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Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:18 am  |
| dianew wrote: |
 ... could be, now that you mention it - as even when I've been brave & used retin a nearer to my eyes I still have the reverse red panda effect going on... & never use the Exfo Forte in that area... perhaps I need to experiment with every other day with that one first - thanks  |
dianew, report back please if that seems to help you. I have never liked either of the Exfoderm products (though I know for some people that is their favorite product out of the bunch!), and I really think that is the culprit of everyone's redness (or the Sunfader if people use that). |
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Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:04 am |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
| Quackertoo: I forgot to ask you how you think the clarisonic has helped you with the obagi system? |
angelofthenorth, oops I missed this post. I think it has helped because it really cleans and removes the flakes so the Obagi products can reach the skin and go to work. The first few days, when I hadn't started using the Clarisonic with Obagi, when I went to the step of putting on sunscreen, in the 10X mirror I was shocked at how the whiteness of the sunscreen just sat on all that flaky skin, especially on cheeks and chin. That is when I thought I need to get rid of those flakes and the only thing that has helped has been using the Clarisonic twice a day even though the flakes usually re-appear slightly in the late afternoon.
Also one morning, before using the Clarisonic, early on when I was feeling really itchy and scratchy, I was sitting in bed watching tv playing on the laptop and would just rub a little on my face and the flakes on my black top were numerous.
Hope this helps. |
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Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:08 am |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
| Qwackertoo wrote: |
| fongflyer5 wrote: |
| angleofthenorth, I only do OCM twice a week, I find they suggest you massage from 3 minutes minimum but I find you end up staring at the clock, it seems to take forever for time to tick over. But I did find it was the massaging that seem to loosen up the blackhead and help them to come to the surface easier. I have to agree with you Obagi was the only product that really improved my skin. |
What is OCM? Thanks! |
Hi Quackertoo, OCM stands for oil cleansing method. I've never tried it but I am interested in it though.
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?tid=7077 |
A long time ago, a couple of years, I bought some cleansing oil, from Garden of Wisdom or some place like that, and tossed it, just couldn't get use to the idea of cleansing my face with oil. |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:25 am |
Quackertoo: Thanks for the feedback, I'm virually dancing inside with excitement waiting for my clarisonic, I hope it arrives soon!
I was reading the ingredients list on my obagi SPF50 sun shield and noticed it contains octinoxate opposed to titanium, doesn't this make it a mix of both a physical and chemical sunscreen? Is this still ok to use with obagi? I thought we could only use physical ss with it? |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:32 am |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
Quackertoo: Thanks for the feedback, I'm virually dancing inside with excitement waiting for my clarisonic, I hope it arrives soon!
I was reading the ingredients list on my obagi SPF50 sun shield and noticed it contains octinoxate opposed to titanium, doesn't this make it a mix of both a physical and chemical sunscreen? Is this still ok to use with obagi? I thought we could only use physical ss with it? |
Is the SPF 35 that comes in the kit chemical or combo too? I thought only the SPF 32 was physical? I went to my check up on Monday and they offered to sell me some of the 32 for our upcoming cruise to AK, but it was 40 something bucks, I thought I'll buy it off the internet instead. They thing even when this doctors office has 20% off, then there is 9.5% local tax that pretty much kills the savings. |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:40 am |
| Qwackertoo wrote: |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
Quackertoo: Thanks for the feedback, I'm virually dancing inside with excitement waiting for my clarisonic, I hope it arrives soon!
I was reading the ingredients list on my obagi SPF50 sun shield and noticed it contains octinoxate opposed to titanium, doesn't this make it a mix of both a physical and chemical sunscreen? Is this still ok to use with obagi? I thought we could only use physical ss with it? |
Is the SPF 35 that comes in the kit chemical or combo too? I thought only the SPF 32 was physical? I went to my check up on Monday and they offered to sell me some of the 32 for our upcoming cruise to AK, but it was 40 something bucks, I thought I'll buy it off the internet instead. They thing even when this doctors office has 20% off, then there is 9.5% local tax that pretty much kills the savings. |
I just checked the ingredients on the box and it appears to be a mix of both chemical and physical.
