All About Skin Lightening: Sofina Perfect UV Lucent Discontinued

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Sofina Perfect UV Lucent Discontinued

In the last couple of months I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about the Sofina Perfect UV Lucent being discontinued. Only recently though I learned that Sofina has stopped coming out with this product for a few of months now in Japan. A few readers & commenter’s who live in Japan told me that the product is not being sold there anymore. =(

I’m so sad that this sunscreen has been discontinued. The Sofina Perfect UV Lucent is (and probably always will be) my favorite sunscreen. It wears so beautifully, protects and preserves the quality and tone of my skin as well as controls oil. It’s unfortunate that Sofina has decided to end it.

Since it’s such a popular sunscreen I am sure it will be floating around the internet and being sold through various vendors for years though. The absolute absence of this product is not going to be seen for years to come. Many sites like bobodave and sasa still carry it. I highly suggest Sofina Perfect UV Lucent users to stock up now while quantities are still somewhat abundant. I stocked up last week with 3 bottles. To me it’s a valuable investment for my skin. =)

I’m sure there are other fantastic Japanese sunscreens out there, and some of you guys have already messaged me that you’ll let me know once you find one. I really appreciate that and would love to find an alternative to this stellar sunscreen.

If you haven’t tried the Sofina Perfect UV Lucent sunscreen, I highly suggest you do so now. More than ever it may be your last chance to get it so easily.

Apparently the ‘skin whitening’ sunscreen – White Protect and Nuance Up is still being manufactured but from what I read in the ingredient list – it’s no Perfect UV Lucent.

<333

Labels: sunscreen

90 Comments:

Anonymous said...: i hate it when good things get discontinued

HI~ i have been loving your blog since earlier this year :) And if it's not a bother i was wondering what would you recommend to get rid of a tan. The tan is from the 14years of living in Hawaii , but my tan is like a golden beige not super bad but i would like to be lighter :)im half japanese and american (if race has anything to do with it)

i have a neck,face,upper body tan
And is there anything that isn't too expensive that works really great in lightening?

Thank you very very much

- Hina; December 1, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Mileena said...: Hi Hina,

Wow 14 years deep is a pretty strong tan. Not all tans can fade unfortunately. These types of sun damage are called permanent sun damage. There are ways to lighten out the skin tone but to maintain it you must continue using a lightening regimen.

Start out with a great sunscreen you feel comfortable wearing daily. Then probably get a peel - I love the makeupartistchoice 40% lactic acid but OTC ones like Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion + Peel Kit or any one with glycolic acid above 10% can do a lot of good for sun damaged skin.

I would recommend going for an antioxidant/botanical lightener like Paul & Joe Whitening Serum (bobodave, sasa.com, beautykat.com). No vitamin c serums as they might be too strong at this point while starting out with a peel.

This is a great place to start. It should break up pigment by week 4-5. :) The key is to continue with it. If you need something stronger, add little things like lightening masks (Neutrogena Fine Fairness is fabulous or the ones from the Top 5 of November) and perhaps a vitamin c serum later on (either DIY or one that is 10% or 15% by Skinceuticals) can do a lot of good.; December 1, 2010 at 3:38 PM
Randy said...: Mil! Wow its been a long time :D as a skincare junkie im so selective! I have read ur posting about avobenzone n its limitation... but wht bout oxybenzone? Benzophenone-3 is in almost all day products. Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3, physical sunscreen. If avobenzone has no relationship wif oxy then its fine. But how if it does?; December 1, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Thank you so very much :D

My tan is like milky coffee or something like that , my skin tone is uneven (face is different from body skin tone). I will take your advice and good luck with journey and thank you again for making such a wonderful blog ~~~

-hina; December 1, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Mileena said...: Hi Randy,

Great to see your comment! It's been awhile, yes but I'm back.

Avobenzone is a great sunscreen ingredient but sometimes when combined with uncoated minerals (uncoated zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) it can lose it's effectiveness and protective function. When combiend with oxybenzone it's absolutely fine.

