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 going to 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. :rolleyes:

I have to say, if you're considering paying this much money to change your appearance, well, it's not a cost that needs to be spent.

It's the same as spending money on a boob job, nose job or tummy tuck. It's not a needed expense, it's a personal expense.

If you can't afford it then you don't do it, it's really that simple.

Altenweg, thanks, I see... that 1 oz bottle of $60 cream or that $180 lightening kit from FF is a luxury expenditure that why it's so expensive.

Anyway, guys, does high-end necessarily mean its more effective? Makari seems definitely high-end! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Golden_Boy

Altenweg, thanks, I see... that 1 oz bottle of $60 cream or that $180 lightening kit from FF is a luxury expenditure that why it's so expensive.

Anyway, guys, does high-end necessarily mean its more effective? Makari seems definitely high-end!! :)

---

Not necessarily!
Some are high priced products such as ones from the department stores but have very little of the active ingredients. High price pays for the pretty package, the magazine advertisements and the super model spoke person endorsing it.

Makari definitely has that high end look, there products are packaged real nice.

The world may never know.

I just have to shake my head when I see those numbers... The most money I ever spent on my skin was 80.00 for Obagi... and I was an ignorant fool to do so... I can buy 4% HQ online for 15.00 but I didn't know better.

Personally, I pretty much refuse to spend over 40.00 on any lightening products, it's just not necessary, same yourself a lot of trouble and money and compound your own damn HQ

Makari could cut back big time if they didn't have such high-end looking jars. The jars can't make you lighter, nor can the advertisements and celebrities. That's why I have been searching for much lower cost products that lightens very well.

Are you using any peels or Retin-a.. something to really exfoliate & prepare the skin for the skin (& yes wallet)-lightening products?

I honestly don't think the F&F and Othine would be working nearly as well if I didn't use the glycolic peels regularly. Peeling was a key part of the spa's treatment too.

*peeling
*hq/kojic or bleaching agent of choice
*sunscreen

It's synergistic. This system is definitely working on my tanned parts & melasma.. I'm not sure if it's the answer for all-over lightening.

I just ordered 50% glycolic for my outer arms, back of hands, tops of feet that are resistant & laughing at the 35%. The 35% is working fine for my face and neck. My skin feels great and I'm sure it allowed the lighteners to sink in, bringing my face and neck closer to the color of my décolletage & torso.

I've quit the hq & sepi on my face for now so that my arms and hands can catch up.

Flash
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6251/picture5kk.jpg

No flash
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2...omp2noflsh.jpg

I'm so thankful that I haven't exposed my legs to sun in a while so I'll only have to tackle my knees (with TCA 20%) and tops of feet. Hopefully the 50% Gly will break up the perma-tan crud and let the hq & sepi do their thing.

They're very big on HQ and Retin-A regimens over on SkinCareTalk.com's lightening forum. I'm going to try it on my darker areas to see if it speeds the process. I'm too nervous to use it on my face also as I mentioned before, my face is light enough for now.

Keep in mind that we didn't get scorched overnight, so patience is key. Over there(SCT) they're rec'ing 6 months(?) of HQ & RA for lightening. I've only been at this since the beginning of August and I do see a difference.

Again make sure you're doing something to peel away the old cells and get the most from your pricey (okay maybe not Othine and Nadinola) potions. HTH!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Golden_Girl

Makari could cut back big time if they didn't have such high-end looking jars. The jars can't make you lighter, nor can the advertisements and celebrities. That's why I have been searching for much lower cost products that lightens very well.

---

Truth! LMAO!

I am a white woman but I live in a community of black people.
I know all my black friends do not use these products.
People,I am shocked to see that you are not happy with you and will spend all this money to make yourself lighter!
C'mon
Love yourself.
Are you nothing but the color of your skin?
C'mon,I thought we were past that.
Please stop!
Honor yourself for who you are !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

I am a white woman but I live in a community of black people.
I know all my black friends do not use these products.
People,I am shocked to see that you are not happy with you and will spend all this money to make yourself lighter!!
C'mon
Love yourself.
Are you nothing but the color of your skin?
C'mon,I thought we were past that.
Please stop!!
Honor yourself for who you are !