I find it difficult to understand how with a texture like that, the spf35 can be both physical and chemical. I also don't understand why obagi would include the mixed ss in the kit if we are supposed to use a physical one? |
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PamL
New Member
 
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Posts: 9
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:02 pm |
I just started using the decollatage skin lightener on my face in the a.m. and mixed with retinoin in the p.m. This product is virtually identical to the Blender (Blender has some anti-oxidants; I use 20% C serum so I'm not so concerned about missing the small amount of anti-oxidants that Blender has in it); it's also almost the same as the Clear, with a few more ingredient variations than with the Blender. I've looked up the differing ingredients and they appear to be rather benign components common in most cosmetics.
For me, the 4% HQ (hydroquinone)is clearly the product that makes my face red and after 3 days, I've started flaking like crazy. Prior to this, I had not been using the 4% HQ products and the Exfoderm was causing modest flaking. I wish now I would have started with HQ from the beginning. Kind of feel like I've gotten off to a slow start by not including it four weeks ago.
The good thing is though, I have a better understanding of how the HQ is affecting my skin, something I wouldn't have known had I started all products at the same time.
I'm hoping that I won't be in this excessive red/flaking phase too long. It makes me really self-conscious out in public, knowing skin is literally peeling off my face all the time. |
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Pam L. |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:20 pm |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
| Qwackertoo wrote: |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
Quackertoo: Thanks for the feedback, I'm virually dancing inside with excitement waiting for my clarisonic, I hope it arrives soon!
I was reading the ingredients list on my obagi SPF50 sun shield and noticed it contains octinoxate opposed to titanium, doesn't this make it a mix of both a physical and chemical sunscreen? Is this still ok to use with obagi? I thought we could only use physical ss with it? |
Is the SPF 35 that comes in the kit chemical or combo too? I thought only the SPF 32 was physical? I went to my check up on Monday and they offered to sell me some of the 32 for our upcoming cruise to AK, but it was 40 something bucks, I thought I'll buy it off the internet instead. They thing even when this doctors office has 20% off, then there is 9.5% local tax that pretty much kills the savings. |
I just checked the ingredients on the box and it appears to be a mix of both chemical and physical.
I find it difficult to understand how with a texture like that, the spf35 can be both physical and chemical. I also don't understand why obagi would include the mixed ss in the kit if we are supposed to use a physical one? |
I don't know either so I figure I'll go with the SPF 50 I bought off Amazon and since I bought two of them I'm not going to buy more before vacation. |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:22 pm |
| PamL wrote: |
I'm hoping that I won't be in this excessive red/flaking phase too long. It makes me really self-conscious out in public, knowing skin is literally peeling off my face all the time. |
At least this time of year people will think you worked out in your garden too long or recently returned from the beach or some other excess of sun exposure vs. in the middle of winter and looking all flaky and peely. |
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Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:41 pm |
| PamL, it's great that you have things worked out now. Unfortunately the flaking is one of those side effects that persist. The clear is very drying on it's own, together with the combination of the other products being used, your face is constantly being subjected to the cell renewal process of the Obagi protocol. |
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PamL
New Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Posts: 9
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Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:47 pm |
I'm having a hard time following these blog threads, not really done this before, but thank you everyone for sharing your Obagi experiences. Sounds like everyone's experience varies somewhat, probably depending on their personal skin condition.
I am 55 years old, with very fair skin. I don't have dark spots, acne or major skin issues. When I started menopause, I began noticing redness around my center face/nose/mouth/chin area. I also have what I assumed to be permanent redness in my decolletage area that I neglected protect with sunscreen.
My goal with Obagi is to bring a new freshness to my skin, smooth some wrinkles and hopefully fade the redness in my center face and decolletage area. I'm in week 6 and so far am happy with the results. As I just started with the HQ lightening products a little over a week ago, it's probably too soon to see a difference in those red areas.
