don't laugh guys, I was 13 when I made the email lol. Please please email me where I can get everything. Thank you

Hello
doloress I am planning to use e45 lotion with mequinol instead of the HQ powder.Do u think I will be fine?u said you had stretch marks have they faded as you have been using the cream? I used to use tenovate and HQ and it gave me stretch marks all over my arms and shoulder which I can't get rid of and the look worse because I have put on weight any recommendations on hat to do?I will appreciate your help. Thanks

Oh wow, I never noticed this thread was here Doloress. Thanks for this.


Skated, you may want to take a look at these articles on how to improve your stretchmarks:
http://www.iloveindia.com/home-remedies/stretch-marks.html

http://www.docshop.com/education/dermatology/body/stretch-mark-removal/

http://www.stretchmarkcure.com/

Thank you for the information I know this will be a lot more cost effective for people especially me. Now if I can just find out where to get the hq powder. How long are you guys going to lighten using hq before you stop? Or what's a safe time?

May I ask is it safe to use such a high percentage of HQ? And is it legal to get photo grade HQ and use it cosmetically just asking? And has it worked well have you achieved even results all over you body? And in the past when I did use HQ I would get darker if I stopped so what happens when I no longer can get such a high percentage? Would I get darker or?
Thanks

Ok so for everyone in the USA who is using our measurement system. I spent all day trying to convert the measurements WHEEWWWW SUCCESS. So here we go:
20% HQ mixing instructions

Propylene glycol 30 ml=2 tablespoons
HQ 10 grams=2 teaspooons (roughly)
Lotion 75ml=5 tablespoons
Retin A 10 grams=2 teaspoons (roughly)

K I hope this helps, feel free to change or add anything, also I heard that some people are adding about 5g/1 teaspoon of asorbic acid aka vitamin c powder to help perserve it, has anybody done this?

Hi, I still have stretch marks but they have faded a lot because I also use shea butter and olive oil. I also mix my 55hh+ glycerin with msm and vit c powder. I have used my cream for nearly a year now, on and off with retin a. I first apply the glycerin then when its dry,I apply the cream and finally apply my shea butter and olive oil mix. When am not using it, I apply dermowhite gel, then 55h+ body lotion mixed with the serum. I have ahieve and maintened a lighter complexion, from wesley snipes to megan good. Hope this help.

Hi Doloress, good job with the "lab work". Could you please PM me the website to get the HQ from? Thanks in advance for your help. I'm planning on using it with a Vit C Serum that I made for myself.

Quick question Doloress, can I use Vodka instead of di propylene glycol since they almost do the same things as base? Thanks.

I wanted to know if anybody else is using an exfoliate in the morning if you put the HQ + Retin A on at night? Or anything else that would speed up the lightening process, like kojic soap or F&F exfoliating bar?

Hi soulskin ill try to pm you. I got mine from a uk online photography shop and I have no idea if vodka will do the same job. I avoid exfoliating in the morning, maybe 3 times a week as retin a is pretty hard on the skin and exfoliating too much will leave the skin raw.

I am sorry soulskin I have no idea how to pm you; can you find out how to and let me know.

Hey all, fyi you can get the pure Hydroquinone from the eBay seller cjchemical for a crazy low price. I have bought from them and mixed my own cream with it with good results. (it did take some trial and error though. You have to mix it fast to prevent the oxidation and browning but actually, once I used one of mine that turned beige and when I mixed it with the lotion, it was all white and it still seemed to work!).

Anybody in the us all you have to do is Google hydroquinone powder and pretty much a bunch of photography supply places come up.

doloress how are you now??

How has the lightening been?

Can you tell us exactly what color you are now?

doloress how are you now??

How has the lightening been?

Can you tell us exactly what color you are now?

Fill a sistah in on your lightening results girl!! :)

About to mix my hq tomorrow hopefully everything goes well.

Ok just mixed when everything is mixed is the mixture suppose to have a kind of yellowish tint or is it supposed to be stark white? Because I put the retin a in the mixture and it was a yellowish gel color so I'm not sure if my hq has oxidized or the retin a changed the color. Also when you put it on your skin is it suppose to tingle burn etc. I have a slight tingling very minimum but that's about it.

What color are you exactly?. using a celeb

What is your goal?. what % hq and retin a are you using?.

I heard tingling is natural... are you using it for you body too ?

From this ashanti
http://www.classieentertainment.com/hiphop_Celeb/ashanti_2.jpg

To this zoe kravitz
http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/zoe-kravitz-the-banger10.jpg


Is that like 3 or 4 shades

Also how can you tell if the hq has oxidized is it a slight brownish tint or just brown?

Just brown

I read that when you first make hq it will be brown until you mix it in the lotion

If it is brown, regardless if light or dark, then it has oxidized due to the exposure of oxygen, moisture, formulation, etc. shade of brown only refers to the amount of oxidation. Hydroquinone's color changes when oxidizes, the darker the shade the greater extent of oxidation.

But, the tint could have come from the color of the Retin-a, so I wouldn't discard it. What % hq is it?

Doloress and lighterr do you guys mind pm'im me..

Please email me ladies, I don't think there is a PM feature on this site... PLEASE, thanks so much!