Avobenzone shouldn't be with octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate). These two ingredients do not work well together in terms of stability. But for some reason companies keep putting these ingredients together!; December 2, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Randy said...: Oh! I thought theyre like sisters :D so how do i spot avobenzone in the ingredient?; December 2, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Mileena said...: It's usually labeled as an active ingredient as either Avobenzone or Parsol 1789 =); December 2, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Anonymous said...: is the UNT C Clarity Ascorbic Acid Brightening Serum better than the DHC acreola 100 for lightening skin results? :); December 5, 2010 at 2:04 AM
Anonymous said...: Hello :) ~<3
What is a really good skin lightener
for like lightening up shades and not brightening or evening out skin tone but making you whiter?

-Amy; December 5, 2010 at 6:05 AM
Mileena said...: Yes. Definitely the UNT is better at lightening than the DHC Acerola 100.; December 5, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Mileena said...: Makari night or Day Cream <--- if you aren't acne prone

Paul & Joe Whitening Beaut serum

Yllume Lightening Cream (comes in a 2 piece set/ part topical part oral)

iS Clinical Whitening Range <--- I might be doing a giveaway/contest with this one :)

OR

Hypercreme Illumination Fluid

15-20% vitamin c serums as well.; December 5, 2010 at 7:35 PM
Anonymous said...: omg, you prob. dont even remember me now. but i was the one who asked you a ton of questions about the lactic acid peel a tad over a year ago. XD how have you been gwerlll?; December 6, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Anonymous said...: oooooh and also i just visited the bobodave site and it has 2 types of sonifa sunscreens. the one you mentioned and another with the word white in it. are these versions the same?; December 6, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Mileena said...: oh..hey! Ofcourse I remember your posts. Because of your comments/questions a lot of people have learned how to use the MUAC Lactic Acid peel properly. =D

I've been doing good.

As for the Sofina sunscreens on Bobodave - no they are not the same. The White Protect I have yet to try (I will try next) but it has different ingredients (including squalene which has me a bit worried since that can be troublesome for acne prone skin. My face becomes breakout city once I use this ingredient!) But the original is UV Perfect Lucent.

I believe they only sell it in 60ml now. It's a great size that lasts a looooong time (3-4 months of daily usage). If you do plan on getting it (and I really hope you do since it's amazing) get a cleansing oil with it. Any one will do but I like ordering the Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil along with my Sofina from Bobodave.

Hope all is well with you <3; December 6, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Anonymous said...: thank you, XD and im glad you remember me, XD i did ask a loooot of questions, rofl.; December 6, 2010 at 6:40 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Mileena,

What might be the difference between: the White Protect and Nuance up in the Sofina UV range.
One has pinkish color and the other whitish. Besides the color property, are there ingredient differences too?
where does one look up for their ingredient list?

Cheers!; December 7, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Mileena said...: Hi Lisa,

There's a clear difference in the active and inactive ingredients of the White Protect, Nuaunce Up and Perfect Lucent.

Check out beautykat for ingredients.

Here is the White Protect (which isn't bad looking at all):

http://beautykat.com/p196/Sofina-Perfect-UV-White-Protect-SPF50+-PA+++-%2860ml%29/product_info.html; December 7, 2010 at 9:44 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Mileena,

Thank you for the explanation and the link!
You simply rock!; December 9, 2010 at 2:34 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Mileena,

Would you recommend any good skin lighteners that you can pick up locally (Ontario drugstores for example). I have purchased and used Makari and Hypercreme which unfortunately did nothing for me and was just money down the drain. I am pondering on going back to Neostrata HQ which I really don't want to do, but it actually worked for me. I know you wrote an article awhile ago about hydroquinone and the FDA sort of coming to a conclusion. Any follow ups on that? And what do you think, if I use it about for three months on my face, neck, knees, elbows, and upper arms (scars from keratosis pillaris)? I spoke to my dermatologist about it and he sort of brushed it off as that you need copious amounts of it but I'm sort of nervous.; December 10, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Anonymous said...: yay, i bought the sofina sunscreen today. XD
i remember reading on how you need a foaming oil cleanser to wash it off, and i wanted to know if paula's choice balancing cleanser would do the job? and what are some cleansers i could also use? thank you =]; December 11, 2010 at 6:43 PM
Mileena said...: Hi!

