For the past 8 weeks, I've been trying out the Obagi Nu-derm in my quest to achieve perfect skin. What is Obagi? In a nutshell, it's a system consisting of about 8 products, designed to exfoliate and eliminate photodamage, wrinkles, and age spots. Obagi's promise is to restore skin cells' function resulting in younger, healthier-looking skin in 18 weeks.
Now I'm not gonna go into detail about what each product does - there are plenty of sites that can do this for you. I'm just here to tell you my own experience with this system.
Let me preface this by saying, that the reason I decided to go on this journey is because a couple of months ago, I had a monster zit that I vaporized with my Thermaclear (more on this later). While the Thermaclear got the job done and eliminated my zit, I was left with stubborn hyperpigmentation that four months later, is still there! Aargh! So in my desperation, I decided to give Obagi a try. I mean, why not? As someone in her early thirties, what better time is there to take care of our skin?
Week 1
Holy cow! the first week I used it I didn't really see any of the side effects that I read about except that my face would occasionally feel hot/flush. About 3 days into the treatment, my face felt super tight and dry. And by late afternoon I would peel like a snake. No joke...it was major peelage! Sheets of skin would literally be hanging off my face. At this point, I was red as a lobster. Fortunately, the peeling would only occur in the late afternoon, so I was able to mask this with make-up during the daytime. I was still able to work without feeling too self-conscious. But boy, this was a rough period.
Week 2
Still peeling. I forgot to mention that in the first couple of weeks, the redness and peeling occurred mostly around my mouth and naso-labial folds. I guess its because there's a lot of movement in this area? Hence, the peeling/cracking. Side note: you'll notice that you can lightly exfoliate your skin most effectively in the shower. I do NOT advise that you pick your face. Trust me, I did this - and it only prolonged the process 'cuz it ended up scabbing. So DO NOT!
Week 3-5
Light peeling. Not as intense as the first two weeks. My forehead is still not budging so my hyperpigmentation is still there. However, despite my face being unbelievable dry, I can definitely notice that my skin is more even-toned.
Week 6
Holy breakthroughbatman ! this stuff works. My skin is definitely glowing. The peeling is now lighter. What I mean is, the skin coming off is not as thick as the previous weeks. It's lighter! Does this make sense? Anyhoo, this is awesome. The rest of my face is even-toned and my forehead is now beginning to peel. Darn it! I just want this hyperpigmenatation to disappear! Week 6 marks the end of the first cycle in Obagi. I'm supposed to do 3 cycles totaling 18 weeks for best results. During this time, I can either proceed to the next cycle, or get a Blue peel. Now, I'm usually game for all this beauty stuff but I don't think I'm ready for the downtime associated with the blue peel. I've seen some pictures of others that have tried it and while the results are impressive, the in-between period where you look like a burn victim scares the bejesus outta me.
I've read somewhere that Fraxel/Pixel treatments are actually really good for people on the Obagi regime. Tretinoin allows skin to turnover faster allowing Fraxel to do its job more effectively. I've had Fraxel in the past and let me tell you, because I've been on tretinoin for as long as I remember, the downtime for me has always been short. By the fourth day, my skin has fully exfoliated from the Fraxel. Of course, you will continue to see results months later as well. (It's usually advised to have at least 3-5 Fraxel treatments for best results). So it looks like I'm choosing to go on this route during my 'break'.
Week 7
Had my Fraxel treatment. Stopped all Obagi products 4 days prior to treatment. Weird, I was barely red from my Fraxel. I wonder if it's cuz of the Obagi, or because the setting wasn't high enough. In any case, I didn't even have to stay at home the following day. I could just cover it up with make-up. By the 3rd day of my Fraxel, my face felt rough and sandpaper-ish. It eventually peeled 5 days later and my pores appeared smaller. My fine lines around my eye area are also not visible (although I'm not sure if this is permanent or if my face is just swollen). The hyperpigmentation definitely got lighter but its still there. I'm hoping that I won't have to get another Fraxel (because between this and the Obagi Nu-derm, this hyperpigmentation is beginning to get really costly) and the Obagi can take care of the rest. Crossing my fingers.
Well, I'm now on my 8th week. Still a long ways to go until I finish the regime. The HP (hyperpigmentation) is still there but its getting back to normal. I'll update soon!
Now I'm not gonna go into detail about what each product does - there are plenty of sites that can do this for you. I'm just here to tell you my own experience with this system.
Let me preface this by saying, that the reason I decided to go on this journey is because a couple of months ago, I had a monster zit that I vaporized with my Thermaclear (more on this later). While the Thermaclear got the job done and eliminated my zit, I was left with stubborn hyperpigmentation that four months later, is still there! Aargh! So in my desperation, I decided to give Obagi a try. I mean, why not? As someone in her early thirties, what better time is there to take care of our skin?
Week 1
Holy cow! the first week I used it I didn't really see any of the side effects that I read about except that my face would occasionally feel hot/flush. About 3 days into the treatment, my face felt super tight and dry. And by late afternoon I would peel like a snake. No joke...it was major peelage! Sheets of skin would literally be hanging off my face. At this point, I was red as a lobster. Fortunately, the peeling would only occur in the late afternoon, so I was able to mask this with make-up during the daytime. I was still able to work without feeling too self-conscious. But boy, this was a rough period.
Week 2
Still peeling. I forgot to mention that in the first couple of weeks, the redness and peeling occurred mostly around my mouth and naso-labial folds. I guess its because there's a lot of movement in this area? Hence, the peeling/cracking. Side note: you'll notice that you can lightly exfoliate your skin most effectively in the shower. I do NOT advise that you pick your face. Trust me, I did this - and it only prolonged the process 'cuz it ended up scabbing. So DO NOT!
Week 3-5
Light peeling. Not as intense as the first two weeks. My forehead is still not budging so my hyperpigmentation is still there. However, despite my face being unbelievable dry, I can definitely notice that my skin is more even-toned.
Week 6
Holy breakthrough
I've read somewhere that Fraxel/Pixel treatments are actually really good for people on the Obagi regime. Tretinoin allows skin to turnover faster allowing Fraxel to do its job more effectively. I've had Fraxel in the past and let me tell you, because I've been on tretinoin for as long as I remember, the downtime for me has always been short. By the fourth day, my skin has fully exfoliated from the Fraxel. Of course, you will continue to see results months later as well. (It's usually advised to have at least 3-5 Fraxel treatments for best results). So it looks like I'm choosing to go on this route during my 'break'.
Week 7
Had my Fraxel treatment. Stopped all Obagi products 4 days prior to treatment. Weird, I was barely red from my Fraxel. I wonder if it's cuz of the Obagi, or because the setting wasn't high enough. In any case, I didn't even have to stay at home the following day. I could just cover it up with make-up. By the 3rd day of my Fraxel, my face felt rough and sandpaper-ish. It eventually peeled 5 days later and my pores appeared smaller. My fine lines around my eye area are also not visible (although I'm not sure if this is permanent or if my face is just swollen). The hyperpigmentation definitely got lighter but its still there. I'm hoping that I won't have to get another Fraxel (because between this and the Obagi Nu-derm, this hyperpigmentation is beginning to get really costly) and the Obagi can take care of the rest. Crossing my fingers.
Well, I'm now on my 8th week. Still a long ways to go until I finish the regime. The HP (hyperpigmentation) is still there but its getting back to normal. I'll update soon!
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