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Sunday, May 9, 2010

Potent Essentials & Skin Lighteners

Instead of just blogging solely on strong skin lighteners, I've decided to compile a list of products that are essential for overall glowing, clear healthy skin too.

These are products either I have used or have gotten enough feedback about, or read positive reviews about to recommend. Many of these I have already mentioned throughout the blog, but this is just a simplified way of sifting through the masses. The specific products will be under each ingredient heading.

By no means are these the strongest products out there. Skin lightening (or any skin care issue) is subjective and results vary from person to person. Based on ingredients, personal experience and results; these products made the cut:

Recommended BHA product

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid

Recommended AHA product

M.D. Forte Facial Lotion III

M2 Skin Refinish 20%

Recommended Body Lightener

Makari Body Beautifying Milk

UNT EX White Body Lotion

Recommended Niacinamide product

NIA 24 Rapid Exfoliating Serum <-- will debut in a few weeks. Perfect pH, exfoliation and potent niacin content.

Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 <-- I just learned this little sunscreen has 5% niacinamide, not 3%. 5% niacinamide is enough to see some effect on hyperpigmentation.

Recommended Facial Lightener

Bioderma White Objective Night Serum <--  limited stock unfortunatley

Makari Night Cream <-- non acne-prone only

FloClaire Hypercreme Super Illumination Fluid

FloClaire Hypercreme Extratone Fade Cream

Dermaline Skin Whitening Cream XL

Recommended Skin lightening Soap

Dermaline Kojic Acid Papaya Soap

Recommended Vitamin C Product:

DIY Vitamin C Serum (10% or 20%)

Skinceuticals AOX 20

UNT C Clarity Ascorbic Acid Serum  <-- least expensive and great product

Recommended Skin Brightener:

DHC Acerola 100

UNT Ex-White Whitening Serum

Vichy Bi White Double Reveal Whitening Essence <-- I classify this as a skin brightener more than anything else


This post is a little different since it is basically made up by your responses and messages to me. The various products featured here have gotten several positive feedbacks. I am always thrilled when something works for somebody. In a way this is like a summary of what has been in the shopping cart of All About Skin Lightening readers, lol.

<3

Labels: , ,

posted by Mileena at 9:49 PM

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena

Can i top Retin-A on Bioderma Night Objective cuz it states that it has VitC so i am not sure if i can buffer/top it with Retin-A.

Thanks.

May 10, 2010 at 1:09 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Vitamin C can be used alongside with a retinoid, but you must wait 10-20 minutes to allow the Bioderma to absorb. Also vitamin c travels deep into the skin and takes about that time frame to allow the skin to neutralize to a normal pH.

Having the skin at the right pH is sooo crucial for better peentration of products and reducing the risk of irritation. Retin-A can be applied on top. Monitor your skin carefully through this process because vitamin c and tretinoin often times can cause excessive flushing or irritation.

;)

May 10, 2010 at 1:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Mileena you are truly godsend ...god bless u ....you are so helpful and patient..i said this many a times before but i just can't help repeating it.

can i use Environ Evenesnce along with my VitC during AM? and along with Retin-A during night? Sorry for bothering you with so many Qs..i am on Makari Night cream right now, decided to shift to another lightener so contemplating on Environ , bioderm,phyto and super CP serum ,..haven't made up my mind on any of them yet :)..can u suggest one of the above or anything u think that would work?.

Thanks

May 11, 2010 at 4:15 AM  
Anonymous Blaine said...

Fair and Handsome Advanced Fairness Men Range products are specially formulated for Men.

May 11, 2010 at 4:24 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hey!

You can use the Environ along side with the Vitamin C. Since Environ contains niacinamide, you should wait about 15 minutes to apply that on top of the vitamin c, to ensure complete absorption. I'm not sure if that might change your mind.

I would suggest the Bioderma (if you can get your hands on it, it seems to be in limited stock unfortunatley). My second pick would be phyto+ (if the bioderma isn't available). Great product, love it and that can definitley be applied on top of your vitamin c without waiting. It's also soothing so it can be used twice a day w/o any problems. I love that one.

<3

May 11, 2010 at 10:32 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Blaine, I'm thinking of making an article on that one. It seems identical to the regular fair & lovely fairness cream, or is it different? =)

May 11, 2010 at 10:38 AM  
Blogger Nitesh said...

Hi mileena

plz tel me difference between skin lightening, skin whitening and skin brightening. As all three seems to be similar.
And plz i request u to post some article on men's fairness and simple ways to fairness for men as i waste lot of time putting 2products in morning and again retenol and makeri cavier in nite
hope ur response soon

May 16, 2010 at 5:14 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hi Nitesh,

I made an article on the difference between skin lightening & skin brightening. Here:

http://allaboutskinlightening.blogspot.com/2009/11/difference-between-brightening-and.html

Skin whitening is just another term for skin lightening (actually lightening the color of your skin in shades, so go from dark to light).

Skin brightening or skin brighteners just give your current skin tone a healthy, even-toned glow.

Both are important.