The follow ups to that release haven't happened yet but should be soon. I have my eye constantly on it.

HQ at levels like 2-4% are not that much of a major concern to me. I do not advocate it as an all over lightener but I understand some people choose to use it because botanical/plant extract based lighteners and antioxidants aren't working for them.

I agree with your plan - using it for 3 months (it can be at max 6 months) at NIGHT only - ideally with some type of exfoliant layered underneath or on top like a Neostrata AHA product or ofcourse tretinoin to enhance results.

Sunscreen is something you need to be very strict about. Everyday and wear one you enjoy so it's not such a chore (Sofina is great).

Shoppers has some good products like Vichy Bi White Whitening Essence (more of a brightener), Neostrata Skin Brightener 20% (strong but it does lighten - use very sparingly and only 2-3x a week) :D

<3; December 11, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Mileena said...: Yay for getting Sofina! =) It's an awesome sunscreen!

Not really a foaming oil cleanser but a cleansing oil is needed. Because it is so water resistant it needs a cleansing oil to remove it off the surface of the skin. A foaming or anything other cleanser is used as a follow up to remove the residue from the cleansing oil.

I'm not sure if the Paula's Choice Balancing Cleanser is oil based but if it is it should do it. There are a LOT of cleansing oils out there. I believe MAC even has one. I use Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil but honestly they all pretty much work the same.; December 11, 2010 at 8:37 PM
Anonymous said...: oh, so i gottah use a cleanser to get rid of the cleansing oil? *__*; December 11, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Anonymous said...: what if you decided to use HQ on and off? so for example, like i'd use it for 5 months, then stop for the rest of the year, then go back to it for 5, etc.; December 11, 2010 at 9:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey Mileena,

Amazing blog by the way, and I didn't use my retinoid for about 4 days (finals and just plain lazy) and my skin started purging, not full blown out pimples, but my skin just turned bumpy all over. This was scary as before my skin was quite amazing. Is this common?; December 11, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Hello, Do you purchase your MUAC lactic peel from their website? Do you know how much shipping costs to Canada as it does not say on the website.; December 11, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Mileena,

I'd like to ask you abt my 0.025 retinA creAm, it didn't work for me, it does not make my skin red or flaky, should I get a higher retinA?

My regime now:
Am:
Dhc acerola
Sofina
Pm:
RetinA
Skinceuticals phyto

have you heard about charcoal mask to get rid of blackhead? I've tried LA peel, but it does not help me to get rid of my blackhead..

thank you :); December 12, 2010 at 2:06 AM
Mileena said...: Like I've stated before HQ is something I don't usually advocate but if you are going to use it - using it in intervals is best. So yes - using it for 5 months then taking a break or even using it 1-2x a week for maintenance is good.; December 12, 2010 at 8:11 PM
Mileena said...: Hi,

Purging can be in many forms but it's perfectly normal to get anything from little tiny bumps to full blown breakouts. It subsides ofcourse rather quickly.; December 12, 2010 at 8:14 PM
Mileena said...: To be honest there's very little you can do for blackheads. If you are exfoliating well with AHAs or manual exfoliation and you are still getting them then there's only so much you can do.

Retin-A does a pretty good job of cleaning them up but not completely. Increasing the strength won't do much, instead go for Retin-A GEL instead of cream.

Also look into Clearisonic. It's a manual exfoliation/extraction product that can help.; December 12, 2010 at 8:16 PM
wickedkewl said...: i got a screen name, ^___^; December 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM
wickedkewl said...: paula's choice 2% bha gel is good at clearing black heads.; December 13, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Mileena said...: I <33 that screen name :) WickedKewl...isn't that a popular expression from the 90s or was it the early 2000s? I don't remember lol; December 14, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Mileena said...: I agree, PC's 2% BHA Liquid has done wonders for my skin. Luckily I don't get too many blackheads but BHA (or any AHA) and retinoids get rid of them for me.

Some people may need more than this. Manual extraction is an option.; December 14, 2010 at 11:58 AM
wickedkewl said...: i love it. XD i dont even know where i got it from. but its been my aim sn for like years now. lol i was the one who asked you all of those lactic acid peels ^__^; December 14, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Mileena,

I need your super expert advise. A big doubt in layering again. I am suffering from super super dry skin this winter.
So If my moisturizing regimen has - lotion, milk and creme to it. where in my order of application will it fit in?

