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Check-In Pt. 2: What I Have Changed In My Regimen

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Check-In Pt. 2: What I Have Changed In My Regimen

Kuan Yuan Lian Cucumber Whitening Mask Photo Credit from BoboDave

Time for the second check-in! =D

Hope everyone is doing well and is getting at least some results with their regimen. Hopefully some are getting some amazing results.

In the last few months I have gotten so many e-mails about skin lighteners I've never heard of. Some look impressive while others...are just meh. If you are using a skin lightener or skin brightener that I haven't recommended, reviewed or made in the Top 5 then feel free to comment about it in this post so others can take a look. I always say it's great to keep your options open and chances are if something is working for one person, it most likely will work for somebody else.

I have made several changes in my regimen that I haven't gotten around updating in My Regimen section of the blog. Recently I have re-introduced some Environ products into my routine. The company was generous enough to allow me to try their products another time after reviewing and messaging their Clarifying Lotion on my blog.

I am currently using their C Boost (vitamin c derivative serum) underneath my sunscreen daily. It's good timing since I just finished my last drop of the UNT Clarity Brightening Fluid (wonderful product with a review coming).  So far so good...it's a wonderful antioxidant cream that doesn't break me out. I do find it a bit greasy however if I apply sparingly it works out nice. I haven't seen much lightening but I get that 'glow' that I love from vitamin c. I don't usually use vitamin c derivatives - strictly just L-ascorbic acid serums but this one is great.

I'm not sure if I'll recommend yet, I'll wait for another 3-4 weeks and see what happens. With vitamin C I almost always see a constant glow to my skin - even if I am not wearing the product. Let's see if this one can perform like pure vitamin c.

I also am trying out some new masks. I still use the Kose but wanted to experiment with some of the ultra inexpensive skin lightening masks over at BoboDave. I have been using the KuanYuan Lian Cucumber Whitening Mask and I must say...it is gorgeous!!! Wonderful instant brightening. I find that it almost gives me a super refined look - like any imperfection (pimple or acne mark is blurred out with the overall brightness of my skin tone).

Other than that, I am still using Sofina and I have returned to Phyto+ and Retin-A gel at night. The Neostrata Skin Brightening Gel unfortunatley ended up not giving my skin anything else other than the initial glow and 'freshly exfoliated' look.

<333

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posted by Mileena at 6:26 PM

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena,
Would love to try the mask but I have some questions on the bobodave site.
1. How much is the exact shipping price to deliver their products to the USA? I checked out the shipping rates section but am confused.
2. Are the ingredients in the products on the site safe? because I can't seem to find the ingredients listed.

September 25, 2010 at 9:44 PM  
Blogger Nitesh said...

Hi Meelina
I to feel Phyto+ with retin A really works wonder. Bt i hav to pay a lot for shipping upto india.
Wel i like to share that i hav used HQ 2% with retinoid for 5 months around a year back. I must say it lightened me(natural skin colour) upto 3 shades (ofcourse with gud sunscreen). It was better than any. Bt i hav stopped after reading to ur blog. I hope it to be proved safe so i could again start using it

September 26, 2010 at 3:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi mileena!

I am wondering if using the neostrata spot lightened all over the face and neck are would lighten the skin? I am currently using retinol (steiva a, 0.01%) on my face and if te combined effect be any good? As well the hypercreme illuminator and extratone, are the ingredients actual
skin lightening ingredients?

September 26, 2010 at 6:14 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hi,

I actually did that combination before - the Neostrata Spot Lightener and a retinoid together at night. I did see some overall lightening (half a shade, but I had a tan to remove at the time).

The spot lightener is great but it comes in such a small size that combining it with something else is the only way to go. It was hard doing it since it came in a brush applicator, I would just take out the brush and squeeze out a pea sized amount and applied it over my face and sparingly on my neck. It's a bit greasy because of the shea butter content but the Gigawhite in it definitley works. No doubt about it.

You may find that is runs out rather quickly though. It lasted me for about 2 months which is short since most lighteners last me upwards 4 months.

It's worth a shot though since it's effective. I wish they made it in better and bigger packaging I would definitley buy it again.

You know I get asked about the Hypercreme and Extratone Cream a lot. The ingredients definitely do not look impressive at first, but I am assuming they are highly concentrated (the vitamin c derivative and various botanicals in the lower range of list are at least in the right amount (anywhere from 0.5-0.9 is often good enough for these botanicals). It seems to get great commentary and for awhile made the Top 5 a lot because so many people were e-mailing me about it and using it.

It seems to be hit or miss with people. Some people like it while others find it just moisturizes or slightly brightens their overall skin tone. I think the ingredients aren't too impressive but I am assuming they are concentrated and are obviously working for some people. Particularily people with dry skin. ;)

September 26, 2010 at 8:24 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

The good thing is you are using sunscreen which is what dermatologist recommend counteract a lot of the 'risks' that HQ poses. I still cannot advocate using it all over, but that is still pretty amazing that it lightened your skin 3 shades!

We'll have to wait and see. I am interested in reading all the investigations and finding about HQ and how it interacts in our skin/bodies. For the record 3 percent is generally concerned a low amount so you are safe.

To maintain your color you can use the HQ a couple of times a week if you really wish to keep the skin tone you are at now. 2-3 times a week should be fine whilst using sunscreen daily.

There should be some alternatives in skin lighteners or brighteners in India. Look for niacinamide (vitamin B3) or licorice extract in ingredients. Usually those do a good job.

The Paul and Joe Whitening Serum seems to be a hit among many people around here. I believe it's sold readily in the East Asian market should be easily obtained online (less shipping time/cost). Ebay is always good to check out ;)

September 26, 2010 at 8:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi!!
Love your blog!! It's really informative. Looking foward to your review about the UNT vit c serum as I want to buy it but going to wait for your review first. :)

September 29, 2010 at 5:18 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

thank you, the review will be up today ;D

September 29, 2010 at 10:41 AM  

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