My Own Protocol of Obagi Nu-Derm System
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free skin care · Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:00 pm

Hello everybody,

I am new to this forum and at the same time new to obagi. After doing my research on Obagi on other sites and on Ed's forum, which I can say have 98% positive feedback. I decided that I really have to try it myself. Thank you for giving me the encouragement especially to those experienced ones(who have used for a few years).

I bought the 6 items Kit from EDS which consists of the following(Gentle Cleanser, Toner, Clear, Blender, Exfoderm, Sunfader). On top of these, I also bought the Healthy Skin Protection SPf 35 and the Nu-Derm Eye Cream and the Action which I got for free. So that means I almost got everything to start my Obagi journey. And also the Tretinoin cream (0.025%)

I approximately will get my Obagi products on the 8th of April and I am going to update.

MON-Wed-Fri-Sun a.m. : Cleanser,Toner, eye cream Clear & Spf 35%

Tue-Thur-Sat A.M. : Cleanser/Toner, eye cream Exfoder, and sunfader

Mon-Sun P.M : Cleanser/Toner, eye cream, Blender with Tretinoin cream every night or every other night(depending on how my skin reacts.

:D

Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:23 pm

good luck, mely! i just started on 4/1 so you won't be far behind me.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:56 am

gosh, the results are fantastic. i never thought the obagi skin system gave me a peeling effect but the redness is starting to disappear. it is a wonderful experience and obagi really works from the deepest layer to rejuvinate the whole skin.

i wish you the best and hope that yours will be a wonderful journey as well. i can share some tips as well as to how to use it for a much not-so-scary outlook for the first week of usage.

i follow mine with using the correct amount of blender and tretinoin. i used a higher tretinoin compound of .1% but only used a pea size per 1/2 gram of obagi blender. for the first week, limit 3 to 4 application of obagi blender plus tretinoin. your skin has to adjust to the peeling effect. if you use too much of the product, it will be just a waste and your skin will get shocked. believe me!

never forget exfoderm every day in the morning, once peeling sets in on your third day, exfoderm adds the lifting of these skin flakes to hasten the peeling effect to smoothen your skin. i am sure you do not want to go out with a flaky skin...so use exfoderm to combat this.

and one last thing, limit sun exposure on the 1st week even if you are using sun fader and sunscreen spf 35. your skin at this time is sensitive and you do not want to kiss your skin with the damaging effects of UV rays from the sun aside though using the sunscreens. just shun off for a while...it will be worth a try.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:02 am

Hi Mely, I just started on the NuDerm last Friday (4/4), after doing much research. My main objective is to get rid of these darned sun spots - better texture, tone, etc., will be an added bonus. I use the following every a.m.:

Foam cleanser
Toner
Clear
Exfoderm Forte
Sunfader, then the Obagi physical sun block

At night:

Foam cleanser
Toner
Clear

Every 3rd night, Blender + Retin-A (.1%)

I have found that the products which contain HQ make my skin red so, although I've only done one application of Retin-A, my skin is already red, and my chin is starting to peel. That is to be expected. My aesthitician did say I could use moisturizer at night, 30 minutes after applying the Blender/Retin-A. I will start that Wednesday night.

I tried to use Retin-A about 15 years ago and got red as a beet, so I stopped. I shouldn't have. My oldest sister has used it for over 25 years and she has absolutely gorgeous skin. She looks 20 years younger than her actual age!

Don't get discouraged when the "uglies" start. I have printed out "before" and "after" pictures to motivate me when I start feeling ugly and want to quit.

Good luck! Just think, in about 18 weeks, we will have clear, smoother, skin!

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:04 am

For all you who are getting red, you may want to check if it is really the Exfoderm. That is what a bunch of us who started together last summer discovered. When we backed off the Exfoderm use, the redness typically went away.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:04 am

rockinrobin, your situation seems very similar to mine. i'm trying to correct for uneven tone and sun spots as well. i started the program on 4/1. the first week was difficult, but nothing i couldn't handle. i'm starting week 2 and my skin seems to be tolerating the products much better. i don't feel the burning sensation when i put products on now. i'm doing the retin-a/blender every other night and blender on its own the others. only using clear in the mornings because i have medium/tan complexion. i'm using exfoderm as well. day 2 through 6 were the toughest for me. i hope that's the worst it gets! 17 more weeks to go!

Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:08 am

aseanpal, thanks for the great advice! how long have you been on the nu-derm program?

Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:21 am

aewang, I thought you were only supposed to use the Blender with the Retin-A? I'll ask my aesthetician next time I see her in a week or so.

My chin is really looking pretty bad today - it's peeling like crazy. It's tempting to just pull those little pieces of skin off, but I was warned not to do that. I think I'll try A&D ointment tonight. A lady on another board used that when she 1st started the Obagi and she said it helps tremendously. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:04 pm

rockinrobin, if you are peeling like crazy, take a hot shower. after you've been in for a few minutes, gently run your fingers along your chin and cheeks with a soft rubbing motion. the skin just falls off like little eraser bits. you can feel where there is a rough patch, that the skin comes off easily. the skin that is revealed underneath is so smooth. i was using a soft, baby washcloth at first, but that felt so rough on my skin. i've found that rubbing it off in the shower using your fingers keeps you from looking like a freak the next day because you have essentially removed all the excess skin. don't rub hard. you really don't have to. it all just comes off fairly easily with the steam and hot water. i haven't had to use any other products to remove the dead skin this way and the burning sensation of putting on products has diminished for me. try it.

as far as the blender alone, the consultant at skincarerx told me to use the blender on the nights i don't do retin-a. i think riley has also said that in some of her postings. plus, i don't use clear at night, only the mornings, so it seems to make sense to use the blender at night so i am using something active overnight.