Lotion is basically just like water.

So the products are:
kose Lotion.
Kose Milk
Cosmetic Skin Solutions vit C,
Cosmetic Skin Solutions b5 gel.
Makari's Caviar Creme.
Sunscreen.

I would also like to ask one very other imp question:
after my sunscreen settles, when I apply a foundation, can that be rubbed in well to give a good finish? Or will it disturb the other products that I have applied on my skin.

So look forward to hearing from you.; December 15, 2010 at 5:10 AM
Unknown said...: Hi Mileena,

I need your super expert advise. A big doubt in layering again.

I am suffering from super super dry skin this winter.
So If my moisturizing regimen has - lotion, milk and creme to it. where in my order of application will it fit in?
Lotion is basically just like water.

So the products are:
kose Lotion.
Kose Milk
Cosmetic Skin Solutions vit C,
Cosmetic Skin Solutions b5 gel.
Makari's Caviar Creme.
Sunscreen.

I would also like to ask one very other imp question:
after my sunscreen settles, when I apply a foundation, can that be rubbed in well to give a good finish? Or will it disturb the other products that I have applied on my skin.

So look forward to hearing from you.; December 15, 2010 at 5:12 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Mileena,

I am going to start using the hydroquinone today but I am still so apprehensive about it but like I have been trying to skin lightening for about 2 years now and prior to that I used hydroquinone which made the most difference for me. But I am afraid of rebound hyperpigmentation if I stop using it. Has that occured to you? If I contiunue to use retinoid and vitamin c serum would that help maintain. And have you heard of the Peter Roth complexion correction pads...they seem to have 10% aha in them...; December 15, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Mileena said...: ;)

Your comments have helped a lot of people because I always direct people to that post if they have any questions regarding the MUAC peel. =D; December 16, 2010 at 5:29 PM
Mileena said...: Hi Lisa,

Phew that's a lot of products! lol But you are doing it right. You can also switch it up slightly by applying the vitamin c first, waiting a few minutes (2-3) and applying the lotion and milk afterwards. No waiting time at all between basic lotions.

Foundation of any kind does compromise the protective coating of sunscreen, but it is unrealistic to just completely cancel out makeup. I mean, if we follow the studies to a T then I guess none of us would wear makeup on top of our sunscreen but it's really not that huge of a deal.

Blending makeup into the skin probably won't have such a huge effect on your sunscreen as long as the sunscreen has been settled in (and that has been applied through gentle blending or tapping instead of rubbing). Once the coating is form (especially if it's a very matte sunscreen like Sofina or Biore UV Cut Milk) then it can be layered with makeup and still offer very strong protection. It's when you can see your sunscreen migrating off or becoming displaced that it becomes an issue but IME that only happens with greasy US brand sunscreens.; December 16, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Mileena said...: PTR pads are great little AHA-mini treatments/toners. They can help (any AHA/BHA or exfoliant for that matter) with the results of HQ.

I understand your apprehensive feelings. If used wisely, HQ can be useful. Rebound pigmentation is something I can't say won't happen - but it may not. Usually it occurs when the skin is not properly protected from the sun. It all goes back to this. Many people do not know the rules of sunscreen (applying 1/4 teaspoon on your face = adequate protection, finding the right one etc.)

If that is taken care of, and the skin is being maintained after the 6 months with other botanical lighteners/antioxidants then I don't see any problems regarding rebound occuring.

My best advice is this:

Make sure you got a sunscreen you LIKE using and wears nicely on your skin (not greasy ones that you despise using or migrate through your skin. Sunscreen needs to stay 'put' on your skin, like a coating).

Use HQ only at night. Preferably with some type of exfoliant. Be it after a toner that has AHA/BHA, or mixed/buffered with a leave-on AHA product OR with a retinoid. This will increase lightening in the skin.