---

I do think there's a difference between fading & peeling away melasma and sun damage to get an even-toned complexion and lightening one's base color simply for the brighter shade and imagined status it will supposedly bring.

I've been thinking and feeling a million things since joining this board and reading some of the posts but I don't want to judge... I get the history of racism and need for self-acceptance.

OTOH, as a reformed tanner, I simply thought I that looked better darker. Part me wants to think for some people that this is an inverse of what I went through for years with darker=sexier.

If only there were safe (and easily reversible) ways to tan, bleach, or heck... dye one's self green... then it would be all fine by me. The possible health risks make me nervous most of all.

I'm assuming the lighteners might have a revelation and stop at some point just like many tanners wake-up and stop. It took me until 40 yrs old.:o

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EggoMini

I do think there's a difference between fading & peeling away melasma and sun damage to get an eventoned complexion and lightening one's base color simply for the brighter shade and imagined status it will supposedly bring.

I've been thinking and feeling a million things since joining this board and reading some of the posts but I don't want to judge... I get the history of racism and need for self-acceptance.

OTOH, as a reformed tanner, I simply thought I that looked better darker. Part me wants to think for some people that this is an inverse of what I went through for years with darker=sexier.

If there were safe ways to tan, bleach, or heck... dye one's self green... then fine by me. The possible health risks make me nervous most of all.

I'm assuming the lighteners might have a revelation and stop at some point just like many tanners wake-up and stop. It took me until 40 yrs old.:o

---

We need to accept who we are are what we look like! Bottom line ,we are who we are.
My best friend is black as black and beautiful.
She is beautiful.inside and out.

Lets stop these young girls thinking they have to be caramel or white to be pretty.It's insane.
WHY?
I don't get why you want to be light.
Explain it to me please.
Embrace your color ,please embrace who you are and your beautiful color is who you are!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

We need to accept who we are are what we look like! Bottom line ,we are who we are.
My best friend is black as black and beautiful.
She is beautiful.inside and out.

Lets stop these young girls thinking they have to be caramel or white to be pretty.It's insane.
WHY?
I don't get why you want to be light.
Explain it to me please.
Embrace your color ,please embrace who you are and your beautiful color is who you are!

---

I am embracing my color. I've stopped tanning. I've never wanted to be light, white or even my own medium neither-here-nor-there shade of brown. Hence the laying out to get darker.

I've stopped tanning for several reasons:

It aggravates my melasma (since having children)

Unless I was able to lay out nude or nearly nude, I was uneven. (chocolate head w/ caramel boobs etc.)

Finally and most deeply I've stopped for peace and self-acceptance. I've worn my hair natural for years and I've grown to love it. My next challenge was to accept my G-d given coloring.


I'm not sure that you're reading my posts closely enough.:)

I do understand what you're saying and I agree. I find a naturally dark-skinned, even-toned complexion one of the more beautiful sights in life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

We need to accept who we are are what we look like! Bottom line ,we are who we are.
My best friend is black as black and beautiful.
She is beautiful.inside and out.

Lets stop these young girls thinking they have to be caramel or white to be pretty.It's insane.
WHY?
I don't get why you want to be light.
Explain it to me please.
Embrace your color ,please embrace who you are and your beautiful color is who you are!

---

Melasma

Melasma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-1473854..._2058_15428734

Hydroquinone Creams: PharmacyMix Mexoryl SX, Mexoryl XL, Anthelios Sunscreens, La Roche Posay, Hydroquinone Cream, Lakota, Thorne Research, Green Cream, Retinol Cream, MaMa Lotion, Anti Aging Skin Care

Uneveness/Sun damage

http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/wp...armers-tan.jpg

http://earthboundkitchen.com/wp-cont...-line-back.JPG

http://www.studio404saratoga.com/farmertan.jpg

For years, I took more sun to disguise these problems (and because I liked being much darker than my natural shade!) but the best solution is actually in removing the damage and using sunblock.

Again, I understand what you're saying Artlady.

