Now what exactly will my skin look like after bleaching? I'm using Retin A and 4% HQ.

I heard you still have undertones. So I ask, what are undertones?

Also, how do you deal with getting hard to reach places? Because I wanted to lighten my everywhere from the chest up. Because I NEVER show my legs and my stomach to anyone, so there is no reason to bleach those areas. Just the visible ones.

Now, how do you deal with getting everywhere? Like the ears, hairline, etc? Because isn't it hard to get everywhere to lighten evenly?

And what should I do for when someone needs to see me naked or with my shirt off for some reason? The top half of my body will be A LOT lighter than he bottom half.

What could I do or say in this situation?

Your skin should look lighter and clearer after using hq/retin a for a while.

Undertones are the color of your skin underneath the darker skin. I have yellow undertones, I think most people of color have yellow undertones. When I lighten my skin the lighter skin is a more high yellow color, when you lighten your undertones come through and show more.

Why don't you lighten all over? Are your legs and stomach dark?

Just use the HQ/Retin-a on your face,but you can use there tretinoin/retin-a on your body,some people don't know retin-a lighten's the skin to,I am still using tretinoin 0.1% and it lighten my skin,with my other whitening agents

Uh,
I had the constant peeling of my skin
With the retin A.
And after you wash your face with soap
And apply the retin a.

It burns like hell,
And my face get all red..
Lol..

Mobster did you experience any hyperpigmentation after using retin A?

Did you wait for your skin to dry before applying Retin A ?
That happened to me when I first started using it and I used it everyday.
You have to give your skin a rest for a day or two or try a lower strength formulation.

Well they are pretty light. But I didn't want to waste money buying more stuff to lighten my stomach, legs and stuff when hardly anyone will see those places on me.

So When I first start using Retin-A I should use it every other day to avoid intense burning?

I see what your saying and no one sees those parts of me either but I still want my skin to be one even color from head to toe.

As far as Retin A goes you may not have a problem using it everyday. Your skin will tell you when it's time to take a break. I went for their strongest strength at 0.1% the first time I used it. You can start every other day and see how it goes.

Same thing happened when I used Kojic Acid soap, it was too strong at first and I had to stop but then when I returned to using it again the peeling and stinging was less of a problem for me.

Well I'm on a budget. So have t osave as much as I can. Lol

Right!
You'll save using one tube of hq and one tube of Retin A every two months. Lol

That's good to know. Because The site I'm buying from charges only $2-$3 for each tube. BUT, they charge $25 for shipping.

I was thinking of buying a few tubes for each shipment. To save money. But if its spreadable like you said, and lasts 2 months then maybe I don't need to.

How long is each tube good for? Like how long do they last before expire?

I purchased mine from the SuperSkinStrore on sell.com
They were $15 bucks each, it's the same product and she ships fast!
Alldaychemist is great if you purchase in bulk.

I still have a tube of hq and Retin A.
Let see...

Hq Mfd 06/2009 expires 05/2011
Retin A Mfd Aprl 09 expires March 11

That is what is stamped on the boxes.
And the expiration date is stamped on the bottom of each tube.

Oh. OK. Thanks.

Your welcome!:)

Lol do a patch test first, because not everyone tolerated retina well

Brief Info on Retinoids:

I agree it would be beneficial to do a patch test first with retin-a (aka tretinoin which is the acid form of vitamin A), perhaps even with hq, as everyone does not tolerate these and some may even have allergic reaction. As for me, I am able to use any of the strengths of retin-a on my forehead. I use 0.01% on my forehead as they have the most marks and scarring and tolerate it well, and had previously used 0.05%. But applying 0.1% to only to small areas on my arms where there were a couple of acne scars I wanted to remove (I had previously used 0.05% previously). And my arms did not tolerate it well at all, the small acne scar area had burned and swelled so I had to discontinue using it on my arms and switched to lactic acid (milk derivative) 2x weekly, which I removing the scarring very well.

So I definitely do not recommend for others to use 0.1% strength at beginning of use. It is best to start with a mild strength such as 0.025%, 0.05% is the average strength which works well also yet stronger than 0.025%. The next lowest strengths below 0.025% tretinoin is topical retinoid called retinol, you can find this ingredient in a good quality skin lotion or crème at your local or online store.

Retinol: Retinol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The next under that is the synthetic Retinyl Palmitate, which is milder than retinol and also good for sensitive skin.