Good luck <333; December 16, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Anonymous said...: hi mileena! i had a question about muac's lactic acid peel. i have been using 12% glycolic acid on my face and neck for a couple of months now. it works great, however i wanted to try the lactic acid peel to get make my skin tone even. i wanted to know if i should use the 40% or 55% one since my skin reacts well to AHAs and has been accustomed to it. i wonder if i can skip the 40% one and move to the next 55% one?; December 18, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Anonymous said...: hi Mileena,

I saw this immortelle brightening series from L'OCCITANE, and it seems promising :)
what do you think about that?

thanks for all your information and help, I think my skin is getting better and lighter now :) so happy

thanks you xoxo; December 19, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Unknown said...: Hey Mileena!

You are extremely nice to reply to all our smallest doubts.
Incredibly helpful and so re-assuring.

The hydrating B5 Gel of Cosmetic Skin Solution is just a moisturizer, is it? And can be skipped if I already have the lotion, milk and creme to add moisture to my skin.

I also had an interesting bit of info to share with you:
I live in Tokyo and here every local pharmacy store where you buy your cosmetics does a skin check for you.
Like SOfina did a quick 5 min xray machine check of my face and could tell me the precentage of ceramide, melanin in my skin, Texture, water etc etc etc. One whole lot of info and stats which you can go and compare with them and chronicle your stats on how you are doing with your skin care regimen. I loved the idea of keeping track of the skin numbers to see if it is actually improving.
Interesting isn't it?
Do you have something like that out there?; December 19, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Mileena said...: Hi!

You know it's so ironic that you commented on this since I've been thinking about bumping up to 55% lactic acid to banish those winter/dead skin/dry skin flakies I'm getting.

Definitely go for it if you know your skin reacts well to AHAs. Lactic acid is the most gentle out of all the AHAs and while 40% is strong is nothing comparable to 40% glycolic acid. So going to 55% is equatable to like 40% glycolic acid. The higher strength does create more strong results - especially when it comes to even skin tone and just overall radiance/glowy skin.

<33; December 20, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Mileena said...: I really like L'OCCITANE products and judging from a few e-mails from people who use it (and love it) and the reviews online it does look a great skin brightener (skin tone evening product).

The serum looks great and probably can wear well either during the AM or PM. If you're looking for a skin brightener and not interested in vitamin c/or antioxidants then I'd suggest to go for it. Update me (comment, e-mail, tweet etc.) on how it works for you if you do. I'm curious!; December 20, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Mileena said...: Hi Lisa,

Wow! That sound SO awesome and it is such a brilliant idea to do a skin check in a cosmetic department. I'm always intrigued with the other methods of skin care in other countries and I love Tokyo. Love love! I plan on going there very soon when everything in my life settles. :)

We unfortunately do not have anything like this here. Well, not in pharmacies or cosmetic stores. You can get the stats on your skin's standing (water levels, melanin load, sun damaged areas etc.) at a dermatologist or a spa doctor but not something that is so easily accessible. It's a great idea.

As for your question on the B5 gel - it is technically just a moisturizer but it also is a treatment as well. It does re-build the skin barrier and repair many epidermal issues like water loss, retaining of water and just increased tolerance of sensitivity. It's not really a necessity if you don't have super sensitive, redness-prone or rosacea skin.

& thank you for your kind comments. I appreciate them. <333; December 20, 2010 at 1:33 PM
wickedkewl said...: hey, which cleansing oil do you use to get this off? do i need another cleanser to get the oil off?; December 21, 2010 at 3:38 PM
Mileena said...: I use the Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil - but in my experience any cleansing oil can remove this sunscreen. I've alternated between laura mercier, lancome etc.

Yes, if you use a cleansing oil you need to cleanse any residue of the cleansing oil off with a regular gel cleanser or foaming cleanser.; December 21, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Unknown said...: Hey Mileena,

Thank you for your replies again. You must come to Tokyo, its heaven for a skin fanatic like you! The food they eat is so full of right things. It has kojic acid, hyaluronic acid in it etc. basically the right things. They drink collagen like water and it is available in every nook and corner. The food for skincare and the products are going to take you by storm! I just love this place!