Can anyone provide an opinion on how long the redness from the products should last and when to expect the peeling to stop. Though I take the peeling as a positive sign the products are working, I am so excited to get to the stage where I (and others) notice a renewed look in my complexion. |
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Pam L. |
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Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:59 pm |
PamL, I know these threads are sometimes a bit hard to follow, but it's great to see you are still logging in to read them. The information and personal experiences you receive from others are a great help.
How long it takes for the redness/peeling to last for is a individual thing. There is no set time frame when it will get better or even stop. Unfortunately everyone skin reacts differently. As you have only just started to incorporate the HQ into your routine, be expected for the redness/peeling to continue. HQ is a very drying product and as such will only add to the dryness you are experiencing.
I wish I could give you some positive encouragement, but remember you are so far, happy with the results. It's a journey using Obagi, so just keep traveling along! |
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Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:17 pm |
Hi Pam,
The redness and peeling could very well go on the entire time. It's often an on-off situation.
Your skin does become acclimated to the products so you will have some non-peely days to look forward to! |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:07 pm |
soooooo ladies...
I'm starting week 18 tomorrow, and, while I intend to go with the full routine until the start of August (apart from alternating days with the Exfo Forte after week 18 is done, to see if it minimises redness) I'm starting to think about maintenance routines.
I've read a few threads (more than a few probably...) & realise that what will work differs from individual to individual, but wanted to ask veteran Obagians to share their maintenance routines here?
I guess it's a good idea to continue with nightly e retin-a, rather than the "2-5 times per week" I've previously read about, but don't want to overdo the hydroquinone long term... what with using clear 2-3 times a week. Does anyone just use the retin-a every night, and, say, the blender mixed in just twice a week instead of every night?
I'm camping for a week (including going to a festival) at the start of August, hence not thinking it's practical to do the full routine while in a tent (possibly in the mud but hey-ho). Has anyone managed a pared-down routine while living in a field for a bit?  I was thinking maybe just the retin-a at night would do? And sunscreen of course in the day
Still hoping for changes in the next 5 weeks - I remain very red of face, but even so can still see brown & red patches on my cheeks that aren't shifting, though skin tone overall is (seems!) much better...
how's everyone else doing? |
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42, reddish-blonde hair, pale, combination skin with sun damage & hyperpigmentation issues. Using Obagi Nu-Derm system |
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Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:15 pm |
Hey Diane,
Can you believe you're already at the 18 week mark?? I think it goes pretty quickly once you've settled into the routine.
Anyway, maintenance...It's kind of a trial and error thing -- like you mentioned. My "main stay" products are Clear, Blender, and retin a.
When I first started on maintenance, I still used Clear a.m. and p.m. nearly everyday. As you know, old habits are hard to break! While adding Blender/retin a 4-5 times per week.
Now, I use the products about 3 times per week in the p.m. only and sometimes use other products on the "off" days. Right now, I'm trying out some of the Ole Henriksen line.
And, of course, I use sunscreen daily -- rain or shine! |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:45 pm |
Diane: Congratulations on getting this far!!! I hope you can stop the redness with your plan.
I'm now in week 8 and I'm also thinking about maintenance regimes. Initially I wanted to try and stick it out for 24 wks, now I'm having second thoughts. My skin tone has really evened out, there are only four areas that need a little more work and I'm thinking that if I stay on the full programme for that long, my face will get too light.
When I had my consultation, I was told that I should use the full programme for 12 wks. I was never told about the maintenance element of obagi. I will wait and see how things appear when I get to wk 12 and then decide whether to continue for a few more weeks.
I'm really hoping that I can get away with maintaining my results by just using retin a and sunscreen then do an annual 6-12 wk cycle. I plan to keep clear, blender and exfoderm forte to hand just in case I need to incorporate them. In that case I will try to minimise the clear and blender to a couple of times a week and will opt for the FX instead of the RX. |
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Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:30 pm |
Hi Angel,
I think that sounds like an excellent plan! During the maintenance phase, less is definitely more. I think the most important thing you can do to maintain your results is to use sunscreen day in and day out!  |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:00 pm |
Hi angleofthenorth and dianew, I would agree with kims, maintenance is a matter of trial and error. The mainstream products for me are also, the clear, blender with the retin A. I use these 3 to 4 times a week. I use the clear in the AM and the blender/retin A in the PM. If my skin starts to look like it needs a bit more help, then I start to use in the clear in the PM also. I find the clear alone helps more to fade problem areas. I still use the Exfo Forte. I find an AHA product helps my skin to look a bit brighter.