Maybe it is irresponsible of me to post here and perhaps I should simply stick to the melasma and anti-aging forums?:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EggoMini

Melasma

Melasma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-1473854..._2058_15428734

Hydroquinone Creams: PharmacyMix Mexoryl SX, Mexoryl XL, Anthelios Sunscreens, La Roche Posay, Hydroquinone Cream, Lakota, Thorne Research, Green Cream, Retinol Cream, MaMa Lotion, Anti Aging Skin Care

Uneveness/Sun damage

http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/wp...armers-tan.jpg

http://earthboundkitchen.com/wp-cont...-line-back.JPG

http://www.studio404saratoga.com/farmertan.jpg

For years, I took more sun to disguise these problems (and because I liked being much darker than my natural shade!) but the best solution is actually in removing the damage and using sunblock.

Again, I understand what you're saying Artlady.

Maybe it is irresponsible of me to post here and perhaps I should simply stick to the melasma and anti-aging forums?:confused:

---

All I am saying is love you and be who you are NATURALLY! That is all!
I abhor the thought of someone trying to change their skin color,It hurts me to think someone has a no sense of who they are because of the color of their skin.
I have fought for
People to have human rights for many years and it pains me to think my work was in vain.

A beautiful person is someone who is good and kind and real and real is the bottom line!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

We need to accept who we are are what we look like! Bottom line ,we are who we are.
My best friend is black as black and beautiful.
She is beautiful.inside and out.

Lets stop these young girls thinking they have to be caramel or white to be pretty.It's insane.
WHY?
I don't get why you want to be light.
Explain it to me please.
Embrace your color ,please embrace who you are and your beautiful color is who you are!

---

Hi, artlady!

Hey, my skin is white (and red!), freckled, oily as well as dry, wrinkled in certain areas, and also there's the possibility that I have a touch of skin cancer.

Of course, you know me in a number of other ways now...

Do you care what my skin looks like? Could I possibly be one of your best friends? You're already a good friend of mine, at least online, and I don't even know what you look like!

By the way, I'm going to be the piano soloist at the next concert for a local concert band of about 60 music professionals. It's just like the local symphony, except it's a concert band.

I plan on keeping my now, long beard and moustache as well as long hair for the concert!

My point here is, it ain't so much what you look like that counts, but your attitude and what you can do that really counts!

Thanks!

Hahaha, I don't know ANYONE who doesn't have an uneven tan...
I have white boobs and butt (so white they could literally blind you on a sunny day lol) but the rest of my body (that isn't covered by a bikini top and shorts) is a bit darker... it's not as bad as that guy in the first pic but I do have definite lines...

The only person who sees my tan lines is my boyfriend... I don't go walking around town naked so who cares?

I get that my black friends are uneven and I have a friend who has vitiligo and that really sucks.
I see on this board ALL the time about people who are working so hard to achieve something that is illusive and it makes me sad.
I am going to have my girl next door come over and talk to people.
She is very light and beautiful and her sisters are way dark so there is issues there.
I am white but I understand to a point!
I will never get not being YOU!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, artlady!

Hey, my skin is white (and red!), freckled, oily as well as dry, wrinkled in certain areas, and also there's the possibility that I have a touch of skin cancer.

Of course, you know me in a number of other ways now...

Do you care what my skin looks like? Could I possibly be one of your best friends? You're already a good friend of mine, at least online, and I don't even know what you look like!

By the way, I'm going to be the piano soloist at the next concert for a local concert band of about 60 music professionals. It's just like the local symphony, except it's a concert band.

I plan on keeping my now, long beard and moustache as well as long hair for the concert!

My point here is, it ain't so much what you look like that counts, but your attitude and what you can do that really counts!

Thanks!

---

Hay Bud!
My youngest son (22) has always had freckles and a bit of red hair.
He never liked it.As a kid. Freckles.

I helped him to understand at an early age that what he looked like was cool! He came to accept it.

There was no person in this world who looked like him!

I put makeup on him one day when he was 10 and we looked in the mirror and I asked him what he saw and he said not me and that was the end of him bumming out about freckles. :)

I was surprised,and happy that he got it.

Not too surprised because he was and is a cool kid but he stopped feeling bad about his freckles.

I will remember that day forever:)