I wanted to ask if you have had chance to look and evaluate this soap:
http://www.theswisscare.com/product.html

Would love to know what you have to say about it.; December 21, 2010 at 9:18 PM
Unknown said...: Also wish to ask your opinion on placental moisture masks.:-); December 21, 2010 at 9:46 PM
wickedkewl said...: omg. i got the the sunscreen over the mail and it's smalllllll. i really thought it was bigger. it's like a litle 4 inch thing. omg. i need to buy a second one.; December 22, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Mileena said...: I know - I MUST visit Tokyo! I will for sure =D I know there's so much more than just expansive skin care products but just the city itself and the culture. I am so intrigued by it all.

That L-glutathione soap has been around for awhile. It's hard to tell with soaps since generally most people see very little results with them. With this, topical application of L-glutathione won't do anything. It is a very unstable antioxidant and there is no evidence showing that it can do anything topically. Orally, yes I do believe that can lighten since an antioxidant surge can alter skin color.

The vitamin c in there may help to brighten. I like Likas Papaya Soap if we're talking about lightening soaps. I found it brightened my entire skin up within a few weeks. It's very drying (it's the papaya enzyme's exfoliating) but it does brighten and even out things. :); December 23, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Mileena said...: You know, I'm all for unique ingredients for skin care but there is no studies backing up the effectiveness of these placenta moisture masks found in Japan.

If you want to use a mask that does lighten your skin - go for niacinamide based ones or vitamin c ones. The Neutrogena Fine Fairness one rocks! omg it's great!; December 23, 2010 at 6:05 PM
Mileena said...: lol, wickedkewl is it the 25 ml one?

The 60ml one is quite economical and lasts easily for up to 2months+ of daily usage.

With that aside, did you get a chance to use it? How do you like it? ;); December 23, 2010 at 6:17 PM
wickedkewl said...: yeah, it's the 60ml. damn, the 25ml must be tinyyyy. i haven't yet. i need the ehh oil cleanser.; December 23, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Mileena said...: Really? The 60ml is quite large IMO. It should last for a good 2months +. Any cleansing oil will do btw. There are tons at Sephora and department stores so you don't have to order the Fancl one from online :); December 26, 2010 at 10:42 AM
wickedkewl said...: i honestly thought the bottle was gonna be as big as the neutragena ones. shame shame shame. do you think makeup removing cleansers will work too? i wanna get paula's balancing cleanser. but idk. do i need a separate cleanser to removing the residue from the cleansing oil? and can you recommend me a cleanser from there? there're so many idk which to pic. =X; December 26, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Mileena said...: Some good quality makeup removing cleansers can do the job. I don't know of any personally. Cleansing Milks I heard can remove Sofina - Vichy makes some. I don't think the Neutrogena one is strong enough though.

Yes you do need a separate 'regular' cleanser (be it foaming or just a gel facial cleanser) to follow up with a cleansing oil.

Olay Sensitive Skin Foaming Cleanser is good, so is Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser and Neutrogena Fresh Foaming. The Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming one is real nice too. I like the Cetaphil the best.; December 26, 2010 at 8:31 PM
wickedkewl said...: how do you know the sunscreen is off once you wash?; December 26, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Mileena said...: You can tell by the feel of your skin. Though Sofina is lightweight, you can know when face and when it's not simply by touching your face.

Cleansing oils dissolve sunscreen instantly so using that ensures complete removal.

The best way is just by looking at your skin honestly. You can tell when your skin is bare/cleansed and when something is on it by touching it for the 'bare, dry feeling'. :); December 27, 2010 at 12:42 PM
wickedkewl said...: oky doooke, i'm thinking of getting the ehh
DHC deep cleansing oil along with paula's choice skin balancing cleanser. and i was wondering, would all of this face washing do something bad to my skin?; December 28, 2010 at 2:41 PM
Mileena said...: It shouldn't do anything 'bad'. Maybe make it a bit more dry than usual after a cleanse but that is all. Sofina is kinda drying on it's own anyway. Just make to moisturize any dry areas afterward.; December 28, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Anonymous said...: Have you tried Shisheido's Sunscreen for face and body SPF 60. I read some really good reviews about it online. Was wondering if I should buy this, instead of the discontinued Sofina.