If my skin starts to look red I stop the retin A. It's so hard to find an exact routine that works, I adjust as I go depending on how my skin looks. Initially I started to get a bit tired of doing the Obagi routine but now it just become a habit, especially as I didn't get any results from other products. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:27 pm |
Thanks kims and fongflyer5
I thought I'd share with you guys, my Mum has started obagi. Her face is really red and she has complained about the burning, wrinkles and peelies. I've told her to cut out the sunfader and the exfoderm forte, she says the exfoderm is the one that burns her on application so she doesn't want to continue with that, so I've inherited a free exfoderm forte I told her she may want to try the normal exfoderm but she doesn't seem to want to go there 
I told my Mum she should still get the results without the exfoderm forte or the sunfader, sure enough, after 4 days her melasma has started to fade, her freckles are still there though. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:46 pm |
I've decided that I hate the NIA24 ss, I've noticed that it leaves a strange cast over my face (not quite white, a little iridescent, almost grey), it also seems to have really clogged up my pores too, not even the obagi healthy sun protection spf35 did that and I found that to be horrid!
I have started using the obagi sunshield spf50 and so far so good, no cast, doesn't dry me out or make me look oily. I'm liking it.
Today I tried to use the NIA24 on my body instead, big mistake! That iridescent cast transferred onto my my brown leather purse and you could see it on my chest and arms 
Oh well, at least I can say I've tried it and it's not for me. I still want to try burnout eco sensitive, devita and soleo organics before I can say which one is my HG, obagi spf50 is definitely up there for the moment. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:56 pm |
Hi Angel,
I tend to like the Obagi 50 the best right now too. Rileygirl started a thread on Neova and it sounds like it may be something to try as well. |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:26 pm |
| kims wrote: |
Hi Angel,
I tend to like the Obagi 50 the best right now too. Rileygirl started a thread on Neova and it sounds like it may be something to try as well. |
Thanks kims, I'll check it out My list gets longer and longer |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:25 pm |
| angelofthenorth wrote: |
| kims wrote: |
Hi Angel,
I tend to like the Obagi 50 the best right now too. Rileygirl started a thread on Neova and it sounds like it may be something to try as well. |
Thanks kims, I'll check it out My list gets longer and longer |
Isn't that the truth!! |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:18 pm |
angleofthenorth,
Isn't that wonderful that your Mum has obviously noticed a change in your skin that encouraged her to try Obagi! Obagi has made some difference to your skin. That's so positive. The exfoderm forte can be too aggressive for some people especially if they are using all the other products in the Nuderm range.
As for sunscreens, I'm still constantly trying to perfect one. Despite avoiding the sun, being diligent with using a physical sunscreen, my face is still a few shades darker than my neck. No matter what I do I still can't avoid getting a incidental tan on my face. |
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Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:22 am |
| fongflyer5 wrote: |
angleofthenorth,
Isn't that wonderful that your Mum has obviously noticed a change in your skin that encouraged her to try Obagi! Obagi has made some difference to your skin. That's so positive. The exfoderm forte can be too aggressive for some people especially if they are using all the other products in the Nuderm range. |
I know it's great. I called her today and she says the redness has eased up and she can really see the difference already, on one side of her cheek the melasma has almost vanished and on the other side it has significantly reduced.
| fongflyer5 wrote: |
| As for sunscreens, I'm still constantly trying to perfect one. Despite avoiding the sun, being diligent with using a physical sunscreen, my face is still a few shades darker than my neck. No matter what I do I still can't avoid getting a incidental tan on my face. |
My Mum's new thing now is to find her HG sunscreen, she's got me on the case |
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