Retinyl Palmitate: Retinyl palmitate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Undertones:

Skin undertones are the colors that lie beneath the skin. Undertones are the colors that are cast like a shadow beneath your skin color. People of color undertones are usually red or yellow.The shadow has a distinct color which never changes. While the tone of your skin color can change very easily your undertone never changes.
You'll either have cool, warm, or natural tones:

Cool undertones for darker complexions are usually bluish to violet in color

Natural undertones usually consist of olive (green/yellowish) or yellow colors but is very hard to distinguish.

Warm undertones on average is the most recognized among people of color. Warm undertones consists of yellow, orange, red and olive with each one growing in intensity and depth of their color spectrum.

The way to determine your undertone can be tricky, but the best way is to observe the color of your veins (possibly near your wrists)

*If your veins appear to be bluish in color then you fall into the cool category. This also means your undertone is on the blue or pink.

*If your veins appear green then you fall into the warm category. This usually means your undertone is on the yellow/peach or olive.

*With natural undertones the vein color is less obvious in color and can not be distinctly recognized.

Another of way of finding out is going to the mall and have a makeup specialist tell you, this is what I had did to double check but I already knew my undertones were yellow.

Skin Tone, Skin Undertones, Foundation Makeup with age, Make your eyes look beautiful


There are Fitzpatrick Charts and other chart types to help determine your skin shade and tone:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6...itledvibh8.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8992/skintypes.jpg

Also:
http://www.cyden.co.uk/images/fitzpatrick_scale.jpg
http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/images/.../1/1/11253.jpg
Fitzpatrick Classification Scale

Now what exactly will my skin look like after bleaching? I'm using Retin A and 4% HQ.

So can you still obtain your nice golden, red, or olive undertones and still lighten the skin with Hq and Ra?

Yes, you can. I, as well as many others, have been able to do this. You have to be cautious not to lighten too too quickly so that you will not have that "bleached out" look where you undertones are masked. Also, adding a good quality vitamin C (ascorbic acid or other quality forms) serum can be added to your regimen and will help give your skin a lovely glow and will help your undertones to be more pronounced. And always use an effective sunblock high in spf to prevent the skin to redarken and protect it from UVA and UVB rays.

Also, how do you deal with getting hard to reach places? Because I wanted to lighten my everywhere from the chest up. Because I NEVER show my legs and my stomach to anyone, so there is no reason to bleach those areas. Just the visible ones. Now, how do you deal with getting everywhere? Like the ears, hairline, etc? Because isn't it hard to get everywhere to lighten evenly?

I just apply a little on the tip of my finger and apply it to the outer areas of my ears, behind the ears, neck, back of neck (including hairline) and any other area tha I am trying to lighten. I do not apply retin-a to the back of ears or neck because it burns and the skin is already quite thin there. Hq will lighten it just fine on it's own, but yes still apply sunblock there. Only places where you don't use either is areas such as mucous membranes areas: nose/nostril areas, in mouth and intimate parts, and not in the ears :-S. If theres an area your not sure about, feel free to ask.

And what should I do for when someone needs to see me naked or with my shirt off for some reason? The top half of my body will be A LOT lighter than he bottom half.

Try to avoid this if you possibly can until things are even. But, some situations may be exposed and the only thing you can do while currently in the lightening process is to say your top half is paler because you dont get much sun or say nothing (best I can think of).

What could I do or say in this situation?

While lightening DRAMATICALLY such as a few shades+, I remember asking about this situation. Well, people who know you will begin to notice. I usually do not try explaining myself unless asked...because that is my right and I do not pry in their business and ask them. But, when they do ask as people are naturally nosy by nature, I usually respond by saying that I have been going to the spa or dermatologist and getting acne and exfoliation treatments such as AHAs and so on...or that I am using exfoliators to help even my skin and help remove my discolorations, acne, and blemishes.

In which I am using exfoliators including AHA's such as latic acid, I'm also working on the appearance of my acne scars, stayin clear from acne breakouts, removing my blemishes and scars....I'm just lightening overall as well. Which is equally fine since people also tan their skin which can be more dangerous and even cancerous.

Once you feel that you have reached your desired goal, you'll have to maintain your results (and this is with any lightener). Why? Because the skin cells are replaced on average every 28 days and will return to it's genetic color. Maintaining with an effective skin lightener 2-3 times weekly, an exfoliator, and always use sunblock every day before going out the same way we must brush our teeth daily to main our pearly whites.

Thanks for all the info.