Thanks!; December 31, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Mileena said...: I'm not a huge fan of Shiseido products - they never seem to gel well with my skin but I have heard of the SPF 60 for the face and body and that one looks promising.

I'm definitely going to be branching out and getting a new sunscreen. A discontinued sunscreen is well...not reliable since I need to start looking elsewhere. I was originally going to get the Biore UV Cut Milk but the Shiseido as well as a few others have caught my eye. If you are in need of a sunscreen at the moment, I would suggest getting the Shiseido. The reviews are great for it and who knows, it could be a really good one! :); December 31, 2010 at 1:40 PM
wickedkewl said...: yay, i finalllyy have all of the things from my regime. i got the sofina sunscreen (of course), the aloette resotrative enzyme peel, the skinceutical vit. c and skinceutical B5, the paul and joe serum, the cleansing oil and another cleanser. now my question is like what products should i use when? what should i use in the morning and what should i use at night? and in what order. i know that the vit. c is used in the morning before sunscreen once ever 2/3 days. and im guessing i use the PnJ serum in day time as well? im confused. X__X; January 3, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Mileena said...: yay getting all those wonderful products!! So cool, I love each and every one of em! lol

Here's what I recommend:

AM:
- cleanse
- Alternate between the Skinceuticals Vitamin C & Paul & Joe Whitening Serum (so one day vitamin c, the other paul & joe - or depending on whatever your skin can tolerate. Skin care should be flexible, not set in stone. So if you feel like your skin can't handle strong vitamin c (it's irritated or dry) then opt for the Paul * Joe that morning
- Apply Skinceuticals B5 on dry areas
*wait 5-10 mins for absorption*
- Sofina sunscreen. This can be applied easily by tapping it into your skin instead of rubbing excessively. Just tap and smooth in. This helps with not disturbing anything else.
- wait 10 minutes for absorption.
- apply m/u etc.

PM:
- cleansing oil on dry skin
- follow up with cleanser
- apply paul & joe whitening serum OR skinceuticals B5 over face

3-4x a week:
Aloette Restorative Peel (love this one!)

just a little tip - when layering products, especially during the AM, apply the products VERY sparingly. A little goes a long way. You don't have to coat your skin in the product. Antioxidant/botanicals do in some degree 'walk' through the skin since they work on a cellular level. So don't over apply it, just a little more than a pea. Sunscreen is what needs to be applied fully (generally 1/4 teaspoon for your face is a good amount or anything close to that).

:D; January 3, 2011 at 4:22 PM
wickedkewl said...: i also have lactic acid peel left from last year, rofl. should i use the lactic acid peels like twice a month? and i also got a retinoid which should be here in about 2 weeks.

thank you so much.

oh and for the AM regime, whats m/u?; January 3, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Mileena said...: Yeah the lactic acid peel should still be fine. Twice a month is perfect. You may notice that once is good enough once you start the Retin-A but it honestly depends on your skin and how it tolerates all this exfoliation.

M/U is makeup, LOL. :P; January 4, 2011 at 12:04 PM
wickedkewl said...: yeah, i should prob. use the lactic acid once a month.

lol; January 4, 2011 at 4:17 PM
wickedkewl said...: omg omg omg omg!!!! i love sofina, XD it was awesome. it really felt like i wasnt wearing sunscreen at all. and its super matte. at first i thought it was gonna leave a white cast. but it disappears after a minute or two. the sunscreen sort of started peeling a bit on me around my forhead. could it be that i just touch my face too much? or something like that. idk. also, i couldn't feel the sunscreen on my skin like before i started doing my pm routine. i guess i should compare my skin with and without sunscreen to tell them apart. and the oil cleanser and the pc's balancing cleanser are very stripping together. my face felt very dry like right after i dried it with a towel.; January 5, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Mileena said...: @wickedkewl

lol, Sofina really doesn't feel like standard sunscreens, right? It's really awesome but it's kind of drying on it's own. And you're right, combined with a cleansing oil and cleanser it can be stripping to your skin. Always moisturize your dry areas or areas that feel tight afterward.