I also did an article on Fairness creams:

http://allaboutskinlightening.blogspot.com/2009/12/fairness-creams.html

I will be doing a skin lightening for men article in the next few days. I'm just writing a few others first. I get a lot of requests for that one and yes, there is a different approach (slightly) since men's skin is thicker which does affect the degree of efficacy of some skin lighteners. Look out for it in a few days. =P

May 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi
am frequent reader of ur blog. Last month i pic NIA 24 From new york. I used it for a week there bt wen i came to india back i saw few pus filled pimples on my neck and on my cheek which eventually drys out with red spot with some oral antibiotic. But still am getting those pimples. Is that bcz of NIA? what should i do. Help me its very costly. I never faced this problem b4. I hav a strict rule of cleansing and scrubing my skin.
And as u told to use retinol in night, no dout it really helps. Bt wen i shave, that day using retinol over paul and joe serum gives burning sensation wat to do

May 20, 2010 at 1:13 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hi Karan,

I am thinking the pimples you are getting are from the NIA 24. Though it is a good product, and can be very beneficial it really isn't for sensitive, oily or acne prone skin types. It is definitley not oil-free, and can potentially clog pores. It seems only dry to non-acne prone skin types actually enjoy it.

But it doesn't have to go to waste. It can be used on your neck (the skin on your neck is not as acne prone as the face, due to less sebum secretion there, and smaller pores) or somewhere on your body (knees, elbows, hands) or even dry spots.

The burning sensation is completley normal. Retinoids do cause the skin to be temporarily sensitive (they exfoliate the epidermal layer), so shaving can definitley flare up some burning sensations. These sensations may become more tolerable as your skin becomes more adjusted (it takes 6-12 months to build total tolerance).

If the retinol is too unbearable (or the stinging does not subside) the days that you do not shave use the retinol (though this is not that good of an idea, depending on how many times you shave).

It's best to just bear through it, your skin will build tolerance to it (the burning may not ever go away, but the sting and severity of it may be reduced as you continue using it).

May 20, 2010 at 6:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena,

Thanks for reply. I hav stopped using NIA 24 now. Bt wat to use under sunscreen now in morning. M little tight on cash so tel me somthing of low cost. Curently m using paul and joe serum in nite, it is bit oily so dont like it for morning use. Need somthing for day but not with vitamin c as i used a product with 10% vitamin c serum in a bottle with a dropper. I did't rembr the name, which made my skin a tone darker.
M using Lo'real microdermabrasion kit twice a week. Its result is great from 1st usage, low cost and very simple to use.
If possible write an article on it to help people take its benefit
Thanks

May 21, 2010 at 2:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi M! I.m an african woman living in Ghana,west africa....I've been reading your blog for sometime now and i must say its sorted me out a great deal! Im really greatful cos you've saved me from some really bad choices.a billion thnx to you......but i need your help now. I've had a baby for a little over a year now and thru the pregnancy i became extremely DARK and tho its been more than a year,my skin's never been able to recover! Im still over 2shades darker than pre pregnancy and its frustrating me cos i've used countless lighteners(including makari product) and still no results and its putting a big hole in the pocket cos with the baby around i had to stop working and we're depending on my husband's income which doesnt leave a lot for my 'quest for lighter skin' if u kno what i mean?!......my local supplier just gave me bioderma alpha beaute night cream and carotein fade gel cream and serum to use in the morning plus white express extra whitening lotion for my body.....problem is,i dont know if this is also goin to be another waste in all aspect and if it does work,can i use any of the above product while pregnant cos we plan on having another baby soon and i definately would like a skin care regimen to keep me lightened whiles pregnant.....this is where you come in. PLEASE make a suggestion especially on safe lighteners during pregnancy and what would work for now, keeping in mind my cash issues,pregnancy and breastfeeding. Currently still breastfeeding tho!Also please comment on the products i have now...O by the way, i have a combination skin. Thanx a bunch! Loking forward to hear from you! Thanx again! DESPERATE Renna! Lol!

October 12, 2010 at 8:40 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hi!

Congrats on the baby and expecting one <33

Hyperpigmentation or darkening of the skin is very common with pregnant woman. Hormonal changes are the root of this.

Has the bioderma alpha beaute night cream, carotein fade gel cream and serum and white express extra whitening lotion been effective so far? Are you seeing results?

When pregnant or breast feeding you must avoid skin care products with vitamin A and it's derivatives (retinol/retinoids) and hydroquinone.

Make sure you are wearing sunscreen daily to protect your results and skin to prevent further darkening. I imagine the sun is quite intense in Ghana so it's a must.

As for lightening your skin, stick to botanical lighteners and topical antioxidants. The lightening will be gradual but will happen for sure this happen, plus it's much healthy. I would recommend something with the ingredient Sepiwhite which inhibits hormonal response to melanin production. This can be beneficial to your skin during the pregnancy. It's all safe ofcourse.

Ambi has a new Fade Serum for sensitive skin (no HQ) that contains high levels of sepiwhite. It's worth a shot and found online quite easily.

If you have time (it's hard with a baby I can imagine) you can always make your own vitamin c serum during the daytime to use underneath your sunscreen. Vitamin C exfoliaties and lightens and making it fresh daily with distilled water is the best way to ensure you're getting fresh, stable vitamin c on your skin. Most health food stores carry it - vitamin c (l-ascorbic acid or ascorbic acid powder/crystals). I made an article on this with links to resources to buy. Bulkactives.com, gardenofwisdom.com are good options.

Likas Soap is a very affordable body brightening soap that did give me results. It does exfoliate with papaya enzyme which also brightens the overall skin. It can be drying, so use a body lotion afterwards.

Good luck <333

October 13, 2010 at 3:06 PM  

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