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58 pm

The blender was meant to be used with Retin A. It helps the Retin A be more effective. If you aren't using the Retin A every night, I would NOT use the blender on your off nights with Retin A. Just my 2 cents. Very Happy

Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:46 pm

hi rileygirl, i've enjoyed reading all your posts and your before and after pictures. i must have gotten confused by all of the different posts by different people. after the consultation with skincarerx who told me to use blender every night, even without retin-a, i read geminiwoman's posts who also said the same thing. since i don't use clear at night, i figure i should use something active. it also will keep the proportions of my usage similar for each product since i use every product once a day. i'm sure there are many different protocols that can achieve similar results.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?p=303480&highlight=blender#303480

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:56 pm

aewang, it is true there are different protocols. If you are doing well on the regimen you are using, that is all that matters! I personally think you would get better results using the clear at night, but, again, if what you are doing is working and getting you the desired results, don't fix what isn't broken, so to speak! Very Happy

Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:28 pm

i'm not using the clear at night because i read that for people with darker skin, you should only use clear once a day and only on the darker spots at night. i have a medium/tanned complexion so i don't want to go too crazy with the lightening. but i guess i can do clear INSTEAD of blender at night on those days without retin-a. hmm

...

rileygirl, i also read that you are not on the maintenance now. did i get that right? how come?

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:35 pm

Well, it is a long story, but I will shorten it to say that after my 18 weeks on obagi, I noticed 1 nail on my left hand that was a brownish/black color. I was scared, as I thought I had a horrible disease. I did a search and came up with others who had the same thing, and it turned out to be from hydroquinone. So, I stopped to see if my nail would return to normal, which it did after about 3 months off of Obagi. Obagi to me is still the only thing that delivered the results. I will probably do a 6 week cycle of this once a year, but no more than that, as I don't want the nail thing to happen again!

I see what your concerns about using the clear twice a day. I am sorry, I did not read all the above posts well! I found the quote below for you if it helps. So if they are describing you, you will do best to stick with the clear just once a day as you are doing.

"(African-Americans\Blacks-Asian-Mediterranean Descent i.e. Southern Italy) with dark skin or type 4 skin ( brown to dark or olive complexion) should use Clear on the entire face once a day in the mourning and apply at night only on the darkest areas"

Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:53 pm

Eek!

So do you think your nail is that color because it was tinted by the hydroquinone or was it because it grew out that way because of the hydroquinone absorbed by your body?

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:01 pm

I really don't know! I am guessing the HQ being absorbed in, but don't know for sure. The nail is normal now, but I sure don't want that to happen again! Don't get frightened now, ok? This was just me and I don't think it is all that common. Keep on with it, you will be thrilled in 18 weeks!

Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:16 pm

i'll keep going with obagi but will definitely have to do some research on it some more. sheesh.... the things women do for beauty.... Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:54 pm

I finally got all my Obagi products on the 7th of April and in all good condition. Thank you.

I think EDS is very green, using the regular brown box and the receipt is just a very plain white paper and nothing glossy.

What do you think, ladies, and gentlemen too, I'm sure there quite a few.

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:05 pm

Hello AEWANG,

Thanks, yes, I am just behind you for a week. So, we can really tell each other how we are doing.

I started on the 7th of April at night with just using the Clear alone, and on the 8th, I used all the products for AM and PM. On the 9th , which is today, I am red and flaking already which I can handle.

I still have to go on and see what will happen.

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:52 pm

Hi, Aseanpal

You are such a big help. Thank you so much for your advice and tips.

I used 0.025% tretinoin which is the lowest, but I still will just use it every other day with the blender at night.

Will update on the next few days.

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Hi RockingRobin,

Thanks and I'm joining with you on our journey with Obagi and I startted on the 7th.

It seems we got all the same Obagi products, aside I also have the eye cream and action. I used 0.025 Tretinoin which is the lowest.

I started on the 7th with clear only at night and on the 8th, I appy all the AM and PM products, and also on the 9th, all Am prodcts, and I am already red and flaking but still can handle.

Does your sister use the Tretinoin with any skin care products? What exactly is her beauty regimen for 25 years that let her look like 20 years younger? I really like to know.

Good luck to you too and in 18 weeks, we will have the clearest and smoothest skin.

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:36 pm

Hello Rilleygirl,

Thanks for the encouragement.

So sad to hear about your nail but happy to know that you are ok now.

So, do you mean you are just going to do Obagi for a full 6 weeks(all AM and PM products) in a year? As they say, your spots will be back if you stop using them.

What skin care products are you using now?

free skin care · Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:59 pm

Has anyone who has used Obagi or on Obagi now ever used Triluma? And if you have, do you know if Nuderm and Triluma can be used together? I have both Triluma that I got from my dermo and Obagi that I bought on EDS a while back in Nov...But I'm contemplating whether to go back on Obagi or not...Everybody on the EDS forums regarding Obagi experiences is making me want to go back on it, but I just remember when I was on it...the 'uglies' were horrible and not to mention the red sensitive skin that comes w/this journey!!! (I have dermal, hyperpigm. of the cheeks)

free skin care · Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:29 am

I would not use Triluma with Nu Derm. I think it would be overkill. I have never used Triluma, but it already contains HQ and Tretinoin. I would use either 1 or the other if it were me.

free skin care · Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:26 am

Today is my 4th day of the Obagi and every thing is not that bad except when I apply the SPF35 sunscreen that leaves a white film all over my face. Is there something we can do on these?

If after you pass the uglies, and you have the beautiful skin, but we still have to use the sunscreen , will it be like that too(the white film)?

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