That peeling/flaky thing is dry skin. Sofina is drying on its own since it's designed for weather in Asia which is more humid. So it dries on the skin. Wearing a lightweight hydrating product like La Roche Posay Toleraine Fluid, Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Sensitive Skin or Clinique Moisture Surge should offset this. Any moisturizer you like can offset this. I ALWAYS (always, always!) apply moisturizer around my nose, mouth and sides of forehead before layering the sunscreen on top to avoid this.

If you use a cleansing oil, I am more than sure that the Sofina is off your face. Cleansing oils remove sunscreen almost instantly once massaged in so you're fine.

Just moisturize the best you can! Sofina is awesome but not a perfect sunscreen. It can be tricky to use in the winter/drying months. In summer it is AMAZING at withstanding against sweat or heat. But for now, take care with moisturizer underneath. A good one!
<333; January 6, 2011 at 10:45 AM
wickedkewl said...: cool, so i can use my B5 on the dry areas after my sunscreen's on?; January 6, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Mileena said...: Yep, you can. It will *slightly* effect the sunscreen's protective coating but not by much honestly. Apply very sparingly and don't rub in too harshly just gently apply into your skin.; January 6, 2011 at 4:48 PM
wickedkewl said...: eek eeeeek; January 6, 2011 at 6:28 PM
wickedkewl said...: oh wait, i just read that i can use it before sunscreen. so would it affect the sunscreen protection if i apply before unscreen?; January 6, 2011 at 6:57 PM
Mileena said...: Oh, no. Not at all. It's actually best to apply all products before sunscreen. Sunscreen is applied last when it comes to skin care.

But, if your skin becomes excessively dry throughout the day and you have sunscreen already on, you can apply some moisturizer or B6 gel sparingly on the affected areas. No point in putting up with dry skin. I was just saying that if you do this, it will slightly affect the protective coating. Anything applied on top of sunscreen does (make up etc.) But very minimally. You will still be very much protected.

:); January 7, 2011 at 11:13 AM
wickedkewl said...: oooooooooh thank you ^____^
you're such an immense help.; January 7, 2011 at 5:38 PM
wickedkewl said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; January 7, 2011 at 5:39 PM
wickedkewl said...: idk how to use the skinceutical vit. c =/; January 7, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Mileena said...: No problem. :) I'm glad I could help; January 7, 2011 at 6:52 PM
Mileena said...: @wickedkewl,

Do you want to know when to use the skinceuticals vitamin c or how to properly use it? Use it like any other topical antioxidant. You can use it either day or night, but used underneath your sunscreen during the day is best. It should be applied first before moisturizer or a B5 gel etc.

Keep it in a cool, dry, dark place.

You can use it every other day. Daily use of vitamin c honestly isn't that vital since it stays within the lower layers of the skin for up to 48-72 hours. Vitamin c can be irritating so play it safe by using it every other day or every 2 days. You'll still reap the benefits (collagen building, instant brightening, and slow breaking of pigment etc. )

=D!; January 11, 2011 at 3:50 PM
wickedkewl said...: idk how to apply antioxidants, =/ what did i with the vit.c is that i rubbed a drop on my forhead and a drop on each cheek. should i use more than 3 drops?; January 11, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Mileena said...: 3 drops should be enough to smooth over your face. What I like to is put the three drops into one of my palms and then with index finger (or any finger from the other hand) take little dabs and put little micro dots on the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Very little is needed.

Same thing for the neck - about 2-3 drops.; January 11, 2011 at 6:02 PM
wickedkewl said...: do i have to do my neck too? or is it because you wouldn't want your neck and face to be 2 dif. colors.; January 12, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Mileena said...: You don't have to do your neck. I hardly ever do, I just use the residual on my fingertips and massage it into your skin. But essentially yes, if you are treating your face with something it's best to put a little on your neck so it just blends well.; January 12, 2011 at 4:30 PM
wickedkewl said...: ooooh, thanks for the advice. ^___^; January 12, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Mileena said...: No worries :D!; January 13, 2011 at 11:32 AM
wickedkewl said...: i love this sunscreen, ^__^; January 16, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Mileena said...: ;)..yay!; January 16, 2011 at 4:17 PM

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Sofina Perfect UV Lucent Discontinued

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