[beautifulskin]

I am currently using a product called Tonique which contains Sepiwhite, Sepicalm VG, alpha arbutin and some other ingredients I can't remember right now. I have been using it for a few months now but in those few months I have become about 3 or 4 shades lighter from what I can see. Due to some bad melasma from pregnancy I think I was a bit anxious to clear up my skin and ordered both the gel and the cream and have been using both of them along with retin A, maybe that's why? I didn't think it would work so well on my face so now I have gone and ordered the lotion so that my body can catch up to my face but, I didn't think it would work so well and so quickly at that.

A friend of mine recommended it for me because I refused to attend her wedding unless I could clear my face and I was admittedly a bit skeptical at first but, my melasma was almost completely gone in time for the wedding. I am sure anyone with this problem knows I am glad to be rid of it!

But, my question is has anyone here used Tonique before and did it lighten you this much and this quickly?

(Please no bickering or accusations just honest answers please. :))

[lilgreg1]

Most likely, yes. SepiWhite works in a similar fashion as Alpha Arbutin. From what I can see however, it's based upon alpha-MSH Melanotropin.

Both Arbutin and Melanotropin seem to work together to provide a boosted impact upon your tyrosinase, and therefore provide faster results. You seem to have a natural level of lighter skin as well, based upon your statements concerning melasma, so that may play a role as well.

[Golden_Girl]

Tell me more about Melanotropin? I heard this word before but know little about it.

[lilgreg1]

It's similar to tyrosine, and is also an amino acid/protein that is necessary to produce melanin. In that way, it's pretty similar to Alpha Arbutin despite targeting a separate branch of melanin origin.

[beautifulskin]

I've used products with hydroquinone before and they've lightened me quite a bit within a short period but, I expected a much longer process with something natural. So, now I am scrambling to get my body caught up to my face. Lil' Greg because of the info you gave me in another post I am also considering getting microdermabrasion to make the skin on my face look even better. I am also considering a chemical peel. Which do you think is best?

[lilgreg1]

I suppose you'll have to choose between the latter; they can't really be used together.

Anyhow, I'd stick with chemical peels if you're lightening/exfoliating your body, and microdermabrasion for facials. (Facial skin is generally much thinner and softer, and therefore something milder and more stable such as microdermabrasion would be preferable.)

For your body, lighter skin peels such as glycolic acid would be ideal; it has to ability to provide lightening effects by removing dead skin cells. These effects tend to increase when used beforehand with other lighteners based upon lotions or creams as well. (Increased skin absorption etc.)

[Golden_Girl]

Lilgreg, will the spas and other places be able to give a full bosy chemical peel or only parts of the body? And how often and what percentage so you think is best when exfoliating and lightening the body?

[lilgreg1]

There's pretty much 3 levels of exfoliating: mild, medium and deep. I generally wouldn't go past mild unless you're aiming to remove serious amounts of skin due to scars, etc. More sensitive people ought to stick with mild leveled skin peels.

As for spas and other clinics, I believe they do provide skin peel treatments, but at-home remedies or kits can also be used. (Full body treatments should be done at home using glycolic or other AHA acids; be sure to use something a bit milder than threshold to prevent serious injury.)

[Golden_Girl]

Thanks, what percentage do you think is best to start using at home? And do you think using a lactic acid peel is best to use first instead of the glycolic acid since it is milder?

[lilgreg1]

Lactic acid would be ideal for those with sensitive skin, (used for millenniums as "milk baths") but very low or mild glycolic acid will work fine as well if available.

For starters, the best percentage would probably be between 5 and 12 percent, or as close to the skin's general pH level of 4.2 and 5.6. Stronger solutes should be between 20 and 30%, in consistency to mildly-strong to strong. Anything higher would be unadvised without the rendering of a medical professional.

[beautifulskin]

Lilgreg I always enjoy hearing from you, you have such a wealth of knowledge on these subjects! Thank you

[fairr]

So true!
How is your Alpha Arbutin regime going by the way?

[lilgreg1]

Fairly well. With an incorporated Monobenzone effect, it seems to have caused a faster lightening effect while decreasing any irregular patches that generally come with Monobenzone's influence.

[Golden_Girl]

Lilgreg. Hey. By the way I think you should major in biochemistry and dermotalogy so you can become my chemist, seriously...
Thanks

[fairr]

Oh wow so your regime has changed since your last update?
Could you tell us exactly what it has you've been doing/how long and your process is skin tone etc?
I don't mean to be annoying sorry!

[lilgreg1]

I've had this regimine for a while now I suppose. Over the course of nearly a month, I've managed to maintain an even tone throughout, while lightening still occurs. As for how it's done, I use a system of 5% Alpha Arbutin and 5% monobenzone. Generally, I apply monobenzone directly onto the skin, and later apply the Alpha Arbutin as well.

[Golden_Girl]

Does this dry your skin too much or what do you use to prevent dryness?

[lilgreg1]

It's diluted, so dryness is kept to a minimum. If dryness does occur however, you can add any moisturizing lotion afterwards as the solution(s) have already been absorbed pretty well. (Therefore further "dilution" of the Monobenzone or Alpha-Arbutin don't occur.)

[lighterrr]

Little greg you got any white spots yet cause if your using mono its only a matter of time until you do. I got white spots and I don't know what to do about them, can you suggest anything to me?

[haiji]

lighterrr,why you want finish the depigment process.. monobenzone does,that cause spots on some people..